Hi, How Are You Mural

The "Hi, How Are You" mural by singer-songwriter Daniel Johston, is one of the most recognizable and cherished pieces of public art in Texas. Painted in dark ink against a brick wall, the mural depicts a wide-eyed, stalk-eyed cartoon frog greeting passersby with an unassuming speech bubble asking: *"Hi, How Are You?"*

What began as a quick $100 store commission has transformed into an internationally recognized emblem of Austin’s eccentric art scene, independent music history, and \mental health advocacy.

## History of the Mural

In 1993, the building at 21st and Guadalupe housed Sound Exchange, an iconic independent record shop frequented by UT students and local music collectors. Craig Koon, the store’s manager, asked local singer-songwriter and visual artist Daniel Johnston to paint a mural on the building’s exterior brick wall to give the storefront a distinctive identity. Johnston agreed and was paid $100 for his work. Armed with paint, he recreated the friendly creature that had adorned his 1983 self-released cassette tape, *Hi, How Are You: The Unfinished Album*.

When Sound Exchange closed its doors in 2003, the property was purchased by a fast-casual Mexican chain, Baja Fresh. The original plan was to paint over the wall during renovations. The announcement triggered an overwhelming community backlash from Austin residents, students, and local musicians who viewed the mural as sacred local heritage. Recognizing the public outrage, the new owners preserved the wall intact and built the restaurant around it.

Subsequent tenants have continued to respect and preserve the artwork. In 2014, the site was officially declared a cultural landmark. Despite facing occasional acts of graffiti over the decades, the mural has been repeatedly restored by local arts preservationists and stands as a permanent fixture of Austin iconography.

## The Character: Jeremiah the Innocent

The friendly, stalk-eyed creature featured on the wall is named **Jeremiah the Innocent**. Though often misidentified simply as a generic bullfrog, Jeremiah was a central recurring figure in Daniel Johnston’s personal mythology and artwork.

* **Origins:** Johnston named the character in playful homage to the opening line *"Jeremiah was a bullfrog"* from Three Dog Night’s 1970 hit single "Joy to the World".

* **Symbolism:** Drawn with raw, childlike simplicity, Johnston often portrayed Jeremiah as a symbol of pure innocence, vulnerability, and a gentle defense against dark thoughts and internal demons.

* **First Appearance:** Jeremiah originally entered the public realm on the hand-copied cassette sleeves of Johnston’s 1983 album *Hi, How Are You*, which Johnston hand-distributed around Austin.

## The Legend: Who Was Daniel Johnston?

Born in Sacramento, California, and raised in West Virginia, Johnston was an outsider artist and singer-songwriter.. In the mid-1980s, Johnston ran away with a traveling carnival before settling in Austin, Texas. While working behind the counter at a local McDonald’s on Guadalupe Street, he became a fixture on The Drag, handing out handmade cassette tapes of his piano-and-organ home recordings.

Johnston's songs, recorded on cheap cassette boomboxes with unvarnished, squeaky vocals and deeply poetic lyrics about love, unrequited longing, and superhero mythologies, captured the attention of the local music scene. He became a central figure in Austin’s "New Sincerity" alternative music movement.

Johnston’s cult status erupted into global fame when Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain routinely wore a T-shirt featuring Jeremiah the Innocent and the phrase "Hi, How Are You" during promotional tours and high-profile appearances, including the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards. Cobain's endorsement catapulted Johnston into international music headlines, leading to major-label attention and widespread acclaim from alternative rock figures like Tom Waits, Beck, Built to Spill, and The Flaming Lips.

His life and struggles were later captured in the critically acclaimed 2005 documentary *The Devil and Daniel Johnston*. Following Johnston’s passing in 2019, the Austin City Council officially designated January 22 (Johnston's birthday) as **"Hi, How Are You Day"**. Led by the Hi, How Are You Project non-profit, the annual event uses the mural's simple greeting as a prompt for open conversations surrounding mental health awareness, encouraging people around the world to check in on friends and loved ones.

## Visitor Information

* **Address:** 2100 Guadalupe Street, Austin, TX 78705 (Corner of W. 21st St & Guadalupe St).

* **Best Time to Visit:** Morning or late afternoon offer clear lighting for photos without blocking foot traffic along The Drag.

* **Photography Etiquette:** The mural sits directly on a public sidewalk. Be mindful of pedestrians, UT Austin students rushing to class, and local patrons.

* **Nearby Highlights:** Combine your visit with a walk through UT Austin's campus, a visit to the nearby Harry Ransom Center, or a browse through historic shops along Guadalupe Street.