Ocala water tank mural completed

“Marion Flow,” has been completed on the water tank at Southeast Third Avenue and Southeast Fifth Street. [C. Stanley Creative]

The new mural depicting local natural wildlife on the downtown Ocala water tank has been completed, spanning over 300 feet.

In October, the city hired central Florida artist Christian Stanley, of C. Stanley Creative, to reinvigorate the existing mural on the water tank near the Downtown Farmers Market.

The mural, called “Marion Flow,” was painted on the water tank at Southeast Third Avenue and Southeast Fifth Street.

“It features a number of native plants and animals that reside in the Ocala National Forest. It was a pleasure working in Ocala and getting to be near our families that live there during the holiday season,” wrote Stanley on Facebook.

Stanley was paid $60,000 by the city for his work. The project was funded in part through partnerships with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, Fine Arts For Ocala and Ocala Main Street, according to the city.

The mural includes several motifs, such as an American alligator, red-eared slider turtles, blue heron, seagrasses, white tail deer and fawn, river otters, a mother and calf Indian manatee, American white waterlily, and a diving double crested cormorant.

Stanley is based out of the Orlando area and graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2011 with a degree in graphic design. He was born and raised in Stuart, Florida.

Christian Stanley [C. Stanley Creative]

The plans were first revealed on Oct. 26, when an unveiling event was held, and citizens had the opportunity to kick off the mural process by adding their own brushstrokes of paint.

Previously, the mural called “Natural Flow” was painted in 2016 by Eduardo Mendieta and depicted fish. The mural faded and wore away over time, and the water tower needed new artwork to bring it back to life.