Daniel Johnston’s iconic mural “Hi, How Are You” has taken on a life of its own since the Austin-based singer-songwriter created it in 1993.
The mural has turned a new chapter, though, as student housing developer Campus Communities of America recently demolished the mural annexe at West 21st and Guadalupe Streets near the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, USA politician Report.
But the landmark remains in a pile of ruins. American Campus Communities has owned the property since 2018 and agreed to keep the mural while new development begins on the site.
“The American Campus community has and will continue to preserve the mural and will integrate it into new building designs in the future,” American Campus’ Gina Cowart told the outlet.
developer with partners 2019 Hi, How Are You Project – a mental health advocacy group founded in 2018 in memory of Johnston, who battled manic depression and passed away in 2019.
American Campus, led by CEO Rob Palleschi, is one of the most prolific student housing developers in the country, with more than 100 on-campus developments at 93 colleges and universities across the country, according to its website.
In Austin, American Campus leads housing projects including 367-unit 26 West, 669-unit The Block and 219-unit Callaway House.
The mural, which features a large image of a frog known as “Innocent Jeremiah,” first appeared on the cover of Johnston’s 1983 album, also titled “Hi How Are You” . When Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain wore a shirt from the album cover at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards, Johnston and the photo rose to fame and led to a mural the following year, the outlet said. creation.
When it was established, the annex building was the former site of the Sound Exchange record store. It later became Baja Fresh Mexican Grill, and then Thai Spice took over the building in 2013, eventually changing its name to Thai, How Are You? after moving in.
The City of Austin declared Johnston’s birthday, January 22, as “Hi, How Are You” Day for 2018.
— Quinn Donoghue
