A new community-created mural inspired by healing, hope, and joy during The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival 2026 now has a permanent home at Canopy Cancer Survivorship Center.

The collaborative mural, A Community in Bloom, was created one tile at a time by attendees of all ages during the festival. Children and adults alike painted wooden tiles with a floral paint-by-number design, and community members wrote messages of encouragement on paper butterfly wings. The butterflies were added to the final piece, bringing a meaningful symbol of hope and transformation to the large-scale mural now installed in Canopy’s entrance.

TWAC Board and Staff, with local artist Sandra Cooper, pose with the community mural that Cooper designed. The mural is displayed at Canopy Cancer Survivorship Center at Hermann Memorial - The Woodlands. It consists of tiles painted with brightly colored flowers, surrounded by paper butterflies with hopeful messages on their wings.

TWAC Board and Staff | Photos courtesy of TWAC

Local artist Sandra Cooper poses with the community mural that she designed, displayed at Canopy Cancer Survivorship Center at Hermann Memorial - The Woodlands. Cooper is wearing a dark long-sleeved shirt, a floral bead necklace, and purple classes. The mural consists of tiles painted with brightly colored flowers, surrounded by paper butterflies with hopeful messages on their wings.

Local Artist Sandra Cooper

A CALL TO ACTION

Earlier this year, The Woodlands Art League (TWAL) issued a call for artists to design an interactive community project for the festival. A selection committee chose the proposal by local artist Sandra Cooper, which transformed hundreds of individually painted tiles into a unified triptych reflecting community participation and creativity. The mural's title, A Community in Bloom, was selected through a "Title The Art" contest, with Amanda Crawford as the winner.

Presented through a partnership between The Woodlands Arts Council (TWAC), The Woodlands Art League, and Canopy Cancer Survivorship Center at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands, the project created a unique opportunity for the community to contribute to a permanent installation that will inspire patients and families for years to come.

A COMMUNITY EFFORT

Despite rainy weather during parts of the festival weekend, participation remained strong, with festival patrons continually stopping by the tent to add their own artistic contributions to the artwork.

“This mural represents the strength and compassion of our community,” said Linda Nelson, Director of Business Development & Marketing and Director of Canopy Cancer Survivorship Center at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center. “Every tile reflects a moment of encouragement, creativity, and hope for the patients and families we serve.”

The project was funded by The Woodlands Arts Council as part of its mission to create meaningful arts experiences that bring the community together and experience art firsthand beyond the festival weekend. To learn more, please visit TWAC's website.

ABOUT CANOPY

As a caring community of hope, healing and empowerment, Canopy enhances the quality of life for individuals affected by cancer and those who support them throughout their journeys. Founded in 2016, Canopy Cancer Survivorship Center at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center provides free support, education, and integrative survivorship services to anyone impacted by cancer regardless of where patients are receiving treatment. Canopy serves as a central location for programs and resources designed to support patients, survivors, caregivers, and families throughout treatment and helping navigate life after treatment. Canopy is a home-away-from-home for cancer survivors and their families.

ABOUT THE WOODLANDS ART LEAGUE

The mission of The Woodlands Art League is to promote and support the visual arts in The Woodlands and surrounding communities through education, instruction, exhibitions, and community involvement. Established in 1981, TWAL is a thriving community of artists dedicated to and passionate about helping neighbors through our love of the arts.