Cedars Social Mural Dedication to Be Held Thursday, April 6 in Celebration of Dallas Arts Month

Mural Concept for Dallas first container for The Cedars Backyard
EVENT: Cedar Social Backyard "ground·swell" Mural Dedication

WHEN: Thursday, April 6, 5:30pm to 7:30pm

WHERE: Cedars Social Backyard, 1326 South Lamar in the Cedars

BACKGROUND: The Cedars Social will host a mural dedication for its new mural at The Cedars Backyard, Dallas' first container bar, next door to The Cedars Social. The Cedars Social worked with the Creative Arts Center of Dallas to select the winner of "ground·swell", a site-specific 10' x 40' mural on the backside of the container (facing the Dallas Police Headquarters). Dallas artist Rebekah Shamsa was selected by the jurors for the project. Shamsa is a graphic designer who specializes in motion and animation. A graduate of CalArts, she has maintained a passion for working in a variety of mediums outside of computers, including weaving, photography, painting, metal and clay. This is the artist's first mural project.

CAC members were invited to submit up to three total color renderings encompassing the artist's interpretation of the theme. The chosen artist was awarded a $1,000 gift to The Cedars Social as well as a $1,000 gift certificate to the Creative Arts Center. There was also a $500 stipend for materials. Jurors for the project were Todd Hedrick, CAC board member; artist Cynthia Mulcahy; and Jeffrey Yarbrough, co-owner of The Cedars Social.

According to Shamsa, the interpretative, abstract pattern features a series of eyes to remind us we are all accountable and all one. "Using multiple strokes to complete the shapes is suggestive of a current, similar to that which flows unseen in our environments and bodies," said Shamsa. "The downpour of rain from the heavens, the uproar of fire from the earth's core, and the rush of air between are symb
ols for our societies shared opinions and conflicting views. Yet, they intertwine seamlessly."

According to Diana Pollak, CAC's Executive Director, the mural competition is an exciting opportunity for an artist to have their work seen in such a prominent location at the heart of the city. "This public art partnership with a private business will impact the community through its theme, ground·swell," said Pollak. "We were very pleased with all the submissions."

ABOUT CAC: Not only is CAC a visual arts school, it is a thriving arts community for a diverse range of students from teens to seniors. Located on a two-acre campus four miles east of downtown Dallas, the nonprofit community arts organization is geared to beginning, emerging and working artists. Offering more than 500 classes and workshops per year in such disciplines as ceramics, clay sculpture, creative writing, drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal arts, mosaic, painting, photography, printmaking and stone carving, CAC also offers free arts programming to underserved children through programs, such as Art as a Second Language Camp MetalHead and unseenamerica. CAC recently launched ArtAbility, a new program for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

ABOUT THE CEDARS SOCIAL: The Cedars Social, located at 1326 South Lamar, is a cocktail den and kitchen that features an adventurous list of handcrafted cocktails and a modern comfort food menu created by executive chef Justin Box. In November, it opened Dallas' first container bar The Cedars Backyard.
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2360 Laughlin Drive · Dallas · Texas · 75228 · 214/320-1275 · www.creativeartscenter.org


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