Kevin King's archive

The Jefferson Theatre has endured nearly a century of wear and tear. It has outlasted hurricanes, floods, downtown deterioration and even an overzealous congregation who decided to destroy its original statuary, deeming the nude artwork unholy.

Pecos artist Sally Chandler guided eighth graders from the Odom Academy of Beaumont as they painted a 13-foot-long, 6-foot high mural on the wall of the Art Museum of Southeast Texas (AMSET) Tuesday, April 16.

“They’re doing such a good job,” Chandler said. “Yesterday, we spent most of the day talking about ‘The Lost World’ (Chandler’s exhibit). There are 18 (children) and they each have their own space and each have their own stories.”