South Congress art gallery Vault Stone Shop has opened a new display that caters to requirements of social distancing.

Walking by the gallery, a look in the window shows a exhibit of masks created by 21 local artists.

According to Vault Stone Shop Director Meghan Shogan, artists crafted masks that reflect their views and experiences of the coronavirus pandemic.

Shogan said the display is the first in a series of "Walk-by Window Shows" that will continue at least through June.

"We are presenting [these] to the neighborhood to try to keep art programming going and to create a fun diversion for neighbors on their daily walks through South Austin," Shogan said.




The masks on display will be available for purchase, with the gallery's portion of sales going toward buying hand sanitizer for Austinites experiencing homelessness. Additionally, artists contributing to the mask exhibit will contribute free cloth masks to local residents—around 100 gifted masks in total.

The Mask Collection exhibit, which is curated by GD Wright, will be on display through May 20.