A Special Citation for Grassroots Initiative is given for the modTEXAS project, founded by Amy Walton in 2018 to champion preservation organizations who are engaged in work to celebrate and protect architecture from the midcentury. The modTEXAS campaign calls upon Texans to participate in Mapping Mod, an Instagram-based initiative to document modernist architecture and design. There is a diversity of modernist architecture across the state, yet these treasures are being lost at an alarming rate due to neglect and redevelopment. While many historic, preservation, and architecture societies are active regionally, this initiative brings them together in a shared mission of highlighting Texas’ trove of midcentury assets for natives and visitors to enjoy. The crowd-sourced effort has engaged over twenty local organizations and students at local universities in identifying and tagging modern sites on Instagram, which are then mapped based on their geo-location. As of this past April, 3,360 images have been submitted using the #modtexas hashtag. The project maintains interest and fun by focusing on different themes, such as roadside attractions, public spaces, and Brutalism, and choosing winners each month. 

Amy Walton