"Austin's roadway art, including the rainbow crosswalk at Fourth and Colorado streets and the "Black Artists Matter" painted on 11th Street could soon be gone. Gov. Greg Abbott ordered cities and counties Wednesday to remove displays like these or risk losing state and federal money for road projects. He said this order will comply with a federal policy banning symbolic language and roadway art. A TxDOT letter to cities and counties gives them 30 days to remove any "decorative crosswalks, murals, or markings conveying artwork or other messages.""
""This prohibition includes the use of symbols, flags, or other markings conveying any message or communications," the letter from TxDOT's Executive Director Marc Williams read. The city said it "will comply" with the new guidelines in a statement Wednesday. Austin's Transportation and Public Works Department did not immediately respond on Thursday to whether it would repaint the Pride-themed crosswalk or the 11th Street art within 30 days. It's unclear if the order will apply to other roadway art, including the "TEXAS" on Guadalupe Street just off of UT Austin's campus."
"In 2020, Austin artists painted "Black Austin Matters" on Congress Avenue downtown and "Black Artists Matter" on 11th Street. While the Congress Avenue art has faded, the 11th Street art is still visible. Less than a year later, the city painted the intersection of Fourth and Colorado with the colors of the Pride flag in 2021. The city OK'd a plan to paint the intersection to honor longtime LGBTQ+-friendly businesses."
Governor Greg Abbott ordered cities and counties to remove decorative roadway art or face potential loss of state and federal road funding. TxDOT issued a letter giving municipalities 30 days to remove any decorative crosswalks, murals, or markings that convey artwork or messages. The prohibition explicitly includes symbols, flags, or other markings that convey any message. Austin stated it will comply with the guidelines. Specific works mentioned include the Fourth and Colorado Pride crosswalk, the 11th Street "Black Artists Matter" mural, and the faded "Black Austin Matters" on Congress Avenue. It is unclear which other roadway artworks will be affected.
Read at Austin Monitor
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]