The Levelland Main Street is proud to welcome four new additions to their downtown mosaic art offerings.
A project that has been long awaited, the Main Street Program has announced the date for the ribbon cutting, unveiling and planting, April 27th at 10 a.m. It was stated that the concept to bring additional mosaic art offereing started years ago, but really got underway in 2021.
With the vision of the past Main Street Manager Missy Passmore, her board and various committee volunteers, it was set into motion and started to grow legs with th donations of five major donors: The Levelland Noon Rotary, Preston and Lydia Turner, The Levelland Marigolds, Keeling Insurance and the Hockley County Historic Commission.
The project consists of four large custom concrete cast planters, expertly crafted by Restorhaus, that will be placed on each of the courthouse square business sides. Each planter will have four unique mosaic art pieces inspired by donor concepts and designed and artistically recreated by mosaic artists, John and Bette Hope. Each planter is approximately 3' x 3' with recessed areas on each side for the mosaic inset. The planters will have four mosaics that are 28' wide and 21' tall.
The Levelland Noon Rotary’s mosaic planter pays homage to our oilfield industry and showcases a familiar Rotary image depicting unity, as well as two sides creating an adjoining rainbow representing renewed hope and the ever present wishes of Rotary for its community, its region and the world.
Preston and Lydia Turner Family planter has an overarching farm theme and pays tribute to education as well, a testimony to two industries this family holds near and dear. The designs include a tractor, cotton bolls, a cactus with a humming bird, and a book with colored pencils and an apple.
The Levelland Marigold’s organization features Marigold flowers, a rooster and hen, a cactus and a butterfly. This planter will be placed on the East side of the square in the concrete patch in front of the memorial bench also dedicated to the club with their founding members listed on its plaque.
George R. Keeling Insurance Agency’s planter features creatures native to West Texas and they come to life in these depictions of a horned-toad eating an ant, a close up of a roadrunner head, a prairie dog and a burrowing owl. These are fun, adorable and right on point for the past SPC Biology instructor and historic preservation advocate.
The final donation made by the Hockley County Historical Commission was given when the project seemed destined for cancellation, when Covid hit and the materials skyrocketed. The price essentially doubled and the commission filled in the gap funding, showing their own commitment to the revitalization and investment in the growth of art and culture in downtown Levelland. Project cost for the mosaic planters were approximately $9,215, donor plaques, soil and flowers estimated at $2,250 and then expected seasonal costs for flower replacement and watering will be incorporated into Community Planting Day, going forward.
Each planter will have a plaque that contains the name of the donors that funded this project, along with a QR code that will take you to a page that has more information about the process, the fabricator, the artists and the sponsors. The sponsors will be given the opportunity to plant in advance to Community Planting Day this year, but each year after, the planting will commence in conjunction with the annual event.
“We want everyone to come out and celebrate the completion of this project, honor the sponsors, funders, fabricators, and artists and enjoy the unveiling with us.” says Main Street Manager, Tania Moody. “This is an incredible win for downtown and continues to increase the number of mosaic art pieces for our community and visitors alike, to enjoy.” she added.