Final Drawings for Luis Jimenez "Los Lagartos" Sculpture at the Plazita de Los Lagartos Finalized! El PUEBLO UNIDO!!

The Lagartista Movement started last July 9, 2011  

LOTS OF LOVE TO SHARE: LAGARTISTAS - LA VICTORIA!! 


I am happy to report that the final drawings and plans for the Plaza de Los Lagartos were approved by the Historical Commission on Monday February 13, 2012. Formal committee members for the San Jacinto Plaza attended the final meeting where the Commission voted for the final drawing prepared as a result of the "Lagartista" movement that provided testimony, human billboarding, petition gathering, historical documentation and plain old CORAZON for the PLAZITA!  Committee members Miguel Juarez, Katherine Brennard, Nestor Valencia, Xochi Valencia, Peter Svarzbein were in attendance.  I arrived after the discussion  and final vote of the plans and had a cafecito with the committee members who shared with contentment and much satisfaction that the Lagartos are staying in the middle of the park, a canopy has been added to protect the statue, and Miguel will send me some artwork to share of drawings and full details of the renovation of our Plazita.

This victory, the "peoples victory" could not have happened without all the people, all the "Lagartistas" who came together, raising their voices and demanding that our cultural symbol remain as the center of our beloved Plazita. Most important "las voces del pueblo unido" and our actions honor the life works and legacy of Luis Jimenez!! Felicidades a TODOS!

The poster is the first "grito" that was organized by Chicano historian Miguel Juarez (yes I said Chicano because that is what he is and a PhD candidate in history at UTEP) and Ray Rojas! Gracias hermanos for planting the seed to "La Victoria de Los Lagartos".  I will do a more thorough blog on this, but this is such a "heart felt" victory on so many levels for our community that I had to post it!  YES!! SI SE PUEDE!!

Positive Energy * the Creative Arts * Downtown! Thurs. Jan. 26 from 7-11 at the Loftlight Studio. It's just like being in an artist studio in Chicago for an evening!

Every last Thursday of the month a synergy of creative minds, talented artists and musicians
come together at the Loft Light Studio Downtown, at 315 S. El Paso, between 7 and 11 pm, to showcase one of a kind jewelry, scarves, t-shirts, art, photography, paintings, etc., all MADE IN EL PASO! 

I've made several "Last Thursday of the Month" events at the Loftlight and picked up some really great things! It is a great place to wind down, support local artists, see new artists before they make it big, and listen to some great music. It's positive energy, supporting the arts, supporting Downtown redevelopment, and supporting a local creative concept built on dreams, by local El Pasoans!

It's like walking up stairs to a Chicago artist loft space.  Very cool, very laid back, and very creative.  I support the Downtown revitalization that encourages local El Pasoans to do what the Loftlight is doing.  I have had the opportunity to meet and work with Carlo Mendo, one of the young Downtown business partners of the Loftlight.  Mentioned him in my first blog as one of my "Doce en Dos Mil Doce" leaders to watch because he is interested in his community,  in opening doors for the creative class in El Paso, and he has a social conscience.  He and his partners opened the doors for the "Lagartistas" and participated in the movement to save the "Los Lagartos" sculpture at the Plazita de Los Lagartos. 

I intend to blog about the arts in El Paso, about artists and muralists, jewelry makers, clothing designers (like last month there was a young local designer competing nationally to design a dress for someone going to the Academy Awards - how cool is that). And I will blog on the growing local creative class here in El Paso because there is this Border underground arts movement, that like a desert flower left without water in the drought, is still managing to survive the elements and blossom. 

So I hope you will make it out one of these "last Thursday's of the month" to the Loftlight Studio!  It is a grassroots way to support Downtown Redevelopment and the "little guys" in the redevelopment of OUR Downtown.  Support the ones that are never mentioned, rarely showcased, and who are opening doors to the average creative Juan or Juana, no strings attached.

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