LOCAL Houston | The City Guide January 2018 | Page 19

ART A COALITION COLORS THEIR COMMUNITY “TURTLE SOUP” SERVED UP IN THE EAST END Some of Houston’s best art can be found among the stunning murals and street painting on the east side of town. And now there’s a new addition to the multicultural mix. A 260-foot long concrete wall at 7400 JW Peavy Drive in Magnolia Park has been transformed by a colorful mural, “Turtle Soup,” recently commissioned by the Greater East End Management District (GEEMD). The mural was painted by world-renowned graffiti artist Pilot FX (Adam Socie) with UP Art Studio. The initial design was created by local East End artist, “Magnolia Grown” Jesse Rodriguez. The GEEMD's beautification efforts have received recognition from Keep Houston Beautiful, and have been awarded the 2017 Mayor’s Proud Partner Award. The mural is also the result of a coalition of community groups in the East End. During a two-week period, more than 300 individual veteran and student volunteers cleared a 15-foot wide swath of overgrown foliage along a third of a linear mile of JW Peavy Drive to reveal an abandoned railroad spur. The spur was co nverted into a walking trail with 48 yards of mulch created from the trees and shrubs. The mural wall was cleaned and primed during the volunteer weekend. This major undertaking was completed through generous sponsorships and in-kind labor from: The Mission Continues; HOBY; YES Prep East End; Keep Houston Beautiful; UP Art Studio; Pilot FX; City of Houston Department of Neighborhoods and Maria Bolanos; City of Houston Solid Waste; Council Member Robert Gallegos; Houston Police Department; Harris County Constable Precinct 6; East End Businesses: NuStar Energy, L.P.; Shell Oil; Frost Bank; Space City Credit Union; Sesco Cement; and Port of Houston; with support from TIRZ 23. 12.7.2017 11:42am Photography by Dan Joyce 36 L O C A L | 1 . 2018 38 40 42 MUSEUM DISTRICT EXHIBITS GISH AT THE MOVIES 1 . 2018 | L O C A L 37