Photo courtesy of SPARK! Dallas.
SPARK! Dallas, the youth educational nonprofit, has opened SPARK! City, a public art exhibition featuring immersive installations inspired by Dallas neighborhoods. The exhibit is open through Aug. 30 at Southside on Lamar.
SPARK! City highlights five Dallas neighborhoods — Downtown/Uptown, Oak Cliff/Bishop Arts, The Cedars, Vickery Meadow and Deep Ellum — through original artwork created by student artists from Emmett J. Conrad High School and Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, as well as local artist Erika Bauer.
Oak Cliff installment. Photo courtesy of SPARK! Dallas.
With Dallas serving as an official Host City for the FIFA World Cup, SPARK! City aims to introduce residents and visitors alike to the city’s diverse communities.
“With so many visitors coming to Dallas from around the world for soccer games this summer, we wanted to create a unique art exhibit to showcase Dallas’ distinctive neighborhoods,” said Meg Bittner, SPARK! executive director, in a press release. “This exhibit is an exclusive opportunity for both Dallas residents and visitors to discover and celebrate the city’s creative heartbeat, freeing art from traditional gallery walls and placing it in the hands of the community.”
Deep Ellum installment. Photo courtesy of SPARK! Dallas.
Students from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts created the Deep Ellum and Downtown/Uptown installations under the direction of Jessica Raff.
Their exhibit, painted entirely by hand, features recognizable Dallas landmarks including Reunion Tower and the Pegasus.
“We started building two weeks before school got out and I was able to get students to join by having them submit their designs and ideas,” Raff said.
The Cedars room. Photo courtesy of SPARK! Dallas.
Local artist Erika Bauer designed the installation representing The Cedars neighborhood.
The exhibit is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. It will also be open during FIFA Family Days on June 14, June 17, June 22, June 25, June 30, July 3, July 6 and July 14 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets are $15 for adults and children ages 2 and older, with discounted admission available for teachers, seniors, military members, veterans, first responders and qualifying families.
SPARK! Dallas will also host SPARK! After Dark, a 21-and-older event series, on June 5, July 3 and Aug. 7. Tickets are $40, and July and August admission includes one drink ticket for beer, wine or soda.
SPARK! City is located at Southside on Lamar, 1409 Botham Jean Blvd., Suite 004.
