By: Jamie Trubowitsch

The ninth annual Plaza Classic Film Festival presented by the El Paso Community Foundation will celebrate 60 years of the West Texas-filmed movie Giant. James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, Dennis Hopper, Chill Wills, and Carroll Baker are just a handful of this Academy Award-winning classic’s star-studded cast. Giant was the last film as a leading actor for James Dean, who played Jett. He died in a car accident before the film’s release, but still received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

Based on the 1952 best-selling novel Show Boat by Edna Ferber, Giant depicts a quarter century of the life of a Texas family during the big oil boom from the 1920s until after World War II. The movie, directed by George Stevens, also focuses on themes of social segregation of post-war Texas, including race, class, and gender discrimination. At 6 p.m. on August 6, Giant will be shown at the Plaza Theatre after an interview with Elsa Cardenas, one of the few surviving cast members. Cardenas is a Mexican actress who played the major role of Juana, who marries Dennis Hopper’s character Jordy in the film.

The celebration doesn’t end with the movie showing, though. GECU and the MEMBERS Trust Company are sponsoring A ‘Giant’ Story: When Hollywood Came to West Texas, a unique free exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History. The exhibit, running from July 28 through September 18, will feature costumes, photographs, documents, and production art on loan from the Warner Bros. Archive and the George Stevens Collection at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In addition, Wally Cech, who worked as a waitress in Marfa while the film was being shot, and Nancy Hamilton, who covered the 1956 movie premiere at the Plaza Theatre for the El Paso Times, have contributed original photographs and memorabilia.

The museum will hold in-depth tours of the exhibit, as well as abridged versions, throughout the span of A ‘Giant’ Story. On August 7 at noon, Doug Pullen, Program Director ofthe Plaza Classic Film Festival, will lead a tour of the exhibit. Following the tour, Executive Producer Carolyn Pfeiffer and Director Hector Galan will hold an informal discussion afterward about Children of Giant. The documentary reveals the emotions and thoughts of the citizens of Marfa before, during, and after the month-long filming of Giant. In addition, on August 8 at noon, Pfeiffer and Galan will host a showing of Children of Giant at the El Paso Public Library Auditorium.

You don’t want to miss this Texas-sized celebration. Watch the film at the Plaza Theatre and be sure to check out the behind-the-scenes exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History in order to commemorate the film’s 60th anniversary and truly make this a Giant affair.  

By: Krysta Ayers

The cliché about art being a way to express yourself, and in turn make other people feel things, may be tired – but it is very true. Rick Uribe, 22, is a local body painter, tattoo artist and muralist and knows a little about turning personal hurdles and life experiences into something that other people can feel through his work. For many who have grown up on this border town – where Ciudad Juárez and El Paso merge into one beautiful, functioning community, the story of violence and survival can be relatable. But to the rest of the world, it’s just another newspaper headline or online story. Rick Uribe, with his talent and freedom of expression through art, has put El Paso on the map and made his community proud.

If you have not watched TV lately then you probably haven’t heard about the accomplishments Uribe has artfully scored this past year. Allow me to fill you in. The show is called Skin Wars. Contestants from all over the world compete against each other and go through different challenges in order for judges RuPaul, host of RuPaul’s Drag Race; Robin Solnina, owner of Skin City Body Painting in Las Vegas; and Craig Tracy, owner of Craig Tracy Fine Art Bodypainting Gallery, to choose a winner. Not only did Uribe make it onto the show, traveling to Los Angeles for the filming, he was also the youngest contestant and…(drum roll, please) the Season Three Winner of Skin Wars! In the season finale, that aired just last month on June 29, Uribe was announced the winner after weeks of challenges and blowing the judges’ minds with his work.

To recap just a little, Uribe grew up in Ciudad Juárez, when the violence and chaos was at its high point. His mother, who he credits for all of his success, moved him and his family to El Paso in the pursuance of happiness, the American Dream and peace. “I would not be here today if it wasn’t for my mom,” he says. This is the story he took with him to Skin Wars; the story that impacted judges and still impacts the art that he creates on a daily basis.

Since his rise to fame, Uribe has become extremely busy. I was able to catch him on the phone for an interview while he was in El Paso, just before he left to travel again. “Graffiti started everything,” Uribe tells me over telephone lines. There are still buildings in Juarez that have murals done by him and he tells me that he goes back whenever he can to touch up on them. It was at the age of 12 when his love of art became a realization for him. He laughs as he tells me that he was the type of student that spent most of his class time drawing instead of taking notes. At the young age of 15 he started tattooing as a hobby. People now come to him for lettering, custom scripts and fonts. The community of artists has also been key to his development and motivation to construct murals in the city and do what he loves.  

