Dallas Morning News
By Susan McFarland
1:00 PM on Oct 10, 2022 CDT

A story that pays tribute to McKinney’s identity and culture can now be seen for miles, with the completion of a mural on 100-foot-tall silos in the city’s cultural district.

After nearly two months of painting, Australian artist Guido van Helten finished his artwork on the concrete silos off East Virginia and Main streets, according to a city news release.

The work contributes to the artist’s U.S. silo series, Monuments. The photo-realistic murals form a trail across the country, with other public art installations in Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas and Arkansas.

“For the past five years, the Monuments projects I have been working on in the U.S. are largely focused in regional areas, with the intent of sharing local stories and projecting community voices to a wider audience,” van Helten said in a prepared statement. “This project now adds another southern element linking to other locations in the ongoing series.”

Before beginning his work, van Helten and a cultural researcher spent time in McKinney learning from citizens about their identities, heritage and cultures. A resident survey also gave van Helten perspective on the stories and people of the city.

The artist drew inspiration from more than 5,000 photographs, recorded interviews and oral histories, interacted with hundreds of residents and visited small businesses, nonprofits and places of worship. He even held a workshop with Faubion Middle School students, according to the news release.

“The artwork is a snapshot of the unique atmosphere and moment in this community as it continues to shift and grow,” van Helten said. “With a considered, culture-focused approach, I wanted to ensure that the artwork on a heritage industrial structure remains relevant as this city expands around it.”

McKinney Mayor George Fuller said the art has a lot of layers, which to him represents the layers of the city.

“McKinney isn’t just one thing; we have a balance of the historic and the new, the old and the young, growing amenities and open spaces, a large city but a hometown feel,” Fuller said. “Our dichotomy is our strength.”

City Manager Paul Grimes said the art gives residents a stronger sense of identity, helps differentiate the community and celebrates the power of ideas and images.

“These silos are now an iconic spot in our community, and we are thrilled with how they turned out,” Grimes said.

Soon the silos will serve as the backdrop of the new McKinney City Hall, expected to break ground later this month.

Other art projects in McKinney’s cultural district include the Monarchs of McKinney sculptures and the three-story McKinney Blooms mosaic on the Chestnut Commons parking garage.