The Legacy of Lowriders and Chicano Art

The Legacy of Lowriders and Chicano Art

By. C.A.

Photography by. Ismael Garcia

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

The fine legacy of lowriders and El Paso's cultural art lives on.

Community activists, local artists, musicians and lowrider clubs in El Paso made sure of it by presenting the public with a free weekend of poetry, ballet, art, live music, and cars at the Centro Mayapan in south El Paso.

Ramon "Chunky" Sanchez of San Diego attended the event and informed an audience of about one hundred how fortunate El Paso was to have their own mural laden Lincoln Park located in central El Paso. Sanchez, who compared El Paso's Lincoln Park to San Diego's Chicano Park, was born in Blythe, California and involved himself in the farm worker movement directed by Cesar Chavez and his United Farm Workers Union. Sanchez, who's mother played the guitar, was inspired to pursue the art of music and formed his own band called Los Alacranes.

The colorful art of Gabriel Gaytan, as well as the fine creations by other local artists were on display.

Gaytán, an El Paso Community College educator and artist volunteers his time as an active member of the Lincoln Park Conservation Committee.

The non-profit Committee aims to beautify and preserve the park for the citizens of El Paso.

El Paso's popular Radio La Chusma entertained the crowd with their smooth sounding Reggae/Mex music. The talented band of seven are known for their diverse use of instruments and deep-rooted bordertown appeal.

The entertaining event interconnected with educative and informative speeches from Dr. Ernesto Chavez, Dr. Oscar Martinez, Carlos Aceves, Jennifer Monsate representative of Senator Lujan of Northern New Mexico who introduced a bill relating to the land grants and the Tratado.

A relaxing Sunday afternoon event just isn't worth attending without classic car and lowider exhibitions.

The pristine rides belonging to car clubs and classic car owners such as Our Story, Latin Pride, Presence, Street Memories , Nobleza, Old Memories and EPT Cruising ornamented the entrance of Centro Mayapan with their bright flicker of shiny paint and polished chrome.

"Convicted Artist Worldwide Social Art Network"