“The community has been very supportive,” he tells me. When I talked to Uribe, the announcement of his win was still weeks away but the community was already responding to his accomplishments in the most supportive ways. He was already getting more people asking for him at Inklination Tattoo, the tattoo shop that he works at and he was seeing more people on social media responding and reacting to his journey on Skin Wars.

The TV show was a different experience for the El Paso artist. “[I have to ask friends and family] ‘Can I watch your TV?’” he tells me when I ask if he watches the show himself. And on insights of the show he shared, “It’s more of a mind game.” As the youngest competitor in the history of Skin Wars, Uribe did not seem to let that affect him. The only thing that was intimidating for him was receiving a new challenge. “You don’t know what you’re going to paint. You have to adapt to the moment,” he said. And he was quick to adapt. In the third episode, contestants were asked to paint a camouflage concept. Uribe told me this was one of his favorite challenges. He perfectly nailed the body painting – you can play “Where’s Waldo?” with the model in the supermarket aisle photo. Other challenges included having to do a mural with several models, underwater painting, painting breast cancer survivors and then of course the challenge that took it all home: A jungle setting depicted in the most detailed and vibrant way, with an iguana forcing your eyes to look at it. One model is camouflaged into the scene while another is painted into a warrior to be the focal point. The piece, as Uribe described on the show, depicted the world that he comes from – him being the warrior and surviving the violence and the negativity he was taken out of.

This is the painting that made judge RuPaul cry in the season finale. “I want to slap you!” RuPaul’s voice came from the TV speakers. (It was a very tense episode that you should watch on Hulu.) “I can’t deal with the amount of beauty that is in your work,” RuPaul said with tears coming down his cheeks. It was amazing. On making RuPaul cry Uribe says, “To see him break down and cry … that’s what art is all about, touching anybody’s heart. I’m proud of that.”  

With what started as sketches on paper and vandalism in the streets, has now become something that he can show the world. The same energy that you see on the show is the same energy I hear over the phone. There is excitement and an eagerness to pursue his art and someday own his own tattoo shop. With the money won from the competition, his humbleness and his family’s support, I’m sure that El Paso – and the rest of the world – has not seen the end of Rick Uribe.

By: Valerie Herrera    Photos By: Janene Rojas

From paintings and collectibles to clothing and accessories, Chuco Relic, an El Paso souvenir boutique located in the TI:ME Montecillo shopping center, reflects the local artistic talent and pride for El Paso, aka “El Chuco.”

“Being able to promote those artists and give them a place to sell their stuff while providing a place for people to come buy their items was our main goal,” said Chelsie Evaldi, owner of Chuco Relic.

Aimed at supporting emerging artists while keeping store merchandise local, Evaldi along with her husband, Carlos Rivas saw the opportunity to open a store that would allow local artists to display and sell their items.

“What inspired us to start this business was just our love for the city and having such fantastic talent in El Paso,” said Evaldi. “We felt there was a movement going on with local support and the art scene, so we wanted to be a part of it.”

As the art community continues to gain tremendous support, it’s no question that El Paso is brimming with artistic talent. However, the lack of exposure often leaves their work overlooked.

With the collaboration of over 15 local artists across both borders, Chuco Relic is able to give customers a variety of affordable, locally made items from El Paso and Mexico.

“We wanted people to have a place to go to that want to support 100 percent local and that want to display that pride for their city so I thought it would be even better if we sold items that are El Paso made,” said Evaldi.

Locally produced t-shirts, coasters, photography, jewelry, mercado tote bags, sugar skulls and wall decor are just some of the many items featured in the store.

“Everything we have here is different and one-of-kind and can range from $1-$50,” said Evaldi. “We always have new items coming in and launch a new t-shirt design every month, which has brought a lot of repeat customers.”

Some of the most popular collector items found in the store are the unique Star Wars Loteria pieces made by local artist Roman Martinez, as well as prints and paintings created by Patrick Abaddon.

“We get a lot of collectors who come and collect the paintings like those from Patrick  Abaddon because once he paints something, he only paints it once and that’s it. It can’t be reproduced,“ said Evaldi.

Other items found in store are fashion tanks made by Little Bastards, which they print and sew themselves, and clothing items and accessories locally produced by Belle Fashion.

To bring more exposure to the artists and the store, Evaldi would like to feature an artist every month where people can see what’s new and meet the person behind the talent.

“We hope to make it a monthly event type of thing where we can offer discounts to consumers and exhibit new items that the featured artist has produced.”

Though its former origin was established four years ago as Manchot, Evaldi decided to transform the brand and make it her own.

“It was always in the back of my mind to start a business, so when my friend gave us the opportunity to take over Manchot, we decided to run with it,” said Evaldi.

