Williamson County Round Rock Mural Project Inspires Hope Amid Despair

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX -- "Always know the world is a better place with you in it."

This is the sentiment -- both in the literal and figurative sense -- of a newly created mural on the side of the Mays Street Boutique at 2001 N. Mays St. in Round Rock. The artwork depicts butterflies emerging from a crack in the earth, created as part of the Alan's Hope Project for Suicide Prevention and Awareness.

“My idea for the mural was inspired by a mixed media project I did that involved butterflies flying out of the earth,” local artist Rachel Viator explained. “The piece was entitled 'Possibilities.' The butterflies represent hope, and their colors of blue and purple are the color of Suicide Prevention Awareness ribbons."

The inspiring words encircling a depiction of Earth were added to make sure the message was received: "I added the quote ‘Always know that the world is a better place with you in it’ as a positive reminder that everyone is loved and needed,” the artist added.

The Alan's Hope project is a subcommittee of the Williamson County Mental Health Task Force. It partnered with May's Boutique owner Sandy Deli, Bluebonnet Trails Community Services and the Round Rock Arts Council to create the mural with the aim of conveying the message that suicide is preventable and mental illness treatable.

In tandem with the mural, a Facebook page has been created updating the public on its progress. Click here to access that page. In keeping with the social media theme, people are encouraged to visit the mural, have their photos taken at the site, and posting the pics to social media using the hashtag #AlansHope.

Williamson County Precinct 1 Commissioner Lisa Birkman, who serves as the chair of the Alan's Hope Project, said the initiative represents a community-wide effort. A call for entries to design the mural employed a simple question for artists: "What does hope mean to you?"

Deli enthusiastically agreed to provide the huge canvas, posting on her Facebook page of her interest in finding a potential artist to create the mural.

Another business owner, Matt Guthrie, donated scaffolding for the project and volunteered his time to set it up and take it down each day for the artist. Guthrie is the proprietor of Mighty Fine Painting.

The mural also will feature the 24-hour crisis hotline number for Bluebonnet Trails Community Services at 1-800- 841-1255 on it.

Williamson County officials have long called attention to the issue of suicide, a topic of discussion still seen as taboo in some circles that some people would rather avoid. In a past interview with the Round Rock Leader newspaper, Birkman explained the importance of highlighting the issue in a way that frames it with the theme of hope, rather than despair.

“Most people don’t like to talk about this and have almost a distaste for it,” Birkman said in a 2014 interview ahead of the "Hats Off For Hope" event the county staged two years ago. “They think it’s going to be depressing. We’re trying to make our event uplifting and make it more a story about hope.”

>>> Photos of artist Rachel Viator courtesy of Williamson County