Raasin in the Sun: Artists Keeping Austin Beautiful
At an underpass by the intersection of Lamar and 5th street, in the midst of Austin’s bustling downtown, the walls of the city speak loving words to passers-by: “Be Well.” It is at this location that Austin's art initiative, Raasin In the Sun, teamed up with six local artists to create a mural designed with the intention of encouraging hope and restoration within the community. Each artist was allotted a portion of the underpass on which they were able to share their painted messages with the influx of people passing by.
Bright images coupled with inspiring quotes enliven the concrete tunnel and catch my attention each time I drive through the underpass. It is there at the light on 5th and Lamar, lodged between two gas-guzzling 4-Runners, in a fog of traffic-induced exhaustion, that I can look in either direction and find rest and replenishment in the mural’s simple message. It is there that I am nudged towards a valuable reminder: human beings are part of nature.
In a world where our most natural rhythms are suffocated and silenced in the name of productivity and development, the “Be Well” mural carves a space for nature to flourish. Its images showcase a utopian world where humans flourish in the beauty of their inherited home: Earth. There are blue skies, blooming flowers, insects, animals, and at the center of it all, human beings.
In artist Rex Hamilton’s portion of the mural, one woman caresses a sunflower as she gazes up at the sun while another figure with the head of a lotus flower sits cross-legged in a meditative pose (above).
Samara Bank’s paints a dreamy scene where men and women relax as they lean upon giant, vividly-colored lilies. Amidst the scene, there hangs the slogan, “Rest is Necessary” (below).
Artist Niz G’s portion follows suit, showcasing enchanting images. Painted in blue and purple hues are silhouettes of butterflies, birds and winged-women, all surrounding the focal point of the piece: two words, compelling and enticing, “Reconnect Yourself.”
The mural felt like a call to the people of Austin to wake up, resign themselves to their humanity and to learn to embrace the pace of nature. But in order to really understand the intended meaning behind the “Be Well” mural as well as the larger initiative, I spoke with Alexandria Anderson, chair of the board at Raasin in the Sun.
Alexandria Anderson in front of another one of Raasin In the Sun’s projects, the mural on Bolm Road.
In an Eastside bakery, Anderson greeted me with a beaming smile and bright voice that I matched to the valediction in her emails, reading: “Be kind and be courageous.” I was impressed but not surprised to learn that she also works as a health and wellness coach, has won multiple gold medals at World Championship level, and, as she explained after ordering a hot chocolate, accomplished it all while completely dodging a coffee dependency. Talking to her felt like talking a living, breathing version of the “Be Well” mural — blithe, sunny, and intensely alive. As we sat and chatted, the story of the concrete masterpiece unfolded.
Alexandria Anderson and Raasin McIntosh, founder of Raasin in the Sun, pay homage to their alma mater at the Bolm Road murals.
When COVID-19 struck in 2020 and the doors to community interaction were slammed shut by the hands of the pandemic, Raasin, founder of Raasin in the Sun, and her team devised a plan to open a window and let some light in. They decided the mural would serve as a place for artists affected by COVID-19 to showcase their work and to, as Anderson explained, “give life and joy to the people that live in this city.” Anderson reflected that after a season of isolation, when many people were surviving in the wake of loss, separation, and grief, the organization “wanted to create something that was bright, uplifting, and inspiring.” After placing an artist's call, the team was flooded with responses. Over sixty local applicants submitted their portfolios, but ultimately, a skilled and diverse team of only six artists were chosen to paint their message.
The mural is a perfect example of the larger goal of Raasin in the Sun, Anderson explained. Both the visual style of the mural, and the creative process by which it was born, demonstrates the importance of treating the world as an ecosystem, each creature affecting the life of another.
Images on the mural highlight the interacting elements that contribute to peace and wholeness: rest, nature, community, growth. But the collaborative process in and of itself also demonstrates the natural function of an ecosystem. The beauty of nature inspires artists, then artists harness their admiration for Earth into a carefully-crafted present for the community, which, hopefully, receives the gift with gratitude by seeking to protect and preserve the environment.
Local artist Carmen Rangel’s portion of the underpass, the namesake of the “Be Well” murals.
The focus on ecosystems paves a way of reimagining what it means to live as a human. It unearths hidden joys, reminds us of our responsibilities to our planet, and, as earth-bound beings, to ourselves. It inspires art, strengthens communities and soothes old aches. It helps us be well.
In conversation with Anderson, she paused and smiled as she reflected on her own relationship with nature. Each morning, she shared, she waits in anticipation to watch a woodpecker fly around outside her window. It is these little, precious moments that remind Anderson that “it’s all one big canvas.”
Photos by Rushton Skinner