The Dallas Love Project
Following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, Dallas was labeled a “City of Hate.” Fifty years later, the city came together to express itself as a community where love thrives.
With over 20,000 participants, The Dallas Love Project was the largest citywide art installation in history. Collectively, Dallas residents created over 10,000 pieces of art.
There are defining moments in the life of every city. For Dallas, that moment came on November 22, 1963, when President John F. Kennedy was shot and killed while riding in a presidential motorcade through Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas. Following the assassination, Dallas was labeled a “City of Hate.”
Fifty years later, The Dallas Love Project was created to honor the memory of JFK and redefine Dallas as a city where love thrives.
Starting on September 21, 2013—the International Day of Peace—and continuing through November 22—the 50th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Dallas was transformed into one giant art gallery featuring artwork created by residents of the city. Over 10,000 pieces of art. Over 10,000 unconditional acts of love, beauty, hope and inspiration.
Participants were asked to create their own work of art as a message to the world demonstrating that love lives in Dallas. They were encouraged to incorporate quotes from great peacemakers, artists, poets and musicians into their art.
The artwork was exhibited at 67 venues across Dallas, mostly along the Kennedy motorcade route, forming a chain of unconditional love around the city.
Created by the people of Dallas, this remarkable project helped reimagine the city through a genuine outpouring of love—a true reflection of the character and courage of an extraordinary city. Artists, organizers, sorters, trainers and installers all came together to work as one. They were generous with their time, their work, their art and their love.
Word spread. And before long, there was no stopping it. Local, national, and international press coverage generated 180+ million media impressions. Love was in the air.
“Teachers were a bit nervous about going right into 29 Pieces' [Love] Project right at the beginning of the school year, but in the end, they felt that they learned more about their students in this one project than what they usually learn in a whole school year.”
29 Pieces created and produced The Dallas Love Project with support from over 120 community partners. The citywide project was based on a version of our Love Lesson(Opens in a New Window), one of over 15 lessons in our free art education curriculum, Artists Making a Kinder World.
The Love Lesson
This lesson asks students to make art inspired by the words of activists and peacemakers like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi and Maya Angelou. What can we learn about love from these leaders of peace, and how can we demonstrate love at a smaller scale in our own lives?
The Love Lesson is part of Artists Making a Kinder World, our free art education curriculum designed to teach social-emotional learning.
The Dallas Love Project Lesson, which was adapted from our original Love Lesson, honors the legacy of John F. Kennedy and serves a model for staging a citywide art exhibit that can be recreated in other cities.
