An East Texas film maker has put together a documentary on the artist who created the original mural in the former Mineola post office that now houses the Mineola Historical Museum.

Isaac Belota’s film “Zakheim” explores the life of Polish-born Bernard Zakheim (1898-1985), who was instrumental in helping the U.S. government’s effort to have out-of-work artists create works around the nation, including in post office lobbies.

Zaheim painted two in East Texas, in Mineola in 1938 and in Rusk.

After Mineola’s was moved and deteriorated beyond repair, his son Nathan led the effort to restore it.

The documentary is the first feature shot and edited by podcaster and documentarian Belota and will premiere Jan. 11 at Rose City Comedy at 5:30 p.m sponsored by Rose City Framing.

According to Belota, after fleeing Poland at the conclusion of the World War One, Zakheim set up a life for himself in San Francisco as a furniture manufacturer, eventually establishing himself in the art world becoming friends with artist and revolutionaries Diego Rivera and Frida Kalho.

With the onset of the Great Depression Zakheim organized most of San Francisco’s artists, and with a telegraph to Washington embarked on the first New Deal arts project, Coit Tower.

Where as previous federal arts projects invoked the classical period, this project launched a new American art scene. The scene based around the life of everyday Americans and invoked the myth of the American spirit that carried the states through the Depression and the second World War. 

“Zakheim” explores his life centered around the meanings and history hidden in his East Texas murals and historical preservation. 

Belota said after moving to Rusk two years ago, he became interested in the mural and was looking for a film project. Among those he interviewed for the film was Zakheim’s grandson Kuva, who assisted in the restoration.