AUSTIN, Texas – For the past several days, artist Chris Rogers has been turning a blank wall in downtown Austin into a canvas dedicated to superhero health care workers.
“I had a couple commissions that I put on pause to do something to say thank you to the doctors, nurses and caregivers out there that are continuing to, you know, be there for everybody right now,” said Rogers.
The mural features two superheroes, Superman and X-Men’s Storm. Rogers says it’s because not all superheroes wear capes— these days many wear scrubs and face masks.
“Every single day, even with the pandemic going on— even with, you know, losing jobs, you know, friends passing away from this pandemic, the question marks coming out everywhere— amongst all that, I have so much to be grateful for,” said Rogers.
And he wants to show those working on the front lines of the pandemic that they are appreciated. For one nurse, the artwork has already been encouraging.
“It's just a representation that even though there [are] hard times right now, especially going to work and seeing everything, that we still have a little superhero in us,” said Victoria Riordan.
Like Superman once said, “you are much stronger than you think you are.”
Rogers hopes that message catches on.
“Everybody out there that might be overwhelmed or depressed or angry, sad— any emotion in a negative spectrum— anybody that is feeling that right now, just know that you are not alone. That there is hope that this is going to pass. Anything that is coming up is on its way out and we will get through this together.”
You can see the mural on West 6th in Austin right across from Little Woodrow's.