The Good Latimer Corridor in Deep Ellum doesn’t know what’s about to hit it.

Throughout this month, local artists will beautify the GoodLatimer/DART rail line with murals during Phase I of the 2009 Mural Project, which will feature artists Issac Brown, Amber Campagna, Frank Campagna, BrianCrawford, Issac Davies, Sergio Garcia, Luke Harnden, Cathey Miller, MarkNelson, Judith Lea Perkins and Tyson Summers.

The murals will be located across the street from the Reel FX Deep Ellum GatewayTraveling Man and is funded by Allied Printing, The Demeter Project (and venture project It’sa Grind), The Deep Ellum Foundation,George Reeves Co. and Kettle Art Gallery which hosted an opening exhibit June 27 to celebrate the project.

The artists were on hand at the event, meeting and greetingpatrons. Garlandartist Tyson Summers, who currently has a tribute to “Dimebag” Darrell locatedon Elm and Crowdus, was among them

Although he has always created artwork, unlike somemuralists who may have a graffiti background, Summers didn’t really take upgraffiti art.

“I’m sure I spray-painted in a ditch somewhere, but I neverpursued it,” he said with a laugh. “I’m sure I painted ‘Misfits’ somewhere butI didn’t think of it as art.”

Today his signature characters such as 4-icze, Uni andSquare Bob Soft Pack are local favorites.

White Rock-area resident Mark Nelson is also participating in Phase I of the 2009 Mural Project. He has a background working on graffitiand mural projects with Kettle Art Gallery Founder and managing partner FrankCampagna. He is one of the artists who created the hard-to-miss Deep Ellum mural of Earth seeming to give birth to a giant baby.

Nelson, who grew up painting and doing graffiti, said showing in a gallery is definitely different from creating a mural for themasses because “you encounter a lot of elements” with weather and people stopping to see what you are doing. He said, “It is more rewarding because your work is always available for the people.”

The Deep Ellum Foundation, one of the mural projectunderwriters, is working to improve and preserve Deep Ellum and the art that surrounds it. President Barry Annino said the non-profit is funding several art happenings this year because “we think art is the key to success in Deep Ellum.”

“There is a large resource of art that is untapped,” hesaid. “It is something we can really expand on.”

There are now 25 galleries in Deep Ellum, he said. He alsosaid Frank Campagna’s murals, which have grown to more than 30, help local artists. He noted Campagna as “a leader of the art community.”

The artists for the project were handpicked and Campagnasaid the event is “probably the truest version of Deep Ellum art in the lastfew years.” Not to mention the work will take place in some of the hottest days of the summer.

“Gotta see what they’re (the artists) really made of,”he said with a wide grin. “It will be a baptism by fire.”