West Dallas Mural Honors Military Families

Jhonattan and Samantha Arango, a husband-and-wife public artist team from West Palm Beach, Florida, unveiled their latest mural, “The Offering,” at the Jaycee Zaragoza Recreation Center on Saturday. 

Over the course of five weeks, the couple spent time engaging with the West Dallas community, connecting with neighbors and absorbing the neighborhood’s spirit. The mural was created in partnership with the City of Dallas’ Office of Arts and Culture and funded through city bonds. 

The Arangos sought to create a piece that celebrates the strong Latino presence and community activism in West Dallas. In the Arangos’ signature geometric style, the artwork features a white-haired ‘mother figure’ releasing a white dove. On the reverse side of the wall, the dove is depicted next to a Latino soldier.

The mural was deliberately positioned to be visible from Clymer Street and to those visiting the recreation center. The project began with constructing the wall, followed by five weeks of painting, with help from more than 100 community members over one weekend in August. 

Explaining the mural’s deeper meaning, the Arangos shared: “The dove —a timeless symbol of peace, love, and freedom— reflects hope and faith. It represents a mother’s loving wishes as she surrenders to forces beyond her control. This mural is an ode to a mother’s resilience and the sacrifices she makes when offering her children to the world, wherever their paths may lead. As we face the inevitable hardships of life, we hope to be guided toward universal truths and an appreciation for the preciousness of life.”

As Jhonattan and Samantha Arango shared these thoughts with the crowd, West Dallas residents nodded and smiled in understanding. Jhonattan recounted a poignant story about a woman named Cynthia, who lives across from the mural. Thirty years ago, Cynthia’s son, a recent high school graduate who had planned to enlist in the military, was tragically shot in the parking lot of their home. Cynthia told Jhonattan that the soldier depicted in the mural reminds her of her son.

Another local resident, Vietnam veteran Julian Almaguer, who has two children that served in the Army and Navy, reflected on the mural’s impact. 

“We didn’t know where they were, what they were doing, and if they were okay,” Almaguer says. “We understand the fear of releasing your children into the unknown to serve this country. It’s great to have such beautiful, powerful art here in West Dallas.”

“We want the community to feel the love that goes into bringing something beautiful to their public spaces. We also hope that mothers feel seen and appreciated, and that people develop a deeper sense of gratitude for mothers,” says Jhonattan and Samantha Arango.

“We also love how the hidden stories of the neighborhood emerge as we paint,” they continued, “We often start with a vision, but the artwork becomes richer through our interactions with the community. The warmth, awe, and words of encouragement from the people we meet make the piece come alive.”