Green Hope Project, along with partners at Franklin Mountain Investments (FMI) and the Paso del Norte Community Foundation (PdNCF), is thrilled to announce that world-renowned artist Bordalo II will be coming to El Paso to install a much anticipated 64-foot mountain lion mural on the west wall of the ONE San Jacinto Plaza building in Downtown El Paso this August.  This is the first installation for Bordalo II in Texas and there are fewer than fifteen in the United States. 

“This has been years in the making and we are elated that Bordalo II is finally able to come to El Paso,” said Candace Printz, President of Green Hope Project. “He will actually take our trash and use recycled materials found right here in our desert to create a beautiful mural. I guarantee a public art project like you have never seen before.” 

Years ago, Printz and her students at El Dorado High School began working on environmental education initiatives, including a “Trash to Treasure” recycled material annual art competition, which became high-profile, drawing attention from Chelsea Clinton and Bordalo II himself. Bordalo II, who is from Lisbon, Portugal, is now curating a large-scale mountain lion for El Paso, which will become part of his series titled Big Trash Animals. 

“We are so pleased to see this project come to life in Downtown El Paso. Bordalo II is an amazing muralist and his impact on our community is going to be tremendous,” said Paul L. Foster, owner of Franklin Mountain Investments, which owns ONE San Jacinto Plaza. 

“Our growing collection of murals adds to our Downtown character, personality, culture, and unique identity. This amazing work of art will be viewed by countless El Pasoans and visitors with its placement near San Jacinto Plaza and along our historic Streetcar route. The Downtown Management District is proud to be a partner in this effort and support positive expression in the form of murals in Downtown El Paso,” said Joe Gudenrath, Executive Director, El Paso Downtown Management District. 

The founding members of Green Hope Project, many of whom have already graduated from college, have worked diligently through arts and education partnerships over the years to leverage their resources and promote their programs. Surviving the difficulties of COVID, online schooling, social distancing, and now the sky-high cost of construction materials, the current students of Green Hope Project continue to seek additional sponsors and in-kind donations to keep their efforts in motion. The upcoming visit from Bordalo II depends on help from community support. To donate, please click here. A sponsor packet can be found here. 

“The Paso del Norte Community Foundation is honored to partner with Green Hope Project and the remarkable high school students who envisioned a giant recycled art mural by world-renowned Bordalo II for our region. We are grateful to Franklin Mountain Investments, City Environmental Services, and Museums and Cultural Affairs Departments, and the Downtown Management District for their partnership to make the vision a reality,” said Tracy J. Yellen, Chief Executive Officer at Paso del Norte Community Foundation. “As a fund of the PdNCF, Green Hope Project invites individuals, corporations, and foundations to consider a gift to this worthwhile project. Tax-deductible contributions will support the installation and ongoing maintenance of the mural.” 

Sponsors who have already committed to Green Hope Project are: 

BARCO El Paso 

City of El Paso Environmental Services Department 

City of El Paso Museum & Cultural Affairs Department 

Downtown Management District 

El Paso Area Teachers Federal Credit Union 

El Paso Disposal 

El Paso Electric 

Franklin Mountain Investments 

Frontera Land Alliance 

Las Artistas 

Mithoff Burton Partners 

National Society of High School Scholars 

Paso del Norte Community Foundation 

Scott Hulse, PC 

Sierra Vista Growers 

Sirrealistic Productions 

ZoOM Design 

Unique events are being planned by Green Hope Project and community partners as the mountain lion reveals itself during installation in mid-August. A construction camera should be live by August 1st, so the public will be able to follow the actual process through the week of August 14th. “We expect that this project will create interest and inspiration for months to come, and we look forward to engaging with locals through community workshops, as well as the global arena, as we further awareness through conservation and environmental education efforts,” added Printz. 

Green Hope Project was founded by Candace Printz, a high school art teacher, in 2019. It was born out of the desire to create an extension of what her high school environmental/art club, It's Your World Project, began in 2014. The club focuses include environmentalism, the arts, and education and its members believe that they can make a positive change by uniting their efforts, identifying the problems that face the world today, and persisting until they come up with unique solutions. Board members are comprised of Printz's former high school students, community members, educators, and local business owners, all of whom have a passion for education and making the city, and by default, the world a better place to live. Green Hope Project is a fund of the Paso del Norte Community Foundation. For more information, visit www.greenhopeproject.org/home. 

Franklin Mountain Investments is a diversified investment company owned by Paul L. Foster. The company has investments in numerous businesses, including Energy, Private Equity, Real Estate, Construction, Aviation, Sports, Restaurants, Medical Devices, and more. For more information, visit www.wnr.com. 

Content provided by: Alix Duchouquette, Mithoff Burton Partners