2024 FAIR ARTISTS

Deep Ellum has always been a celebration of the music and arts. I have many core memories of music and dancing in my early 20s. It’s been a place I’ve considered home away from home. I’ve gone through a lot with being raised in an environment that did not nurture my love of art. I was welcomed by Debbie Driscoll and treated with such immense respect! She made me feel like my art and heart mattered. I have this extremely positive outlook on Deep Ellum being the true heART of Dallas. Deep Ellum has had its misconceptions, and I still find it to be an incredibly alluring place. The smells, the atmosphere, the weird, and quirky parts that a

The town/city of Deep Ellum means (to me) a great sense of hand made, punk-rock, colorful, do it yourself art community with deep roots of a do it yourself funky style.

My home of 26 years.

I love the deep elm area, I lived there for over a year.. the diversity, the culture, for food and lack of feeling judged and being able to express your creativity in your community is important.

I am married to a Texas girl from Burleson who is also an artist and we both have always enjoyed coming to participate in the Deep Ellum Art Festival. It is rich in history, we love the local businesses we always visit when there and the show has always been a huge success for us! The support the locals give all the artists is nothing short of amazing!!!

Deep Ellum is it’s own style, vibe and history. Eccentric place in the middle of Dallas

It's always been a place of creativity and fascination for me. I grew up in the DFW area and have been going to Deep Ellum for various events since the late 90's. I enjoy participating in art shows when I have the availability especially at Kettle and Deep Ellum Art Company. I've also participated in former Deep Ellum Arts Fest and the new DECAF that started last year. It's always a joy to show art in the area.

Deep Ellum was my connection to my friends and to the arts (music, visual arts). It's a part of my identity and shaped my views of my community by opening my mind to new ideas, beliefs, and finding common ground with others.

As an European immigrant/African American couple we feel connected to Deep Ellum in the long history of intersectionality of our two cultures and in the rich musical legacy created by them. For us, New Orleans and Deep Ellum are kindred spirits and keepers of the soul of America. Having participated in 2 Deep Ellum editions, one with the old organization and last year with the new, I've experienced the unique nature of the neighborhood that with New Orleans make up a rare phenomena in the United States.

I see it as one our North Texas culture districts. My husband goes there for concerts with one of our sons, and I go there for art.

Deep Ellum has always been a hub for art, music and culture not only for the greater DFW area but it has been that institution for me swell. I began to haunt deep plum in the early 90s and have had the pleasure of falling in love with the diverse spectrum of people that call this area home. Deep Ellum has and will continue to be what I consider my home town art district in spite of how much Dallas grows and evolves it will always be the home of those who live differently in the margins Deep Ellum is the same kind of different as me.