Georgetown now has a new mural for the community to enjoy at Gus’s Drug.
The new mural is a companion to the iconic “Georgetown” mural painted on the outside wall of the pharmacy. located at 702 E University Ave, which has become a destination for tourists, senior photos and more. Both murals were designed and completed by Sarah J. Blankenship, who has painted several murals in the community.
“The mural that we installed with Sarah in 2020 has been really popular,” Amanda Bradley, co-owner of Gus’s Drug, told Hello Georgetown. “It’s beautiful. I think it’s a great addition to not only our small business here in Georgetown, but also the community of Georgetown, and we honestly just wanted to bring some of that beauty from the outside, inside, not only for our employees to enjoy, but the community to stop in and enjoy. So, we had her come work her magic again.”
Blankenship said she started designing with a goal of bringing “the outside, inside,” using similar colors and designs. After several design drafts and revisions, Blankenship began the mural installation process. First the walls were painted blue, next the design was sketched out, and then she hand-painted the flowers and lettering. The entire installation process took a week and a half.
Different Concept Designs of the Mural (Images Will Rotate Automatically) | Images Courtesy: Sarah J. Blankenship
“I like to live in that creative space, so I would pop in pretty much every day, multiple times a day just to see it coming together,” Bradley said. “It’s really fun to watch it go from a huge blank wall to something really pretty that, again, not only do we get to enjoy, but we’ve had all of our customers come in and watch Sarah during the process too.”
Now, the new “Love Ya Georgetown” mural radiates from inside the pharmacy as an artistic message of decades of gratitude and love for the community, and serves as a perfect compliment to the pharmacy’s first mural.
“Gus’s has been in Georgetown since 1955,” Bradley said. “Our hope and goal is to be an active member of the community and loving our community and our patients, and being a space and a partner in their healthcare. So, I think that’s kind of the overarching message as it comes from Gus’s. For me personally, my husband and I are the owners of Gus’s and we love this community since we’ve been here, and we’re raising our kids here. So, it’s just a nod of what a great community it’s been for us and the journey that we plan to take in Georgetown.”
Being involved in designing and painting the mural, Blankenship said, also held personal meaning. As a muralist whose work can be found in 31 cities in Texas, Georgetown is home and has been a constant source of support for Blankenship throughout her career.
“”Love Ya Georgetown” is an awesome message for me as a muralist because that’s where my mural career started,” Sarah J. Blankenship, Muralist and Sign Painter, told Hello Georgetown. “That’s where I get my support from. That’s where so many people have encouraged me along my journey, so it’s really nice to be involved with this project. I’ve lived here since 2003, I’ve got a lot of love for Georgetown, and getting to paint that message for others to see was pretty meaningful.”
Bradley said she hopes customers and community members stop by, enjoy the mural and snap a few pictures too. Additionally, those who want to wear and share the message of “Love Ya Georgetown,” can pick up a shirt, mug or other merchandise sporting the original phrase that inspired the mural.
Learn more about Gus’s Drug on their website or Facebook page, and learn more about Sarah J. Blankenship and her work at https://www.sarahjblankenship.com/ or on Facebook or Instagram.
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