New mural commemorates city’s 150 years
Taylor’s newest mural — a larger-than-life postcard highlighting the city’s 150 years of existence — is taking shape on the east side of Black Sparrow Music Parlor downtown.
Local artist Adam Davenport began the project Oct. 12 at 113 W. Second St. and plans to finish it by the end of the month.
Sponsors are Sonora Bank and the John Wehby and Ed Komandosky Foundation.
Davenport, who also created the mural of Olympic champion and Taylor native Fred Kerley on the water tower, 1606 N. Main St., and the statue of local-born rodeo star Bill Pickett at the corner of Main and Second streets, designed the new mural in the style of a 1950s postcard with bright colors and scenes from Taylor’s past and future.
Taylor’s newest mural is being painted by local artist Adam Davenport on the side of Black Sparrow Music Parlor, 113 W. Second St. Photos by Emily Treadway
Letters of the Taylor mural will include scenes from the town, such as the historic City Hall and the future of semiconductor technology.
“This is a prominent and exciting new art piece in historic downtown Taylor,” said Taylor native, architect and developer Douglas Moss, who helped push for the mural. “We really wanted to highlight the city’s birthday celebration…( but) the more art and the more murals we can put downtown, the better.”
Taylor is celebrating its sesquicentennial anniversary this year, with tributes highlighting its evolution from a rowdy railroad town on the cotton circuit to a modern high-tech hub for industries such as Samsung Austin Semiconductor.
Black Sparrow owner Shannon Bagent credits Moss with getting the mural approved, saying she tried for several years to receive approval to cover the blank wall.
“It’s such a huge part of our downtown,” Bagent said.
Moss agreed. “Part of the idea about this (mural) is people are going to be able to see it very clearly from Main Street when they’re at the intersection, and because it’s on Second Street, it will be on the street going down to (the new) City Hall and we’re just trying to make it vibrant,” Moss said.
Taylor’s new Justice Center combining City Hall, the Police Department and Municipal Court is under construction just a few blocks away between East First and East Second streets.
Davenport said he had eyeballed the Black Sparrow’s east wall for many years and was excited to paint it.
“Being from Taylor and being able to keep doing these fun projects, I’m honored and fortunate,” Davenport said.
Meanwhile, the city has announced a 150th birthday celebration for Taylor will kick off with a street dance at Second and Porter streets 6-9 p.m. Nov. 13, followed by a street fair and festival 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 14 centered around Heritage Square Park featuring vendors, live music and family fun.
Taylor’s first drone show is 7:30 p.m., according to a social media post.
