The Soul of a City
A Conduit for Community Expression
Words Janine Stankus | Photos Baptiste Despois
J Muzacz considers his mosaics something other than his own. “They’re the community’s stamp on the city.” Glinting in the ever-bright Texas sun, these vast and tactile works of art cement the handiwork of hundreds of volunteers, joined to celebrate the everyday heroes of their neighborhoods.
Mosaic isn’t always considered the sexiest of mediums. But to J, who got his start in street art, the craft holds distinct allure. “The inclusivity, the materiality is just very appealing to me. I’m in love with the shine and the iridescence, the depth of glass, the permanence of the color.” And, he duly adds, “Paint fades.”
In the spirit of inclusivity, J and artist Carmen Rangel co-founded The Mosaic Workshop in 2018. It’s a space where he can teach as well as create with the community. While he’s designed over a dozen large-scale mosaics, J says it’s never really about executing his own vision; it’s about reflecting the voices and value of people with a real stake in the community. “I’m a nomad. I’m from Houston and traveled for seven years,” he explains, adding, “There are people who have five generations of roots here. They deserve to have a mural in their neighborhood, not me. So, let’s give them that potential.”
Collaborating with local organizations and volunteers, J and his team have left colorful impressions across all corners of the city, like the faces of local luminaries that light up the parking lot at Holly Commons. Among them are Ana Sisnett, dubbed Austin’s “Technomama” for her work getting digital technologies into public schools, and Roosevelt “Grey Ghost” Williams, a blues and jazz piano legend.
“If it’s a city without art, it’s a city without soul” – J Muzacz
At one corner of the Travis County Courts facility downtown, a sprawling diptych depicts a convoy of cyclists from all walks of life—much like the many real-life volunteers who rode in to help install these kinetic quilts of colored glass.
Perhaps the most prominent of his works is an 81 feet long mosaic plastering the platform of the McKalla Station outside the Q2 stadium, home of Austin FC. Commissioned by CapMetro and developed with the help of 200 community volunteers, the mosaic celebrates actual Austinites who make up the fabric of the city: Austin FC fans and supporter groups, public figures, and transit workers.
“Seeing some of their families in tears because their people are being represented in a permanent way… shows that they’re valued. And the fact that public institutions are making space for community art is a credit to the creative spirit of Austin itself. “If it’s a city without art, it’s a city without soul,” he says with conviction.
As Austin morphs and grows, J believes mosaic has even more of a place in public forums. It’s a way to etch our community’s collective soul on the ever-evolving facades. The key to capturing that soul is empathy, inclusion, and collaboration. “I’m only one guy—I need other voices,” J emphasizes. “I truly love the act of making, whether it’s my idea or somebody else’s…We’re all just setting tiles. We’re all just clunking around making a beautiful thing.”
Making Art Accessible
J’s “digital impressionism” technique has opened doors for people not just to execute but embed themselves in the art work. He uses Photoshop to break his designs down into pixel-based “paint-by-number,” worksheets for volunteers to follow. J stresses that the results are far from formulaic, “There’s nuance and spontaneity to how people see color.”
Book of Soul
Over seven decades of Austin’s most influential street artworks are captured in J’s self-published book, ATX Urban Art. Featuring 2000+ photos of murals, mosaics, graffiti, and street art, it’s a love letter to the enduring creative spirit of this city.
Contact:
jmuzacz.com
@jmuzacz
The Mosaic Workshop
729 Airport Blvd.
themosaicworkshop.org
