We’ve all heard the expression, ‘everything is bigger in Texas.’ After getting a sneak peak of the new DREAM sculpture in Arlington, Texas, it looks like dreams are no exception!
The unveiling and dedication for this 54′ long, 12′ tall, metallic LED-lit piece adjacent to Levitt Pavilion Arlington will take place tonight at 7 p.m., in conjunction with the annual South Street Art Festival and a lively performance by folk rocker Luke Wade at Levitt Arlington.
Arlington: The American DREAM City
Today Arlington, Texas is home to over 370,000 residents and host to 8 million visitors a year. After spending the majority of the 20th century widely known as a bedroom community for nearby Dallas and Fort Worth, Arlington has blossomed into a city with a strong identity and a rich civic life.
In the summer of 2014, Arlington leaders realized it was time for their city to solidify its new identity, rolling out a new city logo and coining the phrase, “The American Dream City.”
This decision inspired the momentum behind DREAM. As Bob Pruitt—the photographer, entrepreneur and driving force behind the project—explained, “The selection of the word ‘dream’ for the sculpture happened organically, right here in Arlington.” He went on to attribute the use of ‘dream’ to the City’s new identity.
Bringing their DREAM to life
Artists, Laura Kimpton (Marin County, Calif.) and Jeff Schomberg (Reno, Nev.)—the creative duo behind DREAM—have collaborated on a series of ‘BIG WORD’ art projects that have been viewed and photographed by millions of people worldwide. DREAM will be the seventh word in the series, which includes BELIEVE (2013)—recently purchased by Reno, Nev.,—and LOVE (2011)—purchased by Paradise Ridge Winery in Sonoma County, Calif.—as well as Burning Man favorites like EGO (2012) and OINK (2010) .
Together they’ve constructed each of DREAM’s five 12′ tall x 4’ deep x 8’ to 10’ wide letters out of heavy sheet metal (with bird-shaped cutouts to reduce weight), around a rigid tubing support structure.
Before journeying to downtown Arlington, DREAM was on display at the annual Burning Man festival in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada. Over the past week, installation crews have been working to bring the piece to life in its new home—the grassy lawn just west of Founders Plaza and Levitt Arlington (100 West Abram Street) in Arlington’s downtown. It will remain here for the next 18-24 months until a permanent, central location in downtown Arlington is agreed upon.
Finding your DREAM in Arlington
True to the nature of public art, this piece is free and accessible to the public. Furthermore, viewers are able to customize their own experience using a mobile device app that remotely adjusts the color of the piece’s many LED lights.
The hope is that DREAM will inspire people to ask the simple question, “What’s my dream?”
For Pruitt, the answer is “[a] dream of the possibilities of what downtown Arlington can become. Arts and cultural arts will be a big part of the future.”
Come out to Levitt Arlington tonight to experience yet another night of free, live music under the stars, in addition to the annual South Street Art Festival and the unveiling of a larger-than-life reminder to DREAM big (especially when in Texas…).
Pingback: Soak up that extra hour of sunlight with a free public art tour! - reVerb
It’s fascinating to see how public art can become a symbol of a city’s identity and aspirations. The DREAM sculpture in Arlington, Texas, seems like a powerful representation of the city’s growth and ambition, especially with its connection to the phrase “The American Dream City.” The scale of the sculpture, along with its interactive elements, makes it an engaging addition to the urban landscape, inviting people to contemplate their own dreams and aspirations. It’s exciting to see how art can inspire and bring communities together.