Downtown Sikeston gets a new look

SIKESTON — Downtown Sikeston has a fresh look today as the second story wall above Grant Financial Management on Center Street now sports a mural.

“It was a blank wall and I thought why not paint a mural, make things pop and look attractive,” said Bart Grant, owner of Grant Financial Management.

Grant enlisted the help of graffiti mural artist Ryan “Arcy” Christenson from Connecticut for the project. Then when deciding what to paint on the mural, Grant said he tried to think what makes the City of Sikeston.

Ryan "Arcy" Christenson works on a mural in honor of Bob Depro atop Grant Financial in Historic Downtown Sikeston Tuesday morning. The mural, which should be finished by Thursday, will welcome people to Downtown Sikeston.David Jenkins/Standard Democrat

Ryan "Arcy" Christenson works on a mural in honor of Bob Depro atop Grant Financial in Historic Downtown Sikeston Tuesday morning. The mural, which should be finished by Thursday, will welcome people to Downtown Sikeston.David Jenkins/Standard Democrat

All the images on the mural is something Sikeston is known for, such as an image of a cowgirl riding a horse to represent the rodeo along with cotton, a Sikeston water tower and a Welcome to Downtown Sikeston sign.

The mural also has an image of Bob Depro, a Sikeston teacher and community leader who died in December of 2016.

“He was my economics teacher in high school and that’s where I got my start in economics,” Grant said. “He was also a big philanthropist in Sikeston and gave money to a lot of different organizations. It was done as a tribute to him.”

“Arcy” put the finishing touches on the mural Thursday morning after starting on the project Tuesday morning.

“I love it,” Grant said of the final product. “What amazes me is the artist did it all using spray paint. It looks really good.”