The People’s Art Collective will host an opening festival on April 4 at La Estrella Bakery, featuring food, music, and art. A struggling West Dallas bakery, a community staple for nearly nine decades, is undergoing a makeover thanks to the People’s Art Collective. This group of cultural workers is creating a new mural on the bakery’s side, showcasing aspects of local DFW communities and the group’s history.
The mural includes symbols representing various movements, such as a monarch butterfly for immigrant rights and the Palestinian flag. La Estrella y Familia Bakery, in operation for 87 years, is renowned for its conchas made from a cherished family recipe passed down through generations.
TPAC Co-Chair Vanessa Munoz expressed the importance of the mural in bringing people together and supporting collective struggles. Inspired by the bakery’s history, TPAC members decided to paint the mural on the building’s blank white side. The mural also features the bakery owner, Yolanda Faris, depicted as a child reminiscing about running around Dallas.
Faris mentioned the challenges faced by the bakery due to rising ingredient costs and the community’s economic constraints. However, the mural project has generated optimism and interest in the bakery. TPAC’s upcoming festival aims to further support the community through live music, karaoke, and an art auction to raise funds for Vecinos Unidos’ mutual aid fund, Vecinos Aid, assisting immigrant families impacted by state violence.
