Old Bakery Mural
Downtown Austin's Newest Mural: "Generational Ties"
Honoring the past, present and future of the Old Bakery
The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department, Austin Parks Foundation and the Downtown Austin Alliance partnered to transform the public space at Old Bakery & Emporium. This Community Activated Parks Project activates the park through a new Writing on the Walls mural that “honors the past, present and future of the Old Bakery, celebrating the diverse stories of individuals and communities that have shared Austin’s history.”
About The Old Bakery
The Old Bakery & Emporium is a historic building located in Downtown Austin on the northwest corner of Congress Avenue and 10th Street. The main floor serves as a local artisan shop while the upstairs houses a gallery featuring artists over the age of 50, and an exhibit highlighting Austin’s Swedish-immigrant history through the Lundberg-Maeriki Historical Collection. Learn more about the Old Bakery’s history below.
Engagement & Vision
Over the course of a year, over 1,000 community members engaged with the curation of the mural’s vision through online surveys, pop-up events and intentional conversations, all of which are documented in the Old Bakery Engagement & Vision Report. Findings from the report call for a new rotating mural wall to honor those whose history has intersected with the Old Bakery.
Artist Selection
In Fall 2023, a public call for artists was released, drawing in over 50 submissions from talented local and national artists. An independent panel of seven local art and mural experts reviewed, interviewed and selected Ruben Esquivel for the first mural in the series.
Ruben Esquivel is a 5th generation Austinite of Latino and Indigenous descent. His work is a journey through cultures, a celebration of resilience, and an exploration of the narratives that shape our collective identify. Ruben’s art invites us to reflect, connect and envision a future rich with diversity and creativity.
Mural Design Selection
After the artist selection, muralist Ruben Esquivel established three concepts that explored the Indigenous heritage of Austin and the Swedish legacy of the Old Bakery. Over 800 community members engaged with and voted on the concepts, selecting the design “Generational Ties” as the final mural design
Writing on the Walls
The Old Bakery Park mural project is a part of the Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation’s Writing on the Walls program. Click here to learn more about the program or to donate.
