An Austin Yoga Instructor’s Exercise in Placemaking 

“I’ve seen the sidewalk on Ida B. Wells and other areas redone at least a few times,” Marshawn Feltus, the owner of A.C.T. Yoga, 5457 W. Madison St. in Austin, lamented during a Sept. 1 Facebook Live. 

“But here, on a major street like Madison, which has so much historical value and history, how does the city collectively allow for certain business corridors to look any kind of way? This should be an extension of what Downtown looks like. It should not be that this is unkempt like this.” 

The next day, Feltus hosted a “Finishing Touches Day” for a new mural painted on the side of the Madison Street building that houses his yoga studio. The mural, which was formally revealed during a mural unveiling on Sept. 27, was the result of a collaboration between a coalition of Austin community leaders. 

According to a Sept. 9 Austin Weekly News article, “Courtney Gipson of Antidote Inc., Ruby Taylor of Taproots Inc., Alexandra Auguste and Jermaine Harris of the Community Leadership Fellows, Chris Thomas of YourPassion1st, and Mercedes Pickett of Earth’s Remedies, who together bring expertise in restorative justice, intergenerational storytelling, youth leadership, mentorship, and holistic community wellness.” 

But the mural is just one aspect of Feltus’ exercise in placemaking and beautification. Feltus also put up some signage, relocated flower pots, and even installed what he’s called a reading zone, which is a newspaper box regularly filled with copies of The Culture. 

“I think of the seniors on my block,” Feltus said on his Live. “A couple have been over there for more than 50 years. I love looking out for them because they’ve put in the work and done what they needed to do. Now, it’s my turn to pick up the banner and carry on.”