Photo Essay: The Journey of Art

Downtown Dallas is a growing city. All that is in progress for the Dallas economy, an old industrial part of Dallas has been maintaing it's rustic and artistic value for 20 years or more. Artists shared their talents and made an impression on tourists in Dallas during the mid 80's. The idea was to get locals and tourists to patron the area for it's night life and it's artistic value.

These photographs are a piece of local art history. The plan was to give the old buildings an artsy make over after demolition of a gateway tunnel. The tunnel was a statement of art in Deep Ellum with it's montage of random thoughts and color. Deep Ellum was needing that same feeling of art replaced. The replacement plan was to have local artists enter a contest of art and the winners would paint their chosen Native Texan musician as murals on the brick canvas' of time. Deep Ellum has the worn feeling of the past and the future and just needed a face lift for it's weathered streets and structures.

In these photo's there are artist dedicated to giving Deep Ellum a face lift. Unfortunately, there are other plans for Deep Ellum. The economic growth is too advanced for the old industrial site, it is my understanding that Deep Ellum will not be a part of the urban life in Downtown Dallas in the next couple of years. There is always a part of every major city that exhibits local artists and their talents. Will where the local musicians and artists go to express feelings and show their tallent? The new Dallas? These artists have a short lived experience in the Deep Ellum Gateway Project. I would like to dedicate this article to those who put their time and effort into restoring a piece of history.

A little paint goes a long way.