Now after only being in business for five months, Evaldi hopes to expand the brand not only to other areas of El Paso, but also to other regions across the country.

“We get a lot of people who refer others from out of town, like Austin, TX and Washington, D.C., and from
even other countries like Germany, so expanding is something that we are always looking for and wanting to do,” said Evaldi.

According to Chuco Relic retail associate Andrew Candelaria, the store has developed a diverse following of customers who are not only local residents but are also former El Pasoans and tourists from other cities and states.

“A lot of our repeat customers are visitors from somewhere else and usually come back when they are in town,” said Candelaria. “We see people purchase gifts for graduations, birthdays and other holidays.”

While Chuco Relic encourages the local art community to aspire to their dreams and creativity, the main concept behind the business is to have a place where local artists could go to promote and sell their stuff and where people could go to purchase unique souvenirs and other items that are locally made.

“When you shop at Chuco Relic, you are not only supporting a local business, you are also supporting a local artist and giving back to the community.”

By: Jesse Maynes

There’s no time like summertime to throw a fiesta. Invite a few friends over to hang out in the pool and fire up the grill for a fun outdoor affair. So you don’t have to slave in the kitchen while your guests are there, you can prepare this meal mostly in advance.

Forget basic burgers and brats—savor some Latin flavors with a recipe for Mojo Criollo Grilled Chicken and Golden Rice. Temper the tasty spices with a chilled Watermelon Salad dressed with a zesty Lemon Vinaigrette. Whip up these recipes and you’ll have a fiesta of flavors that are perfect for a summer gathering, or just a delicious dinner for the family, that will surely satisfy everyone’s tastebuds.

Watermelon Salad

Ingredients:

3/4 cup cubed watermelon

3/4 cup cubed cantaloupe

1/2 cup sliced red onion

Goat cheese (desired amount)

3 basil leaves, torn into edible pieces

Fresh balsamic reduction (drizzle for garnish)

Directions:

1. Toss all ingredients with Lemon Vinaigrette (recipe follows)
2. Serve cold

Lemon Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

1/2 lemon, juice

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

3/4 teaspoon dijon mustard

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper, fresh cracked

1/2 teaspoon sugar

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

1. Whisk together zest, juice, mustard, salt, pepper, and sugar
2. Slowly add olive oil while whisking constantly until uniform. Add more olive oil if desired.
3. Refrigerate, do not toss with Watermelon Salad until cold.

Mojo Criollo Grilled Chicken

Ingredients:

6 boneless skinless chicken thighs

2 cloves garlic, rough chop

2 bay leaves

1/2 cup oregano, dried

1/2 bottle Mojo Criollo Marinade (GOYA Product)

1/2 bottle Naranja Agria Marinade (Bitter Orange//GOYA Product)

2 lemons, quartered

3 stalks green onion

Salt/pepper to taste

Olive oil, drizzle

Directions:

1. Combine garlic, bay leaf, oregano, Mojo Criollo Marinade, and Naranja Agria Marinade into a gallon size zip lock bag.
2. Add chicken to bag, close, removing any addition air that you can.
3. Marinade, refrigerated, for a minimum of 5 hours, maximum of overnight.
4. Wrap green onion in foil, drizzle olive oil, sprinkle salt/pepper. Fold ends making a pouch.
5. Grill chicken until internal temperature of 160 F, remove from grill and cover with foil, allowing residual heat to continue the cooking process to 165 F.
6. Place foil packet and quartered lemons on grill, turning every couple minutes until chicken is cooked.
7. Serve hot w/ Golden Rice (recipe follows).

Golden Rice

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup Basmati rice

1/2 white onion, diced

3 cup chicken stock

3/4 teaspoon turmeric

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1 tablespoon butter

2 branches green onion

Salt/pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Add butter and spices to pan, low heat. Once butter is melted, stir and cook until aromatics occur, roughly 3 minutes.
2. Turn heat to medium/high and add onion. Cook until translucent.
3. Add rice, continually stir until even in color and rice begins to brown.
4. Add chicken stock, stir often, bring to a boil. Once boiling, drop heat to low (simmer), cover and cook for roughly 15 minutes or until there is no more liquid at the bottom of the pan. The last 5 minutes of cooking, add your green onion to the pan and cover again.
5. Once finished cooking, fluff the rice with a fork, while gently folding in the green onion the evenly distribute throughout rice.

Note – Can be made in advance.

El Paso based interior designer, Lori McCuaig, makes her mark at an international design fair in the exclusive enclave of the Hamptons.

