“The artist must be sacrificed to their art… they must put their lives into the sting.”
Those words hit you first. They’re painted across the exposed concrete of the 717 Leonard Parking Garage. Then you look down.
It’s The Storm.
A swirling mass of painted figures crashes against the building. A wild-haired maestro conducts the chaos. The imagery is literal, but the feeling is visceral. It captures the messiness of creation. Eyecon, a two-person muralist duo, spent a year pouring their energy into this piece. They finished it by May 1997.
You might know the story behind the artists. Eyecon graduates from the nearby Booker T. Washington High School for Performing and Visual Arts. They’re locals. So are the figures. The conductor is actually Chris Arnold’s father. Every other character? Another Dallas artist. They literally built the city’s creative pulse onto their own wall.
The scale is hard to grasp until you’re standing in the lot.
Where to View “The Storm” Mural
This isn’t a small piece. It covers 120 by 150 feet. That is massive. You can’t take it all in from the sidewalk.
If you want the full picture, you need to walk back.
Stand on the opposite side of the parking lot. It works best if you’re holding a coffee. The view from the ground level forces you to look up, literally and figuratively. You’re small. The art is big.
For a different perspective, try the Winspear Opera House steps. You get a slightly elevated angle. The architecture frames the mural differently. Both spots work. Pick the one that fits your walk.
Why This Mural Matters
It’s easy to walk past big paintings in a city this big. But The Storm demands attention. It doesn’t just decorate; it argues. The text at the top sets the tone. Art requires sacrifice. It’s a warning, not just a decoration.
Eyecon didn’t just slap paint on a wall. They documented a process. The swirling figures aren’t random. They’re the result of intense labor. You can see the effort in every brushstroke.
The location matters, too.
It’s in the Dallas Arts District. But it’s tucked away on a garage side. You have to look for it. That scarcity gives
