City of Georgetown Texas > Georgetown Arts & Culture > Public Art > Murals

“Watershed” by Sarah Blankenship

“Watershed” by Sarah Blankenship, 2024

Artist Statement:

In Georgetown, creating a healthy watershed and quality outdoor spaces is our goal for the well-being of our residents, flora, and fauna. The story starts at the top of the mural with Lake Georgetown. A spot of beauty, recreation, and a source of our drinking water. Two water towers are shown in the mural, one style from the east side and one from the west. Note the subtle cloud at the very top, a nod to the water cycle. From the lake, you see the San Gabriel River go back and forth to connect the North Fork and South Fork and of course Blue Hole! Fish are a sign of a healthy watershed. Bass, Crappie, Sunfish, and Catfish are found in lake Georgetown. A large Crappie is featured in the lower right corner jumping out of the water. A fisherman is catching a Bass. In the background are other wildlife enjoying the water, turtles, egrets, and ducks. Residents can be seen at Blue Hole swimming and enjoying the outdoors too.

On the left is a farm with plants growing using soil solarization. This heats the soil until temperatures are lethal to diseases, weeds, and some insects. Pesticides can contaminate soil which can runoff into the water. Lady beetles (Coccinellidae} are one insect that is helpful in controlling insect pests such as aphids without using poisons, hence the oversized ladybug image. There is a small scene of a family planting with a compost bin and water barrel nearby. At the bottom left are cows and goats grazing. The animals’ hooves help to break, aerate and mix up the soil. They also help to get rid of infestations of invasive plants. Invasive plants can reproduce and spread rapidly, taking space, nutrients, water, and light from other plants. If uncontrolled, they can damage parks, streams, and infrastructure. The mural shows the cows and goats grazing on invasive species from Georgetown’s Preferred, Controlled, and Prohibited Plant List. The cows are munching on Pampas Grass and Kudzu. The goats are eating Poison Ivy and Cat’s Claw Vine.

Around the arch is beautiful flora from Georgetown’s preferred plant list, along with a Georgetown must, the Poppy! From left to right they are as follows: Woolly Butterfly Bush, Rose ‘Grandma’s Yellow’, Passiflora ‘Passion Flower’, and Papaver rhoeas “Red Poppy”. The plants go down to the ground on either side of the arch where mulch is painted. Mulch helps cut down on erosion, reduces runoff by absorbing water and keeping pollutants out of the waterways. The Wooly has attracted a butterfly, and the Rose has attracted a bee, both are aid in pollination.

“Welcome to Georgetown” by Sarah Blankenship

“Welcome to Georgetown” by Sarah Blankenship, 2023

Sarah J. Blankenship, a dedicated muralist, has been passionately contributing to Georgetown’s artistic landscape since 2018. Prior to her full-time muralist career, she worked in various roles, including the Arts & Culture Coordinator for the City of Georgetown, faux finisher and muralist at In Your Space Collaborative Arts, and Project Design Assistant at the Texas Historical Commission for 13 years.

Sarah’s commitment to Georgetown goes beyond her artistic endeavors. She has volunteered on Georgetown’s Historic and Architectural Review Commission (HARC) and Main Street Program. Alongside her husband, Anthony Blankenship, who volunteers on the GISD school board, they’ve been proud residents of Georgetown since 2003, raising two kids, Adrian and Cassidy, aged 15 & 13.

Her latest achievement is the completion of the ‘Welcome to Georgetown’ mural at the Visitor’s Center, fulfilling her goal of painting on every side of the square. Notable businesses around the square that bear her artistic touch include Tejas, Divine Treasures, Roots, Kilwins, Barrels & Amps, Omnia Outdoors, and the Visitor’s Center. Beyond the square, Blankenship has left her mark on numerous establishments, including the Palace Theatre, Razmataz Salon, Kork Wine Bar, 600 Degrees, Grace Heritage Church, and the Little Lemon in the library.

One of her most well-known Georgetown murals is the ‘Greetings from Georgetown Texas/Red Poppy Capital’ mural at Gus’s drug, a project that involved the collaborative efforts of 151 local residents. For a comprehensive list of mural locations, visit her website at Sarah J. Blankenship’s Mural Locations. Her website’s main page showcases a stunning visual portfolio of her work: Sarah J. Blankenship’s Portfolio.

Stop in the Georgetown Visitors Center at 103 W. Seventh Street to pick up a printed Directory of Public Art or check out Georgetown’s Online Public Art Tour.

“Railroad Rhythm” by Molly Keen

The Georgetown Arts and Culture Board – in collaboration with Georgetown Title Company – selected the artist for the mural at Georgetown Title. This mural is the first commercial mural that is part of the Percent for Public Art Adjacent to Capital Improvement Projects. The Georgetown Title building is adjacent to two Public Improvements Projects – Rock Street Sidewalk Improvements and the new 8th Street Parking Lot. This program presents an opportunity for public art to beautify the surrounding spaces that have become more visible to the public.

Selected artist Molly Keen has created a mural design consisting of abstract shapes and colors while highlighting a train element that represents the history of the site, which was once home to Belford Lumber Company and a stop on the railroad.

Ms. Keen is originally from the Pacific Northwest and is a graduate of Washington State University with a BFA. Keen has spent her career traveling the world, painting 40+ whimsically colored, large-scale murals. Her works are spread across 34 cities and 22 countries, including several acrylic murals as part of residencies in Eindhoven, Netherlands, and Cabanconde, Peru — known for their playful palettes and flowing twists that conjure child-like emotions. For more information on the artist and to view samples of her work, please visit her website by clicking here.