@streetartfromtheroad.OTR 9.0. Part Two

Hello street art fans. This is our second of three planned photo posts featuring street art and murals from our most recent road trip. This post will take us through to our stay in El Paso. We continue to be awed by the amazing artists sharing their talent and creativity with everyone in their communities to enjoy. These works often make a remarkable difference in what might be an otherwise drab or desolate urban landscape. We hope you enjoy the art (we have included attribution for the artists wherever possible).

Artist Unknown – Columbus, Ohio

Sarah Hout @sarahthehout – Columbus, Ohio

“Dream Together” Jeremy Jarvis @jarvjer – Columbus, Ohio

Artist Unknown – Cincinatti, Ohio

Michael Roy @birdcap – Memphis, Tennessee

Emily Molly Wood – Argenta Mural Project – North Little Rock, Arkansas

Roland P. Burnham III @balstovision – Argenta Mural Project – North Little Rock, Arkansas

Artist Unknown – Argenta Arts District, North Little Rock, Arkansas

Jes Weiner @magicatmuralist – Texarkana, Texas

@chelsie310 – Texarkana, Texas

“The Highwaymen” – Stylle Read – Marathon, Texas

Monty Welt @montywelt – Alpine, Texas

@deko_uno – El Paso, Texas

Artists Unknown – Leon Street, El Paso, Texas

Artist Unknown – Alameda Avenue, El Paso, Texas

Latino Icons: Don Tosti, Art Lewis, Abraham Chavez, Los Largatos, Rocky Star, Cinta De Oro, Tin-Tin, Rosa Guerrero and Sin Cara – Jesus “Cimi” Alvarado, Martin “Blaster Zubia and Victor “Mask” Casas – Downtown – El Paso, Texas

All of the remaining photographs in this post were taken in the Segundo Barrio. As the name suggests the Segundo was the second neighborhood in El Paso. Since the 1830s this area has been a major entry point for Mexican immigrants coming into the United States. The majority of the immigrants in the barrio were and still are migrant farm workers.

Artist Unknown – Segundo Barrio – El Paso, Texas

The Segundo still reflects its Tejano culture and traditions very proudly (we hope the murals we have featured below will reflect that same sense of tradition, culture and aspiration). At one point, the city planned to demolish much of the barrio as a way to eliminate the significant substandard housing stock instead of addressing the root causes in a humane fashion. Fortunately, civic groups formed and defeated the city’s plan to demolish the historic area.

El Corrido del Secondo Barrio – Jesus “CIMI” Alvarado and Victor “Mask” Casas – Segundo Barrio – El Paso, Texas

Jesus “CIMI” Alvarado – Segundo Barrio – El Paso, Texas

Unfortunately, the preservation of the barrio has not improved the economic conditions significantly. Many of the Mexican-American residents and immigrants still toil as farm workers. The barrio is poor by any measure, albeit rich in culture, tradition and pride in its heritage.

Artist Unknown – Segundo Barrio – El Paso, Texas

Artist Unknown – Segundo Barrio – El Paso, Texas

Be seeing you!