This Tyler Alley is a Destination for Art Lovers

By MACY MAXWELL/Talon Staff

Editor’s Note: Macy Maxwell, a social media content creator for The Patriot Talon, recently spent time in Art Alley with her friend Hunter Nash, mother, Karen Maxwell, and her sister, Kylee.

As Hunter Nash walks through the Art Alley in downtown Tyler, his eyes wander over the many beautiful murals plastered on a long wall. In his 20 years of life, this is the most art the Tyler Junior College student has ever seen at one place.

A few murals catch his eye — like the silly little armadillo with angel wings and the cute puppy faces among a background of flowers. But the one that truly strikes him is an array of delicate flowers on a deep blue background that reminds him of his childhood living on a farm.

He keeps walking and then slowly turns around and returns to sit in front of the flowers. He has found a perfect background for pictures

In a corner of this mural is the name Cora Weisenberger and @lovecoratattoos.

THE ARTIST

Cora, a woman with vibrant purple hair and tattoos, is the smiling face that fills the screen when one plugs @lovecoratattoos into Instagram. She owns and works at a tattoo shop in Lindale called Under the Magnolia.

She has been adding beautiful art pieces to people’s skin for nearly 10 years now but has been artistically active for about 24 years.

“I’ve always been creative, but I didn’t take an art class until high school,” Cora says. “Once I did, I was naturally good at it and it was an outlet for me. A way to space out and relax.”

Cora has done a multitude of tattoo designs. Her favorites are geometric shapes and florals. She can’t pick just one favorite tattoo out of the thousands she has done.

“I like all different ones for different reasons,” Cora continues. “Some can be funny and cute, or some can mean a lot to someone which means a lot to me, or a tattoo can make someone feel confident in their own skin.”

She finds joy bringing happiness to others with her work.

“My hands are literally on them, so what they’re feeling I’m feeling” she says. “A tattoo is them getting my artwork on them forever.”

Her work in Art Alley is her first mural.

“I had never done (a painting on) a wall before and had only done canvas or wood, so it was super challenging,” she says. “But even with the challenges presented with a new type of canvas, I’m super happy with the outcome!”

Watch Hunter Nash as he visits Art Alley in Tyler for the first time. 

PHOTO HOT SPOT

On this day, Laney Heron, 23, of Henderson, has come to Art Alley, located just west of the downtown square to do a photo shoot.

“When I think of something that isn’t crazy far (away from Henderson), but still has beautiful enough of a background, the Art Alley always comes to mind,” she says.

Photographers often come to Art Alley to shoot clients because of the variety of themes and colors the murals offer.

With 43 hand painted murals by 40-plus artists, Art Alley has something for everyone’s taste. Murals depict everything from abstract colorful crosses to skinny black devils.

Karen Maxwell and her daughter Kylee Maxwell of Chapel Hill also like coming to Art Alley to take photos.

“When my daughter said she wanted birthday pictures before going to lunch in Tyler, the Art Alley immediately stuck out to me,” Karen says. “My oldest daughter also had her senior prom pictures taken here, so, it has a bit of specialness to me.”

DESTINATION

A few years ago, the city of Tyler transformed what was a boring alleyway into a place for local artists to showcase their talent and to create a “destination outdoor space,” Tyler Main Street Director, Amber Varona, says.

The wall has since become an attraction in Tyler.

“It has been featured in many publications, commercials, music videos, and photos,” she shares.

The murals will be changed every two to three years providing residents and visitors a reason to keep coming back.

“Art can transform and connect the community to a space, and Art Alley is proof of that,” Varona says.

Courtesy CITY OF TYLER