Mural, mural on the wall

On the quiet corner of Flora and Crockett streets in downtown Dallas, you can almost hear the music of Marty Ray's art fill the plaza.

Ray's 28 by 10 foot mural, “Celebrate Life, Celebrate Art,” is a vibrant piece of color, movement and harmony presented on a wall across the street from the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center.

“The art mural that I've created is joyful and celebrates the intertwining nature of life and art,” said Ray, a member of North Lake's art faculty since 1977.

Unveiled Oct. 26, “ Celebrate Life, Celebrate Art” is the first of many murals to feature local artisans.

Commissioned by the Catholic Foundation to grace the Cathedral of Guadalupe's Plaza, Ray's art will be on display for one year.

The unveiling coincided with the 104th anniversary of the dedication of the Cathedral of Guadalupe, as well as the 50th anniversary of the Catholic Foundation.

“As I worked on the painting for the mural design, I was inspired just by the very idea of our Dallas Arts District. It is growing into such an important place to bring all of the arts together within our city,” said Ray.

The Plaza was given as a gift from the Catholic Foundation to the people of Dallas to commemorate 50 years of compassionate, charitable giving to the community.

“The trustees of the Catholic Foundation wished to make a lasting and significant gift to the people of Dallas from the Catholic community, and we believe this project will achieve all of our objectives,” said Foundation President and CEO Edwin M. Schaffer.

Ray's students and colleagues gathered together on stone accents and benches during the dedication, while Bishop Charles V. Grahmann, of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas, concluded with a blessing at the dedication ceremony.

“Marty is a working professional artist, who happens to be a teacher,” said David Evans, dean of the Visual and Performing Arts Teaching and Learning Center.

“She has been recognized for years in the Dallas arts community for her clay pot designs,” he said. “With this award, she is recognized by literally the City of Dallas as one of the top artists within the city. And that certainly has a very positive refl ection on North Lake.”

Past Dallas County Community College District chancellor Dr. Bill Wenrich sent congratulations, as did many of the board members in the district.

“I feel I can speak for all of the art faculty and all of the North Lake College community when I say we are all very proud of Marty,” said Steven Benezue, North Lake's Gallery director.

The mural is framed by a stained mahogany trellis which is decorated by plants, ivies and wildfl owers. A tranquil water fountain spills forth on one side of the Foundation Plaza, where it is anticipated that people will come together in the years to come and listen to the tolling of the 49 bells of the cathedral's tower not far away.

In addition to the mural, Ray's work will also be on display at the Craighead Green Gallery in Dallas, which opens with a reception on Dec 1.

“Celebrate Life, Celebrate Art” by North Lake College's art professor Marty Ray is a 28 by 10 foot mural on a building in the Dallas Arts District across the street from the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center.