What makes a community feel like home?

In Bee Cave, Texas, residents have watched their community grow from a small Hill Country town into one of the fastest-growing areas outside Austin. Despite the rapid growth, Bee Cave has maintained a strong sense of local identity and community.

That local spirit became the inspiration for a new mural at the Hill Country Galleria, commissioned by Schwab as part of its arrival in Bee Cave.

The Galleria, an upscale open-air shopping center and gathering place, features restaurants, retailers and public spaces that draw residents and visitors. The mural gave Schwab an opportunity to contribute to that shared environment while celebrating the community's identity.

For Austin artist Avery Orendorf, the project began with a challenge: capturing what makes a place feel like home.

"When I create a community mural, I try to figure out the primary essence and heart that the community is built upon," Avery says. "From there I can layer visual images around the key element to create a visual story."

For the Bee Cave mural, she started with identifying what has remained constant even as the city has changed.

"While Bee Cave has grown exponentially, it still feels like a community built around the beautiful natural landscape of the Texas Hill Country full of wildflowers and local flora and fauna," she explains.

That landscape became the foundation of the mural. A guitar, cowboy boots, an armadillo, and of course a bee fills in the rest of the mural which says, "Greetings from Bee Cave," a message that reflects the community's welcoming spirit.

"I hope that residents feel a sense of home and connection," says Avery of the finished product. "We all share these art pieces. They become communal property through shared enjoyment and experience."

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"For us, it's about establishing a long-term presence in a place where many of our clients live, work and build their lives," says Richard Brandi, manager of the new Charles Schwab Bee Cave branch. "It's also where many of our employees live. They're raising families here, supporting local organizations and building relationships throughout the area."

Building those relationships starts with listening. Richard says every community has its own personality and understanding what matters to residents takes time. Trust grows through everyday interactions: getting to know people, showing up at local events, supporting local efforts, and following through on commitments.

That commitment to connection shaped the decision to commission a community mural. Public art is part of the experience at the Hill Country Galleria. Schwab wanted to participate in that tradition while creating something that reflected the character of the community.

"We thought it was a fun and meaningful way to celebrate Bee Cave while supporting a local artist," Richard says. "The mural is unique to the area and creates something people can enjoy anytime they come to the Galleria.

"Communities can grow through financial investment, but they are also strengthened through investments in relationships, culture, and shared experiences. A mural offers a visible example of that principle. It creates something lasting that residents can enjoy as part of their daily lives, whether they're visiting the branch, shopping, or spending time in the area.

For Avery, that kind of investment carries meaning beyond the artwork itself. "It is a sharing of resources for the greater good," Avery says. "Allowing everyone to experience a certain degree of beauty, and through that, a connection."