North Texas has plenty to offer - even in the woods.

News 8 has learned of a project that will bring artists from around the world here to live in a "compound."

That's right, they would live, work and think in a secluded area, that's right in the middle of Oak Cliff.

Just seven miles from downtown Dallas, things are a lot more interesting than you might think.

An oasis is being created in the heart of Oak Cliff.

"It's a beautiful spot in the urban setting that is like a secret," said David Carapatyan.

In fact, unless you're invited, you'd never know this secret place was here.

Dozens of local artists have banded together to turn the overgrown garden into a masterpiece. Their non-profit group called La Reunion plans to build an artist in residency facility in a place most cities would die to have.

"It's unexepected I think in North Texas. This would be a maybe more fitting program for Portland or Austin but those of us involved in this project say 'why not Dallas,'" said Sarah Jane Semrad.

The wooded area near Cockrill Hill is the perfect getaway for artists who want to use nature to create something meaningful.

Carapatyan turned a decomposing tree into a green creation.

"This old tree died long ago and it shows this ark from the bank of the water looking for sunlight going to the open space. It's all about growth," he said.

Selected artists from all walks of life and from all over the world are welcome.

In exchange for a free place to live and work, the artists would give back to Texans a piece of their own culture.

"We're not going to come in and alter a neighborhood so profoundly that people have to move out or something like that. We're providing something that the entire North Texas community can benefit from," said Semrad.

Even designers, from as far off places as Bangladesh and Australia, have already submitted ideas for what the future facility will look like.

But before that, there's still a lot of house-work to be done. Two years ago, the area was full of trash. It took 40 volunteers and a 40 yard dumpster to get started.

"As you can see, it's heavily overgrown, so we've been working with preservation tree services and the City of Dallas to tag our overgrown non-native weed trees and our way of trimming the trees is pretty creative," said Semrad.

It's an oasis in the making, these artists hope will bring a spirit of peace right in the middle of Dallas.

La Reunion needs $2.4 million to break ground on a facility in the next couple of years. The goal would be to house four artists in four studios the first year.

E-mail cizaguirre@wfaa.com.