| Deer Park storage tanks feature Texas history artwork
Shell Deer Park has attached two giant murals that depict scenes from Texas’ history to crude oil storage tanks. The new 40-foot by 140-foot murals illustrate the story of the 1836 Texas Republic Army marching toward the San Jacinto Battleground, where they won their independence from Mexico.
The murals are part of Project Stars, which is a regional program that aims to highlight the history that is unique to the area. The program also intends to beautify the region, which is comprised of hundreds of petrochemical and refining facilities. Two other companies – LyondellBasell and Vopak – also affixed Texas history artwork to storage tanks.
Shell dedicated the murals to the community during a ceremony on Jan. 24. Deer Park general manager Aamir Farid told employees and community dignitaries that Shell is proud to be part of such an ambitious and compelling project. “A little more than a year ago, I did not envision that two of our oil storage tanks would today be canvasses for Texas history artwork. Project Stars truly is a museum without walls.”
Deer Park Mayor Wayne Riddle thanked Shell for helping to beautify the city. “We are so proud of Shell for allowing us to use these tanks,” he said. “It's an honor and a privilege to call Shell a friend to our community.”
To create the images on the murals, artist Gary Foreman, founder of Native Sun Productions, took hundreds of photos of men reenacting the battle scene. The actors were dressed in historically accurate clothes. A graphic artist then compiled Foreman’s photos into one mural using Photoshop. The final mural was printed onto dozens of vinyl 3M adhesive panels, which were then pieced together and sealed to the walls of the tank by a heating process.
Shell’s murals are visible from the busy highway that borders the site’s southern fence line.
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