What might be the largest piece of artwork – indoors or outdoors – was unveiled April 16 on a crude oil storage tank at Lyondell’s Houston refinery. The image is the first of what will eventually become a museum without walls within the San Jacinto Historic District along state highway 225 leading to the San Jacinto Battleground where Texas won its independence in 1836.
The 40 foot tall by 70 foot wide vinyl canvas was digitally created using a combination of color photography and graphic art and depicts scenes from Texas history. The Lyondell refinery is located at a strategic point where the Texas Army turned toward what would be the decisive battleground in Texas history on April 21, 1836. The initial artwork has been named "Destiny" and includes the image of a Texas soldier pointing toward San Jacinto, symbolizing both the choice where the army would engage in battle as well as pointing the pathway to other artwork in the historical district. Other images include a waving Texas flag and silhouettes of marching soldiers.
Every aspect of this and future art pieces will be historically accurate in terms of the moments in time they represent. Even the clothing worn by actors in the artwork is historically accurate down to the fabric and buttons used during this period.
The art program is known as Project Stars, an economic development plan of the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region. Lyondell is a member of the organization and is represented on the group’s board of directors. One of the objectives of the initiative is promote tourism in the region and to raise awareness of both the historic significance of the area as well as the current economic impact of the refining and petrochemical complex along the Houston Ship Channel. A non-profit educational foundation has been created to help fund projects such as this one which will spur interest in history and education.
The Lyondell tank is 48 feet tall with a diameter of 200 feet and stores 280,000 barrels of crude oil. It is at the southeast end of two rows of tanks that line both sides of the state highway and will be easily visible to persons traveling in both directions on the highway. Lyondell’s Houston refinery is located on a 700-acre tract on the south side of the Houston Ship Channel at the city limits of Houston and Pasadena, Texas.