Texas Border Business
McALLEN, Texas – Keep McAllen Beautiful (KMB), together with the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) proudly unveiled the City of McAllen’s newest work of art, a 408-foot mural located on an irrigation wall at the intersection of Pecan Blvd. and 2nd St.
The mural was painted with an agreement from TxDOT’s “Don’t Mess with Texas®” campaign, which is the signature initiative of their litter prevention program to help educate the public regarding the battle against litter. This battle is being fought by volunteers every day ranging from students to the elderly in a bid to keep Texas litter-free.
Earlier this year, KMB conducted an extensive search for a local mural artist with a call for artist submissions. The much larger than normal artwork and would require a very experienced artist to be able to facilitate the project and incorporate the spirit of “Don’t mess with Texas®” as well as the logo or wording.
The winning submission was entered by Oneida Trevino, who was selected by the Public Art Committee and also by TxDOT representatives based on her rendition submitted, “Don’t Mess with Texas, ‘cause we’re watching!”
The selection committee thought it was ingenious that she incorporated both people and animals to illustrate that theme.
Trevino is an artist, muralist, and art educator. She received a Bachelor of Art from UTPA. She has over 16 years of experience as an educator and has been creating artwork all her life. Her artwork consists mainly of portraits of people and animals in the Rio Grande Valley, and she incorporates a variety of media from watercolors to acrylic to oils, spray paint and clay. Oneida also has been the featured artist for several beautifully painted irrigation pipes around town. She loves teaching art and working with the community to spread a love of art through classes, workshops and community-led public art.
The mural was partially funded through the Texas Department of Transportation’s Don’t Mess with Texas campaign. TxDOT granted exclusive licensure for the use of their trademark “Don’t Mess with Texas” logo. Approval was also granted by the Hidalgo County Irrigation District #2, as well as support from the City of McAllen.
Keep McAllen Beautiful is a non-profit organization and is affiliated with Keep Texas Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful, Inc., which is the nation’s largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. Keep McAllen Beautiful encourages all its residents and visitors to to take greater responsibility for improving our community’s environment. To learn more about KMB, visit www.keepmcallenbeautiful.org.
