Kaleidoscope of Dreams Star of Texas by Canvas by Canvas

Details

Kaleidoscope of Dreams

Artist: Canvas by Canvas

Completed in: 2015

Partners: Arlington Tomorrow Foundation, Women Inspiring Philanthropy, Arlington Museum  of Art, City of Arlington, Downtown Arlington, and private donors.

Created by the artist group Canvas by Canvas, Kaleidoscope of Dreams is a salute to the unique  sense of community found in Arlington. Their process of creating this piece was unique, too. The six artists took one of their original collaborative paintings and fractured it. They then put it back together as a star-shaped kaleidoscope, which served as their inspiration. “The kaleidoscope is very diverse, much like the city of Arlington,” said the group. “It has all kinds of colorful characters, colorful people, and a colorful atmosphere, but there’s also a unity to the whole thing— throughout the star and Arlington—even though we are all so different.”

About the Artists
Canvas by Canvas is an all-female artist collective based in Arlington who have worked and
created collaboratively for over ten years. They are a unique group that travels together and
take their own photos, which often inspire their paintings.

The Star of Texas project

The Star of Texas project was launched in 2015 by the City of Arlington in collaboration with the Arlington Museum of Art. Its mission was to celebrate Arlington’s identity as “The American Dream City.” The six-foot fiberglass stars were designed by local artist Chris Cunningham. Local artists were invited to create designs on the stars based on their interpretation of how their American Dream comes to life in Arlington. Artists could use the medium of their choice. Once completed, the Stars were installed in visible locations around the city, including Downtown Arlington and the Entertainment District. Initially the project featured 20 stars, but due to strong local response to the project, six additional stars were added in 2017. The  artworks were fabricated so that they could be displayed outdoors for three years, though  many have remained well beyond that. By turning public spaces into open-air galleries, the Star of Texas project made art more accessible and encouraged residents and visitors to engage with their surroundings in new ways. The project has also been hailed for its role in boosting civic pride, supporting local artists, and highlighting the Downtown Arlington Cultural District.