Lee Harvey Oswald Mural in Bishop Arts District Draws Opinions

The Bishop Arts District is known for its murals and bright colors, but a new black-and-white mural of Lee Harvey Oswald is now getting attention.

The mural is located on the side of Members Only barbershop at West 7th Street and North Madison Avenue, and at least one Oak Cliff couple is very upset about it.

"He [Oswald] is not a positive aspect of Oak Cliff. Maybe he lived in Oak Cliff, but it is not a positive thing, and I think that with all of the effort that we are making for Bishop Arts District to be a big thing – and it's coming along really well – that it has no place," said neighbor Jeanie DeLeon.

Jeanie and A.C. DeLeon think the depiction is fine, as is the artwork. It is the placement they are having trouble with.

"This is just a downer," said A.C. DeLeon.

NBC 5 spoke to the owner of Members Only barbershop, who says he has not gotten any negative response.

"Oswald is part of Oak Cliff history. That is the only reason we did it. We didn't do it to offend anyone or anything like that," said owner Christian Avanti.

He said the intention is just to have art in the arts district, and putting up a piece of history. The mural is not finished, and it will include a quote from President John F. Kennedy.

"It is kind of our way of saying we are not paying homage to Oswald," Avanti added.

The artist, Theo Ponchaveli, also did a series of Kennedy artwork to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his assassination in 2013.

"I knew it was going to be controversial. But the same time it is art, so it is interpreted by the viewer," said Ponchaveli.

Cody Ellison, president of the Bishop Arts District Merchants Association, said the murals are up to the property owner.

"Art is art, and this is the arts district," Ellison said.