Bryan city council members have questions, but expressed no opposition, to the design of a mural that will be painted on the exterior of Clara B. Mounce library.
The mural is a project of the Bryan-College Station sister cities organization, which has relationships with cities in Germany, Mexico, Belgium, and Poland.
The purpose of the mural, according to background information from the sister cities association, is to serve “as a contemporary artistic expression supporting a shared mission to engage, enlighten, empower, and inform all persons through lifelong access to knowledge and learning.”
The sister cities board secretary, Chuck Martinez, shared the location of the mural, which is the exterior of the west side of Mounce library, recognizes Mrs. Mounce’s belief “that travel is a means to understanding culture, history, and social interactions.”
An artist from Germany was hired to design and paint the mural on the side of the library facing the railroad tracks.
Bryan and the four sister cities will be represented by what is described as animals “personifying human qualities”…which some compares to characters in the movie Zootopia.
A blue jay was selected for Bryan in part because they have qualities that parallel core functions of a library…those qualities being observant and share information.
A jaguar was selected for the sister city of Salamanca, Mexico in part because it is deeply rooted in Mexican culture, symbolizing strength and wisdom.
A deer was selected for the sister city of Bastogne, Belgium in part because it represents calmness, dignity, and a close connection to nature.
An owl was selected for the sister city of Torun, Poland in part because they embody intellectual curiosity, research, and the role of knowledge as a bridge between cultures.
And a crane was selected for the sister city of Greifswald, Germany…the home of the mural artist…in part because it is a characteristic bird of northern Germany reflecting Griefswald’s close connection to nature and its maritime Baltic Sea environment.
Along with the animals, the mural will include five phrases representing each of the cities…the American phrase Learn Together, the Spanish phrase for curiosity and connection, the French phrase representing Belgium for inspire each other, the German phrase for discovering together, and the Polish phrase for exploring new paths.
The timeline for the sister cities mural is to have it completed in time for June’s First Friday in downtown Bryan.
The undisclosed price for the mural will be paid from a city arts and culture development grant that is funded by hotel occupancy tax money.
Click below to hear some of the comments from the February 11, 2026 Bryan city council workshop meeting.