A massive mural project is currently underway on the retaining wall of Longview Mall property, with local artist Laren Slaton leading the ambitious effort to create what could become one of East Texas's largest pieces of public art. The owner of Mustard Seed Murals has been working with a team of artists to transform the lengthy concrete wall into a vibrant community artwork that aims to bring people together.
Slaton's vision for the project began approximately three years ago when she would ride her moped along the street adjacent to the wall. During these rides, she developed a dream to paint the entire wall from end to end. After measuring the structure, she discovered it stretches over 1,300 feet in length, with varying heights ranging from 10 to 20 feet at different sections, making the total square footage difficult to calculate precisely.
The scale of the project positions it to become a significant landmark for the area. According to Slaton, the next largest mural in the East Texas region is the Genesis mural in Beaumont, which covers 10,000 square feet. "I think that's really good bragging rights for Longview, Texas," Slaton said, expressing pride in her hometown's potential artistic achievement.
Initially, the mall management granted Slaton permission to paint on the wall free of charge. However, she developed an innovative approach to fund and support the project by offering sponsorship opportunities to local businesses. "Just kind of like advertising for them, but it also shows that they care about their community and the art that's in it," Slaton explained, describing how the sponsorship program serves dual purposes of business promotion and community engagement.
The physical demands of the project require careful planning and safety measures. Artists typically work during the early morning hours, from 5 to 9 AM, before the sun rises over the wall and makes conditions too hot for painting. The varying heights of the wall necessitate the use of ladders and harnesses to reach the top sections safely. "It can be a little scary because you're kind of having to lean back and use your body weight to not fall," said Jodi Wolfe, one of the contributing artists working on the mural.
Despite the challenges, the artists involved in the project express excitement about their collaborative effort. "I mean I'm excited to be able to just stand in front of it and just be like, 'We did all this,' you know," said Tobey Wolfe, another painter working on the massive artwork. The team continues their work daily, though the project still has significant progress to make.
The mural project operates on a sponsorship model with approximately 270 available spots for businesses to support the artwork. Currently, about 132 sponsorship positions remain unfilled, indicating that roughly half of the funding goals have been met. This community-supported approach allows local businesses to participate in the creation of public art while receiving recognition for their contribution.
Slaton's motivation for the project extends beyond creating visual appeal, focusing on the emotional impact the artwork can have on viewers. "My goal for this wall is to spread joy and happiness. Somebody look at it and maybe they're having a bad day, and they see it and they're like, you know, maybe my day is not that bad after all," she explained. "I hope that it brings camaraderie to Longview. I hope that it brings us all together."
The ambitious timeline for completion extends through the next year, with Slaton setting a goal to finish the entire mural by August 2026. Businesses interested in sponsoring sections of the mural or artists who want to contribute to the painting can contact Slaton at mustardseed.paintmuralsgmail.com for pricing information and participation details. The project represents a significant investment in community art and local business collaboration, potentially establishing Longview as home to one of Texas's most impressive public murals.
