Mermaid statues reveal 10 artistic visions
A group of 10 mermaid statues decorated from head to tail made their debut as the main event of the Mermaid Aqua Faire on Sept. 16.
Members of the San Marcos Arts Commission prepped the unveiling of the mermaids on a platform in the center of Plaza Park, where the statues were wrapped in plastic covers and blue tape during most of the daylong event.
When 3 p.m. hit, the artists stood in front of their mermaids and ripped off their covers, unveiling a variety of inspirations from San Marcos’ history to river conservation. Each statue has a unique design, including one said to change colors, one featuring each of the river’s species and another holding a fish taco.
Jamie Shelton, a 25-year resident of San Marcos, said she was one of 60 applicants who applied to paint a statue. Shelton was chosen and decided to adorn her mermaid with bright blue and green colors, and feature creatures from the river on it.
“She is composed of all of the biology of the river, the flora and the fauna,” Shelton said. “She has turtles on her shoulders, her eyebrows are blind salamanders and her cheeks are sunfish.”
Shelton, like other mermaid creators, said her concept was to remind viewers of the importance of river conservation.
Ruben Becerra, arts commissioner, attended the fair as one of the coordinators for the statue project. He said the project intends to bring visitors to town to see the statues, but mostly he would like to see the city think about river conservation and the value of community.
“It will help our long-term branding, and create awareness and appreciation for this beautiful community,” Becerra said. “Like making sure you make decisions that don’t pollute our river or create settings that will erode our river.”
Other fair guests included arts commissioner Dahlia Woods, owner of the Dahlia Woods gallery. Woods said she hopes the mermaids will positively influence the city.
“It’s a symbol of the preservation of the river, the environment and the history,” Woods said. “The river is used by thousands of people so we really need to protect it and its endangered species.”
The fair began in the morning with a parade, as local groups, including the Hays County Food Bank, the Heritage Association of San Marcos and multiple student and youth organizations, dressed up in seashells, nets and scales to march through the streets.
After the festival wrapped up, the mermaids were taken around town and are awaiting their permanent locations near the river and the downtown areas.