San Elizario blossoms into arts haven

SAN ELIZARIO -- Historic San Elizario is gradually evolving into a respected art district.

In just three years, San Elizario has witnessed an explosion of art galleries and studios.

Artists organize two major events each month, including an increasingly popular art market in this small town 22 miles east of Downtown El Paso.

Everywhere, you see young emerging artists, intermediate artists and veteran artists creating and selling a diverse palette of art, including oil paintings, Native American and Chicano art, custom-made leather products, and sculpted wooden art works.

One gallery specializes in the work of widely known Southwestern artist Amado Peña who pays tribute to Native American cultures in his paintings and murals.

El Paso Community College is working with artists based in San Elizario to train docents for art galleries and museums.

Just recently, 23 Juárez artists opened exhibitions at various galleries in San Elizario.

All this is happening in the unincorporated community that traces its roots to the Spanish explorer Juan De Oñate in the late 1500s.

Al Borrego reels off the numbers -- more than 300 artists have shown their art in San Elizario art shows since 2009.

At least 22 artists have working studios

in the district and the work of more than 90 artists is represented in various galleries and wall space.

Borrego is credited with getting the ball rolling in 2009 on making San Elizario an arts destination.

Borrego first exhibited his own work and the work of other artists at a farmer's market sponsored by the Mission Trail Association. He expanded into what was called the Main Street Gallery near the San Elizario Plaza. He later remodeled his own space and invited other artists to embrace his vision.

Borrego describes San Elizario as the only art district in El Paso County, a pool of artists promoting and investing in the arts without any public money. "Nowhere in El Paso compares to us," Borrego said. "We've got history, working studios and entrepreneurs."

Most studios and galleries are housed in restored, historic buildings. Harvey Johnson pitched in and opened a small restaurant near the galleries.

"We're a destination," Borrego said. "We've surpassed Mesilla already as far as art goes."

He is referring to the historic town near Las Cruces, often billed as a tourist destination.

Borrego pointed out that other artists on a waiting list want to be part of the evolving arts scene in San Elizario.

"We have a lot of artists that believe in the vision," he said.

The vision may be paying off.

Jennifer Ernest, a visitor from Virginia, recently strolled outside the galleries. She said she became curious about what else San Elizario offered after hearing about its historic mission.

El Paso arts advocate Adair Margo often escorts visitors to San Elizario.

"There's organization to draw people down there," Margo said. "San Elizario is so historic and has beautiful architecture that's being restored. They have these periodic art fairs. So it's a very exciting place to be right now."

Gaspar Enriquez, a prominent Chicano artist who lives in San Elizario, started remodeling a historic building into art space long before others started promoting art in San Elizario. He is also restoring another historic building that once served as the first county seat.

"There is a lot of faith. Whether it comes true or not, that's a question to be answered in the future," Enriquez said.

Enriquez suggests that San Elizario's success as a place where the arts and artists can prosper may depend on the cooperation of El Paso County government and other entities.

"Since this place has a lot of history, I thought, 'Usually the arts bring in economic development,' " he said. "So I think San Elizario has a lot of potential."

Artist Albert Escamilla emerged out of Sanderson, a tiny railroading town in far West Texas best known for a devastating flood in 1965. He has been a professional artist for 35 years.

Escamilla's art studio and gallery is one of the main anchors in what's being called the San Elizario Art District. He does impressionist-style oil paintings.

"It's been a goal for all of us to bring art to the people," he said. "I grew up at a time when an art gallery or a museum was beyond our reach."

Escamilla recalls the lean times when he was literally a starving artist living out of a station wagon. Now, his wife, Rachel, manages the business while he creates more art.

"Business is the key behind this. You have to be committed," Escamilla said. "For me, it's a blessing to be here."

Escamilla is convinced artists in San Elizario are getting noticed. A couple of months ago, a city bus pulled up with El Paso City Manager Joyce Wilson and the El Paso City Council. Univision affiliate Channel 26-KINT recently produced its newscast from the San Elizario placita, with an emphasis on the arts.

Artist Maria Branch has a working studio and art gallery in San Elizario. She also teaches art in her studio.

"I love the people out here and love being here," Branch said. "I've done well in the year and a half that I've been here."

Sam Gutierrez, 35, learned to make jewelry, leather work, dream catchers, war shields, medicine wheels and other traditional Native American art from his grandfather and other relatives at the Tiguas' Ysleta del Sur Pueblo.

"Hopefully within the next couple of years we'll be as big as Santa Fe, Albuquerque or Old Mesilla." he said.

Sergio Acosta, 26, born and raised in a nearby barrio known as Campestre, is creating his own vision of the Virgen de Guadalupe in an oil paintings for sale he titled "The Fountain of Faith."

"I never knew I had this talent until I was in the prison system," Acosta said. "Thanks to God, prison gave me hope."

He was painting next to spaces where other artists display metal sculptures, boots and other leather products.

El Paso artist Manuel Alvarado, a Vietnam War veteran in his late 60s, dedicated himself to painting after he retired in 2005 as a refrigeration mechanic. Alvarado loves San Elizario's tranquil pace.

Alvarado had a heart attack a year ago and almost died.

"God gave me another chance," Alvarado said. "I'm not very good at this. I just do it 'cause I like it."

Borrego looks at all the art around him and imagines that someday the art scene in San Elizario will grow even bigger.

"Artists come and go. We're all starving at one point or another," he said. "Everything happens with art. I love watching this blossom."