Mayoral Proclamation for Mary Ellen Butler, Georgetown Palace Theatre
The Mayor and the City of Georgetown would like to pay tribute to Mary Ellen Butler of the Georgetown Palace Theatre for her contributions to the arts and culture scene of Georgetown and honor her for her extraordinary talents and achievements. The Mayor will present Mary Ellen Butler with a mayoral proclamation at 6 PM on June 11 at the regular Council meeting.
Mary Ellen Butler directed her first play, Our Town, at the Georgetown Palace Theatre in 2002. She served on the board of directors of the theatre and was hired as the Artistic Director in 2003. She remained in that position until her retirement in March, 2019. Mary Ellen played a critical role in bringing the Palace from near-bankruptcy to a multi-million dollar non-profit organization. She helped establish the Palace as an anchor for the downtown which assisted Georgetown in becoming recognized as an official Cultural District by the Texas Commission on the Arts.
“Lady of Georgetown” and “Colorful Georgetown” Day
Tuesday, May 21, 2019 was proclaimed “Lady of Georgetown” and “Colorful Georgetown” Day in a Mayoral Proclamation for the art students from Eastview High School who were selected to participate in the City of Georgetown’s Utility Box Art Project.
“Lady of Georgetown” by Mya Stoessel was selected by the Georgetown Arts and Culture Board for the utility box at the corner of 7th Street and Austin Avenue. “Colorful Georgetown” – a collaborative piece by Makenna Baylor, Cassidy Salyer, and Beti Wain – was selected for the utility box at the corner of 2nd Street and Austin Avenue.
Several pieces of student artwork were submitted for consideration to the Arts and Culture Board by Eastview High School art instructor, Jessica Sobhani, during an open call for artwork submissions for public art in Georgetown. The art students selected and the EVHS Art Department recognize the value of public art to the community and the City of Georgetown, and the Georgetown Arts and Culture Board are honored to add “Lady of Georgetown” and “Colorful Georgetown” to the City public art collection.
Artists are encouraged to submit their artwork during open calls throughout each year. For the latest news on open calls, please subscribe to the Arts and Culture newsletter by submitting your information on the arts.georgetown.org home page.
Dr. Kenny Sheppard
Dr. Kenny Sheppard’s contributions to arts and culture in Georgetown were recognized in a mayoral proclamation at the City Council meeting on June 26, 2018.
Dr. Kenny Sheppard has been a driving force behind Southwestern University’s Music Department for the last 44 years, starting at Southwestern in 1974. As Professor of Music at Southwestern University, he conducted the University Chorale and the Southwestern Singers and taught thousands of students including numerous music educators and conductors.
Under his leadership the Southwestern University The Choral has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Orchestra of Santa Fe Bach Festival, the Austin Symphony, Big Spring Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, Temple Symphony, Austin Civic Orchestra, and Air Force Band. Internationally, Dr. Sheppard has led the Southwestern University Chorale in performances in China, Italy and Paris.
Dr. Kenny Sheppard was awarded the Texas Choral Directors Association’s top honor in July 2016, the Texas Choir Master Award which has only been received by sixteen conductors since 1978.
Dr. Kenny Sheppard created the Central Texas Chorale which became the San Gabriel Chorale in 1988, with a majority of its members being Georgetown residents. He conducted the chorus until 1998. For many residents of Georgetown the chorus has been a weekly home to create and sing at the highest levels. The San Gabriel Chorale has created a significant impact on the arts in Georgetown.
Since the 2005 creation of the Georgetown Festival of the Arts, Dr. Sheppard has led the Festival Chorus and Orchestra.
City Hall Gallery: Current and Past Exhibits
The current exhibition at City Hall is on exhibit from April-June 2024 and features artwork by Jianna Sobhani.
Jianna Sobhani, a local student artist, began her artistic journey at age five. Primarily working with oil and acrylic paints, she’s now delving into watercolor and multimedia. Drawing from her personal experiences—including her adoption and mental health struggles—she channels her passion for celebrating the beauty and resilience of Black women. Her art serves a dual purpose: it’s both a reflection of her own journey and a call to action for diverse representation. Jianna’s goal is clear—to create powerful and affirming portraits of strong role models for the next generation of Black youth.
