Artist behind ‘Uplift’ sculpture claims city is swayed by Upper Valley residents

It was a piece of art that was supposed to inspire but after the sculpture placed in a roundabout on Country Club Road was removed it has created a rift between the artist and the city.

The artist also claims the city is just trying to appease some influential El Pasoans who wanted the sculpture removed.

Sculpture Magarita Cabrera says the city told her they took her sculpture down because of structural issues and because the artwork deviated from the original design.

Cabrera told ABC-7 Friday afternoon she believes there’s other motives behind the move and feels city officials haven’t been amicable with how they are handling the situation.

If you’ve been watching the news you know Country Club road was closed, rerouted and dug up.

It all made way for a beautiful road, lined with trees, new lights and a roundabout with a sculpture.

But almost as soon as it went up, the piece of art was brought down.

“I feel absolutely disrespected. I feel a lot of pain. I feel very sad,” said Cabrera.

Cabrera called the sculpture “Uplift.” It represents a flock of birds in the moment they take flight.

“This moment is symbolic of positive social change,” said Cabrera.

Cabrera said she was out of town when the city removed the sculpture. She was told the piece was structurally unsound.

Another reason she said she was given: “The city has also claimed that the incorporation of gun fragments was not approved.”

Cabrera said the fragments of guns donated by Sheriff Richard Wiles were part of the design all along and that representatives from the city had seen the sculpture three times before it was erected at the roundabout.

Cabrera says there’s another issue.

“City representatives confirm that the removal action was taken because there was an objection from someone in the country club neighborhood who made the call to have the piece removed”

Cabrera has sought legal counsel. She also says the city has paid her 85 percent of the cost for the sculpture which came with a price tag of about $70,000.

The city offered to pay her the rest of the money which would make the sculpture the property of the city which then could do whatever it wants with the artwork.

Cabrera says it’s not about the money.

“I would like the piece back in its place where it belongs,” Cabrera told ABC-7.

The city has not commented because of pending litigation.