The Deep Ellum News

Above: David Rodriguez, one of the Art Park artists, in action.  All photos courtesy of Carolyn Collins.

Dallas, TX – A Ribbon Cutting event will welcome the new public artwork to Deep Ellum’s Art Park on Saturday, September 12^th. From 2-4 pm, the Deep Ellum Foundation invites artists, residents, and visitors to enjoy more than 30 new outdoor paintings. The concrete sculptures that have greeted visitors since the mid 90s have been repainted for the first time in over a decade.

Immediately following the DART Super Saturday event a few blocks over, the Deep Ellum Foundation will host the Art Park Ribbon Cutting. Art Park is located along Commerce Street, Canton Street, and Good Latimer Expressway under Interstate 75. Just walk across Good Latimer from Bark Park Central.

Jasmine Donnell and Kate Langley (and her parents) working on their sculptures

Thanks to funding from the Farmers Market Tax Increment Financing District, the entire Deep Ellum Connector is getting a makeover. The lights that illuminate the sculptures after dark are the result of electrical repairs to Art Park’s lighting system. The lights have not worked for years, but now they shine brightly on the new paintings.The Deep Ellum Foundation is also working with the Texas Department of Transportation to add mural paintings to many of the highway columns under Interstate 75 as the next phase of the Art Park project.

“The lighting improvements were critical to light the artwork at night and to increase public safety in the area,” says longtime Deep Ellum developer, John Miller of PlanB Development, who is a member of both the Farmers Market and Deep Ellum TIF boards.

“The benefit of the art installation goes a long way in connecting the Farmers Market community to Deep Ellum.”

Eddie Walker and "She's DET"

The Deep Ellum Foundation organized a contest to select the new images for Art Park. A selection panel reviewed the 60 plus submissions and selected a variety of styles, colors and imagery to adorn the sculptures for years to come.

Jasmine Donnell, a Deep Ellum resident and local artist, painted a sculpture that happens to be one block from where she lives.

“There are so many talented artists in the Deep Ellum community, I was honored to have been chosen.  Most of my art is normally just viewed by friends, family and clients through my work. So, it’s personally gratifying to have my art displayed in the neighborhood I live in, for the people I admire the most,” explains Donnell.

Michael Lagocki painting "Haley"

Michael Lagocki’s image reflects a character he calls Haley. He is glad to share her love with Deep Ellum.

“Outdoor art is about sharing something with the community. My intent with my piece was to bless the neighborhood, maybe put a smile on a few faces, and share a positive emotion.”

The project did, indeed, connect the community. Passersby stopped to ask what was going on, and to watch the artists in actions. Many residents taking their dogs for a stroll in Bark Park Central walked over to say hello. Some interested onlookers even staked out for hours.

Locals stopping by to watch the Art Park artists

Many of the participating artists will be on hand at the Art Park Ribbon Cutting to answer questions about their pieces and listen to feedback from the community. The Deep Ellum Foundation invites everyone to come enjoy some refreshments and take in the new scenery.

For more information about the Art Park Ribbon Cutting, please contact:

Lee Ann Stone

Deep Ellum Foundation

(214) 747-3337

def@deepellumfoundation.org

www.deepellumfoundation.org

Dallas, TX – Deep Ellum reaches out to Dallas kids with its youth art program. 501(c)3 organization, the Deep Ellum Foundation, teams up with Dallas art and performance collective, ArtLoveMagic, to host the second ArtLoveMagic Youth Workshop Friday, July 24^th, 2009.

Michael Lagocki and Samax Amen working with students at the May workshop

After a successful premiere workshop in May, new energy for the interactive art program sparked the interest of Deep Ellum benefactors. Jeanne Blanton, local real estate and property owner, is founding the Don Blanton Art Endowment Fund in memory of her late husband. Cultivating an appreciation for art, especially in kids, is very important to Blanton. Her first donation from the endowment is a sponsorship of the ArtLoveMagic Youth Workshop.

Madison Partners, LLC is a mainstay property management and real estate company in the Deep Ellum community. Madison Partners’ CEO Susan Reese is happy to support the new program.

“I believe that the interconnections between solid community and the arts are far-reaching.  It is with exposure to the arts and hands-on experience within the arts that young people experience the joy, challenges and beauty of creating.  In return for supporting this opportunity, our community becomes the beneficiary of more involved, more sensitive, more complete citizens.”

Isaac Davies teaching graffiti artwork

The July workshop will connect kids from Boys and Girls Club Dallas and Arlington’s SafeHaven with artist mentors from ArtLoveMagic. Five visual art genres will be offered to the students. The kids will draw, paint and cartoon alongside the artists. Students will also try their hand at creating pottery and graffiti art.

The interactive model is a fun, different approach to teaching art techniques, tells Michael Lagocki, ArtLoveMagic co-founder.

“This is not like a classroom where the children are taught from the front of a room, using a pre-planned lesson. The kids are in the mix, touching the tools, reacting to what the artist is creating live, just as the artist is reacting to them. Every outing is absolutely unique because it is dependent on what the artists and the kids create together.”

Art, fun, and learning make the workshop an unforgettable experience for all involved.  Pizza at lunch tops off the day and leaves lots of smiling faces in its wake.

Workshop student enjoying her lunch!

For more information about the ArtLoveMagic Youth Workshop, please contact:

Tressie Knowlton

Deep Ellum Foundation

Development & Marketing Coordinator

(214) 707 9833

tressie@deepellumfoundation.org

www.deepellumfoundation.org

**Thanks to Carolyn Collins for the great photos!

Call or Email our office if you plan to have security lighting around your building . We will give you $300 per light for two lights. If you plan on building a sidewalk cafe we will help subsidize that up to $500

All property owners who have graffiti problems may give a letter to the foundation allowing us to paint over the graffiti. The letter along with a can of matching paint and we will paint over it when we see it.