Art News DFW Archive

DALLAS – The Catholic Foundation has announced J. Lynn Kelly as the winner of the 5th Annual Catholic Foundation Plaza Artists Competition. His work, “Downtown Playground” was unveiled during a public dedication ceremony in the Dallas Arts District.

The winning art will be displayed on a 28’ by 9’8” wall for approximately one year at The Catholic Foundation Plaza, which is free and open to the public and located on the grounds of the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe in the Dallas Arts District. “Downtown Playground” offers Kelly’s artistic vision of the Dallas Arts District. His intent was to directly involve the viewer in the District’s many art exhibition and performance venues. He arranged the venues in his work to artfully divide the space of the picture plane, which invites the public “to dance their eyes around all of the attractions.”

Kelly, the grand prize winner, received a $2,500 stipend, in addition to having his artwork displayed in the Dallas Arts District for one year. Two honorable mentions, Laura Moore with “Peaceful, Calm” and Susan Barnett with “The Plaza” received $250 each

“These places [depicted in the winning artwork] represent a freedom of spirit that we must constantly nourish, making time to relax our pace so that our spirits might join with the artist’s visions and have space to unfold and enlarge,” said J. Lynn Kelly. “Without this we risk becoming isolated and small in a world that can seem so large and uncaring. The people of the Cathedral reach out every day to show others that they do care about one another. What better place than this to display public art which reminds us of the undiminished persistence of the caring spirit, and I hope my art can in some way contribute to that.” 

Earlier this year, The Catholic Foundation invited professional artists living in the North Texas area to submit proposal designs for consideration. A panel of highly respected members of the local arts community then chose the winning piece.

This year’s Selection Committee included one representative from The Catholic Foundation; Cindy M. Gummer, owner of The Enchanted Galleries; Katherine Wagner, CEO of the Business Council for the Arts; Patricia B. Meadows, Art Connections; David C. Hickman, sculptor; Pamela Nelson, Dallas artist; Gary Skotnicki of Architexas, the architectural firm and designer of the Plaza; and David Zvanut, the 2009 competition winner.

“The Dallas Art District is an interactive and inspirational gem in the heart of our city, and Lynn’s artwork captures the vibrant atmosphere our community is fortunate to have,” said Edwin M. Schaffler, President and CEO of The Catholic Foundation. “Each year, we are honored to showcase a talented local artist through this competition, and we know the public will enjoy Lynn’s winning artwork during their visits to the Dallas Arts District as much as we will.” 

Former winners include Marty Ray’s “Celebrate Life, Celebrate Art” in 2006, Ann Cushing Gantz’s “Trumpeting Angels” in 2007, Pamela Nelson’s “Magic Carpet” in 2008, and David Zvanut’s “Music on Parade” in 2009. The competition will be open to artists in summer 2011, and artists are invited to visit www.catholicfoundation.com to learn about participating in future competitions.

The Catholic Foundation Plaza, dedicated in October 2006, was a gift from The Catholic Foundation to the Dallas community to commemorate the Foundation’s 50th anniversary. In addition to the art wall, the 3,900-square-foot public space is an oasis for Dallas citizens and visitors to enjoy.

Chartered in 1955 by a group of dedicated Catholic laymen, The Catholic Foundation is a donor-focused community foundation that guides benefactors in compassionate charitable giving endeavors, utilizing extensive expertise to carry out the various philanthropic goals of its donors. The Foundation’s planned giving programs connects donors directly with organizations they wish to support within the Diocese of Dallas and elsewhere, whether that is a home parish, Catholic school or a community-based charity. Thanks to the generosity of donors both past and present, The Foundation has provided approximately $24 million to local organizations through hundreds of grants over the past 54 years, and donor-advised funds maintained at the Foundation have accounted for even more grants amounting to millions of dollars. For additional information about The Catholic Foundation, call 972.661.9792.