“Lowriding in El Chuco/Twin Serpents”
By. Gabriel S. Gaytan.

It’s a unique experience growing up in a border town like El Paso, Texas. El Paso is a
place where two countries, Mexico and the United States of America meet. Where two:
languages, cultures, and customs integrate. It’s a place where one finds the birth of the Chicano
(Mexican-American) community.

A unique community:like its border, where we celebrate two: languages
(English and Spanish), Chicano/Mexican/-American fashion, music, dance, customized vehicles
and culture. In this culture we find a fresh and unique style of customized vehicles called
“Lowriders.” The first lowriders date back to the 1940’s. Thus, lowriders is originally Chicano, as a Chicano
artist I created a series of three paintings titled, “Lowriding: El Chuco Style” to celebrate its origins and give credit to the Chicano Community for its unique creation of lowriders. Customized lowriders are currently a world phenomenon
which started in the Chicano border community of the U.S.A.

The celebration continues with a proposed mural designed by myself and titled, “Lowriding in El Chuco/Twin Serpents.” This mural will be painted on a freeway pillar with two sides. On one side lowriders are displayed on a winged horse backdrop. On the foreground, a Pachuco (Mexican-American zoot suiter) an image related to lowriding.
The background illustrates the Franklin Mountains, the City of El Paso star on the mountains and on the bottom the El Paso cityscape. On the other side there are two serpents descending from the Pachuco suit pocket and around the pillar, intertwining upward to the top. Meso-American serpents represent natural movement and our pre-Hispanic culture.

One serpent symbolizes the feminine energy and the other serpent is the masculine energy.
Everything in creation consist the balanced of two opposites: male/female; hot/cold; good/bad;
night/day; positive/negative; left/right. It is this balanced human beings strive to maintain.
This mural will join the rest of the pillar murals displayed
in this colorful Lincoln city park.
These murals are public art representing the El
Paso Chicano/Mexican American community
Tlazokamati, Muchas Gracias, Thank You,
Gabriel S. Gaytan
El Paso Chicano Artist