By: Ladonna Apodaca        Photography by:  Daniel Gonzalez Photography
Interior Design by: LMC      Design Group, Lori McCuaig, Allied Member, ASID

As an established luminary in the El Paso design community, Lori McCuaig has long been known for her classic style, (both personal and professional) as well as her seemingly effortless ability to transform her client’s dreams into jaw dropping reality.

“Wow” factor is one of her trademarks.

With offices in El Paso, as well as the southern California community of La Jolla, McCuaig has honed her craft over the years, on a multitude of upscale projects both residential and commercial.  She has traveled the major markets extensively, as well as abroad, to shop for a clientele that has a discerning eye and very discriminating palette.

When McCuaig first read about the upcoming, first-ever Hamptons Contemporary design fair, her curiosity was piqued about LMC Design Group having a presence at an event intended to define the Hamptons domestic lifestyle.  The show would provide exclusive access to elite and influential Hamptons homeowners and a perfect opportunity to showcase her work on the east coast.  It was decided then and there, that this opportunity was not going to be one to be missed.

McCuaig promptly submitted her entry and much to her delight was in short turn, awarded an invitation to participate.  She would be among a carefully curated group of designers, prominent builders, architects and affluent home owners, many of whom are leading taste makers in the industry and in particular, part of the influential Hamptons community.

The criteria for the show was simple yet challenging … create an impressive contemporary vignette in a small space.  Most of the designers opted for the standard size space which measured a mere 8’ x 15’.  McCuaig’s space was double that size in length, and still it posed creative obstacles.

True to her craft, McCuaig came up with a design that would showcase her talent beautifully, as well as represent the high end vendors who agreed to lend their names and products to her creation.

The list of participants for McCuaig’s space read like a who’s who from the design community.  Hermes provided décor for the room in the form of a lamp, throw and tray.  Puiforcat, which is owned by Hermes, provided a magnificent sterling tea set, brought in from Paris.  Saint Louis crystal, another company owned by Hermes, lent uniquely designed stemware.

Paris Ceramics partnered to provide the wood floor, Albert & Holmes loaned the art behind the bar and the grouping of original framed plein air pieces that hung on a wing wall.   One of the focal points of the design was offered in the form of an original painting by Eric Fischl; The “piece de resistance” and common link for the vision of the whole space.

Architectural Digest sponsored the opening-night preview with an A-list host committee and a red carpet step and repeat.  A one-of-a-kind, hand-carved wooden bar by Clive Christian dominated one side of McCuaig’s space, and was also one of the open wine and spirit bars for the inaugural evening.  As a key destination for a sumptuous cocktail, McCuaig’s fashionably chic space quickly became one of the shows favored resting places as patrons lingered in comfortable linen chairs covered by a Lora Piana fabric, or played backgammom on a priceless set crafted by Puiforcat.

All in all, being part of the three-day event was an experience Mc Cuaig said she’ll not soon forget.  Being in the company of a group described as “the most elite designers in the nation,” is nothing short of a pretty big honor.  McCuaig deserves it though … she’s that good.When asked how McCuaig would summarize her unique sense of style, she smiles demurely and defers to a favored quote by playwright and poet, Oscar Wilde…

“I have simple taste, only the best.”

By: Jacqueline Aguirre

Rising husband and wife visual artist duo, “Los Dos” have been in the spotlight for quite some time. With murals located in downtown and Segundo Barrio, these two come with stories to tell behind their vibrant, eye-catching artwork.

When working together, they exist as “Los Dos,” or “the two.” Not only do they present themselves as a husband and wife pair, but as two neighboring cities existing as a whole. Christian, who is from Juárez, is one side, and Ramon, who represents El Paso, are the duo who make up “Los Dos.”

“We are working as an equal,” said Ramon.

After meeting through a mutual friend at a house party where Ramon was the DJ, they began spending time together, and averting their attention into street art because of the movement that emerged among other artists around them.

Before meeting her husband, Ramon, Christian’s love for art began when she was a young girl.

“When I was a little girl, my mom started putting paper so I could paint on the paper instead of the walls,” Christian said with a chuckle. She explains that her mother embraced her artistic talent and began sharing books about the Renaissance masters and about Mexican muralist with her.

Ramon, whose love for art did not begin as early as his wife’s, took a different path. He began with photography, printmaking and even music.

“I was a DJ for a while, and then I started getting into street art,” said Ramon.

“We both identified with each other because we had the same inclinations so it just naturally happened,” said Christian.

Christian, who, at the time, was studying Graphic Design at The University of Texas at El Paso, began refining and building her talent while Ramon was deeply involved in the local art scene and began collaborating on works of art.

Female artist Swoon from Brooklyn, New York and contemporary street artist Shepard Fairey served as inspirations for their work. Ramon, who also provided an abundance of videos, photos, and books of other artists, furthered their influences of what they called “New School” street art.

