Minero Magazine Spring 2023

Minero Magazine

Mahrianna Petree And the world of college basketball

NostalgiaWhat Nostalgia and its presence mean in Social Media, Trends, Music, and Film Mural de Basura Como el arte puede ayudar al medio ambiente

Also in this issue:

El Paso Lowriders Classic car culture on the border

Minero Magazine is published by UTEP students through the department of Student Media and Publications. It is published once every fall and spring semester. The magazine is not responsible for any claims made by our advertisers. Additional policy information may be obtained by calling Student Media and Publications at (915) 747-5161. Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the University.

Editor-in-Chief // Brandy Ruiz

Copy-Editor // Maria L. Guerrero Duran

Web-Editor // Brianne Williams

Photo-Editor // Jasmin Campoya

Art-Director // Abril Garcia

Writer // Yoali Rodriguez

Photographer // Alberto Silva Fernandez

Writer // Carlos Castro de los Santos

Writer // Gibel Amador

Photographer // Ethan Thomas

Nostalgia and New Generations

What Nostalgia and its presence mean in social media, trends, music, and film

By Yoali Rodriguez

Mahrianna Petree: And the world of college basketball

By Brianne Williams

El Paso Lowriders: Classic car culture on the border

By Gibel Amador

Mural de Basura: Como el arte puede ayudar al medio ambiente

By Carlos Castro

On the cover

From the Editor

epetition, recycling, reclamation, patterns, infinity, nostalgia.

Over the summer, I fell upon an illustration book exploring the work of artist Leif Podhajsky whose style defined “new psychedelia,” a modern resurgence of the psychedelia art movement of the 1960s. I was in search of inspiration for creating my very last issue of Minero Magazine, in search of ideas that represented this generation of students at the University of Texas at El Paso. What I found was both a mirror and a microscope.

Whether we are “defying conventional structure and the comfort of repetition, or leaning into it by imposing artificial order” (Evie Tarr, New Psychedelia), there is no denying the ever demanding presence of repetition, recycling or nostalgia on our generation.

As our writer Yoali Rodriguez explores in our cover story “Nostalgia and new generations,” our generation has found themselves at a crossroads: “connecting to the real world and learning to become adults.”

In this issue of Minero, my seventh and final issue as an editor, our stories explore ideas of reclamation through Carlos Castro’s story on functional art, through Gibel Amador’s story on Lowrider culture in new generations and brings it back to the future through Brianne Williams’ story on Mahrianna Petree and Petree’s reflections on the future impacts of Name, Likeness, and Image laws.

Not only are these ideas in the stories, they are also in the design, inspired by the ideas of Podhajsky, of the past, of repetition, and above all, nostalgia.

In my own experience, I find myself reflecting on my time here at UTEP and at Minero Magazine.

When I first arrived on the campus of UTEP, I had a plan. It was much different from the one I have now. Through chance, I met Grecia Sánchez, the former editor-in-chief (EIC) (2017-2020) who gave me this opportunity and ignited my confidence enough to pursue the world of journalism. She also trusted me enough to become a copy-editor after my first semester. Then, María Ramos Pacheco, the second EIC that I worked under, nurtured my curiosity, believed

in me enough to take on more responsibility and expand my skillset. This magazine made me who I am today, helped me learn more about myself through the stories of others and above all: taught me Spanish.

Ésta edición es dedicada para mi abuelita, con quién por muchos años no pude comunicarme. Por medio de esta revista, aprendía leer, escribir y hablar en Español y ahora, ya puedo comunicarme con ella. Gracias Minero, por no solo conectarme con mi cultura pero por conectarme con mi familia.

A former editor of this magazine once said that Minero is more than just a magazine, it is a physical manifestation of the dedication, the passion and the care that all of our staff has put behind telling the important stories of our people on the border. That was 10 years ago. Today, I think this still stands true. I hope that you, our reader can see this through our stories, photos, and design.

With love and gratitude, I would like to thank Abril Garcia for executing my vision, María L. Guerrero Durán for letting me bounce ideas off of her, Brianne who remained honest and steadfast, and Jasmin, who shot the cover of this magazine. I would also like to thank the administrative staff: Veronica Gonzalez for entertaining all my chaos and energy, Tracy Roy for staying supportive and having my back no matter what, Isabel Castillo for her absolute kindness all these years, and Amy Bocanegra for her constant support. I’ve worked with these wonderful and inspiring women over the past four years and cannot express my gratitude enough. To Ethan, Alberto, Yoali, Carlos, Brianne, Abril, Jasmin and Maria, the magazine is in your hands now!

Peace and love, Brandy Ruiz

Editor-In-Chief

mineromagazine@utep.edu

NOSTALGIA, Andrea Calle Eyssautier is an influencer in Ciudad Juarez.

PHOTO BY JASMIN CAMPOYA

What Nostalgia and its presence mean in social media, trends, music, and film

Story by Yoali Rodriguez Photos by Jasmin Campoya

Whether you love to rewatch your favorite shows at a certain season, re-read your favorite book over and over, or participate in a TikTok trend that reconnects and ignites your inner child; there is no denying the presence of nostalgia as a staple in our generation.

With the transition to normalcy from a pandemic world, our generation has found themselves at a crossroads: connecting to the real world and learning to become adults. Raising the question: what is the connection between our society and nostalgia that makes it more prevalent than ever?

The word nostalgia has roots in the

Greek language: Nostos, meaning “return” and Algos, meaning “suffering.” But it has made me question whether Gen-Z’s definition of the word has transformed, relating nostalgia to a broader concept called “mental transportation.”

“Mental transportation happens when we are trying to place ourselves in a narrative of a certain time wanting to even understand experiences of those who are close to you, such as your parents,” said Assistant Psychology Professor of the University of Manitoba and UTEP alumni, Nicholas D. Evans, Ph.D.

Evans is one of the authors of the study published in August 12, 2020, “Mental

Transportation Meditates Nostalgia’s Psychological Benefits.” His team researched the bridge between the use of nostalgia and different generations.

They theorized that actions rooted in nostalgia are a part of a larger effort to connect to our inner selves and to those around us. What they found was a connection between nostalgia and feelings of self-discovery and social connectiveness.

“Whether it is about listening about a time in the ‘90s, or even about what your parents felt when they were watching Friends when it was on TV, it all enhances mental transportation,” Evans said. “I theorize it is mainly about connecting to

Elijiah Mars is a guitarist and singer from a local metal band, Toxic Priest. They take their inspiration from 80’s rock music to bring nostalgia back.

others by trying to relive their past experience with them.”

The connection that Evans is talking about involves two different types of nostalgia: autobiographical nostalgia and historical nostalgia.

