A place to unite: Disaster artist creates memorial along Guadalupe River

Wooden crosses now line the riverbank along Guadalupe Street, forming a growing memorial to those who lost their lives in the catastrophic July 4 flood.

The work is by Dallas-based artist Roberto Marquez, who has traveled to disaster sites around the world creating memorials in the aftermath of tragedy.

“I start with the crosses, because I want to represent the emotional first, and that connects us to the spiritual,” Marquez said. “In case anyone wants to pray.”

Originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, Marquez moved to the United States and worked in construction and real estate before turning to art full time in 2018.

“I’ve been doing this for about seven years, but I cannot tell you exactly what my first disaster was,” he said. “There have been many.”

Over time, Marquez developed a distinct role—what he describes as a response to a gap he saw in how communities process loss.

“Art is something beneficial,” Marquez said. “It helps unite people. It has connected me to so many people and has taken me to many places.”

He began creating memorials in places affected by tragedy, including Mexico, Turkey, Ukraine and communities across the United States such as San Antonio, Uvalde, Dallas, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

A MEMORIAL STILL TAKING SHAPE

The installation along the Guadalupe River is not finished.

Marquez said he will continue adding crosses as the number of victims becomes clearer. He has also set aside space to honor the campers from Camp Mystic who were lost in the flood.

“A volunteer has been bringing me wood from Camp Mystic,” he said. “I need it to dry out a little bit before I can start making the crosses.”

The artist is also inviting the community to take part in shaping the memorial.

He is collecting photographs of victims to place on the crosses and is asking for candles ahead of a vigil planned later in the week.

ART AND COMMUNITY

While the crosses serve as the foundation of the memorial, Marquez is also creating paintings alongside the installation.

Working on plywood panels layered with stretched canvas, he produces narrative murals influenced by Cubism, street art and the Mexican muralist tradition.

Some of his work will be available for purchase in a tent near Guadalupe Park, with proceeds benefiting Los Topos de Tlatelolco, a volunteer search-and-rescue group known for responding to disasters.

According to KUT News Austin, the organization had at least 20 volunteers prepared to travel to Texas to assist with recovery efforts along the Guadalupe River, though only five were able to enter the country due to visa and permit limitations.

What ultimately happens to Marquez’s installations is often decided by the communities where they are created. Some remain in place, while others are relocated to spaces where they can continue to serve as memorials.

“It’s my gift to them,” he said.

This article was originally published in the July 15, 2025 edition of the Kerrville Daily Times.