Second Mural to be Installed in Downtown Plano Arts District

This past July, North Texas artist Will Heron installed the first of three murals coming to the Downtown Plano Arts District as part of the Plano Mural project, a joint effort announced in January between the Historic Downtown Plano Association, Heritage Commission and Plano Art Association.

Will’s mural graces the west side of Georgia’s Farmers Market and incorporates The Texas Pool, the Interurban Railway, cotton, a windmill and other symbols of Plano’s past in a contemporary style with bold colors.

Dallas artist Will Heron working on the first Downtown Plano Arts District mural // photos Jennifer Shertzer

The completed mural on the west side of Georgia's Farmers Market Plano TX — The completed mural on the west side of Georgia’s Farmers Market

On Aug. 28, artist Wes Hardin will begin painting the district’s second mural on the exterior wall of Vickery Park. All three murals are to be inspired by historic photos of Plano that residents submitted to the Plano Mural Project.

Wes Hardin’s design represents a scene one would have found in downtown Plano in the early 1900s: citizens strolling in period dress, a Texas Electric Railway railcar and the train depot, and a delivery boy riding in a horse and buggy. The whole scene is set in front of a colorful Texas sunset.

“Wes Hardin is an accomplished artist with over 37 years spent as a muralist and illustrator,” said Gene Dillard, president of the Plano Art Association. “It’s been great to see the diverse ways each artist has interpreted the project. We can’t wait for Plano to see how Wes makes the photos they submitted come to life in this second mural.”

One of the photos used for inspiration is described as: "Courting in 1904, C. C. Allen taking Effie Huguley for a day in Dallas accompanied by a chaperone; They are standing on platform of Interurban Express" // photo courtesy Plano Public Library Genealogy Center, Francis Bates Wells Collection — One of the photos used for inspiration is described as: “Courting in 1904, C. C. Allen taking Effie Huguley for a day in Dallas accompanied by a chaperone; They are standing on platform of Interurban Express” // photo courtesy Plano Public Library Genealogy Center, Francis Bates Wells Collection

Another historic Plano photo used as inspiration for the mural shows the original Interurban Railway depot, year unknown, taken by R. F. Hall; the depot has been completely renovated and now stands as the visitor center for the Interurban Railway Museum // photo courtesy Plano Public Library Genealogy Center, James Edwards Collection

The second mural’s location, on the rear, west wall of Vickery Park, will face the Downtown Plano DART station. How fitting that an ode to the past form of rail transportation – the Texas Electric Railway which connected North Texas cities from 1908-1948 – will be visible to riders as they take today’s train to Dallas.

“We are so thrilled to be part of this project and to have had our wall chosen for a mural,” said Nikki Tuttle, Vickery Park’s property owner. “It’s another unique addition to a neighborhood already filled with character. We love that the mural will be front and center to be seen by downtown visitors taking the DART.”

Another photo used for inspiration is this 1908 photo of the delivery cart for Carlisle Grocery, driven by Chiney Williams // photo courtesy Plano Public Library Genealogy Center, Francis Bates Wells Collection

Designs are under review for the third and final Downtown Plano mural, which will be located on the west wall of Angela’s at the Crosswalk. Installation is predicted to begin in late September or early October.

Downtown Plano Arts District >

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