Autobiographical nostalgia roots from memory and personal past experiences.

Historical nostalgia comes from trying to place yourself in an experience from the past that never personally happened, thus developing a form of mental transportation.

According to the study, nostalgic engagement enhances mental transportation which brings feelings of social connectedness such as optimism, inspiration and self-continuity.

In Gen-Z, gushing about different eras has become a common conversation starter and helps us also connect to those we love or even strangers. Having factors such as social media, music, fashion trends, and films helps us enhance those connections.

Let me take us back down memory lane to triggering times – the 2010s. It was the rise of Photoshop and the time for crisp definition, highly saturated, and white-bordered Instagram feeds. It was truly the phenomenon for starting the mold to obtain the perfect life in picture form.

Triggering, I know.

Nowadays, that tide has shifted from the large following of influencers such as Emma Chamberlain and Orion Carlotto, who help bring normalcy back in style. Now you may be asking yourself, how is this related to nostalgia?

Well, according to Evans’ research theory, each attempt at constructing your aesthetically pleasing “photo dump,” is your conscious trying to feel somewhat relatable. Feeds one straying away from heavy edits, filters, Photoshop, and featuring your most recent mental breakdown. It is a race of who can capture the “realest” and most down to earth versions of themselves and get the most views. It is a movement that brings us back to the initial stages of the app itself.

Growing fashion influencer, Andrea Calle Eyssautier, 24, from our twin-city Ciudad Juárez has not only found an audience that connects to her sense of fashion but has also accomplished her following by reconnecting to her Tumblr beginnings.

“Whenever I was part of the Tumblr scene, I remember creating my posts on the “sad girl” core, as it connected with my personality in that period,” Eyssautier said.

Eyssautier began building her

following during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I wanted to create content that not only seemed modern, but also reflected the part of me that used to have fun during the age when I first connected with social media,” Eyssautier said.

Having social media as a hobby was not foreign to Eyssautier, as she had experienced somewhat of a following in her Tumblr days. It only felt natural to her to try and reconnect with that past self, while making content that transported her audience into the mind of Eyssautier’s younger self.

“I have always loved fashion and had incorporated that aspect of myself in my social media accounts,” Eyssautier said. “Even though there is nothing wrong with following trends, I think what has changed, not just in my content, but, in other creators is trying to reflect the essence of who you are as person within that content.”

Eyssautier believes that understanding what makes one different is what

content and to never be afraid to be themselves, because it is what makes you stand out at the end of the day,” Eyssaitier said.

Not only do we as an audience encounter forms of nostalgia through social media posts, but with the help of influencers, the resurgence of past fashion trends has found a home in the hearts of Gen-Z.

From the chunky shoes comeback and low-rise jeans, creators and celebrities have contributed to the rapid pace of trends in 2022. Having their impact shows how prevalent fashion is within our generations’ culture and normalizing the thrifting culture.

Engineering leadership student at the University of Texas at El Paso, 21-year-old David Lepe has found his fashion essence within the racks of thrifts stores. Utilizing his past skater look and his musical influences, Lepe has created transporting looks that are fueled with nostalgia thanks to his passion for vintage clothing.

“Right now, I take influence from art-

makes you successful in the fast-growing competition that is social media.

“I want people to be inspired by my

ists such as David Bowie and the era of the ’70s to create my looks,” Lepe said. “But since I do skate a lot, even on cam-

“

Whether it is about listening about a time in the 90s, or even about what your parents felt when they were watching friends when it was on tv, it all enhances mental transportation.

-

Nicholas D. Evans, Ph.D. Assistant Psychology Professor of the University of Manitoba

Andrea Calle Eyssautier lives in Ciudad Juárez and has had an increase in her following on social media as she found it not only as a hobby but as a way to express herself. Her instagram is @sadpinata.

pus, I sometimes incorporate pieces that make it easy for me to get around in my skateboard at any moment.”

Lepe emphasized that his style is always evolving, but occasionally, he finds himself trying to find a way to incorporate his old middle-school and high-school wardrobe to his new outfits.

“Sometimes I feel like I go back to a different era in my life whenever I throw my old wardrobe into the mix,” Lepe said. “I tend to keep them usually whenever I have a feeling they will come back in style or are classic basic pieces that will fit me forever.”

Besides his personal nostalgia, Lepe also takes inspiration from generational nostalgia.

“My older brother was someone that inspired my style,” Lepe said. “Now, I think the ones that mostly encourage me to dress up and even help me pick out clothes now are my younger sisters.”

Lepe mentioned his younger sisters are also learning to love thrifting and experiment with clothing because of him. He hopes not to only keep inspiring them, but others out there to dress however they like and be authentic to oneself.

As our generation grows, so does the concept of trying to connect to our past selves or even others that have built us. Whether it is from the newest adaptation of Elton John’s music, “Cold Heart,” featuring Dua Lipa, which stems from his famous hit Rocket man, or singing at the top of your lungs “Devuélveme A Mi Chica” by Hombres G at the latest party. Musicians that were considered our parents favorites have found a new solid fandom due to the emotional attachment it brings, making us feel like we are transported onto another era.

Elijiah Mars is a 20-year-old guitarist and singer of local metal band, Toxic Priest. He explained how his band built their persona by taking inspiration from the ‘80s metal scene and utilizes it to transport their audience into the times of thrash metal and Metallica.

“We are trying to bring an element of aesthetic and nostalgia in how we are perceived,” Mars said. “For me it is all about the performance we want to bring to our audience, from us wearing leather jackets and having the rocker long hair.”

Mars also mentioned how not only nostalgia from past American metal bands have helped finding their style of music, but his band wanted to bring in sounds that influenced their upbringing outside of the metal.

“I grew up with music from Pedro Infante, Vicente ‘Chente’ Fernandez, and even Michael Jackson,” Mars said. “I want

to have a small aspect of what I grew up with in my music.”

Beyond music, mental transportation can also occur through the visual media we consume like films.

With thrillers, alien invasions, and biopics, the film industry has begun to reclaim cult classics like the Addams family and staple movies from older generations to better fit the perspective of the newest generation. This means reimagining a world where Wednesday Addams could have social media or the live action Winx Fairies talking about their favorite YouTubers.

One of the most recent tributes that went straight to the top due to its cast and plot was the movie “Elvis.” Utilizing the romanticization of the era and impressive visuals. Its influence became elevated through platforms such as TikTok. “Elvis” reached an exponential growth of 1.6 billion videos on videos related to the title on TikTok, and according to Rotten Tomatoes it grossed a total of $150.7 million in the box office in the United States only.

about such huge issues like global warming or the pandemic.”

He said mental transportation may be what is gravitating the younger generations to indulge in things such as biopics.

