Artist comes to El Paso and collaborates with local children to paint 50-foot mural

An artist made a stop in El Paso as part of her national tour that she uses to paint a mural that she considers symbolic to each region she visits.

Mary Lacy, form Vermont, said she partners with a local art or community organization for each city mural.

She worked with local children who helped her paint a 50-foot mural that will be located outside the Creative Kids’ oLo Gallery at 504 San Francisco Ave. in Downtown El Paso.

The mural has been painted on parachute paper and was permanently placed on the outside of the gallery on Monday, April 3.

“Every city has been different with their unique cultures and communities,” Lacy said. “I thought El Paso and Creative Kids would add to my personal and professional portfolio. From the Mississippi Delta to rural Louisiana to inner city Pennsylvania to the border city of El Paso, I continue to be in awe of these different worlds.”

Creative Kids is an 18-year-old non-profit art education agency that promotes visual arts with children.

In El Paso, she painted an alebrije, which is a brightly colored Mexican folk art creature.

It has the head of an eagle, the body of a quail, the wings of a dragon fly and the tail of a rooster.

“It is always great to partner with artists from around the nation and be part of a larger conversation in the art world. Our kids were so lucky to learn from and work with Ms. Lacy to be apart of her vision for her national tour. They have benefited so much from this opportunity and will be reminded of this experience as their work with be permanently placed on the outside of their gallery,” said Stephen Ingle, Creative Kids creative director and co-founder.

Lacy said her inspiration for the mural came to her when she arrived to the borderland.

“I’ve been traveling across the country to 10 different cities on a mural tour. This is the 7th stop. I have never traveled the country, so my inspiration comes when I arrive,” Lacy said.

The national tour will end with a documentary video series of her journey.