With over 100 art installations, Levelland has long been known as the City of Mosaics. The addition of a new mosaic at City Hall and the Wallace Theater’s ongoing efforts can remind citizens of the value of art in communities.
“I believe public art is one of the most powerful investments a community can make because it enriches people socially, culturally, emotionally and economically,” mosaic artist Pauline Mills said. “It transforms ordinary spaces into places where people want to gather, connect and create memories.”
Mills recently finished the mosaic for Levelland’s centennial. She noted that one way art impacts communities is through its collaborative nature. When citizens create something together, they develop a sense of ownership and personal connection.
“Public art tells the unique story of a community – its history, values, people and aspirations – and gives residents a shared sense of identity and pride,” she said. “When people see themselves reflected in public art, they develop a stronger connection to where they live. It creates opportunity for conversations across cultures and generations and reminds us that we all belong to something bigger than ourselves.”
The mosaic is not the only artistic development happening in town. The Wallace Theater is working to put together educational opportunities for local students and received grant funding to start a collective impact organization, called F.R.A.M.E. that will help school districts across Hockley County get the resources they need to provide quality art education.
“It’s all about enriching the community and building up the quality-of-life opportunities,” Wallace Executive Director Alycyn Keeling said. “By working to create these opportunities, we want to support our students, we want to support our teachers, and we want to support long-term success for our students.”
Keeling said one project they are working on right now is providing an arts education field trip for each student in Hockley County. These field trips will include interactive tours and shows for younger students, productions of books commonly read in school and a humorous show about surviving middle school.Apanel discussion is also in the works for juniors and seniors preparing for college.
“When it comes to education, there’s a lot of research about listening to different types of music while you study or while you’re learning and how that can help you remember things that you’re learning in the classroom,” she said. “Going back to these productions, think about reading the Giver or reading “The Wind in the Willows”. When you see that production live, it brings the story to life and helps you remember the lessons that you learn from that book.”
In addition to strengthening communities and providing educational opportunities, art can be a catalyst for economic development by attracting tourism, and thus more foot traffic around local shops, as well as employment opportunities.
“When you go to other communities, you want to go to different kinds of attractions, and so often, those things are connected to arts,” Keeling said. “It helps tell people what a community is about.”
Art also helps both mental and physical health. Americans for the Arts reported links between participation in the arts and lower stress levels, improved healthcare and innovation.
“Sometimes when you see new things and have new experiences, it helps you think about things differently, so maybe challenges that you’re trying to solve at work or school or different kinds of problems,” Keeling said. “When we’re younger, we have so much with our imagination, and art and theater are a way to continue to use that imagination as we get older.”
More information about Wallace and the opportunities they provide can be found on their website. Main Street Director Kelly Hancock also said they are working to finalize a mosaic brochure. Additionally, further information about the benefits of art can be found in the Texas Cultural Trust State of the Arts Report and on the Americans for the Arts website.
“Art encourages people to slow down, observe, ask questions and engage with their surroundings in a different way,” Mills said. “It brings beauty into everyday life, encourages civic pride, creates lasting memories and reminds people that creativity belongs to everyone, not just those who visit museums or galleries.”