El Paso is marking the somber five-year anniversary of one of the deadliest shootings in Texas history with a new memorial, dedicated to the 23 lives lost in the 2019 attack at a local Walmart. Albert “Tino” Ortega, a native El Paso artist, was commissioned by the city to create a monument that will serve as a site for communal mourning and remembrance. The unveiling is set for this Saturday at Jim Crouch Park, according to The Texas Tribune.
Ortega, known for his hyper-realistic balloon murals expressing themes like "Amor" and "I (heart) El Paso," was selected by the city for his local roots and profound connection to the tragedy. In an interview obtained by the KSAT, Ortega shared his pride in contributing to the community's healing, noting, "I saw this as an opportunity to give back to the community I love and grew up in."
The memorial features seven granite pillars arranged to form a crown, each inscribed with the names of those who perished. At its center, a poem by local author Gris Muñoz engraved on an additional pillar reaffirms the message of resilience and empowerment. Surrounding the structure is a constellation of 23 lights—their glow is an homage to the victims, as noted by The Texas Tribune. Ben Fyffe, El Paso's managing director of cultural affairs and recreation, reflected on the importance of restoring a sense of power to the community through the symbolism of a crown.
Funded with $250,000 from the city's public art fund, which constitutes 2% of any capital project debt issued by the city, the memorial joins two others in El Paso—the Walmart Memorial and the Healing Garden in Ascarate Park—both established to aid in the grieving process. Fyffe told KSAT that the sustainability of this memorial contrasts with Ortega's temporary murals, capturing the community's enduring spirit amidst the ephemerality of life. "This (memorial) is more permanent and long-lasting," Ortega expressed, highlighting the memorial's significance to El Paso's collective journey toward healing.
