Murals convey critical message

Two new murals, at Odom Pavilion and City Star Foods, aim to do more than just beautify their surroundings; the colorful artworks were created in the hopes of encouraging community members to drive more safely and slowly in an effort to eliminate traffic fatalities on Austin’s roads. Commissioned by the Austin Transportation Department and painted by Lakeem Wilson and Adrian Landon Brooks, the murals “were inspired by testimonials provided by crash survivors and families of crash victims,” according to a news release from the department. Despite the city’s Vision Zero program, more than 600 people suffered “life-changing injuries and fatalities from car crashes” in 2021 – a figure that “should not be acceptable to anyone who uses the roadways.” The muralists spoke with crash survivors and their families, incorporating their stories into the artworks. Transportation staff invites the public “to visit the murals, read the stories and quotes, and remind each other that individual driving decisions matter.”