Mural at 4111 Independence Ave., during construction. | Photo by Dorri Partain
Mural at 4111 Independence Ave., during construction. | Photo by Dorri Partain

Dorri Partain

Managing Editor

A jumbled pile of bricks, some colorfully painted, are all that remains of a mural that once displayed a message of unity after contracted workers began structural wall repairs on Friday, March 7. 

Colorful segments of a former mural peek through the construction rubble at 4111 Independence Ave., after building repairs commenced last week. | Photo by Dorri Partain

This mural — known for text reading “A kingdom divided against itself can not stand” was painted on the west wall of a commercial building at 4111 Independence Ave., in the Lykins neighborhood. Following the repairs, the mural was painted over and now sports a bright blue hue that matches the front of the building.

Structural wall repairs began on Friday, March 7 — affecting this mural at Independence and Norton Avenues. On Saturday, the mural was painted over. | Photo by Dorri Partain

Mural artist JT Daniels stated in an email that the building owner had contacted him a few weeks ago, so he was aware the repairs were about to take place.

“The mural itself was contractually supposed to be there for 10 years (unless damages to the building made it so it had to be removed or the building was sold to a new owner, for example),” said Daniels. 

“That contract ended in 2023, so the owner upheld their end of the deal. We discussed if there was an opportunity to paint a new mural once construction is completed, but I don’t think that is something that will ideally take place.” 

This artwork was commissioned in 2013 by The Municipal Arts Commission, Greater Kansas City Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), Mattie Rhodes Center, United Missouri Bank (UMB) and the Kansas City Atheist Coalition. Daniels was assisted by artists Megan Dux and Sergio Ortiz Vieyra. The project took two-and-a-half months to complete.

In an interview with the Northeast News from November 2023, Daniels stated he created the design to showcase the different faces of Northeast. The design’s background featured a world map and surrounding these faces of Northeast are “strands,” which represent “strands of fate” and how all of our story lines are interconnected, he said.Daniels has since created murals in locations all across Kansas City. To view all of his artworks, visit https://www.jtdanielsart.com/