Loe also believes in the impact major film companies have had when it comes to making movies, thus the creation of sequels and remakes.

“In recent years, film companies such as Disney have taken control over many franchises such as Marvel and Fox,” Loe said. “Due to the expense of making films, these companies have limited their chances of losing money. Instead of taking risks, they take the route where it is guaranteed they will make money.”

Loe said these types of decisions also prompt sequels and eventually remakes because the companies know what has already made them money.

Whether it is in a social media platform, your favorite classic film, or the newfound love for loafers, nostalgia has been present since the beginning of time. Our psychology not only connects our generation to past generations, to future ones as well. We are in a time where our priorities are to find what comforts us to honor the past or create new memories.

A CONTINUACIÓN EN BREVE Por Yoali Rodriguez

Con la transición del mundo de la pandemia, nuestra generación se ha encontrado en un camino confuso: tratar de conectar con un nuevo mundo, mientras aprendemos a ser adultos. Que nos deja con la pregunta, ¿qué conecta nuestra generación y la nostalgia?

Jett Loe, film critic and long-time podcaster of “Film Talk” during the ‘90s and 2000s, said social media has been the largest contributor to our generation’s fascination over biopics and nostalgic fueled plot lines.

“I would imagine, to a younger audience, trying to relate to an easier time must be so carefree,” Loe said. “For example, in the show Stranger Things, aside from the supernatural aspects of it, the depiction of how the kids and the people used to live was accurate. It only makes sense for them to try and transport to a time where they did not have to worry

La palabra nostalgia casi siempre es asociada a temas de extrañar el pasado y lo que pudo haber sido si hubieran cambios. Pero nuestra generación ha transformado ese pensamiento, utilizando su significado para atarlo a una experiencia más grande llamada “transportación mental”.

“Tener la experiencia de transportación mental sucede cuando posicionamos nuestra persona en un pasado específico para tratar de entender una experiencia de alguien cercano, como nuestros propios padres”, dijo el Dr. Nicholas D. Evans, un profesor asistente de Psicología de la Universidad de Minetoba y ex-alumno de la Universidad de Texas en El Paso.

Evans fue uno de los autores del estudio, “Mental transportation mediates nostalgia’s psychological benefits,” en ingles, que fue publicado en agosto, 2020. Su estudio se enfocó en entender la conexión

David Lepe is a 21-year-old college student who takes inspiration from the 70’s with the way he dresses.

de la nostalgia y los sentimientos positivos que obtiene. Teorizando que acciones conectadas a la nostalgia son parte de un mayor esfuerzo a encontrar un lazo entre nuestro yo interior y la gente que nos rodea. Encontrando una relación entre nostalgia y tener sentimientos de autodescubrimiento y conexión social.

En la nueva era de influencers tratando de encontrar una conexión social y un autodescribiento es un hecho.

Teniendo grandes influencers como Emma Chamberlain y Orion Carlotto, que estan ayudando a traer la estética casual de nuevo de moda y de vuelta a Instagram.

Andrea Calle Eyssautier, 24, influencer de Ciudad Juárez ha aprendido el significado de mezclar la estética casual y elementos de nostalgia. Capturando sus momentos más reales que expresan su amor por la moda, obteniendo inspiración de su pasado en Tumblr.

“Aunque sea nueva, en cuanto viene a mi crecimiento en Instagram, he estado relacionado en las redes sociales anónimamente desde la primaria cuando tenía Tumblr”, dijo Eyssautier. “Empezando con la temática de fotografiá y en la secundaria me enfoque más en la moda con publicaciones que obtenían el ‘sad girl core’ en esa era”.

Eyssautier empezó a tener más seguidores en su cuenta de Instagram, @sadpinata, durante la

pandemia y ahora tiene más de 13 mil seguidores. Dándose cuenta de que sin importar que tipo de contenido haces, siempre tienes que reflejar tu identidad propia. Teniendo su estilo reflejar la época que ella vivió durante sus años utilizando Tumblr.

“Cuando se trata de seguir tendencias, no estoy peleada con esa idea”, dijo Eyssautier. “Pero lo fundamental que he notado no, no más en mí, pero en otras creadoras, es que se hace contenido se nota la esencia de donde vienes”.

Entendiendo la competencia que viene con crecer en las redes sociales, Eyssautier cree que entendiendo lo que hace a uno diferente es la clave a crear una comunidad en cualquier plataforma.

“Quiero que la gente se sienta inspirada a ser ellos mismos con mi contenido”, dijo Eyssautier. “Saber que te hace diferente es lo que nos hace especial”.

Como audiencia, nosotros nos encontramos con diferentes esencias de nostalgia entre las redes sociales. Teniendo gente que ayudan a ejercer esa cultura en cada plataforma, Gen-Z ha creado nuevos espacios para continuo éxito de nuestras cosas favoritas que nos dejan sentirnos en casa.

ma hri an na pet ree:

and the world of college basketball

Story by Brianne Williams Photos by Ethan Thomas

ahrianna Petree and her sisters were holding toy basketballs before they could walk.

“My dad told us that when we were little girls, there were basketballs in our cribs,” Petree said.

Petree is a senior at the University of Texas at El Paso and a Division 1 athlete.

Petree recalled that her father tasked her and her sisters to play one-on-one games of basketball against each other growing up. This challenged her, she said, because they were “bigger and stronger” than she was. She recalled how her father would promise a Wendy’s Frosty to whoever came out as the winner. Her father usually settled any competitive tension that may have raised.

“I miss those days, being able to play against my sisters all the time,” Petree said.

It wasn’t until the fourth grade that Petree got to play on an actual team. She hasn’t stepped off the court since.

Petree has played for various teams throughout her athletic career. But, there’s one constant that has been a staple in her life and basketball journey: her father.

Her dad who played varsity basketball in high school and later, at Iowa Central Community College ignited her passion.

Petree’s dad Jamey Petree owns his own training gym, Get Skillz Basketball. There, not only did he coach Petree and her sisters, but also athletes that have gone on to play professional basketball, such as Crystal Bradford, a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) athlete.

“I’ve trained over 30,000 basketball players now,” her dad, Jamey Petree said. “I can’t even finish on how many professionals came through there, from NBA to the WNBA to overseas.”

According to Petree, Bradford still visits her dad’s training gym when she is in town. These professionals come to play but, they also share their knowledge of life in the WNBA, Petree said. These professional athletes emphasize to up-and-coming players how important it is to get in extra practice, because of how “vicious” the competition is.

Following in their faather’s footsteps, Petree played alongside her older sister, Lasha, for her first two years of college.

“Whatever the team needed, she filled that role,” her sister, Lasha Petree said.

Before transferring to UTEP, Petree attended Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.

