Oak Cliff artist Roberto Marquez built a black cross to stand for each victim of the Allen outlet mall mass shooting. Marquez also erected a large wall behind the crosses where community members were encouraged to paint while processing their emotions. Photo courtesy of Roberto Marquez.
Roberto Marquez was in pain after learning about the mass shooting at an Allen outlet mall that killed eight people and wounded seven.
But as an artist, Marquez said he has learned to use art to handle his feelings of pain and grief.
Artist Roberto Marquez addresses a crowd gathered at the Allen outlet mall after the mass shooting that took the lives of eight. Photo courtesy of Roberto Marquez.
After details began to emerge about the victims of the shooting, he collected lumber from his Oak Cliff home and drove it to Allen where community members were gathered at the mall in grief, shock and anger.
“I thought if I helped somebody it would help me with the pain,” Marquez said. “I was ready to do what I can.”
Marquez built eight large, black crosses — one for each life lost — and as the names of the victims were released by police he painted them across each cross. The crosses now stand in a row outside of the outlet mall.
Community members added flowers, stuffed animals, notes and photos to the base of the crosses, adding to the memorial.
It is not Marquez’s first time using art to cope with the anger and grief that comes after a mass shooting.
In May 2022, he traveled to Uvalde, Texas and erected a similar cross memorial for the nineteen students and two teachers who died in the Robb Elementary School mass shooting.
But this time, Marquez wanted to do more.
After building the crosses, he built a large canvas wall and encouraged mourners to join together in painting it. He wanted to offer community members the same relief he feels when channeling his pain and grief into art.
“This is where people unite, and when they unite they can find comfort. We all cry together,” Marquez said. “A painting is a memory where we can reflect.”
The wall is now covered in phrases such as “Allen Strong,” “your life will not be in vain” and “we won’t forget.” Images of hearts, crosses and angel wings fit the spaces between words.
Marquez said he hopes a gallery will take the community painting once it comes time to remove the memorial, so that it can remain a reminder of the tragedy that inspired it.
Black crosses built by artist Roberto Marquez stand outside of the Allen outlet mall. Photo courtesy of Roberto Marquez.
