Janie & Travis Royal Historical Mural Dedication and Open House

A couple weeks ago, we introduced you to Janie & Travis Royal.  The mural was installed on Friday, April 8, 2016. It was designed by Jeff Naukam of the Bubble.

On Sunday, April 10, 2016, the library opened for a special open house and dedication of the mural.  Refreshments were lovingly provided (and mostly handmade) by Bette Bronstad, Teresa Cabano, Loretta Dubois, Terri Grizzelle, Ella Patterson, Donna Peterson, and Bonnie Richards.

Over 80 people came on Sunday to honor Travis and Janie at the open house and enjoyed an exhibit of his photographs and historical objects from the Birdville Museum.

 Library Director, Lesly Smith, gave a history of the mural project.

 Betty Porter, Director of the Birdville Museum and Birdville Historical Society gave a brief history of the Birdville community and the Birdville Historical Society.

Drew Sanders was in attendance and signing his new book, The Garden of Eden (place a hold a library copy).

The mural was made possible by the generosity of the following donors: Ann Bastable, Rodney and Pamela Bland, Jesse (Pat) Brown, Mona R. Brown, Frances Burns, Dr. Norman and Mary Ruth Ellis, Michelle Emery, Don and Terri Grizzelle, Bonnie Jean Hensleigh, Betty Kurecka, Pack Optical, Bonnie Richards, Susan Roach, Ricky J. and Linda R. Roberts, Travis Royal, Lesly M. Smith and David W. Young, Pamela Sonderer, and Patsy Newton Sullivan. 

A Continuation of Celebrating Books, Art, and Community…..

As a means of encouraging residents’ interest in the arts, the Art in the City Committee coordinated a mural design contest last spring and challenged students at Haltom High School to enter. The contest was co-sponsored by the Haltom City Library 50^th Anniversary Committee. Theme of the winning work was to be military in honor of those who had served in the United States Armed Forces.  Winners were announced before the end of school  last year. They are: 1^st Place – Erik Johnson; 2^nd Place Bethany Ivey.

So that these works could be seen by the public, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department employees constructed two four by 16 foot pallets on the lawn at the library. The students from Haltom High completed the mural by applying the winning designs during the inaugural Art in the City Haltom City Art Festival, held Oct. 1 at the Library. Those who drive by can appreciate the students’ work, just in time for an observance of Veteran’s Day 2011.

A special thanks to Fran Burns who provided this information and photos of the murals in progress, and of course, to all the volunteers of the Art in the City Committee and the Haltom City Public Library's 50th Anniversary Committee for their vision, hard work, and dedication to Haltom City and the library.