There are four "pillars" on the George and Cynthia Mitchell Memorial Causeway, two on the north end and two on the south end. They were recently painted by local spray artist Gabriel Prusmack.
Each pair has the same design in the direction they are facing, for a total of four different sets of paintings.
You will see this in your rear view mirror when you come onto the causeway headed south or when you are about to come off the causeway heading north.
As with the opposite side of this pillar, I'm not an expert on larger birds, so I will tell you that these are two big white birds with long legs. Crane? Stork? I don't know. I do know I've seen them flying around Galveston. At the bottom is a blue crab.
The city of Galveston has commissioned a local artist to repaint two welcome signs that stand on either side of the Galveston causeway.
Galveston artist Gabriel Prusmack will paint the two markers on the west end of the causeway in coming weeks, city spokeswoman Marissa Barnett said. Prusmack approached the city about painting the markers and the city agreed to pay him $9,000 for the work, Barnett said.
“Gabe has done beautiful work around the city, and we’re thrilled he’s painting the monuments,” Barnett said. “Millions of people cross the causeway each year and look at these monuments — the monuments and the gorgeous bay views are really people’s first impressions of Galveston.
“We’re really excited about his design and can’t wait to see the finished product.”
Prusmack is using spray paint to add images of cranes, spoonbills and turtles to the entrance pillars.
“I wanted to make Galveston more welcoming with color,” he said.
The paint on the markers had started to peel and the monuments were covered with bird droppings, Barnett said.
The project is expected to take two weeks to complete, Barnett said. There will be no road closures during the painting work, she said.