Why we love Austin’s Graffiti Park

Hope Outdoor Gallery, more commonly known as Graffiti Park, situated adjacent to downtown Austin

At the cross section of 11th and Baylor Streets, there’s a well-known Austin tourist site, and must-see attraction. People come from all around to see it, and no wonder. It’s not like other places to visit: it is constantly changing day-by-day, which means there is no limit to the amount of times you can visit, and you will still see something new.

Many know it as a place to hang out when the weather is nice, or a place to go and take edgy profile or senior pictures, but the park’s origins are actually of quite noble intent. It was started in March 2011 by the HOPE (Helping Other People Everywhere) Campaign. It was set up as an “educational art project” that was “developed to provide muralists, graffiti artists and community groups the opportunity to display large scale art pieces driven by inspirational, positive and educational messaging” according the campaign’s website. It has embodied this since its inception, but has now also grown to have a little more of a grungy vibe.

Front, center of the graffiti park, filled with people on a warm winter afternoon

People use these concrete walls to spray-paint what they feel. Whether that’s dick jokes, aliens, random nonsense, or legitimate social commentary, these walls are free to be used. Like the idea of The American Dream, the horizon is always open and the landscape is for the taking. In my time there during a patch of unseasonably warm February weather, I saw things that not only aroused and reflected thoughts or laughs, but also emotion.

A large piece on the main middle area of the park depicting a social commentary that is not what it at first seems

With the current presidential race for 2016, one of the most contentious and controversial races in history, in full swing, Bansky-esque art is on the rise. People find themselves firmly behind political lines of loyalty, and vehemently bent against or for certain candidates. Donald Trump’s run for president has stirred up anger across the political lines of bi-partisanship. His recent proposed “Muslim-ban” has whipped the public into a frenzy, whether it’s an enthusiastic or outraged one. This being Austin, I saw multiple anti-Trump pieces, and even one “Feel The Bern” scrawled lazily in turquoise spray paint across a shallow ledge. The public eye is also on foreign threats, as well. Close to home here in Texas, El Chapo’s escape from a Mexican prison had everyone on high-alert. Even people who usually pay less attention to news were aware of his prison break, even if all they did was capitalize on the opportunity to make a pithy tweet or two.

A disembodied head as well as what I assume is the partially visible phrase “El Chapo was here” painted left, center of park

A previously black spray painted ‘Fuck Trump!!’ crossed out with purple

Graffiti Park is a way to unleash whatever statement or art you are dying to get out, without vandalising public property. Austin is special in the minds and hearts of us all for its cutesy and heartwarming murals that are part of its allure as a tourist attraction. You can pose with your best friend or the current love of your life by a mint wall reading “I love you so much” outside a J’s Coffee Shop in SoCo, or in front of “You’re my butter half” on a slice of bread and a slice of butter, or the alien-frog-whoknowswhat waving and saying “Hi, how are you?” that the Thai restaurant next to played its name off of and went with Thai, How Are You? We love our town and the weird lump of wasabi with a face, and the giant grinning cat, and so many other things painted on our buildings and walls. It is the spirit of this place. It is expression.

The signature Texas shape with a heart where Austin is located…more or less. You get the picture

This park represents that for both citizens of Austin as well as people who come from all around to see what we are about.

We are positive:

“Be someone…” with a turquoise and orange longhorn behind! (UT students: maybe this will help you feel better about your degree plan! *nudge nudge*)

We are competitive:

Clash of the Clashes, who will be the victor? (PS, spoiler alert, we’re all victors, duh. We got to UT \m/)

We have views and feelings:

‘Never Lose Your Flames’

‘No Fear, Just Love’

‘Free Your Mind’

We like Star Wars?

STAR WARS: enthusiastic much? STAR WARS: The Wall Awakens? STAR WARS: Return of the Vandal?…..I got nothing

But most of all, we just really love our home. It is free and accepting. It is lively, but it is also peaceful. There is loud live music, and sixth street, and SoCo, and downtown. There is campus, quiet and secluded with live oak trees bursting from the ground every 10 feet, with beautiful green lawns maintained by our dedicated groundskeepers, or bustling with students who love to learn and want their degrees, and are willing to work for all of it. There is Guadalupe, a little dingy, but with character and all the places we love to eat and hang out, not to mention the Co-Op, where I personally go broke buying everything burnt orange I can get my hands on (seriously, I sleep in burnt orange).

We are a community: the students support and lift each other up, and the greater Austin community supports and lifts us up. We come together and stand up for what we believe in. We work hard to coexist and make the world a better place. After all, What Starts Here Changes The World, right?

I believe it does.