Although only one of her sisters shares the same love of basketball as her, Petree is very close to both.

“My sisters are my best friends,” Petree said. “They’re my backbones.”

Petree’s family describes her as the “energy player” of any team she plays for. Her strength is rebounds, her family said, and that Petree succeeds no matter what position she plays.

But, Mahrianna Petree describes herself as being an emotional player. She remembers a game from her youth in which a man from the stands made a remark about girls not being good at basketball.

“I went out there and tried to play as hard as I could, and be as good as I could,” Petree said.

But, when she let the emotion get the best of her, it all went downhill.

“I remember playing terrible and feeling like I let that guy win,” Petree said.

Since then, Petree has learned not to act based on her emotions because it affects how she plays. This is something she still believes in and practices for each game.

Playing for UTEP

For Petree, playing for UTEP has been one of the greatest journeys she has encountered so far. Transferring from Bradley University, Petree said she feels that UTEP came in at the right time in her life.

“UTEP is a blessing,” Petree said.

She has also built strong relationships with her teammates and said they welcomed her with open arms. Petree said that she honors UTEP for what they represent: teamwork.

“Teamwork is everything,” Petree said. “We’re stronger together.”

Petree also likes to thank her coaches and the women’s athletic department for what they have done for her.

“They provide a place where people can come, be who they are and grow,” Petree said.

But, the balance of school and playing the game is a delicate one.

“College is hard,” Petree said. “Figuring out your life and being on your own is very tough.”

The coaches of the UTEP women’s basketball team provide tutors for the athletes, making sure they stay on top of their assignments not just during the season, but each semester.

“I always have my schedule to look at,” Petree said. “If I can’t see it, I’m not going to know what’s happening.”

Petree likes to have a hard copy of her schedule and makes sure she is “clued in” with her professors.

On game day, Petree makes sure to “eat a lot” hours prior. She also has a snack that she keeps in her locker during pregame warm-ups. These warm-ups include ball-handling, form-shooting and shots. Petree leaves her jersey inside her locker during this time. When she returns to the

My mom has taught me my whole life that there are gifts that God gives us and there’s things that we are called to do. I believe that basketball is a gift that God has given me.

locker room, she has a silent prayer by herself, before leading the group prayer with her teammates.

Growing up in a religious household, Petree said that her mom always taught her and her siblings to put God first and thank him for all their victories and opportunities.

Petree prays over her mindset, both within the game and with God. She also prays that she is not distracted with things that are not for her.

Petree’s support circle starts with God, as he is the “head of her life.”

“God is number one,” Petree said. “I am nothing without him.”

Following God, Petree said she is supported by her parents, siblings, grandmother and teammates.

“I always go to my mom if there’s anything I’m going through or need help with,” Petree said. “I can’t not give Grandma Petree a shoutout. She has shown me what it means to unconditionally love people.”

The fans are also an added plus.

Petree prefers playing home games, rather than away games because of the support that the city of El Paso has shown her.

“When we played Southern Mis’ at home and we beat them, there were so many people there and the stadium was so electric and so loud,” Petree said. “Our fans make the experience so amazing.”

Despite being cheered on by so many, Petree blocks out the crowd during the game.

“When I’m playing, I really don’t’ hear or see the crowd,” Petree said. “After the game is when I’m talking to people.”

NIL Laws at UTEP

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has argued for years that amateur athletes cannot profit from things like jerseys or autographs. However, the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) Laws took effect in Texas on July 1, 2021, giving college athletes the opportunity to make money solely based off their “name, image, and likeness.” What this means is that student-athletes are now allowed to make money from appearances, sponsored social media posts and more. The Texas State Senate approved these laws with a 28-2 vote, being the fourteenth state to do so.

To comply with the state, UTEP provides their own digital copy of the NIL laws that can be viewed by the public. The document is four pages long, broken into sections starting with the purpose, and varying from violations, consequences and more. Following the purpose, the document starts off listing the responsibilities of the UTEP Athletics Department

and student-athletes. From there, the document includes legal disclosures, education, boosters and sponsors and ends with violations and consequences.

In this document, UTEP also states that student athletes are still eligible for financial aid, even if they use their name, image and likeness for compensation.

“When I came here, that was the first year that it was a real thing,” Petree said. “There were rumors that college athletes were going to profit from their name, image and likeness.”

“I’ve always been told since I started wanting to play basketball that coaches look at your social media,” Petree said.

Upholding her image is especially important to her, describing it as something that was built into her life.

Petree wants to make sure that she is seen by the public in a positive way.

“Because of my foundation, it’s reflected in my social media and how I carry myself,” Petree said. “The attention to how I’m perceived by others and making sure that it’s light, love and good things to be representing.”

In addition to keeping a clean profile, Petree feels that popularity is essential to successful basketball career.

“You have to know how to get your name out there and network,” Petree said. “And if you can’t do that, they’ve (referring to Bradford and other pros) told me that it’s very difficult for a lot of players.”

Petree advises young athletes to not only know the NIL Laws, but to make sure it is the right decision.

“If an opportunity comes, make sure it’s right for you,” Petree said. “Learn as much as you can and ask questions.”

Future plans

Even with her heart devoted to basketball, Petree is not sure if it will be a part of her future.

“I don’t know what my life will be after college,” Petree said. “I just want to be where God wants me to be. If that’s on the court, I’m open to that.”

The coaches of UTEP’s women’s basketball make it a priority to inform all their players early on in their season through a team meeting. It was in a Spring 2022 meeting where Petree learned about it herself.

When these laws came into play, college athletes from all over began making content showcasing their talent, releasing merchandise, and hoping to gain fame from it.

“I remember seeing a lot of players on social media that were big names, getting deals and talking about things opening up,” Petree said. “A bunch of people dropped their own lines trying to capitalize off of that right away.”

UTEP has done its part to instill in its college athletes the importance of NIL Laws.

“UTEP has done a few debriefings on what the NIL Law changes have been for the NCAA,” Petree said.

Protecting her Image

For the sake of her college career, Petree keeps her social media profiles clean for anyone who may be interested in signing her.

Nonetheless, Petree would still be grateful to have a professional career in basketball.

“If I got signed, and I made the decision to sign, I think it would mean I’m where I’m supposed to be,” Petree said. “I think that little girl inside of me would definitely be super ecstatic about the opportunity.”

A CONTINUACIÓN EN BREVE

Por Brandy Ruiz

Por lo general, los atletas universitarios pasan toda su vida preparándose para convertirse algún día en profesionales. Aparte de horas y horas de práctica, estos atletas son responsables de mantener sus buenas calificaciones y su vida diaria. Con las leyes de Nombre, Imagen y Similaridad (NIL), en efecto por casi dos años, los atletas ahora tienen que agregar la auto-promoción a su lista de responsabilidades como estudiantes universitarios.

