Turn the city into your own personal art gallery with a new, self-guided downtown art tour launching today.
The Downtown Austin Alliance’s new Arts & Parks tour got its first test ride this past weekend, with a group bike ride to ten local artworks, plus one special soon-to-be mural spot.
We got a sneak peek of the tour last week — here were some highlights.
Unsung Pioneers of Austin Music by Tim Kerr and Michael Corcoran | Stubb’s Bar-B-Q
This artwork honors Austin musicians dating back to the early 1900s, including Ernie Mae Miller, Gilbert Askey, and Camilo Cantu. Look closely to read the stories of a few of the most influential members of our city’s music scene — there’s even a space reading, “Your name here.”
BLACKBIRD by Holly Young-Kincannon and Joseph Drummond Kincannon | Republic Square
This sculpture honors Mexican-American communities that historically lived in the space Republic Square now occupies. The bird’s shape and details are directly inspired by Oaxacan imagery.
This mural on the side of Stubb’s downtown honors Austin musicians. | Photo by ATXtoday
Other artworks on the tour include:
- La Mujer | Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center
- The Rise of Masontown | Saltillo Residences
- Where the Wildflowers Grow | 301 Porch
- El Mero Muro Program | Mexic-Arte Museum
- In a Dream You Saw a Way to Survive and You Were Full of Joy | The Contemporary Austin
- Wall Painting for Austin | Waterloo Park
- Mural Sculpture | Republic Square
- Treehouse | Pease Park
Downtown Austin Alliance member Raasin McIntosh holds up a sticker with information about the new arts tour.
Photo by ATXtoday
The route also stops at a special — and currently blank — wall at Congress Avenue’s Old Bakery and Emporium. The wall is the site of Austin’s next mural, and the Downtown Austin Alliance is still searching for public input on what to paint there, and plans to callout for artists this fall or winter. In fact, on Saturday, locals were able to vote on what they want to see in the space.
The total route takes 1-2 hours to complete, and the virtual tour will be up and running through 2023.