“Back then, new school was to take from popular culture and going to the streets, and looking at what people were responding to and taking that visual dialogue, then creating a new piece of work based off of that,” Christian said.

Along with “New School” street art, the two feel that it is important to have a sense of bringing work outside of a museum and having other things added into the visual dialogue that adds to the story of any art piece.

“When it’s a reflection of the popular culture, it brings a different kind of dialogue,” Christian said.

Along with the vibrancy and the intricate detailing of their work, the duo wishes to inform people and send a message of humanity through their artwork.

“We always try to bring politics but in a subtle way, but we don’t want to be too overbearing to the audience,” explains Ramon.

He added that they always have to consider who their audience is and how they can reveal a message in order to still gain impact from their work. No matter what they do, they want admiration from people from a wide variety of ages.

The mural we stood before, “Huapangos,” depicts a boy dresses in black shorts and a yellow shirt paired with sandals next to a girl in a pink dress also in sandals. The two children hold instruments – the boy, a violin, and the girl, a small guitar; the two also wear wooden masks carved like faces of animals.

“Huapangos” is a Mexican folk dance and music style. When asked about why the two chose to display this piece, they began to explain the hidden struggle behind the two children in the mural.

One of the meanings behind the children, explained by Christian, signals that children who are very talented in the ways of music are hardly ever supported in their talents. She feels that despite the talent, they are not motivated enough by education in the culture that they live under. The second meaning that adds to the mural is hidden in a small detail. In the work of art, a fish-bone suspended from the girl’s small guitar.

“It’s her hunger. It’s something that is never talked about, or not often enough. We romanticize the idea of culture and children being a part of this culture. What’s their reality? How are they going to push their talents? Or how, as a society, should we embrace it?” said Christian.

Ramon explains that while the work of art highlights a struggle of children, it still maintains the fun image by incorporating a lot of color and detail that they wanted to have in order to appeal to their audience.

As artists, Ramon and Christian are knowledgeable of the occurrences in the world. They try to address struggles of migration and their struggles in upbringings while always appealing to the public.

Before the final display of the mural, the two had received help with their project known as “Makeshift,” in which they had to submit a proposal to The City of El Paso Museums and Cultural Affairs in order to receive funding. Once they received partial funding, they looked to Amor Por Juárez for support in marketing and looking for a space to exhibit their project.

Christian shares that the downside to being an artist is that sometimes, there is not enough funding to help make a living doing what they love.

“It is motivating, still, but then you’re faced with the capitalist reality of our work and saying that we have to make a living out of this. It’s frustrating to try and figure out how you’re going to make a living out of this,” said Ramon.

The marketing brought in part by Amor Por Juárez has helped the two gain some fame from the community. Their partnership with the two foundations has helped them gain creditability and helped promote their work with ease in the community.

Future plans for Los Dos include the continuation of their street art and working with other artists in Juarez to inform children of the art culture.

Ramon said, “This is just the start of us.”

By: Meagan Kinley

Built in 1987 and purchased by the Giyanani family in 1992, this colorful westside house was originally built to reflect a Santa Fe/Southwestern style. Through the year’s the Giyanani’s decided to redecorate the home in 2006 to reflect the heritage of Old Mexico. Overlooking the region’s beautiful mountains, as well as gorgeous valleys, the architecture of the space along with the Pella double-paned windows were designed to take in the fullness of the rich views. Designed by architect Ed McCormick and built by Cullers and Caldwell, the home is simply stunning.

Upon entering the home, the marble floors, beautiful stonewalls, and Canterra stone fountain welcome visitors into the estate and subsequently to a different time. The entry is also made grand by the delicate hand painted decorative windows that elongate the doors and allow light and nature to shine through into the space. If that wasn’t enough of a welcome, the ornate custom wrought iron stairwell also dazzles the senses. Wood floors by Beto as well as Sautillo tile in the kitchen and living area spread through the house and adorn the floors, adding a splash of warmth, color, and heightening the sense of texture throughout the home.

Winding through, the kitchen is equipped with two Viking stoves, a Sub Zero refrigerator, a Fisher and Paykel dishwasher, Kohler facets, and one-of-a-kind cement countertops. These combined with the continuation of stone and the unique hand painted Talevera tile seal the mission of this home and tease the senses with the perfect balance of function and aesthetic.