La atleta de la División 1 de UTEP, Mahrianna Petree, compartió su viaje con la revista Minero y cómo fue capaz de convertirse en estudiante-atleta mientras

equilibraba su vida estudiantil y personal, así como la incorporación de las nuevas leyes NIL en su vida.

Petree, que actualmente es una delantera del equipo de basketball femenino de UTEP, ha estado jugando baloncesto desde antes de poder caminar.

“Mi padre nos dijo que cuando éramos pequeñas, había pelotas de baloncesto en nuestras cunas”, dijo Petree.

No fue hasta el cuarto grado que Petree tuvo que jugar en un equipo real. Desde entonces no ha renunciado a la cancha. Durante sus primeros dos años de universidad, Petree jugó baloncesto en la Universidad Bradley en Peoria, Illinois junto a su hermana mayor, Lasha.

“Mi mamá me ha enseñado toda mi vida que hay regalos que Dios nos da y que hay cosas que estamos llamados a hacer”, dijo Petree. “Creo que el baloncesto es un regalo que Dios me ha dado”.

Leyes NIL en UTEP

La National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) ha argumentado durante años que los atletas aficionados no pueden beneficiarse de cosas como jerseys o autógrafos. Sin embargo, las leyes de Nombre, Imagen y Similaridad (NIL) entraron en vigor en Texas el julio de 2021, dando a los atletas universitarios la oportunidad de ganar dinero basándose únicamente en su nombre, imagen y semejanza. Ahora se permite a los estudiantes-atletas ganar dinero con apariciones, publicaciones patrocinadas en las redes sociales y mucho más. El Senado del Estado de Texas aprobó estas leyes con 28-2 votos, siendo el 14 estado en hacerlo.

El documento incluye divulgaciones legales, educación, impulsores y patrocinadores y termina con violaciones y consecuencias.

En este documento, la UTEP también establece que los estudiantes-atletas siguen siendo elegibles para recibir ayuda financiera, incluso si utilizan su nombre, imagen y semejanza para obtener una compensación.

Por el bien de su carrera universitaria, Petree mantiene limpios sus perfiles de redes sociales para cualquiera que esté interesado en firmarla.

“Siempre me han dicho desde que empecé a querer jugar al baloncesto que los entrenadores miran sus redes sociales”, dijo Petree.

“Debe saber cómo hacer que su nombre y su red se conecten”, dijo Petree. “Y si no se puede hacer eso, me han dicho (refiriéndose a Bradford y otros profesionales) que es muy difícil para muchos jugadores”.

Petree aconseja a los jóvenes atletas no

sólo conocer las leyes NULAS, sino también asegurarse de que es la decisión correcta.

“Si surge una oportunidad, asegúrese de que es la adecuada para usted”, dijo Petree. “Aprenda todo lo que pueda y formule preguntas”.

Planes a Futuro

Incluso con su corazón dedicado al baloncesto, Petree no está segura de que tendrá un futuro en el baloncesto universitario.

“No sé cuál será mi vida después de la

universidad”, dijo Petree. “Sólo quiero estar donde Dios quiere que esté. Si eso está en el tribunal, estoy abierto a eso”.

Sin embargo, Petree todavía estaría agradecido de tener una carrera profesional en baloncesto.

“Si firmo y tomo la decisión de firmar, creo que significaría que estoy donde se supone que estoy”, dijo Petree. “Creo que esa niña dentro de mí sería definitivamente super extasiada por la oportunidad”.

Lowriders

The sound of cars speeding down the freeway is heard daily, but on Lincoln Park Day, those sounds are muffled by the sound of conversations about paint jobs, engines and car meets. Across the park, brightly painted cars, merchant tents and lawn chairs are occupied by car enthusiasts, mechandise and people of all ages. Many are dressed in Chicano fashion from zoot suits to buttoned-down flannels.

“It feels like a public barbeque, everyone is listening to music,” said Luis Méndez, known on social media as “El Pachuco.” “A lot of these people worked very hard on these cars, and the community is very welcoming.”

Méndez is a local El Paso teen that takes us back to the past with his fashion and lifestyle. He dresses daily in Chicano fashion and attends these car cruises regularly. Wearing black high-waisted pants and a brown button-up flannel, he said he is immensely proud of his style.

“I try to be authentic with my clothing,” Méndez said. “Most of my outfits I buy in Juárez.”

For Méndez, his fashion is about never forgetting the history of Mexican Americans who created Chicano culture , much like the car enthusiasts who participate in Lincoln Park Day.

Lincoln Park, also known as Chicano Park, is home to colorful murals narrating Mexican Americans’ history. It welcomes those who want to appreciate Latinx and El Paso culture, whether that is through

picnicing amongst the art or an event with classic cars.

Lincoln Park Day takes place annually, on Sept. 18. The event hosts a Lowrider car show that the Latin Pride Car Club curates.

“It’s not every day you see a classic from a Mercury 8 to Arrow sedans and pre-1965 cars, usually a lot of old ‘70s, and once in a while, the most common car you see is the 1964 Chevrolet Impala, which has much significance in our history,” Méndez said.

Lowriders have been a constant demonstration of the artistry of painting a car and keeping them functional despite the years since its fabrication.

Sergio Flores

Lowrider car owner Sergio Flores parked his car at four in the morning to get a good spot on this year’s Lincoln Park Day. He said he wanted a good area to display his 1964 Chevy Impala. Flores has been part of the car scene in El Paso for 15 years, but his fascination for

Lowriders

Story & photos by Gibel Amador

Classic car culture on the border

Between lifestyle, fashion, and low rider cars, El Paso’s local community brings nostalgia back with their annual low rider car event.

Luis Méndez is known as @el_pachuco44 on Instagram, where he shares photos of his best looks inspired by historic Chicano fashion.

started when he was young.

“My dad had a Lowrider and would take me to school with it; he even let me drive it when I was in the eigth grade,” Flores said.

Flores not only treasures this memory but has plans to pass on the passion for cars to his daughters. He drives his daughter to school and said the kids love it. However, having a Lowrider in El Paso can require a lot of maintenance, and sometimes it is best to go to other places to do so. For example, Flores got his custom candy red paint job in California.

“My car is candy in the sun; that’s when its colors pop out,” Flores said.

Flores plans to continue attending car cruises alongside his daughter, who will one day inherit his cars and keep the tradition alive.

Frank Sánchez

Frank Sánchez, a local car club member, looks at his two cars contently as many stop by to take pictures. Families of all ages are in awe as they snap selfies or shoot video of these cars. The first car is a 1941 Ford Deluxe Coupe, and his second car was a 1948 Chevrolet Fleet master.

