An appropriate rain filled afternoon marked the official unveiling of the new mural Saturday on the East End Market building on Water Street. The event was sponsored by the Kerrville Runs on Water and the Upper Guadalupe River Authority. The massive mural was painted by Gary Lovelace and Melissa Muse based on information provided about the flora and fauna in Kerrville and the surrounding area by the Riverside Nature Center. Co-sponsors of the mural project include the Hill Country Alliance, Riverside Nature Center Association, Upper Guadalupe River Authority, Kerr County Water Alliance, and Texas Runs on Water.
“Our newest mural celebrates the Guadalupe River and is part of a statewide campaign from the Texas Water Foundation’s Texas Runs on Water in collaboration with our Kerrville Runs on Water campaign,” said Tara Bushnoe, general manager of the Upper Guadalupe River Authority
Saturday’s event was dubbed a “block party reveal” and was a celebration of Kerrville’s rich history and the community’s strong connection to the Guadalupe River, in the heart of the community.
The block party lasted from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The parking lot adjacent to the building where the mural is located was closed off to vehicles and there were shaded tables, family-friendly activity stations for guests to learn from the local partners more about the water resources in the area, and programs they have to protect the resources.
“I think our best decision with this mural was getting “The Artist Couple” Gary Lovelace and Melissa Muse on board because they have exceeded our expectations and really took an initial vision and ran with it. They added so much, over a hundred species of native animals and plants, insects and fish that are included in the mural. You will have to challenge yourself to find them all,” Bushnoe added.
Bushnoe thanked Cindy and Rick Burton with the East End Market for allowing the mural to be painted on the side of their building and also for allowing the Saturday event to take place on the adjacent parking lot.
“We hope you enjoy the mural today and it helps you have a better connection with the Guadalupe River and understand how our community is so connected to the river. I hope it inspires you to find ways in your own life to help improve the health of the river where that’s through having a waterwise landscape, a rainwater catchment system, or reducing the rainwater run-off on your property. We can all have a small part in keeping the river healthy,” Bushnoe told those who attended the unveiling of the mural.
Included in the afternoon activities was a scavenger hunt on the mural where guests were challenged to find a list of items painted on the mural. Travis Powers provided music for the event which included free drinks and light snacks for those in attendance.
Financial supporters of the mural project included the Texas Water Foundation, Hill Country Alliance, UGRA, Kerrville Community Arts Program and contributions from the community.
Texas Water Foundation representative Brianna Fuller explained that the foundation works closely with other water-related agencies around the state.
“We are all about leading Texas into a sustainable water future. We believe one of those ways is by inviting the everyday Texans into the conversation and bringing awareness for the state’s growing water security needs,” Fuller said.
She said their program could be localized to communities and tailored to local water challenges plus the cultural nuances in each community they are working with. The mural unveiled Saturday is the second mural in Kerrville produced under that partnership. The partnership will soon include smaller murals on local utility boxes in partnership with KPUB.
Artists who painted the mural, Gary Lovelace and Melissa Muse, added comments to the event.
“This project was a lot of fun. We hid all these creatures in the mural to inspire people. It was fun throwing in all these critters,” Lovelace said.
Muse said after receiving a list from the Riverside Nature Center of the flora and fauna and native animals were added that they had over 100 different items in the mural.
“But we realized we didn’t have any butterflies so I added them yesterday before the rain began,” Muse said. She also added that they “might sneak back out and add more things later.”
Hill Country Alliance Water Program Manager Marisa Bruno, in closing remarks, said that the alliance works with lots of local partners on the ground to preserve the land, water, night skies and to preserve the unique character of the Hill Country, which included the mural projects.
Bruno praised the local water entities for their support of the mural project and their efforts working together to preserve the water resources in this area.
“I also want to thank the mural sponsors, James Avery, H-E-B, Texas Water Foundation, Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, and UGRA. It was a team effort,” Bruno added.
The Hill Country Alliance offices in Dripping Springs and is made up of volunteers from several counties in the Hill Country including “landowners, community leaders, business owners, elected officials, and experts in the field and champions of the Hill Country,” according to their website. The alliance also highlights in their programing the issues of land stewardship and conservation as well as the popular “night skies” designation for rural areas of the state. They are involved with proposed legislation and regulations during the Texas Legislature’s session each biennium. There are no representatives of Kerr County currently serving on their board of directors. For more information go to [email protected].
The mural on the East End Market is the third mural to be painted on commercial buildings in Kerrville. The NAPA Auto Parts Store on Jefferson St. was the first and Voelkel Engineering building at the corner of Clay and Water St. was second, and was also completed in a partnership of the Hill Country Water Alliance and UGRA.
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