When Layle Murray is having a rough day, there’s one thing that’s guaranteed to relieve her stress – she grabs her acrylics and begins to paint.
“The more creative you are, the less anxious you’re going to be,” Murray said.
But Murray doesn’t just paint for fun. Whenever she finishes a piece, it’s put up for sale by Austin non-profit Art From the Streets.
Art From the Streets provides studio space, art supplies and meals for those who may be homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless.
“It’s the one thing in Texas that feels like family,” artist Megan Maurice said. “It’s a great support system for anybody that’s interested in becoming an artist.”
For every painting sold, 95% of proceeds go back to the original artists, and through May 20, the program’s artwork will be displayed for sale at Wonderspaces immersive art exhibit.
“The physical arts, like painting, those fields are difficult to make a steady income in, but with this, you can make a steady income and you can improve,” Murray said.
Murray said she struggled to find employment when she came to Austin after she began losing her eyesight. Through Art From the Streets, Murray said she feels more accomplished and makes money to supplement her social security income.
Though he initially heard of the program over a decade ago, artist David Dominguez said he hesitated to join due to stigma surrounding his passion for art.
“It’s almost a lifelong passion, but also a lifetime of getting shot down,” said Dominguez, now in his fourteenth month with the program. “I felt like I was chasing a dream, and it wasn’t until I walked into the program that I realized this is something that I could pay my bills and put food on the table.”
Domiguez added that he finds the program to be a safe place and community for those experiencing homelessness.
“Before I had Art From the Streets, every day was ‘where do I go to find the next meal I’m going to eat?’” Dominguez said. “Being able to go and produce artwork that I can then turn around and sell, that opened my eyes to the fact that I can do what it is that I love and get paid for, and that sense of struggle quickly fizzled out.”
