The Texarkana Arts and Historic District Committee has commissioned local artist Arthur Pletcher to update the Scott Joplin mural in downtown Texarkana located on the Norton & Wood Law Firm building facing the Perot Theatre and W. Third Street, officials said.

The mural was originally painted by Debra Moseley-Lord in 1984 and restored by C.D. Little and Janette Lantrip in 1998. Local artist C.D. Little will once again work on this year’s restoration effort.

Texarkana Symphony Orchestra Executive Director Andrew Clark explains plans for the mural.

“The mural design will be a restoration of the existing work of art,” Clark said. “The design will incorporate more of Joplin’s original pieces, a refresh of colors, and will highlight his Academy Award and Pulitzer Prize.”

Main Street Texarkana Director Ina McDowell says the project is important to downtown’s landscape.

“Scott Joplin is an important part of our community history and the mural has been a popular tourist attraction for many years. The Joplin mural tells the story of the “Father of Ragtime Music” showing a few of his most famous works,” McDowell said.

“Texarkana is the boyhood home of Scott Joplin, Father of Ragtime Music,” McDowell said. “Just down the street from the Joplin mural, at the Museum of Regional History, visitors may listen to his work and see the piano that Joplin learned to play on in the Beasley Music Exhibit.”

***

Published: 07/01/2015

 Comment by email:
Thanks, Bill!  Susan  [Susan Curtis] [Primary Research Source of Website is Dancing to a Black Man's Tune: A Life of Scott Joplin, Susan Curtis, University of Missouri Press (2004)]