On June 4, 2020, Austin's City Council approved the funding for the Black Artists Matter Street Mural [3]. Twelve days later, on June 16, local artists in East Austin began work on the Black Artists Matter Street Mural, and they finished two days later, on June 18 [4]. Specifically, the local artists who painted the mural are members of Austin Justice Coalition, and Capitol View Arts, and the two organizations collaborated to make the mural possible [2, 4]. 

     Austin is home to many suburbs, and neighborhoods [2, 3, 4]. Within Austin, the local artists selected East 11th Street in East Austin as the location for the Black Artists Matter Street Mural [3]. The reason why 11th Street in East Austin being home to the Black Artists Matter Street Mural is significant is because historically, it is the heart of East Austin's African-American community [2, 3, 4]. Most of the artists who painted the Black Artists Matter Street Mural are BIPOC, but artists, as well as members of Austin Justice Coalition, and Capitol View Arts who are of all backgrounds, helped with the mural too [2, 3, 4]. 

     The Black Artists Matter Street Mural is still on display, on the original spot; 11th Street in East Austin, which is an important sign of solidarity [3]. In summary, Clifford Gillard, who founded and is the president of Capitol View Arts was interviewed about the Black Artists Matter Street Mural [3]. Gillard said: “In a city where the black population is overlooked, our purpose through this mural is to show continued support and acknowledgment of black artists and their contribution to Austin’s legacy and character.” [3].  

Works Cited: 

  1. “Black Artists Matter Street Mural, Austin, TX · George Floyd & Anti-Racist Street Art.” 2020. Georgefloydstreetart.omeka.net. June 2020. https://georgefloydstreetart.omeka.net/items/show/3335Links to an external site.
  2. Bradshaw, Kelsey. 2020. “’BLACK ARTISTS MATTER’ Mural Honors East Austin’s Cultural Legacy.” Austin American-Statesman. June 18, 2020. https://www.statesman.com/story/news/local/2020/06/18/rsquoblack-artists-matterrsquo-mural-honors-east-austinrsquos-cultural-legacy/42608155/Links to an external site..  
  3. Gates, Billy. 2020. “‘Black Artists Matter’ Mural Painted on East 11th Street.” KXAN Austin. June 18, 2020. https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/black-artists-matter-mural-painted-on-east-11th-street/Links to an external site..  
  4. Knight, Drew. 2020. “‘Black Artists Matter’ Mural Comes to East Austin.” Kvue.com. June 16, 2020. https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/black-austin-matters-east-austin-mural/269-ea065bf5-a568-455f-b735-2538266c3c0dLinks to an external site..  
Researched by Joe Patterson

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2020-06-18]]> David Brendan Hall]]> Black Lives Matter Street Mural Census]]>