![]() Of course, something so perfect couldn’t stay untouched for long. ![]() Keep Austin Weird highlighted the creative nature of Austinites - all of those mad ones who chased their passions after hours in the honky-tonks, art salons, and kitchens of their great city. They had just arrived an hour before from their home in Paris, bought shirts at the airport, and took a cab to the graffiti. She was wearing a KAW t-shirt, so I asked her to pose for a photo. I was at a great graffiti park here taking photos. I’m amazed how long-lived and widespread the phrase has become. It’s still a friendly, fun city.Īny anecdote that you feel summarizes the experience in the Keep It Weird movement? Now that the slogans are so well known, do you think Austin can keep it weird like was initially intended?Īustin still has its essential slightly goofy vibe, but I don’t like the huge increase in the cost of living that is driving all-but-the-rich out. These other towns almost totally use the phrase to promote local businesses, which is great, but not my motivation. Never been to Louisville (Should have been Keep Louisville Batty). Indianapolis didn’t strike me as weird at all, but I was only there once, for three days. They’re welcome to the phrase, although I question their creativity. Obviously people are always going to try and capitalize on something unique, what’s your take on Portland, Louisville, and Indianapolis doing their own Keep It Weird campaigns? Can those cities really compare to Austin’s weirdness? Now, it’s a slogan carved in stone for both Austin and Portland and an almost inextricable part of both cities’ respective identities. This led Wassenich to start a very 2000s website and even author two guidebooks to Austin: Keep Austin Weird: A Guide to the Odd Side of Town, and its sequel Keep Austin Weird: A Guide to the (Still) Odd Side of Town.Įventually, the movement got so big that trademarking companies descended on the Keep Austin Weird slogan and then other cities started jumping on the Keep It Weird bandwagon. The Austin Independent Business Alliance loved the line so much that they ended up adopting the slogan to help promote local small business. It helps keep Austin weird.” With that simple turn of phrase a movement was born. The radio DJ asked Wassenich why he supported the show, and without much thought Wassenich replied, “I don’t know. A librarian named Red Wassenich called into The Lounge Show on a local radio station to pledge some money and the ensuing conversation produced a phrase that would change Austin forever. It all started way back in the year 2000. One which has launched a thousand pieces of art, a deep love of food and drink, a music culture, and even a TV show. "Please note that if for some weird (no pun intended) reason the Oregon DMV does not release this license plate," Barile wrote, "your money will be refunded by me minus the bank charges and postal fees, which total around $5.While perusing the Keep Austin Weird website I came across a quote that probably best sums up what the “Keep Austin Weird” and “Keep Portland Weird” mottos really stand for: “If the way Austin is going makes you mad, don’t get even. The license plate designer states on his Kickstarter page that he will refund donors if the project fails to materialize. ![]() In addition to his license plate project, Barile runs an online business that sells bulk quantities of Lego bricks. But his crowdfunding campaign says he would like to donate proceeds from the license plate to the Regional Arts & Culture Council and the Oregon Music Hall of Fame. ![]() “Our main concern at this point is that potential backers may assume the application has been filed by a qualified non-profit organization, and that the plate design has been approved for production if the organizer meets his funding goal,” DMV Administrator Tom McClellan said in a press release Friday.īarile could not immediately be reached for comment. ![]() The Justice Department says Barile has not complied with those rules. Oregon law requires anyone launching a new plate to first register as a non-profit organization, and to submit designs to the DMV for approval before marketing the plate. ![]()
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