The color is not the only piece of this home that adds warmth, the house also has three fireplaces, one in the master bedroom, one in family room and another on the outside patio – further marrying the outside of the space with the inside. Light is also added in the addition of the large fixtures, imported directly from Mexico. These further the look and add a touch of stateliness that ties in the unique look of the furnishings. On the outside, the home boasts a tranquil custom built pool and an outdoor area with a covered patio overlooking the scenic Franklin Mountains. There is also a spacious the car garage. Overhead, the house is covered with classic Mexican Barrel tiles on the roof; while underfoot more of the striking tile, wood and vibrant pottery continue the motif, uniting the color of the true southwest with the vibrancy of culture.

Altogether the house itself contains four bedrooms and four bathrooms. Each of the four bathrooms is fitted with Kohler sinks, bathtubs, and toilets as well as more of the same Talevera tile found in the kitchen. From the outside in, this space excites the senses and makes old colors become new once more, showing the many hues and the many faces of the luscious region it calls home.

Artist Statement by Diana Molina

Our landscape is a vital part of our heritage – our regional consciousness.  While humans create culture, the land itself has a direct influence in that creation.  Our geography, with distinct natural features, unifies the experience of place, gives shape to our unique identity and collective character—unified but not homogenized.  

The Chihuahuan Desert straddles the international border to cover more than 200,000 square miles that extend into parts of New Mexico, Texas and Arizona.  On the Mexican side, it covers most of Chihuahua, western Coahuila, and parts of Durango, Zacatecas and Nuevo León.  It is considered to be the most biologically diverse desert in the world as measured by the variety of species and endemic plants.  The mean annual precipitation for the Chihuahuan Desert is 235 mm (9.3 in).  Its relevance and impact to the culture and traditions of its human inhabitants, beginning with the Native Americans, is intertwined with survival in a distinct landscape. 

Living within the terrain of a desert mesa in Southern New Mexico, my creative process is strongly influenced by these surroundings that provide daily doses of inspiration to my work.  The collection of photographs aim to raise awareness of the Chihuahuan Desert and its symbolic features that embody an amazing resilience to live and thrive in what is commonly thought to be an inhospitable environment.  As climate change impacts our world, the significance of water sustainability is of tremendous consequence to our human experience within the arid space we inhabit.  The images are a scratch in the sand that only begins to depict the valuable relationship of people, land and culture rooted in a rich desert environment.

About the Artist

Born in El Paso, Texas, Molina has spent half of her life along the border of Texas, New Mexico, and Chihuahua, Mexico and lived and worked in Europe for a decade as a photo-journalist.

Molina has published features for international magazines including: Elle, Esquire, GEO, Marie Claire, National Geographic Traveler and Vogue.  She has created and produced several traveling exhibits for museums in Europe and across the U.S.  Additionally, Molina is a scholar for the New Mexico Humanities Council Speaker’s Bureau and serves as Artistic Director of the JUNTOS Art Association.  Her work is in private and public collections that include the UT Austin and UTEP Special Collection Library Archives.

By: JoLene Reza Keipp

When you look up the expression cool terms like ‘unruffled,’ ‘at ease’ and ‘composed’ are offered as the alternative to this common expression.  If you find yourself with the opportunity to chat with El Paso’s best-kept secret, jewelry designer Tracy Schwartz, you will see these terms personified.  She’s just cool.  Cool, creative, incredibly talented, and on the road to reinvention with her intrepid new jewelry line JUT.

JUT is an equally sweet and bold collection mixing hand cast resin crystals and horse hair.  “My interest in working with resin stone came out of my love of mold making.” Tracy describes, “Resin can be colored anyway, can be drilled anyway, or pierced with silver and I loved the horsehair!  I had so much fun experimenting with ail the colors.”  The use of brass and steel and jagged edged resin stone against the smooth high quality leather fringe and feminine pearl accents creates a hip Old West look with a chic Texas quality.   

Tracy has spent a better part of her life in Texas having attended college here, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design, and working in Dallas for an Architectural design firm for 12 years.  Jewelry design was certainly not far from her mind however.  “I did take jewelry design in college and enjoyed experimenting with all elements.”  Tracy explains, “I’m not a sketcher.  I don’t sit down and draw an idea for a design.  I play around with different materials and often stumble onto nice little mistakes.”  It was this interest of playing around with materials that led Tracy to a new endeavor as she and her husband headed to El Paso.

After an eventual career hiatus to stay home and raise her two young sons, Tracy was in need of a daily escape as well as a creative outlet.  She started out at first by tinkering around with beads and often did this with her boys, which subsequently led her to her first jewelry line, The Family Jewels.   The line has a vintage mood plush with photo charms; sepia colored stones, and can be personalized with your children’s names or initials.  It feels special, like going through your grandmothers’ photo albums.   “When I began The Family Jewels that’s where I was in my life.  It felt right and natural to design for other mothers wanting to display their kids photos or initials,” Tracy says.   

