Life & Arts

Here Are Our Favorite KUT Photos Of 2020

KUT 90.5 | By KUT Staff

Published December 27, 2020 at 10:56 PM CST

This year has been scary, painful, weird and, at times, hopeful. KUT’s multimedia team was there to capture it all.

Here are the photos that tell the story of 2020.

January

PJ and Alex Martinez run the Martinez Brothers Taxidermy shop in South Austin. — PJ and Alex Martinez pose inside Martinez Brothers Taxidermy in South Austin on Jan. 14.

From left, Dwight Carrington, D'Aire Best, Paislee Bodary, Kathy Carrington and Brylee Bodary participate in the annual MLK Day Community March on Jan. 20.

Donald Trump motions with his fist to a member of the crowd. — President Trump addresses farmers and ranchers at the annual American Farm Bureau Federation's convention at the Austin Convention Center on Jan. 19.

February

Snow over the Capitol building on February 5th. — Snow falls on the Texas Capitol on Feb. 5.

José Pérez lived for three years with a busted stove. His North Austin apartment complex was on a city list of rental properties with a history of poor maintenance.

A woman hands a man a bag of dog food from her car. — Rochelle Vickery donates pet food to Jeff Martin as his dog watches at a state-sanctioned encampment for people experiencing homelessness off US 183 near Montopolis.

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders talks to supporters at a rally near Lady Bird Lake on Feb. 23. Sanders' campaign estimates more than 12,700 people came to hear the candidate tout his plans for health care, climate change and infrastructure improvements.

March

MJ Hegar, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks to the media. — U.S. Senate candidate MJ Hegar speaks to media at the Travis County Democrats' headquarters on the Super Tuesday primary March 3.

Milan, 4, and Myden, 3, choose food from an Austin ISD curbside pickup site on March 13.

Hays County and San Marcos officials declare a state of disaster because of COVID-19, at the Hays County Courthouse on March 15.

The Paramount Theatre, which would have been bustling during South by Southwest, sits on a quiet Congress Avenue on March 17. — A man walks past the Paramount Theatre on March 16.

A man walks on the UT Austin campus with a pack of toilet paper and other supplies on March 16. — A person walks along UT campus on March 16. The university announced it was extending spring break in response to the coronavirus.

A worker handles paperwork at CommUnityCare's drive-thru coronavirus testing site at the Hancock Center. — A health care worker assists people at CommUnityCare's drive-thru COVID testing site in the Hancock Shopping Center on March 18.

Zach Volta, chef at Casino El Camino, spray paints the boarded-up window on the front of the Sixth Street restaurant as his coworkers watch. — Zach Volta, chef at Casino El Camino, spray-paints the restaurant's boarded-up window as coworkers watch March 19. Bars and restaurants were ordered closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

James Demond Pettway was living under I-35 on March 23. People experiencing homelessness are at particular risk of catching the coronavirus.

Shoppers stand apart from one another as they wait to enter an H-E-B grocery store in South Austin on March 23. — Customers line up 6 feet apart to enter an HEB in South Austin on March 23.

Joni Watkins and Matt Umberger sew face masks to donate to health care workers, on the porch of their South Austin home. — Joni Watkins and Matt Umberger sew masks for health care workers outside their South Austin home on March 24.

Intern Hael Seok poses with Sarah Kim, owner of Scissors Sound Hair Salon in North Austin on March 24. — Intern Hael Seok poses with Sarah Kim, owner of Scissors Sound Hair Salon in North Austin, on March 24. Hair appointments had tapered off since January and almost completely stopped by spring.

April

Jeff Levine puts a face mask over the statute of Stevie Ray Vaughn at Auditorium Shores on April 16. — Jeff Levine puts a face mask on the statue of Steve Ray Vaughn at Auditorium Shores on April 16.

Drivers line up for free food during a Central Texas Food Bank distribution at the Toney Burger Center in South Austin on April 30.

