18 January 12–18, 2023 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Ballers To the Wall MurieL, the Oak Cliff Princess, is honored with a mural. BY BRYSON “BOOM” PAUL D allas hasn’t always excelled at honoring its musicians. It took years and a lot of effort to get a proper homage to Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan going with a statue in their native Oak Cliff, and Deep Ellum visitors have finally been clued in to the neighborhood’s heritage thanks to the Blues Alley mural project. But we’re getting better. Several local muralists have honored Erykah Badu, whose face can be found on many walls around town. You can also find a painted Leon Bridges (and the real one, if you’re lucky) in the streets of Deep Ellum, as well as rising rapper Bobby Sessions. A new mural in Oak Cliff painted by local artist DIY portrays a legend-in-the-making: singer-songwriter Muriel Argueta, aka “MurieL.” The mural depicting “The Oak Cliff Prin- cess” is on display on the side of the building for the art gallery Cold Soda, at 939 W. Jef- ferson Blvd. “MurieL got a mural,” says the laughing 22-year-old Latin recording artist while intro- ducing the artist and the mural to the press. The work was a two-day creation. DIY says the design and color palette were meant to symbolize representation and the neigh- borhood’s limitless potential. “A piece that represents Oak Cliff and the possibilities that come with that,” he says. “I use the style of colors and pattern so we can relate to it through commonalities and dif- ferences within ourselves. I call it decon- structed realism.” DIY has paintings on various buildings throughout Oak Cliff. Like MurieL, he is a product of the community and uses his art- work to preserve its history and share it with the next generation. “Oak Cliff to me means home,” he says. “It’s where I was born and raised. It’s where I raise my kids. My kids go to school out here. It means everything to me. I just wanted to catch a reflection of [what] Oak Cliff is. I felt like [MurieL] em- bodies that not only as a Latina woman but also born and raised out here means a lot. We’re the same but different.” Upon seeing the mural, the singer found assurance that her music was resonating with people. “It showed me my voice is being heard, and it is going to continue to be heard,” she says. “I’m so grateful for the artist that did this mural because it shows two artists in one piece … And one day it’s going to be seen all over the world.” The mural’s creation is a second design fol- lowing an original idea set for the Dallas Zoo’s new park, a project still in development. “There was an original idea of using her image in a mural by the new park that is be- ing built by the Dallas Zoo,” DIY says. “That one is still in the works and awaiting final approval. That one is to represent Oak Cliff, and [I] wanted to use an image of Latina power to represent the community that was built by strong Mexican women.” Local photographer Xochitl Gonzalez was on hand to photograph the singer and the artist in front of the mural. She says Mu- rieL’s talent and back story inspired her. “I am super grateful to know MurieL,” Gonzalez says. “She’s crazy talented, driven and is really out there fighting for her dreams all while still being an attentive and incredible mother to her daughter. It’s al- ways such a special thing when artists in- spire other artists. She’s been a muse for my work on several occasions and it’s no sur- prise to me that she was the inspiration be- hind such a beautiful piece of art and in a part of Dallas that she proudly represents so well.” Born Muriel Argueta, she received the moniker “The Oak Cliff Princess” from her younger brother, and it stuck around the community following heavy promotion for her music. The R&B singer developed a fan base with Spanish and English ballads about love, femininity and finding perspective, with songs such as “Chaos,” “Running Away” and “Tell Me That You’ll Stay.” She released her debut EP, Trust The Process, in May 2021. She was first profiled last January by the Observer’s Desiree Gutierrez, who wrote,“Within the span of a year, Muriel has magnified her presence without manage- ment or a team. Her talent opened doors that brought her to a seat at the table next to the likes of Leon Bridges.” MurieL is currently promoting her latest single, “Your Heart Is Mine,” and recording a not-yet-titled follow-up EP, backed by a live band in Los Angeles. The entertainer first gained popularity by singing to the homeless around Oak Cliff. Her path to mu- sic began in the church, where she was taught that her voice was a gift that brings people together. “The reason I do music is because ever since I was young it was always planted in me to sing,” she says. “God gave me this gift that I will share with the world, and if I’m not here tomorrow, I at least want to say I shared my gift with the world and it brought people together.” Xochitl Gonzalez | B-SIDES | t Music An homage by artist DYI to local legend-in- the-making MurieL. puffnstuffsmokeshop.com Current Store HourS: MON-THUR 10aM - 10pM •FRI & SaT 10aM - 11pM • SUN 12pM - 10pM The Best Selection & Prices of Smoking Accessories and more in DFW! We Carry CBD! Hand built not bougHt. Franklins TaTToo and supply TWo loCaTions: 469-904-2665 • 4910 Columbia ave, dallas, TX 75214 682-499-5755 • 8323 Camp Bowie w Blvd • Fort worth, tX 76116 proFessional TaTToo supply For pros only Call for your appointment or design commissions today!