As her boys grew up, Tracy felt the need to express her artistic vision otherwise and began to evolve as an artist.  Tracy drew inspiration from some of her favorite jewelry designers Arthur Hash and Eric Silva and visualized designing for someone like British fashion model Alexa Chung.  “My image of the woman I design JUT for is someone who enjoys a simple palate of dressing.  Neutral colors, bohemian eclectic feel probably heading to a music festival.”   All of her pieces can be worn with a great pair of ankle boots and skinny jeans, pieces Tracy feels are essential in every girl’s closet, “And jewelry, of course!” she laughs.

“The best piece of advice I ever received was to continue designing even when I get discouraged.  Pick myself up and know that I may fail before I succeed.”  She says.  Reinvention is based on the necessity to close one chapter of our lives and fearlessly forge ahead onto the next.  While some of us tread lightly, Tracy dives in and embraces the transformation. 

A Profile of James Scherr

By Michael C. Graham

Photos By: Tommie Morelos

Most attorneys will tell you that law school is populated by a mix of two fundamental types of people, at least with respect to their desires and motivations within the area of law. There is a smattering of other types, of course, such as those merely staying in school to stave off joining the workforce, but for the most part it is really two basic types: the pragmatist and the idealist. The pragmatist is motivated by the education, the discussion of the broad ranging issues, and the ability to craft a career in virtually any field after graduation. The idealist is motivated by the inherent ability of the law to create societal change, and impact individual’s lives profoundly. After my conversation with James Scherr, I am convinced that though he may not have realized it at the time, he is a purely motivated idealist at heart, and he has poured that idealism into our community for almost 40 years.

In many ways, the start to Scherr’s career and life should have held hints as to what lay ahead of him. A 3rd generation El Pasoan, he graduated from Coronado High School, and before many people have even finished their undergraduate degrees, he was back in El Paso, with a bachelor’s degree from U.T. Austin, and a law degree from the University of Houston. He completed his undergraduate and law school work so quickly that to this day he remains the youngest attorney ever licensed in the State of Texas. He hung out a shingle downtown, and went immediately to work.

The way Scherr described it to me, the beginnings were not unlike many other lawyers face when starting a career as a solo practitioner. “You literally take every bit of work that walks through the door” he told me over lunch while discussing this period of his background. “And it teaches you a lot about the law.” That variety allowed him to be exposed to a variety of areas of law, and to help him develop an interest in differing areas from the real estate and tax work that he had done while in school. That interest, and willingness to learn about differing areas, would prove critical down the road.

But if Scherr’s legal practice was progressing down a common path, other areas of his life were progressing along much more unique and rapid paths. Having had a first-hand look at his father and grandfather’s real estate and development work, which included significant development in Fabens and in various areas of the Upper Valley on the west side of El Paso, Scherr found himself at a tax foreclosure sale shortly after starting work. He purchased a lot at the sale, and within a matter of days had sold the lot to a private party at a significant profit, and doing the financing on his own for the buyer. He has quite literally never looked back.

In addition to the development work, which would provide an additional connection to the community of El Paso as a whole, Scherr developed a keen interest in politics. Less than two full years out of law school, he ran for City Council and was elected. He ultimately served three terms on the Council, and was responsible for helping to enact several community wellness, quality of life, and other projects during that period. After leaving politics, Scherr returned his focus to his legal practice, and began a journey that would ultimately create one of the largest plaintiff’s trial firms in the Southwest. Although his background was in real estate and other transactional areas, his years as a solo practitioner had opened the doors to other areas of specialty, and he began a plaintiff focused practice by taking on an area of law that many other practitioners simply refused or neglected to accept: worker’s compensation. At that time, worker’s compensation was not as comprehensive of a system of protection as it is now, and in his words “these workers were getting hurt and no one was really looking out for them.” So, upon the advice of a friend, who also helped mentor him in this area, he began taking on a large number of these cases, and the idealist inside him flourished. He branched out into other plaintiff’s areas, and with the help of his new partner Sam Legate, would continue his work to represent those people that he felt “simply needed help.”

There are several notable examples of the firm’s work in representing victims of severe accidents or injuries, including the largest jury verdict ever for a single family awarded against Union Pacific Railroad and a recent wrongful death suit in New Mexico against FedEx that resulted in the largest jury verdict in that state’s history. However, the most notable case is certainly Mendoza v Contico, a wrongful death suit brought by the family of Lorena Mendoza, who was killed in a particularly harrowing manner while performing her duties for a Mexican subsidiary of Contico. The case marked the first time that extended negligence was applied to an American company based on its policies, procedures or actions in a foreign country. It has been a groundbreaking suit in the area of international law, and would not be a stretch to say that the trial has impacted the nature of doing business across international borders ever since.

