So Long, Pardner: Iconic ‘Vaquero’ Is Leaving El Paso

One of El Paso’s most recognizable features, “Vaquero,” left the city Tuesday.

The entrance piece at the El Paso Museum of Art, a large sculpture done by El Paso artist Luis Jimenez, was on loan from a private collector. But since it has been sold, it will now be displayed indoors at a museum in Arkansas.

As the pieces came down with great care, the gun-toting cowboy was hoisted off his horse.

“Vaquero” is first headed to a restoration house in Houston to repair some sun damage at a estimated cost of $60,000. And then it’s off to a new home in Arkansas.

“This piece will actually be among the most important pieces of American art,” El Paso Museum director Michael Tomor said of the sculpture’s new home.

Tomor said El Pasoans should be grateful the massive, bright-colored cowboy stayed here for more than a decade

“It’s unfortunate that it’s leaving,” local art advocate Miguel Juarez said.

He’s not convinced enough was done to keep the cowboy.

“The city could’ve raised the money maybe with private donations as well, because it’s an important piece and an important icon for El Paso.”

Juarez has been working to restore Jimenez’s deteriorated “Lagartos” sculpture, and to keep it at San Jacinto Plaza.

“Because once you remove it and it’s like you take your car in for repairs and they say, ‘Its going to be only $200.’ And then they say, ‘It’s going to be $800,'” Juarez said.

Both sculptures are made out of fiberglass and have sustained sun damage.

“Luis Jimenez worked with fiberglass; it’s a very delicate type of material to be used for outdoor purposes,” said Tomor.

The difference can be seen in Jimenez’s shiny and bright colored fiberglass sculpture kept inside the UTEP library.

“All public artworks have to have some sort of conservations and a treatment plan and they have to be maintained on an annual basis,” Tomor said.

The “Vaquero” will be housed in the Crystal Bridges Museum, which is owned by the family of Sam Walton, who founded Wal-Mart Stores Inc. It is set to open next month.