Sánchez traveled to California numerous times to buy cars and now owns seven classic vehicles. His last visit to California was a year and a half ago when he purchased a Fleetmaster valued at $40,000.

The El Paso car scene has been a second family for Sánchez, and it is also a way for many to get together and help each other out from spreading knowledge about where to go to get the best paint job to mechanic recommendations.

“I’ve loved cars since I was young, and now that I have the money, I want to fix them up and showcase their beauty,” Sánchez said.

Sánchez plans to continue his love for cars by displaying them in car magazines and is always on the lookout for classic cars that need restoration.

Rosa Maese

Car owner Rosa Maese said the lowrider culture is art, everything about it is like a painting. From pinstriping or glitter, the creativity put into these cars is unique, and the competition always keeps people working on their cars.

“I bought my 1998 Cadillac Deville from a friend because I’ve always loved Cadillac and the colors,” Maese said.

Her car is a deep rich red that has pinstriping of different color hues. A sarape with a single rose on top to represent her name, lays on her dashboard while a Catholic cross hangs down from her rearview mirror.

“It feels wonderful being a female car owner and a member of a car club,” Maese said. “I get much respect in the community and being part of a car club is like having a second family.”

She works hard on the car and sees it as a representation of who she is. Maese’s passion for Lowriders started when she was 18 years old because of their importance in Chicano culture. Her dream car is a 1963 Impala, which she hopes to get one day.

A CONTINUACIÓN EN BREVE

Por Brandy Ruiz

Debajo de una red de autopistas, ubicado cerca de la Interestatal 10 en el centro de El Paso se encuentra Lincoln Park. Los sonidos de los coches que se apresuran por las carreteras de alquitrán negro no son algo fuera de este mundo, pero en el dia de Lincoln Park Day esos sonidos se amortiguan por la emoción de una multitud de entusiastas de los coches. El parque está lleno de Lowriders y sus brillantes llantas cromadas que reflejan la vista de mesas y tiendas de campaña que venden mercancía, desde autos de juguete hasta accesorios de ropa que representan a los famosos Chicanos cercanos. Muchos vienen vestidos con la moda Chicana, desde trajes zoot hasta franelas abotonadas.

“Se siente como una barbacoa pública, todos escuchan música”, dijo Luis Méndez, conocido como “El Pachuco” en las redes sociales. “Muchas de estas personas trabajaron muy duro en estos autos, y la

comunidad es muy acogedora”.

Méndez es un adolescente local de El Paso que nos lleva al pasado con su moda y estilo de vida. Méndez siempre está emocionado por el Día de Lincoln Park, que se lleva a cabo anualmente, el 18 de septiembre. El evento organiza una exhibición de autos Lowrider que el Latin Pride Car Club organiza.

Sergio Flores

Sergio Flores, el dueño de un Lowider, estacionó su coche a las cuatro de la mañana para conseguir un buen lugar en el dia de Lincoln Park de este año. Dijo que quería una buena zona para mostrar su Chevy Impala de 1964. Otros dueños de coches incluso acamparon un día antes para encontrar el lugar perfecto. Sergio ha sido parte de la escena del coche en El Paso por 15 años, pero su fascinación por los lowriders comenzó cuando era joven.

“Mi padre tenía un bajista y me llevaría a la escuela con él; incluso me dejó conducir cuando yo estaba en el octavo grado,” dijo Flores.

Flores no sólo atesora esta memoria, sino que tiene planes de transmitir la pasión por los coches a sus hijas. Flores planea continuar asistiendo a desfiles de coches junto a su hija, quien un día heredará sus coches y mantendrá viva la tradición.

Frank Sánchez

Frank Sánchez, un miembro del club de autos local, observa con satisfacción a la gente que se acerca a tomarse fotos con los coches. Las familias de todas las edades están asombradas mientras se toman selfies o videos de sus autos: un Ford Deluxe Coupe de 1941 y un mae-

Rosa Maese bought her 1998 Cadillac Deville from a friend, and she has fell in love with the Low Rider culture ever since.

stro de la flota de Chevrolet de 1948.

La escena automobilistica de El Paso ha sido una segunda familia para Sánchez, y también es una forma para que muchos se reúnan y se ayuden mutuamente, desde difundir el conocimiento sobre dónde ir para obtener el mejor trabajo de pintura hasta las recomendaciones de los mecánicos.

“He amado los autos desde que era joven, y ahora que tengo el dinero, quiero arreglarlos y mostrar su belleza”, dijo Sánchez.

Rosa Maese

La dueña de automóviles, Rosa Maese dijo que la cultura de los Lowriders es arte, todo es como una pintura. Maese comparte que puedes hacer pinstriping o purpurina y todo el mundo lo hace de forma diferente, y la competencia siempre mantiene a la gente trabajando en sus coches.

Su coche es de un rojo intenso y profundo que presenta variaciones de color muy variadas. Un sarape se coloca en la parte superior de su tablero junto con una sola rosa en la parte superior para representar su nombre. Una cruz católica cuelga en su espejo retrovisor.

“Se siente maravilloso ser una mujer dueña de un coche y miembro de un club de coches”, dijo Maese. “Recibo mucho respeto en la comunidad y ser parte de un club de coches es como tener una segunda familia”.

Los coches clásicos no sólo representan un aspecto único en nuestra cultura, sino que crean una comunidad donde muchos se unen a los recuerdos de la infancia, la música y el arte que predomina la cultura chicana.

On Sept. 18, Lincoln Park hosted a Lowrider car show that the Latin Pride Car Club assists.

A rose sits on top of Lowrider Rosa Maese’s dashboard along with a colorful sarape, common iconography of Hispanic culture.

Mural de Basura:

Si uno camina por la intersección de las calles Franklin y North Mesa en el centro de El Paso, será imposible ignorar el colorido mural de un puma que se postra ominoso sobre los transeúntes a su alrededor. Se trata de una figura hecha con piezas de basura de diferentes colores reacomodadas en la forma de un puma. Desde su finalización, se ha convertido en una atracción querida por la gente de El Paso.

“Creo que es una gran pieza de arte y algo que definitivamente necesitamos más en El Paso”, dijo Jed Burgess, transeúnte que pasaba debajo del mural anonadado por su belleza. “Es bueno que el arte prolifere, eso le da identidad a la ciudad. Es muy llamativo ver algo así entre tantos edificios cuadrados”.

Como él, muchos habitantes de El Paso y Ciudad Juárez reconocen en el mural una gran obra de arte que embellece al centro artístico de la ciudad.

Este mural fue diseñado y creado por el artista portugués Artur Bórdalo, mejor conocido como Bórdalo II.

