Art installed in spot where passersby discovered burning cross in Grant Park

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The artist behind this piece, called "Resilient," says this it stands in direct opposition to the burning cross seen in Grant Park last week.

When visual artist Damon Lamar Reed crafted this piece five years ago, his hope was to bring Chicagoans together. It reminds people that you can still rebuild after being broken.

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"The sewing and the kind of patchwork is one of those things, like something may seem like it's kind of broken, but you know, when you kind of re-stitch it, it's actually stronger than before," Reed said.

The artwork dubbed was originally part of a traveling art display in 2021, called "Parade of Hearts," with the organization Luv Institute. It was featured in 12 different neighborhoods.

The Luv Institute brought back Reed's work on Monday in Grant Park, a stark contrast to what someone left behind last week. A mother and daughter stopped in their tracks after spotting a burning cross leaning against a tree in Grant Park.

The burning cross is widely considered to be a symbol of racist hatred.

SEE ALSO | Chicago police release photos of 'person of interest' after video shows burning cross in Grant Park

Reed says the message he hoped his art would send five years ago still stands today.

"What's actually happening with the heart even today, was about kind of spreading that message of love throughout of all of Chicago neighborhoods," Reed said.

Following the incident, Chicago police released images of a person of interest seen allegedly fleeing the area near Columbus and Balbo.

Father Michael Pfleger with Saint Sabina Church has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.