For Immediate Release, August 22, 2018

Endangered Species Mural Celebration August 24 in El Paso

Five Borderland Species Featured in National Project

EL PASO, Texas— Artists, activists and community groups will celebrate the unveiling of a new wildlife mural Friday at the El Paso Convention Center. The mural is the latest installment in the Center for Biological Diversity’s national Endangered Species Mural Project.

The 60-foot-long, 14-foot-tall mural features five endangered species native to the U.S.-Mexico borderlands: the ocelot, Aplomado falcon, Mexican gray wolf, Chiricahua leopard frog and Sneed's pincushion cactus. The national mural project highlights imperiled wildlife that are of special significance to their region.

“These beautiful species have moved across this landscape unimpeded for thousands of years,” said Roger Peet, artist and coordinator of the mural project. “This mural celebrates the borderlands as a connected, unified and spectacular place. There’s no better place for it than El Paso.”

“I’m excited to collaborate with the Center for Biological Diversity and Roger Peet to bring more public art to El Paso,” said Jesus “Cimi” Alvarado, an El Paso muralist. “This project captures the vibrancy and compassion of our community.”

Students from La Fe Preparatory School are helping the artists paint the mural.

What: Endangered Species Mural Project public celebration. Artists Roger Peet and Jesus “Cimi” Alvarado are available for interviews at the site this week and at the celebration. Center staff also will be available for interviews. The event will be part of the “Alfresco! Fridays” concert series.

When: Friday, Aug. 24, 6:15 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Where: El Paso Convention Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza, El Paso

Background
A 2017 study by the Center identified more than 90 endangered or threatened species that would be threatened by proposed wall construction along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border, including the five species featured in the mural.

“We’ve been fighting for our borderlands in the courts and in the streets. Now we get to celebrate borderland species with a gorgeous piece of public art,” said Laiken Jordahl, borderlands campaigner with the Center. “The Endangered Species Mural Project brings together art, science and community strength. We need all of these to help protect our borderland communities and wildlife.” 

Beyond jeopardizing wildlife, endangered species and public lands, the border wall is part of a larger strategy of border militarization that damages human rights, civil liberties, native lands, local businesses and international relations. The border wall interrupts the ancient and natural migrations of people and wildlife that are essential to healthy diversity.

The Endangered Species Mural Project has installed 16 murals in public spaces around the country. Other murals already in place include the yellow-billed cuckoo in Los Angeles; a mountain caribou in Sandpoint, Idaho; a monarch butterfly in Minneapolis; a jaguar in Tucson, Ariz.; and grizzly bears in Oakland, Calif.

Learn more on our website.