“Estos murales tienen un propósito, concientizar a la gente acerca del impacto negativo que los humanos tenemos en la flora y fauna de nuestro medio ambiente”, dijo Bórdalo II. “Siempre me ha gustado poner como ejemplo a las especies en peligro de la región donde se ponen los murales. Para El Paso, sería el puma”.

Cabe recalcar que, en Texas, el puma no tiene protección ante la caza indiscriminada, ya que sigue catalogado como alimaña por el Departamento de Parques y Vida Silvestre de Texas.

Bórdalo II, en compañía de la gente de Green Hope Project; una organización sin fines de lucro que se dedica a educar a la gente acerca del impacto que tiene sobre el medio ambiente a través del arte, diseñaron y construyeron el mural en 2017. Se planeó que fuera un mural en 3D hecho

Como el arte puede ayudar al medio ambiente

Escrito por Carlos Castro de los Santos Fotos por Albert Silva Fernandez

En la intersección de las calles Franklin y North Mesa puedes encontrar un mural de basura. El Mural esta echo por el artista Bordalo II de Portugal.

El artista Bordalo II crea animales que están en peligro de extinción en las áreas en las que tiene la tarea de crear, para el mural en El Paso, que es un puma. Algunos elementos que destacan en el mural son una bicicleta, señal de tráfico y neumáticos.

con varias piezas de diferentes colores que darían forma al puma. Bórdalo II ya había creado estructuras de basura similares en varios lugares del mundo como parte de su serie de murales “Animales Grandes de Basura,” o en inglés “Big Trash Animals,” que se enfoca en la concientización sobre animales en peligro de extinción en el área donde se encuentra el mural.

El mural fue creado con la idea de concientizar a la gente acerca del daño que el consumismo exacerbado de nuestra sociedad tiene sobre el medio ambiente, y cómo es posible convertir todo el material considerado inservible e inútil como piezas de una obra de arte. El proyecto también fue una forma de promover la unidad entre la gente de El Paso, ya que se contaron con más de 500 personas e incontables horas de esfuerzo y paciencia para lograr el producto final.

“En lugar de hacer algún documental o un cartel con estadísticas, o con un mensaje de culpa, lo que hicimos fue una obra de arte”, dijo Candace Printz, directora de la organización Green Hope Project.

“El punto es promover el mínimo uso de plástico y otros materiales no renovables, y a su vez, presentar a los artistas emergentes un nuevo medio por el cual pueden crear obras maravillosas que lleguen a formar parte de la cultura de la región”, dijo Printz. “No se trata de ser pesimistas ante un tema tan complicado como la contaminación, sino de ofrecer alternativas para dar esperanza a la gente de que un mejor mundo es posible, aunque se difícil verlo. El arte tiene el poder de quedarse en la mente de las personas y pasar el mensaje para que cada uno contribuya a su manera”.

Printz ha recalcado la importancia del arte como forma de expresión de sentimientos e ideas. Tanto ella como Bórdalo II consideran crucial el educar a la gente acerca de la forma en la que estamos influyendo en nuestro entorno y lo vital que es reconsiderar la forma en la que el consumismo desmedido y la acumulación de productos son perjudiciales para el medio ambiente.

“Más que reutilizar o reciclar, es importante no consumir cosas que no son necesarias para nuestra vida”, dijo Bórdalo II. “Tenemos demasiadas camisetas, demasiados zapatos y los niños tienen demasiados juguetes. Podemos tener muchas cosas, pero no debemos comprar todas las

cosas. La economía circular es muy importante. No compres solo por comprar. En cuanto al arte, si puedes expresarte reutilizando lo que alguien ya ha descartado y realzándolo en tu trabajo, eso es increíble”.

Más allá del mensaje ambientalista de la obra de Bórdalo II, él y Green Hope Project buscan que la gente común haga arte de lo que tenga a la mano y que se entienda lo que este puede transmitir e inspirar.

“Es importante que las personas puedan conectarse y comprender rápidamente lo que significa el arte, especialmente si viven alrededor de obras de arte,” dijo Bórdalo. “Si no entienden lo que representa la obra de arte, no hay emoción positiva o desarrollo en el público y la meta del artista no se va a cumplir. Si hay arte por ahí que es comprensible y nos hace pensar en algunos temas, entonces la gente también se vuelve más culta, interesada en muchos temas y consciente de lo que está pasando en el mundo”.

El arte funcional es el medio perfecto para que la gente común y corriente haga uso de su capacidad creativa y den uso a los materiales que tengan a la mano para crear esculturas, artesanías, u otras formas de expresión artística.

“Mi objetivo es que las personas puedan ser más conscientes de sus propios residuos y su eliminación y también que empiecen a adoptar comportamientos más respetuosos con el medio ambiente”, dijo Bórdalo al explicar la filosofía detrás del puma. “Al usar basura hecha por el hombre para representar a estos animales, creo que podemos ver la escala de todo lo que estamos haciendo mal y también ver que hay algo que cada uno de nosotros puede hacer para minimizarlo”.

¿Qué es el arte funcional?

El profesor Fortunato Pérez del Centro Universitario de las Artes (CUDA) de la Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez (UACJ) definió el arte funcional como la fusión del arte expresionista y el uso diario de los objectos más mundanos, ya sean utensilios de cocina, ropa, llantas de automóviles, relojes, bocinas, etc.

“Es una subcultura que intenta separarse de la percepción de que el arte debe ser fino y sofisticado”, dijo Pérez. “Y que pase a ser parte de la vida de las personas más que ser una pieza exclusiva que solo se pueda encontrar en un museo o unao

una galería de arte fino”.

El arte funcional es más que el uso de objetos diarios; es arte que tiene un uso activo en la vida de las personas.

“Son objetos que se pueden utilizar y a la vez mantener como piezas de arte”, dijo Dylan Torres, estudiante de arte en UTEP. “Cualquier objecto que sirva una función utilitaria en la vida cotidiana que sea creado y mantenido como arte, es arte funcional. Bien puede ser un plato, una vasija, o un pedazo de cartón”.

Según la revista de arte mexicana “Nuevas Tendencias,” el concepto de arte funcional es una combinación de arte urbano o “arte callejero” con la vida cotidiana, con la intención de traer el arte más cerca a la vida de las personas. Es arte que sale del ingenio de las personas para crear algo con lo más inusual que tengan a la mano para así crear una obra que exprese un sentimiento con el cual otros se puedan identificar.