For more information and pricing, please click here: Jianna Sobhani_About & Pricing
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“Blue Hole Park” by Mike McConnell
“Blue Hole” by Mike McConnell, 2019
“Blue Hole Park” is located in the rotunda of the new City of Georgetown City Hall. The digital mural was commissioned by the Georgetown Arts and Culture Board as part of the expanding public art program that incorporates public art into the design of public spaces. The mural spans a circumference of 88 feet and was inspired by photos of the San Gabriel River.
“The art installations are eye-catching with brilliant splashes of color. The whimsical depiction of Blue Hole Park by artist Mike McConnell immediately grabs one’s attention in the City Hall lobby rotunda. The circular panels are bold, colorful and modern representions of the flora
and fauna around and in the park.” Ellen Greeney, Williamson County Sun
“DayScape Wonder” by Kevin Greer
“Dayscape Wonder” by Kevin Greer, 2019
“DayScape Wonder” is located above the transaction window in the lobby of the new City of Georgetown Municipal Court building. The abstract mural was commissioned by the Georgetown Arts and Culture Board as part of the expanding public art program that incorporates public art into the design of public spaces.
“Abstract painter Kevin Greer created bright orange and blue color-scapes for the Municipal Court transaction window. His artistry depicts the movement and energy within a day from sunrise to sunset and is intended to reflect the beauty and inspiration derived from the surrounding landscape.” Ellen Greeney, Williamson County Sun
“El Arbol” (The Tree) by J. Muzacz
“El Arbol” (The Tree) by J. Muzacz, 2019
“El Arbol” (The Tree) by J. Muzacz is located in the lobby of the new City of Georgetown Municipal Court building. The mosaic tile mural was commissioned by the Georgetown Arts and Culture Board as part of the expanding public art program that incorporates public art into the design of public spaces.
The El Árbol mosaic mural was inspired by a well-known vista from the Jim Hogg Campground at Lake Georgetown. The photographic reference was initially taken by Roger Engdahl as he and his wife camped there on a nationwide RV tour. After receiving permission to adapt his image for this mural, I digitally manipulated the landscape so that the pixels making up the image matched the 3/4 inch glass tiles you see in the mural and used that as reference while placing each square. The 50,000 unique glass pieces you see here represent the diversity of Georgetown and were sourced from suppliers all over the country – of Italian, Chinese and Mexican origin. The tiles were then hand-placed over a three-month period and installed using trade techniques.
“Traditions to the Future” by Mila Sketch
“Traditions to the Future” by Mila Sketch, 2018 & 2022
Photography by David Valdez
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Public Art at the new City Center
On March 25th, the City of Georgetown celebrated the grand opening of two City buildings that are part of a civic campus for City government offices. Known as City Center, the new civic campus includes City Hall and Council and Court buildings as well as the existing Georgetown Public Library that opened in 2007, the Historic Light and Water Works office building, and a public parking lot on Eighth Street.
The great news for Arts and Culture in Georgetown is that the new City Center has integrated pieces of public art into the architectural design of the spaces!
The Municipal Court features a mosaic tile mural titled El Árbol (The Tree) by J. Muzacz. The El Árbol mosaic mural was inspired by a well-known vista from the Jim Hogg Campground at Lake Georgetown.The 50,000 unique glass pieces represent the diversity of Georgetown and were sourced from suppliers all over the country – of Italian, Chinese and Mexican origin. The tiles were then hand-placed over a three-month period and installed using trade techniques. The wall above the transaction window of the Municipal Court exhibits a printed reproduction of original acrylic paintings by artist, Kevin Greer, and titled DayScape Wonder.
The City Hall rotunda features a mural by Mike McConnell and was created using vector graphics and printed on vinyl. The artwork, Bluhole Park, was inspired by photos taken of the San Gabriel River. The curved gallery wall of the lobby will exhibit quarterly rotating artwork by local artists and students. The inaugural exhibition features work by beloved Georgetown artist, Carol Light. Seven framed 12×12 paper collages complete the impressive installation of her work. If you are a local artist and would like to be considered for nomination to this invitational program, please send a digital portfolio and resume to info@arts.georgetown.org.
Sculpture Tour map is live!
After a great collaboration between the City’s Geographic Information System (GIS) and Arts and Culture departments, we are pleased to present an interactive map of this year’s Sculpture Tour.
Navigate the pieces by clicking the images at the bottom of the map or by clicking the numbers on the map itself.
To view the Sculpture Tour Map, please click here.