May

Shops in the Domain began reopening May 1 as the state moved into phase one of Gov. Greg Abbott's plan to reopen the Texas economy. — Shops in the Domain begin to reopen May 1 after Gov. Greg Abbott eases restrictions.

Air Force Thunderbirds fly over Austin in a salute to essential workers on May 13. — The U.S. Air Force’s Thunderbirds do a flyover salute to essential workers on May 13.

Stasia Erickson wears a mask while playing a violin on South Congress on May 22. — Stasia Erickson busks on South Congress on May 22.

Ivan Zaplatar and Cole Kershner (foreground) attend an outdoor graduation ceremony in the West Austin neighborhood of Highland Park on May 26.

Austin police point guns at protesters being forced off I-35. — Austin police officers force protesters off I-35 during a nationwide demonstration May 30 against police brutality and systematic racism after the killing of George Floyd.

A man stands with his arms outstretched in front of a line of Austin police officers. — Police officers face off with protesters on I-35 in downtown Austin, during a demonstration May 31 against police brutality and racism.

Protesters run down the ramp from I-35 after police deploy tear gas. — Demonstrators protesting police violence disperse after officers deploy tear gas on I-35 near Austin police headquarters on May 31.

June

Protesters march from the state Capitol to Austin Police Department headquarters in solidarity with nationwide demonstrations June 4 against the police killings of black people.

Brenda Ramos, mother of Mike Ramos, at her home in South Austin. — Brenda Ramos poses at her home in South Austin on June 4. Her son, Mike Ramos, was shot and killed by Austin police in April.

A demonstrator holds a sign that reads, "I can't breathe," at the LGBT Rally and March in Solidarity with BLM. — Members of the LGBTQ community rally in support of the Black Lives Matter movement outside City Hall in Austin on June 5.

Looking down on protesters marching in the middle of the street. — Thousands of demonstrators march from Huston-Tillotson University to the state Capitol as part of the March for Black Lives on June 7.

A team of artists and volunteers paints the words "Black Artists Matter" in yellow along East 11th Street. — A team of artists and volunteers paints the words "Black Artists Matter" along East 11th Street on June 18.

From left to right, Bradley Spears as Frozone, Hayden Ortiz as Spiderman Miles Morales and Afsaneh Ortiz as Storm. The three, members of the group Black Lives Matter Cosplayers, pose at Lake Pflugerville for "In Celebration of Freedom: A Pflugerville June — Bradley Spears as Frozone, Hayden Ortiz as Spiderman Miles Morales and Afsaneh Ortiz as Storm, members of the group Black Lives Matter Cosplayers, pose at Lake Pflugerville during a Juneteenth celebration on June 20.

July

Uriel Guillen speaks during a march and rally In East Austin on Sunday for his cousin, Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen, who is believed to have been killed by a fellow Fort Hood soldier. — Uriel Guillén speaks during a march and rally for his cousin, Vanessa Guillén, in East Austin on July 12. The Fort Hood soldier's remains were found two months after she went missing. Another soldier is accused of her killing.

Whitney Mitchell mourns with supporters at a July 26 vigil for her fiancé Garrett Foster, who was shot and killed at a Black Lives Matters protest. — Whitney Mitchell mourns with supporters at a July 26 vigil for her fiancé, Garrett Foster, who was shot and killed at a Black Lives Matter protest the day before.

August

Pallbearers carry a casket holding the body of Lois Villaseñor inside of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish. — Pallbearers carry a casket holding the body of Lois Villaseñor inside of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish on Aug. 6. Villaseñor, who opened Mission Funeral Home with her husband in 1959, died of complications from COVID-19.

A woman points a thermometer at a child's forehead. — LaTrice Jones takes Keith Toliver's temperature before he enters Open Door Preschool in East Austin on Aug. 20.

UT professors Ayelet Haimson Lushkov and her husband, Pramit Chaudhuri, have not felt comfortable bringing their young children back to day care during the pandemic. — UT professors Ayelet Haimson-Lushkov and Pramit Chaudhuri watch their two children at their home in Central Austin on Aug. 21. The couple has not felt comfortable bringing their kids back to day care during the pandemic. Even with a part-time babysitter, they struggle to conduct classes online.