A lo largo y ancho de la frontera existen muchas formas de arte funcional. En Ciudad Juárez, el ejemplo más predominante del dicho son los contenedores metálicos en forma de corazón para recolectar tapas de plástico la Asociación de Padres de Niños con Cáncer y Leucemia, mejor conocida como APANICAL, lleva a cabo una campaña para recaudar tapas de plástico usando estructuras metálicas en forma de corazón. Dicho plástico es luego reciclado para crear cuadros con diseños y el dinero se utiliza para costear el gasto del tratamiento para niños con cáncer y ayudar a reducir el impacto de la huella ecológica de plástico en la ciudad. La filosofía en la que se basa el arte funcional se encuentra en todos lados; desde las artesanías hechas por pequeños comerciantes en el centro de Ciudad Juárez, hasta la forma en los que algunos edificios como CUDA y el Museo de Arte de la UACJ están construidos. De igual manera, en El Paso se encuentran el Centro de Convenciones Judson F. Williams y gran parte de los edificios en el Districto de Arte en El Paso son ejemplos de estructuras que fueron planeadas en base a una inspiración artística.

Sin embargo, el arte no está limitado únicamente a la arquitectura o al arte fino que solo pueden vislumbrar aquellos con el suficiente dinero para hacerlo. Un gran ejemplo son los murales, presentes en varias calles de Ciudad Juárez y El Paso.

“El mural es en mi opinión la forma más democrática de arte que hay,” dijo Printz. “Está a la vista de todos y no hay una solo forma de hacerlo, creo que con el puma lo hemos demostrado.”

Una función clave del arte funcional es el ser accesible para todos sin distinción económica o social.

Nuevos horizontes: El arte funcional en la frontera y el impacto en la comunidad fronteriza

“Es importante que exista el arte aquí en la frontera”, dijo Ruth González, artista visual egresada de UTEP. “Es un medio por el que la gente puede sacar su frustración y sus sueños también. Es más importante aún, que todo el mundo haga arte, ya que cada uno tiene su forma de ver el mundo, de ver la vida, y eso es lo que el arte necesita”.

Una de las formas más predominantes del arte funcional es el uso de basura o materiales desechables. Al usar estos materiales, dichos son reciclados y son es una gran forma de fomentar el cuidado del medio ambiente a través de un medio expresivo y creativo. Estos materiales son particularmente populares en la creación de artesanías que se encuentran en diferentes partes de Ciudad Juárez y que ayudan a pequeños artesanos a tener un negocio del cual pueden subsistir.

Aparte de ayudar a reducir la huella ecológica, los corazones de metal instalados por APANICAL se han convertido en un símbolo que da identidad a Ciudad Juárez. Se han convertido en una parte intrínseca de la identidad cultural de la frontera, un elemento que se hace reconocible a Ciudad Juárez.

En esta riqueza de cargas emocionales es donde surge el arte fronterizo, el cual se sitúa en una perspectiva de culturas encontradas, que se sustenta en la especificidad de las manifestaciones geopolíticas. A partir de las narrativas de los artistas se interpreta la manera en que representan en su obra ideas, tópicos, ideologías, hechos y problemáticas sociales del contexto binacional; y la forma en que se apropian, significan, trazan y transforman la identidad fronteriza. La mezcla de las culturas de México y Estados Unidos supone una riqueza cultural que se nutre de cada elemento del arte fronterizo, ya sean mu-

rales, esculturas, música, literatura o el arte abstracto, cada expresión artística ha encontrado la forma de florecer en la región fronteriza.

El arte da espacio a la libertad y a la subjetividad, permite lo interdisciplinar y plantea otras formas de crear y reflexionar. Dicho esto, hoy que nos encontramos en una crisis medio ambiental, es urgente desaprender costumbres y lenguajes a los que estamos acostumbrados. Según estudio sobre el estado actual de la contaminación hecho por el Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Medio Ambiente (PNUMA) sacado a principios de este año, la contaminación ambiental ha llegado a un punto crítico.

“La pandemia del COVID 19, el surgimiento de grandes incendios forestales y la erosión de varios ecosistemas presentan ya una amenaza latente para el mundo”, dijo Printz. “Es necesario detenernos para reaprender el mundo y cómo nos relacionamos con él”.

El uso de materiales reciclables para construir obras de arte como esculturas o artesanías también da un nuevo uso a los materiales que de otra forma se desperdiciarían y contribuirían a la creciente huella ecológica de la región.

El arte hace los problemas visibles y hace que la gente reflexiones sobre su condición actual. A su vez, es capaz de generar empatía y ser un símbolo por el cual toda una comunidad se identifica a sí misma, y de cierta forma, ser la base por la cual el futuro y el progreso se definirán para las generaciones futuras. Es algo que bien puede ser hecho con por una persona, pero llega a significar algo para toda una comunidad. La imborrable huella humana sobre el planeta es marcada por la forma en la que la gente hace arte y lo comparte con el mundo.

UP NEXT IN BRIEF

By Maria L. Guerrero Duran

If one walks through the intersection of Franklin and North Mesa Street in El Paso downtown, it would be impossible to ignore the colorful mural of a puma that stands over pedestrians. It is a piece made out colorful trash arranged in the shape of a puma. Ever since it was done, it has become a loved attraction for El Pasoans.

This mural was designed and created by the Portuguese artist Artur Bórdalo, best known as Bórdalo II.

“These murals have a purpose, to make people aware of the negative impact that humans have on the flora and fauna of our environment,” Bórdalo said. “I have always liked using the example of endangered regional species from the place where I have the murals. To El Paso, it would be the puma.”

In Texas, the puma is not protected from poaching, given that it is still categorized as pest by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Bórdalo II, alongside the Green Hope Project; a non profit organization that is dedicated to educate

people on the impact we have on the environment through art, designed and built the mural in 2017.

The mural was created with the idea of making people aware of the damage our society’s consumerism has over the enviromnent and how it is possible to transform all the materials considerated useless into a piece of art.

Beyond the environmentalist message of Bórdalo II’s art work, he and Green Hope Project seek for people to create art from whatever objects they might have in handy, and for it to convey a message and inspire.

Art makes problems visible and makes people reflect on their current situation. It is also capable of creating empathy and be a symbol with which all the community indentifies with, and to some extent, be the base for future progress that will define the next generations. It is something that can be done by a person, but can mean something for a whole commuity. The indelible human print on the planet is characterized by the way people create art and how they share it with the world.

Tamos de la basura reciclables eran el más grande color de azul usado en el mural.

El marco inferior de un carrito de compras se encuentra debajo de la bicicleta utilizada en el mural, junto al hombro del puma.

AIM is an online software system that many institutions of higher learning utilize as a way to process accommodations for students with disabilities.

AIM allows students to access or request services online and from the safety and comfort of their home 24/7.

The system will allow you to log on with your single sign on UTEP credentials, so there will be no new passwords or usernames to memorize.