Westchase District unveiled its newest — and biggest — mural at a celebration attended by city officials, first responders and community leaders. The “Harvey Heroes” mural, created by artist Larry Crawford, pays tribute to the first responders who rescued so many people stranded by high water in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.
The mural dedication occurred just one week shy of the first-anniversary of Harvey’s devastating blow on the Texas Gulf Coast.
Westchase District commissioned the work by Crawford as part of its growing public art program in the area. “We now have four murals and ten “muralitos” in Westchase District,” says Louis Jullien, who oversees the art program for Westchase District. Muralitos are the painted utility boxes that appear at various intersections throughout Westchase District.
The newest mural is 20-feet tall by 100-feet wide and is painted on the concrete slope of the Harris County Flood Control drainage channel just north of the Westpark Tollway. The mural is easily accessible via the Westchase District trail system.
“Larry’s use of color and the detail that he brings to his work is impressive,” adds Jullien. The mural depicts two rescue helicopters.a small boat manned by trained first responders and an air boat operated by civilian volunteers. The mural illustrates the darkness of the storm giving way to light over the downtown skyline as the storm clears.
Crawford painted the mural over three months, having to take breaks for the extreme summer heat and unpredictable weather. “This is a permanent tribute to the first responders, both law enforcement and civilians who came to the aid of their neighbors after the storm,” says Crawford. “It’s appropriate that the mural is located on the drainage channel.”
Jullien says two more murals are planned this year.
More pictures are posted on Westchase District’s Facebook page. And the Houston Chronicle captured drone footage of the unveiling.
