One day in late spring, just before the weather got hot here in Dallas, I took my camera down to Deep Ellum. This is a hippie/artsy neighborhood just east of downtown. It’s seen the best of times and the worst of times. Today it’s somewhere in the middle, angling for its umpteenth gentrification.
Deep Ellum is known for its street art: murals, stencils, tiles, graffiti and neon signs dot the landscape. Here are some of the best I found on a bright spring day.
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- Welcome to 深 Ellum.
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- There are several signs like this, but this one is in the best shape.
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- This sign has seen better days. I like how you can still sort of see the sign underneath it.
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- One of my favorite murals in Deep Ellum.
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- I love the Super Mario mural, though they painted over it recently.
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- This is what happened to the last guy trying to photograph the Mario mural
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- This looks like a Roy Liechtenstein painting, but without the halftone dots.
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- Funky mask
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- I like the way this old street sign was all cut up.
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- Burgers and beer. Two of my favorite things.
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- Almost looks more like a TV network than a bar.
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- Went to this place recently. It was fun.
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- I like the little icons on this sign.
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- Never been here, but I like the sign.
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- No. This place is not still in business. Though I wish someone would fix it up.
Which of the signs in this gallery do you like the most? And if you’ve been to Deep Ellum, is there a work of art that you particularly care for? Let me know in the comments section.
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Paul
July 13, 2012 at 5:32 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Nice shots Steve. Just to shed some light on two of those signs… the Deep Ellum ones, they’ve actually been redone and the one you’re saying has seen better days is how they both looked when they were originally done. The artist wanted an old historical feel.
Steve Lovelace
July 14, 2012 at 6:23 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Paul,
I had a feeling that was the case, given the similar shape between the two signs. I’m glad they left one of the two unfinished. It’s interesting to see the layers of history.
Cindy Bell
July 14, 2012 at 11:49 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Love neon, ghost neon, and ghost signs, and generally unusual stuff. Never really walked around Deep Ellum, but I will now, just to look for these things! Awesome pics!
Steve Lovelace
July 15, 2012 at 10:06 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Cindy,
Deep Ellum is definitely worth walking around on a sunny day. Last spring, I also did a charity scavenger hunt there, so I’ve got a bunch of pictures from that too. I’ll have to post them one day soon.
A Rainy Day in the Bishop Arts District — Steve Lovelace
September 20, 2012 at 1:27 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
[...] There are a bunch of shops and restaurants and art galleries up and down the street. Like the Deep Ellum neighborhood east of downtown, there is also an array of public art and funky street decorations. [...]