BY: SUSAN SELESKY
City officials look to local muralist as a creative solution
to persistent graffiti problem.
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| Planned sight of Sessom Drive graffiti mural Photo by: Susan Selesky |
Director of Programs at Keep San Marcos Beautiful, Amy
Kirwin, has recently began a new graffiti project to solve the problem of
high-tagging areas around the city; a series of mural installations in the
larger, more graffiti prone areas of San Marcos.
“We’re taking a different side on (graffiti) as far as the
high-tag areas, we’re turning those into murals so that we can avoid having to
go back over them with the patchworks of color that almost look as bad as the
graffiti itself,” Kirwin said.
The city plans to hire local artist David Perez of Lestras
Customs to create their first mural on a large stretch of wall along a drainage
ditch on Sessom Drive, an area prone to graffiti and patchwork cover-up jobs.
The colorful works of Letra's Customs can be found on various buildings around
the capital city area of Austin, San Marcos and San Antonio. The most notable
works in San Marcos being an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ themed piece off of South
LBJ Drive, and an apocalyptic “9” inspired piece behind an antique lighting
dealer on South Edward Gary Street, behind Railyard Bar & Grill.
“Those are very graffiti-esque, this one will be more
realistic,” Kirwin said of the planned mural, “it’s going to be an underground
view of Edward’s Aquifer, with water and a cave view; we’re very excited about
it.”
While the city sees the mural as an artistic way to prevent unwanted graffiti, Perez sees it as an opportunity to showcase another side of his artistic ability.
"The murals won't reflect graff, but it will give a great example of what can be done with spray paint," Perez said. "It will give me an opportunity to show my skills off and avoid being tight casted as 'the graffiti guy'."
Along with the "Alice" and "9" walls, Perez's work can be seen in various San Marcos institutions such as The Yellow Store on East Hopkins Street and two water towers around the Texas State Agriculture building.
While the city sees the mural as an artistic way to prevent unwanted graffiti, Perez sees it as an opportunity to showcase another side of his artistic ability.
"The murals won't reflect graff, but it will give a great example of what can be done with spray paint," Perez said. "It will give me an opportunity to show my skills off and avoid being tight casted as 'the graffiti guy'."
Along with the "Alice" and "9" walls, Perez's work can be seen in various San Marcos institutions such as The Yellow Store on East Hopkins Street and two water towers around the Texas State Agriculture building.
Keep San Marcos Beautiful is currently undergoing the necessary city process to get the mural plans approved.
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| Details of Letra's Customs 'Alice in Wonderland' piece on South LBJ Drive Photo by: Susan Selesky |
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