You know that sinking feeling in your stomach when you realize you forgot something important for work and your just too far along to turn around a get it? Palms start getting sweaty and excuses race through your head, “My wife must have moved it,” or “My hard drive died last night and I couldn’t get anything done.” Well did you ever lose a piece of work that may have been worth 1.5 million dollars? A piece that may have been slated to become the next gateway to Deep Ellum.

This is exactly what happened to local artist Frank Compagna of The Kettle Art, a beloved art hero, whose murals can be seen all around Deep Ellum. Frank previously organized all of the Tunnel Visions mural projects in the Deep Ellum Tunnel and was instrumental in getting DART to mitigate the Deep Ellum Tunnel and provide $1.5 for the DART Deep Ellum Gateway.

After the deadline for rfp’s DART showed record of having received 37 submissions. Well A few weeks ago, we learned DART had selected its six finalist, and sent rejection letters to all of the rest. Frank wasn’t one of the six selected, nor did he receive a rejection letter which prompted him to call DART only to discover that his proposal had never been up for review.

We have yet to receive a response from DART as to why his work was never reviewed, but the most likely reason was a change in personnel. Former architecture project manager Craig King was recently replaced by David Erlichman, and according to the Deep Ellum Association, communication has been hurt in the transfer of power. Most disturbing about all of this is that under Mr. King there were 37 applicants, and under Mr. Erlichman only 35. Were two lost along the way? Was one of those Frank’s? The DEA has sent a letter to DART requesting a response as to why Frank Compagna’s application was never reviewed and requesting that it now be put up for review.

Frank Compana is one of Deep Ellum’s most established and respected artists. He has created several of the best murals around the neighborhood Gypsy, GreenRoom and others (including our own at Commerce & Walton). He is the subject of our first Neighborhood Spotlight, a new monthly piece focusing on a local artist or musician.