JR Creates Interactive Mural for TIME Magazine's Guns in America Cover

French street artist JR (born 1983 in Paris) collaborated with TIME magazine on its latest cover, titled "Guns in America," an investigation into gun ownership and the Second Amendment in the United States. Over five months, JR, his team, and TIME journalists traveled to St. Louis (Missouri), Washington DC, and Dallas, photographing and recording 245 Americans to capture their opinions on the gun debate. The resulting interactive mural depicts the 245 individuals seated around a table, their voices overlapping in a chorus of perspectives. TIME editor-in-chief Edward Felsenthal explained the choice of JR, noting that artists see beyond divisions and that TIME has a history of collaborating with artists for covers. JR, who was named to the 2018 TIME 100 list of most influential people, said he hopes people will listen to each other and engage in the debate. The interactive cover is accessible online, and the mural is currently on view at Pace Gallery and the Houston Bowery Art Wall in New York. In the coming months, the work will travel to museums across the country, and individuals can apply via TIME's website to host a screening and talk.