Folk art display threatened by planned construction
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A white picket fence covered with hand-painted rooster heads has been glaring at San Marcos traffic for more than a decade, but an upcoming road expansion could mean changes for the folk art.
George Zupp created the colloquially-named “chicken head fence” more than a decade ago.
"This is my art,” he said. “People liked my paintings, I figured they'd like this fence."
But Zupp's home and the fence are on the edge of an upcoming road widening project. The expansion will add a roundabout down the street, widen Hunter Road and put a bridge over what is now a low water crossing.
"I don't want the fence to get mowed down, or get totally wiped out," Zupp said.
The city says the plans are 75 percent complete, and it appears the fence will survive the project.
Zupp's artwork will likely continue to fulfill its original purpose.
"I kind of wanted to make this row of these chicken combs and roosters all looking at you all angrily,” Zupp said. “It's kind of a psychological barrier against all the traffic."
Construction is expected to start in early fall and should take about a year to complete.