Monica Chavez BROWNSVILLE – The City of Brownsville unveiled the winning mural of a young local artist on Sept. 14 in Downtown Brownsville. The mural showcases the city’s cultural emblems such as the Gladys Porter Zoo, Space X, UTRGV and the Mexican border.
“You know, that’s what I master in, and that’s what I’m happy to bring to this street,” Artist Jesse James Lopez said. “You know, all this color and all this richness.”
Lopez won the city’s contest to paint the 1,227-square-foot mural at 1268 East Elizabeth St. in March. He competed against 20 other local artists. With slightly over a grand to spare, Lopez bought 20 gallons of exterior paint and brushes and got to work. With the help of nine volunteers from the Brownsville Museum of Fine Arts, the Revival of Cultural Arts and UTRGV art students, the mural was completed in three months.
“They help me with basic coverage, textures, grass, the floor texture on that side,” Lopez said. “And they really did a lot with, like, coverage. And then, I went in with details and added my touch to what they helped me out with.”
Lopez said his mastered technique of mixing and blending is what brings life to the painting and that his childhood memories are imprinted in the piece.
“I grew up here, born and raised, so I feel like I really had a strong grounding for this mural call, especially for the things that they listed,” Lopez said. “You know, Gladys Porter Zoo, the church, Sombrero Fest, every year charities, Spring Break.”
District 3 City Commissioner Roy De los Santos said he appreciated the artwork from the artist.
“I think it spurs more creativity and imagination in the younger generations and it shows other local artists what opportunities are out there to continue to aspire to,” De los Santos said.
District 1 City Commissioner Bryan Martinez said Brownsville is the second most-historic city in Texas and art, such as Lopez’s mural, promotes the culture.
Lopez said the mural has created many opportunities for his work and he will continue creating art.
“I’ll go all around Brownsville and paint the whole city if I can,” Lopez said.
For information about mural calls and art exhibitions, visit brownsvilletx.gov.