September

Volunteers with Parkspace spray-paint colorful squares on the grass. — Volunteers with Parkspace create an installation Sept. 16 to delineate properly distanced spaces at the bat-viewing site along the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail.

Andrew Noble plays guitar next to a sign that reads, "Dead Music Capital Of The World," during a demonstration at City Hall. — Andrew Noble and others attend the Come And Save It rally at City Hall on Sept. 16 to show support for a resolution that would provide funding for the music and arts industries.

People visit the graves of relatives whose headstones were vandalized at Evergreen Cemetery in East Austin during a Celebration of Live event Sept. 27. — People visit the graves of relatives whose headstones were vandalized at Evergreen Cemetery in East Austin, during a Celebration of Life event Sept. 27.

October

Artist Soledad Fernandez-Whitechurch organizes the painting of a mural depicting the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at Agave Print in East Austin on Oct. 11.

Dozens of masked people stand in line, waiting to vote. — The line extends down the block for the polling place at Southpark Meadows Shopping Center on Oct. 13, the first day of early voting for the 2020 general election.

Stone Wang teaches band at Walsh Middle School in Round Rock. — Stone Wang teaches band at Walsh Middle School in Round Rock on Oct. 21. He says teaching students in person and online simultaneously is challenging.

A woman dressed as a catrina poses in the park with a framed photograph of a friend who died. — Gloria Mena honors her friend David, who died this year, during a Día de los Muertos celebration with members of the Mexicanas en Austin group at Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park on Oct. 29.

November

Poll workers assist a driver with curbside voting. — Poll workers Sharon Eriksson and Jan Gunter assist a driver with curbside voting at the Williamson County Jester Annex in Round Rock on Nov. 3.

Two women hold Biden signs and celebrate from the sun roof of their car after Biden is declared the winner of the 2020 election. — Biden supporters drive down Congress Avenue to celebrate after the presidential election is called for the former vice president on Nov. 7.

Biden supports hold a Biden flag during demonstrations downtown Austin following the announcement of the 2020 presidential elections. — Biden supporters celebrate in downtown Austin after he secures enough votes to be declared the winner of the presidential election.

A supporter of President Donald Trump wearing a Trump bracelet holds a rifle during demonstrations downtown Austin following the announcement of the presidential elections. — A Trump supporter holds a rifle during protests of Biden's election, in downtown Austin on Nov. 7.

Supporters of President Donald Trump march on Congress Avenue. — Trump supporters march along Congress Avenue, protesting the call for Joe Biden.

Addison attends school remotely, wearing headphones and blocking out distractions. — Addison attends class from home on Nov. 8. The 14-year-old, who has ADHD and a sensory-processing disorder, excels at in-home learning, where she can block out distractions.

Valerie Romness and Emmy Sawvel hug a tree with tags on it symbolizing homeless people who died in Austin this year. — Valerie Romness, editor of The Challenger street newspaper, and Emmy Sawvel, an advocate for people experiencing homelessness, hug the Tree of Remembrance at a memorial Nov. 15. The event celebrated the lives of the 256 homeless people who died in Austin this year.

Thor Harris bangs a dumpster as part of a socially distant musical performance held at dadaLab event space. — Thor Harris bangs a dumpster during "Dumpster Fire," a socially distant musical performance on Nov. 22 at dadaLab event space.

December

Artist Shane Reilly has turned his North Austin yard into a memorial for Texans who have lost their lives to COVID-19. On Dec. 10, there were 23,821 flags.

Volunteer Mark Steves, of Austin Voices for Education and Youth, loads groceries into a vehicle during a drive-thru food distribution at Navarro Early College High School on Dec. 14.

Medical Assistant Esmeralda Torres is vaccinated against COVID-19 at Dell Medical School on Dec. 15.

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