SAN ANGELO — Have you ever sought an “in-between place?” Admittedly, that’s a phrase that can mean different things to different people, depending on context and the state of their lives.
But at least as a physical definition, you might think of such a place as a hidden gem out of sight but not deceptively so. It merely asks you to indulge your curiosity and to make that left or right turn instead of going straight like you always do.
That’s how I stumbled upon Paintbrush Alley a few months ago.
I was down in San Angelo, about an hour and a half southwest of Abilene, making pictures of murals and other things. I wandered into a parking lot, stepped out of my car and then decided to zig to the right instead of zagging back to the vehicle. I’m glad I did.
There is a lot of great public art down here, and its all free to enjoy and as my grandfather once said, “Cogitate upon.”
Paintbrush Alley, which is in the middle of the downtown block bordered by Irving and Chadbourne streets on the east and west, respectively, and Twohig and Concho avenues on the north and south, is an in-between space for the ages.
Sponsored by the civic organizations Art in Uncommon Places and Downtown San Angelo Inc., 50 artists created a series of murals and three-dimensional exhibits mostly based around the 1956 movie, “Giant.”
Murals covering entire walls are countered by smaller renderings that provide a more intimate understanding of the artist’s intent.
Of particular note is a pointillist-inspired black and white rendering of Giant stars Elizabeth Taylor and a male costar. When standing closer, however, you see that the “points” in the image are formed from tiny plastic cowboys and Native Americans locked in perpetual battle.
Scott Sustek has been an artist in San Angelo for 18 years, having lived in Austin, California, Connecticut, Virginia and Florida. His black and white portrait of James Dean can be seen in the alley.
“This is kind of where I settled, so I must like it,” he said. “It’s a cool art town with a lot of hidden gems.”
The back of his studio opens onto Paintbrush Alley.
“It’s been pretty successful,” he said. “Before it was Giant-themed, it was like World War II Victory Day-themed. It had images from Time Life magazine (of servicemen) coming back from the war.”
Scattered about are a few tables and a niche or two, places perfect for a selfie or prom photos, as Sustek has seen. All of it was designed in mind for those looking for something in-between and outside of what they might typically see.
“It’s just one little spot between two streets but it’s cool, you know?” he said.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Worth a drive: Paintbrush Alley a gem hidden in-between San Angelo’s glittering downtown
Reporting by Ronald W. Erdrich, Abilene Reporter-News / Abilene Reporter-News
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