Bringing the outdoors in

Stepping into La Plaza Mall’s nursing room is no longer just a break from shopping, it is a transportive experience to the heart of the Rio Grande Valley landscape, thanks to artist and UTRGV alumnus Ruben Carlos Lozano. 

The mural can be seen at La Plaza Mall, located at Toronto Avenue, in McAllen, and was commissioned by Robert Luciano, mall manager, and Willie Carriaga, director of operations.

Lozano’s full-scale mural offers visitors an “exotic and environmental” view of Quinta Mazatlán, one of the most iconic bird-watching views in McAllen.

Quinta Mazatlán is a sanctuary connecting people to the history, beauty and wonder of the natural world, according to its website.

The work specifically incorporates the entrance of the Quinta Mazatlán, along with local bird watching elements and the distinctive Arizona cactus, such as lophocereus schottii and organ pipe cactus that the mall wanted to highlight in the mural project. 

According to the artist, the specific cactus was requested by Luciano who wanted to create cultural connections with other highly populated Hispanic regions, like Arizona, which would in turn foster a culturally rich environment for mall visitors.

To populate his vibrant blue sky and green landscape, Lozano researched the specific birds found at Quinta Mazatlán. 

He also drew inspiration from his daily life, referencing native birds he frequently sees on the UTRGV campus.

“And the Hawks,” Lozano said. “Every time I go around the urban, rural area of the RGV … I always see hawks gliding around.”

The magnificent sight of hawks with their “spread wings” also heavily influenced his composition, ensuring the mural captured the full environmental horizon of the region, according to the artist.

 Lozano added this was his first full-scale mural, an experience that he admitted was “not easy.”

The process was vastly different from his usual medium oil paint, particularly the quick-drying nature of the latex paint which he used for the mural was somewhat of a learning curve, he said. 

The three-month-long project began with a tracing technique for his underpainting, Lozano took a photograph of the quinta entrance and used it as a guide. 

He, then, traced the outlines to establish the scale and proportion of the elements, a method Lozano sees as guidance to achieve a balanced composition.

Ultimately, he said he hopes the mural provides more than just a pleasant view of palm trees, birds, a bright blue sky and the people of the RGV community feel a deep connection to the work.

“It’s sort of like taking the exterior and bringing it into the interior so people can experience it,” he said. “Bringing it inside to make us feel connected with the environment.” 

 The artist added the subtle motifs, such as the planes flying in the distance, directly represent the city of McAllen. 

So far, the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, Lozano said. 

Luciano and Carriaga have been mind-blown and surprised, never having expected the magnitude and scale of the mural or the personal impact it has had on them, according to the artist.

Lozano’s piece is part of a larger, two-artist initiative.

A news conference dedicating both his mural and the artist’s Oneida Trevino work in the mall is in the works, though the date is currently to be determined.

“I really hope that this will please the public, and that they will feel and appreciate the amount of effort I gave,” Lozano said.

To learn more about Lozano and his art, visit his Instagram page @ruben27arts.

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