The details
The mural was commissioned by the San Marcos Arts Commission and cost $80,000, which was funded through the city’s public art fund, Arts Coordinator Trey Hatt told Community Impact. The city’s public art fund is paid for through hotel occupancy tax funds.
“Flowing Through San Marcos” was completed by artist Andrey Kravtsov—who works under the name Key Detail—and showcases wildflowers, Old Main, a bobcat, an egret, otter and the cascading falls of the San Marcos River. The mural is about 5,000 square feet and is the largest of its kind in San Marcos, according to a news release.
Kravtsov began working on the mural in early August. After three and a half weeks, 350 cans of spray paint and 18 gallons of protective coating, the mural was complete, the news release states.
Diving in deeper
Hatt said there was a mural on the building about 10 years ago, but the vinyl paneling was fading, and in late 2020 they had to decommission it.
The arts commission put out a nationwide call for artist qualifications and received over 100 responses both locally and nationally. They narrowed it down to three finalists, who were ranked through past experience and art samples. The three finalists were notified and asked to come down to San Marcos for a public meeting to hear from people who live and work downtown, Hatt said.
Hatt also said the project was challenging because the building butts up against Union Pacific Railroad right of way, so the city had to work with the railroad company to acquire a permit to enter and work on their property.
“I think it’s a really good example of two agencies coordinating and working well together so that really made things very doable for the project,” Hatt told Community Impact.
What the artist is saying
Kravtsov said the mural celebrates the history and nature of the San Marcos community—from the area’s Indigenous roots to its architectural and educational heritage.
“My hope is that it serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving these elements while inspiring a sense of unity and belonging among residents,” Kravtsov said in a news release.
