In the office of Almost Real Things, a studio and gallery, the famous “Keep Austin Weird” slogan sits proudly among the collection of stickers that decorate its once-plain refrigerator. In just a few weeks, the vibrantly painted building will be the headquarters for the 23rd Austin Studio Tour — a surviving piece of the local culture that inspired Austin’s trademark image.
Almost Real Things started as a free magazine born out of co-founders Natalie Earhart and Zachary Zulch’s love for print-medium arts in 2015. The publication grew into a business that now curates galleries and offers studio spaces to artists across Austin, participating in the local legacy of arts and culture.
Before the “Keep Austin Weird” slogan was known nationwide, Austin’s famous catchphrase originated with local librarian Red Wassenich in 2000. The slogan started as a simple compliment to the eclectic, community-owned and operated KOOP radio program, which has shared the 91.7 frequency with UT’s KVRX since 1994. In a 2002 interview, Wassenich told the New York Times that it began when he called the program to make a donation. When KOOP picked up the phone, they asked him why he supported the show…