Some Angered - Murals Painted Over in NLR

A North Little Rock artist claims she volunteered to paint several murals in the Park Hill Neighborhood out of the kindness of her heart.

Now Theresa Cates said her heart has been ripped out, after her beloved church ladies murals were painted over.

Cates said all of her art depicting African American church ladies with big hats, have been painted over, while other works haven't been touched.

The Parkhill Neighborhood Association decided to paint over Cates murals, but said the decision has nothing to do with race.

Others seem to disagree.

"On this particular box I had my church ladies, said Cates."

Cates has lived in North Little Rock all her life.

When she was approached to participate in a public art display she couldn't turn it down.

"It was a city project they were doing paintings on the traffic boxes and they asked me would i participate."

She said yes and sat out in 100 degree temps to paint her creation

Church ladies, she captures on canvas doing everything from playing UNO, golfing, dressed for the Razorback game and even going to church, which is what she painted on this traffic box at the entrance of the Park Hill Neighborhood in North Little Rock.

"I call my artwork medicine, it's joy, all of them are filled with joy, harmony and peace they make people laugh."

The artwork had been displayed on several traffic boxes on JFK and so are others.

But two weeks ago Cates artwork was the only painted over by the neighborhood association.

"I was called about 2 or 3 months ago, said friend Melodie Stanley"

Stanley is part owner of Red Door Gallery in North Little Rock and displays all of Cates artwork.

"I was called by our local Alderman who said I wanted to give you a heads up Melodie, Theresa's box is going to be painted over, I asked why? She says they were branding NLR Park Hill area."

Melodie says she didn't buy the branding excuse.

"I had one lady call that worked downtown and she said it's so bright, it's so orange and I said no, it's so black."

The neighborhood association president Stephanie Minyard says race is not the issue.

"Oh, absolutely not! It is really just the location of that artwork just happened to correlate with the front door of the neighborhood, we are just trying to decorate that area in a different way, in a positive way as a welcoming neighborhood."

Cates says some of her other murals were painted over as well, and if given the opportunity she would do it all over again.

She says it means just that much to her.