Meanwhile, as Scherr Legate, PLLC, was continuing to grow and develop into the trial firm it is today, Scherr continued his real estate and development work, ultimately culminating in what is almost certainly his best known project in recent years: the renovation of the former International Hotel into what is today the Doubletree Hotel in downtown El Paso. Scherr purchased the hotel in 2004, worked with the City to develop new tax incentive plans to assist in getting large scale development back to downtown, and ultimately was able to secure a deal with Hilton in 2007 as a result, with the hotel opening in April of 2009. In many ways, the Doubletree project and the resulting tax incentive packages that he worked with City Council to develop, helped spur the downtown revitalization that El Paso is enjoying today. In a short time frame following the hotel opening and the creation of the tax packages some reports indicated that downtown property values had already grown by 40% or more.

Viewed through any lens, Scherr has been at the forefront of advocating for the less fortunate members of society, and for the victims of tragedies. He has pursued a redevelopment of the community not simply for the business aspect, but because it represented to him a way to improve our community. I asked him if he had any comments regarding all of the things that have happened in downtown and the rest of the community, particularly in the decade or so since he purchased the International Hotel. His answer spoke volumes: “It is a great example of what our community can do together, if we just don’t allow individual fears to get in the way.” Those are the words of an idealist with a true commitment to community, and a true asset to El Paso.

By: Erin Coulehan

History, beauty and culture collide at Tres Mariposas on El Paso’s west side. For years, Nan Napier has channeled her passion for fashion into a truly special experience for shoppers. Tres Mariposas has made a name for itself with its knowledgeable team of sale representatives, dedication to beauty and balance of cutting-edge apparel alongside more classic looks in a serene environment.

“The El Paso market is becoming more and more sophisticated,” says Napier, perfectly pressed despite the heat of the Sun City in late July.

“We want our clients to create a higher level of expression with pieces made from genuine and high-quality materials.”

Enter Temple St. Clair, a jewelry designer taking the fashion world — and soon, El Paso — by storm.

Educated in Italy, St. Clair’s senses are attuned to the culture that boasts the masterpieces of the Roman Empire, Leonardo D’Vinci and contemporary powerhouses like Versace. The legacy, craftsmanship and luxury devoted to pieces of fine art can be seen in the artful jewelry St. Clair creates.

St. Clair didn’t set out to be a jewelry designer. It wasn’t until her mother presented her with a Roman denarius and instructions to commission a local goldsmith to create a piece of jewelry with the coin that she decided to undertake the endeavor for herself.

The Palazzo dell’Orafo in Florence emboldened her with the gravitas of generations of goldsmiths before her, while the inspiration and drive of a young artist forging her way into history sustained her motivation. It wasn’t long until the craftsmanship began speaking for itself, opening up a new world of exploration and creativity.

The pieces, which will soon be available exclusively at Tres Mariposas in El Paso, speak to women who seek to leave their own legacy of history and grace behind.

“There’s an emotional as well as historical value to each piece,” notes Napier of the delicate pieces that feature bold amulets, delicate talismans and attention-commanding colors.

The collections boast pieces that achieve a sense of timelessness while embodying the sensibilities of the modern woman. Favorite pieces include one-of-a-kind Isabella pendants in ethereal aquamarine, 18K Magna rings in yellow sapphire accentuated with diamonds, and pendants whose inspiration is drawn — literally — from the esteem of ancient cultures.

“Today, we pride ourselves on being rational and practical creatures ruled by our great scientific and industrial knowledge,” writes St. Clair in her book Alchemy: A Passion for Jewels.

“Yet when it comes to jewelry, it is remarkable how much superstition and nostalgia still prevail.”

It’s this distinct degree of nostalgia that sets St. Clair’s pieces apart from the pack. The heirloom-like quality of each piece provides a sense of regality — distinguishedness — that modern shoppers can choose to accessorize an evening out, or wear with a dressed down look made of jeans, a v-neck tshirt and smart sandals.

Temple St. Clair’s 18K gold and colored gemstone jewelry have been exhibited at the Louvre in Paris, an achievement that speaks to the pieces’ artistic quality and delicate craftsmanship. St. Clair currently works out of a breezy studio in New York’s SoHo, where her creativity and drive continue to prosper — which El Paso will soon be exposed to.  

Tres Mariposas will be hosting a special showing of St. Clair’s jewelry on September 22nd and 23rd, with a more robust collection of pieces available for purchase shortly thereafter. For Nan Napier at Tres Mariposas, carrying Temple St. Clare was a no-brainer in that El Paso’s market is ready for the high level of sophistication and history each piece inspires. It won’t be long until El Paso fashionistas are able to forge their own histories with these special pieces.