Hope on Sixth

Hope on Sixth Photos by Summer Solis

"Is it safe?" by Venezuelan artist ULOANG, painted on the boarded-up bar, Coyote Ugly.

Texas Governor, Greg Abbott, issued an executive order in April forcing all bars and restaurants to cease dine-in operations due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Although many restaurants have been able to continue operations through take-out and delivery, bars on Austin's famous Sixth St., normally hopping in this college town, were forced to close completely and temporarily board up their entrances.

The HOPE (Helping Other People Everywhere) Campaign, a non-profit organization that connects creative individuals with causes, commissioned artists to beautify the boarded-up buildings on Sixth St. under the theme, “These Walls Bring Us Together.”

A boarded-up window is painted with the words "Stay tight and chillout, Austin."

Shelby McIntosh and Kaitlyn Macy work on their mural for a boarded-up bar, The 512.

An alien asks a girl on Earth asking, “You ok?” The mural by Shelby McIntosh, aka "Munster Bunny," lines the boarded up walls of The 512.

A boarded up bar on Sixth St. in Austin, Texas was painted by local artists SQUID, DAARU, and GRITO with characters holding signs that read out “Stay safe stay home, so when this is all over, we can be together again.”

Austin artist, Sam Jacobson, aka "Sapriadesigns," paints her mural on a wall bewteen Neches and Red River on Sixth St. The mural depicts two girls communicating through a tin can telephone, a reference to the difficulties of staying in touch in a time of social distancing.

A mural of Matthew McConaughey, an Austin icon due to his occupation as a professor for the University of Texas and his Longhorn pride, adorns the boarded up Mexican Grill & Margarita Bar, Iron Cactus. The mural revives McConaughey's lines from 'Dazed and Confused': "It'd be a lot cooler if you did," and his improvised "Alright, alright, alright."

Catie Lewis, a self-taught muralist, works on her mural on a boarded building on Sixth St. with her dog, Kira, relaxing beside her.

A mural by Matthew Trujilo depicts a woman and the word “Hope” on the boards of The Library.

A man wearing a mask walks by the Voodoo Room, painted with murals by artists J Muzcaz and Matthew Bonifacio Rodriguez.

"We will overcome!" a mural by Mez Data, Bloke and Niz.

“Hope is stronger than fear,” a mural by Carmen Rangel, Jasmine Gonzales and Morgane Xenos, adorns the boarded up Bijou Longue on Sixth St. Street life has begun to return.

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Photos by Summer Solis