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Unless you've been living under a rock, and unless no one came and knocked on your rock and asked you to go to breakfast at Oddfellws, than you've likely noticed that Oak Cliff has been in a cultural and business transition for several years now. Which is the idea behind a new art exhibition at the Oak Cliff Cultural Center opening on Saturday. It's by Orlando Sanchez-Lugo, Mathew Barnes and Rosie Lee, and it's called "Oak Cliff in Transit."

Barnes says he hopes putting the exhibition on will highlight how Oak Cliff is changing -- and leaving some people behind. One of his portraits is of Robert, a homeless man who walks along the streets of Oak Cliff. Robert would often panhandle near the areas where Barnes was working. "As I engaged him [Robert] in conversation, I realized that, somewhere in his life, something happened, and now he finds himself here," Barnes says.

The idea is to shine a light on the less known characters of Oak Cliff, Sanchez-Lugo says via email, and make everyone realize that they're as interesting and safe as places like the Bishop Arts District.

"Oak Cliff has a bad reputation," Sanchez-Lugo says. "We are trying to change that [perception] by coming together as a community and artists to show that Oak Cliff is not as bad as people say."

Each artist will display three portraits of Oak Cliff residents. The exhibit will also feature a piece that the three collaborated on.

The opening reception runs from 7-11 p.m. On Saturday and is free. DJ JT Donaldson will spin; drinks will flow.

The Oak Cliff Cultural Center is located at 223 West Jefferson Blvd., next to the Texas Theater.

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