Changing negative perspectives and inspiring the community are the Georgetown Animal Shelter’s goals for its “Pick me!” mural—the latest addition to the city’s growing art scene. “Some people believe animal shelters are a place of sadness and cruelty,” says April Haughey, the city’s Animal Services Manager. “We view animal shelters, truly, as a place for second chances, hope, and a safe haven for homeless, unwanted, and lost animals. We thought a mural would inspire the community to ask about our mission and help us change some people’s perspectives on animal shelters.”
Mural artist Jason Tetlak’s design, “Pick me!” is bright, cheerful, and inspiring, and it encompasses everything the shelter hopes to accomplish through its work. It highlights the importance of adopting from shelters, and the eye-catching design is sure to attract members of the community, which only enhances the shelter’s ability to make a difference one pet at a time.
To highlight the many animals waiting for their forever homes, as well as the shelter’s lifesaving animal rescue and adoption work, Jason painted the “Pick me!” mural at the shelter last month. “I am always looking for projects that use art as a way of transforming public spaces,” he says. “This project not only does that, but it also serves as a way to support a shelter that provides homeless, injured, lost, and neglected pets a second chance at a long, happy life. I’m very honored to have been chosen to work on it.”
A mural artist from Jacksonville, Florida, Jason was chosen by the shelter and the Georgetown Arts and Culture Board to design and install the shelter mural. His artistic footprint can be seen across the country with works like “No Sleep,” a mural in Jacksonville that features the Beastie Boys rock group, and holds the Guinness World Record for largest 3D/Anaglyph* painting. Jason is known for creating bold, colorful pieces, and this new artwork is no exception. “Bright colors have a way of affecting people in a positive way. I hope putting an eye-catching design on this shelter will help draw attention to the great work they are doing here,” he says.
Check out the mural at the Georgetown Animal Shelter, 110 Walden Dr.