Chalk the Block

Yesterday, to celebrate the end of representative government in the United States and the first annual "Chalk the Block" in El Paso, I thought we'd opt for the latter and something new and refreshing as distraction from the pervasive stench of the former, in its final stages of putrefaction for sometime now.

So we ventured downtown to view the artwork literally 'going down' in chalk on the sidewalks outside the Museum of Art. In an effort to see what's been going on in downtown lately, Mrs. Dada and I decided to park across from the plaza and walk the final three or four blocks to our destination. (Or maybe it was because that's the closest parking space we could find, I don't remember.)

(All photos by Dada unless otherwise noted ~ click to enlarge)

El Paso's shady downtown plaza offers people a pleasant respite from the heat of the summer's mid-day sun. It's outdoor stage also often serves as a terminus in the very heart of the city for marchers from the barrios, Chamizal National Memorial, or sometimes the University protesting a cause dear to them. Occupying a small city block, its trees, lawns and center fountain are fancied by many, to include developers.

As one 'Pave the Earth!' progressive advocate recently suggested, the plaza should be razed, paved over and a small stadium ala the Roman Colosseum be built in its place.

El Paso is undergoing urban renewal so it's common to see images of streets barricaded or completely closed beneath buildings being gutted and made completely new again, like this former department store from its heyday in the 1940's and 50's undergoing a resurgence, evolving into upscale boutiques and apartments.It exists within a block or two of unique, one-of-a-kind shops like this,

(photo by "Samples")

where a sign just above the door says "I will buy your gold or silver" (after entering through their "well-taken care of electronic door" (OK, OK, so I'm leaning heavily on a Spanish t0 English translating dictionary), or

a butcher shop (carniceria) selling fresh carnes. And, god forbid, where else in town could you get your six and one-half pound plus bags of "Chetos" for under $50 if we were to ever lose little stores like this?

photo by "Samples"

It is my hope that El Paso's urban renewal can evolve around its heart that gives the city its unique flavor of a border town unafraid to blend its culture with its sister city, Cuidad Juarez. As you know, you can't find six and one-half pound bags of Chetos just anywhere.

Continuing our walk to the museum, we passed this statue of one of El Paso's founding figures, Fray Garcia de San Francisco. This statue of him is one of the "Twelve Travelers" sculptures commissioned by the city from sculptor John Houser. The second Traveler which is one of the largest equestrian statues on Earth is entitled simply "The Equestrian" due to the extreme controversy it caused. I also blogged about it here after the Equestrian's erection (no pun intended, but take one if you must.)

Note, originally, Fray Garcia was to be holding a cross, but this being America as it is, in its final stages of putrefaction, there's something verboten about The State and religion, such that never the twain shall meet. I pretty much agree, but when a Catholic priest has his symbolic cross exchanged for an inscribed 4x8 inch plank of wood cast in metal, well, that's taking it bit far perhaps. It's somewhat akin to the ridiculous hassle of the city just up the road, Las Cruces, NM, fighting to keep its name (despite the best efforts of fanatics) which translates from Spanish as "The Crosses. " Fanaticism exists on both extremes of the political spectrum, I suppose.

That aside, note this isn't my best picture of the statue, but I unintentionally caught a passing redheaded woman capturing a picture of Fray Garcia. I thought her extended animated left arm contrasted nicely with the priest's extended arm, almost as if they were about to exchange waves with one another. Of course, Fray Garcia, being frozen in time, couldn't really return the woman's wave, but it made for a nice momentary tension between the two that was vibrant, kind of alive and animated, despite the other being frozen eternally motionless in bronze and dead.

Finally, we arrived at the El Paso Museum of Art. The thing that struck my eye initially was "My Other Squeeze" which, like the first thing you might think of, was nothing like its name suggests. It was a mobile lemonade stand instead. Mrs. Dada and I had worked up a thirst during our walk, so it was a welcome sight.

"My other squeeze" is a paper cup of lemonade.

Finally, it was time to view the chalk art we had come to see. I've included a few samples here from the many that had been executed on the sidewalks outside the Museum. Anyone who's been to beaches that hold annual contests for the best sand sculptures undoubtedly can appreciate what hopefully began here yesterday as an annual tradition of bigger and better things to come in the years ahead.


I apologize I didn't catch the names of these sidewalk art creations or their creators, but I post them here in the order of those that were my favorites.

I enjoyed this one for, if not paying attention, it appears there are three artists working on it, instead of just two. While difficult to settle on just one creation, this (below) was my favorite trompe l'oeil.

Finally, there was another aspect of this artistic event I found to be the most enthralling. It was the 'human statues.' After watching for a couple of minutes the motionless figures, I walked across the sidewalk to drop a donation in their jar. "Great job!" I said, smiling. But there was no reaction.

As I stood there pondering their seeming ingratitude, it suddenly struck me, the source of their forlorn expressions of sadness and detachment from all around them.

"I think I understand why you are so sad," I said to them quietly. "You see, the reason I came here today was to escape exactly what you're feeling -- the pervasive stench of our representative government, now in its final stages of putrefaction." There was still no reaction from any of them.

Dropping another donation into their jar I said once more, "Great job!"

As I walked away. I reminded myself of the redhead I'd seen earlier, waving at a bronze man who couldn't wave back.

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(Dada final note on the day's exhibit: A couple of hours after departing the "Chalk the Block" exhibit, something happened that hadn't occurred in three months in El Paso -- it rained! Quicker then they had appeared, the works of chalk art were gone and I'm left wondering if maybe we shouldn't have these artists back several times a month instead of annually. To break our drought, I mean.)

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