The Kress Gap on West Broad Street in downtown Texarkana has a new mural, courtesy of the vision of artist Jes Weiner and about 10 friends who helped.
Weiner painted the "Shine Bright" mural there a year ago and also painted the TXK logo mural near Third and Main streets last fall.
This one illustrates the phrase "Love Thy Neighbor" with the colors of different skin tones reflecting our diversity. Weiner says the design content and timing are intentional.
"The original design was created during a moment of emotional process, prayer and grief over the loss of George Floyd, and other black Americans, in the wake of police brutality. During a prayer walk around downtown TXK, two of my friends and I noticed that the spot was still empty and I invited them to help me fill it We all agreed that our only hope for healing a racial divide is to love each other. Love is not self serving. It does not put its own needs before the needs of others, but bears all things, believes all things, hopes in all things, endures all things," the artist said.
Weiner, who wore a mask the whole time she worked on the mural, prepped the wall with black paint this past Friday and painted it all Saturday.