Welcome to Front Street Mural by Jenny Lane

Details

Welcome to Front Street

Artist: Jenny Lane

Created in: 2020

Partners: Dodson Companies, Downtown Arlington

Jenny Lane’s eye-catching Welcome to Front Street mural acts as a visual landmark in the northernmost neighborhood of Downtown Arlington. Front Street is the anchor for Dream Park, Arlington Music Hall, Knapp Heritage Park, and the nearby Downtown Arlington Doggie Depot. A number of popular restaurants and shops are also located near this mural.

This colorful piece pays homage to “large letter’ postcard design that was popular throughout the mid-20th century. Often accompanied by the words “Greetings from…” or “Welcome to…”, this style has become iconic and is referenced by designers like Lane who want to evoke a retro theme. Look closely at each of the designs inside the letters of the word “FRONT” in this mural and you’ll also get a little Arlington history lesson. References include Major League Baseball and the Texas Rangers; Downtown’s roots in the history of the American railroad; roller coasters at Six Flags Over Texas; Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders; and a nod to an early local brewery.

About the Artist

Although her practice is based in Austin, Texas. Jenny Lane creates and collaborates throughout Texas and the country to create murals and custom pieces for clients. Many of Lane’s commissioned murals comprise a number of thematic series, such as Welcome to Front Street, which provide her creative springboards for the ongoing development of ideas.

As for her studio practice, Lane’s work continues to evolve as an exploration of shared emotion and cultural touchpoints. She embraces a dry, sarcastic tone to highlight the odd mix of humor and heaviness in modern life. Her visual language is contemporary and, as she puts it, “slightly surreal.” By pushing her work into large physical spaces, she finds prominence in her commentary on common messaging platforms, such as branding and advertising, that constantly pull at our attention.

Website: JennyLane.art

Instagram: @jennylane3548