An ode to Wimberley: new mural at Alexis Pointe

Down Ranch Road 12, tucked away from the bustle, lies a community of seniors at Alexis Pointe.

During a happy hour last September, independent living residents approached Katy Starr about sprucing up their backyard view. In apartments separate from the main facility, their covered patios looked into an overgrown prairie and the backside of Brookshire Brothers. During the pandemic, longtime Wimberlonian Petesie Lee would keep eye on semi-truck deliveries (of, hopefully, toilet paper) and alert her troops for further investigation. Tactical as it was, their field of vision lacked color and charm.

Starr’s father is a key member of Vision Lampasas, a nonprofit society “motivated to enhance the aesthetic, social, cultural and economic welfare” through various community events and projects. The organization had erected countless murals across town, transforming cinder block storefronts and overlooked alleyways into colorful homages to the city’s history. So, as community relations director, Starr started scheming.

The Wimberley Valley Arts and Cultural Alliance, best known for the network of iconic boots around town, were enthusiastic in their support, alongside Mayor Gina Fulkerson and the Wimberley City Council. Unfortunately, for safety and liability reasons, painting the wall of Brookshire’s fell through. After navigating some bureaucratic red tape with Civitas, Alexis Pointe’s home office, Starr received the green light to paint the water silo near the front entrance to the building.

The plot was no small task. The silo, approximately 110 feet in circumference and 6.5 feet tall, demanded a large scape of design.

On May 10, WVACA published a call for artists on their website, with the theme “View of Wimberley,” attracting nine submissions from across the state. The council narrowed the choices to two with final deliberation left to the residents of Alexis Pointe — a good, old-fashioned vote.

The winner was part of the Alexis Pointe family, Chuck Cordes, whose dad, Bill, celebrated his 100th birthday at Alexis Pointe on Sept. 6. Cordes’ design captured the beauty of Wimberley and its beloved landmarks: the stone steps up Mt. Baldy, Wimberley Valley dark skies, Hill Country sunsets, the bucking cowboy of the rodeo and the region’s iconic wildlife.

“Many thanks go to the Wimberley community, who exceeded the $5000.00 fundraising goal to compensate the artist and purchase supplies, as well as ACE Hardware, for their donations,” shared Starr. WVACA “struck ground” Sept. 11, surrounded by the smiling and pleased audience of Alexis Pointe residents and their families.

Alexis Pointe resident Marceline Fey first touched paint to silo, followed by Clemmie Grey and Carole Malone. Chuck worked under the watchful eye of his dad — who was a sign maker in his hay day. With the support of family members, sometimes three generations at once, a vivid and touching tribute to Wimberley’s history sprang to life.

Alexis Pointe staff lent their time to the project, including maintenance director Jason Riha, activities director Lili Kiel, and beloved Jill-of-alltrades Leah Dunn.

What started as a pitch for curb appeal became a labor of love that will live on in Wimberley for decades to come. From afar, the paint creates obvious, familiar animals and icons; only with a curious eye will you see specks of purple on the nose of the ram or the shadow on the windmill’s fantail. Like the creatures commemorated in the mural, the work of these seniors — in Alexis Pointe and the Wimberley community at large — is an impressive passion project. The Alexis Pointe mural stands as an invitation to come in close and prize the history that lives on.

As temperatures drop and the sun sets sooner, progress on the mural has slowed to a halt. Starr expects an early spring reveal when work resumes. Ewing Landscaping and Daniel’s Welding and Landscaping have generously committed supplies and labor to create a crushed granite walkway surrounding the silo, providing a 360-degree view of the work. Residents will sign their work as it is completed. A commemorative plaque and bench are also in the works.

Katy Starr has championed this project since its inception, pulling each piece together with grit and heart.

“A visit to the mural could act as a segue for families who are interested in assisted living services,” she said. “We hope that anyone who sees the mural is encouraged to come inside and say hello, get to know our residents, or volunteer.”