79R8619 MAM-D

By:  Chavez                                                       H.R. No. 812


R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, A gifted artist, educator, and civic leader, Lupe Casillas-Lowenberg of El Paso has made an indelible impact on the creative vitality of her West Texas city; and WHEREAS, Ms. Casillas-Lowenberg is a talented muralist who has taught reading, special education, and the visual arts in El Paso and New Mexico since 1966; her public art murals include "A Myriad of Faces," "A Celebration of Women and Children," and "Our Lady of Guadalupe and Juan Diego in Our Community"; and WHEREAS, Currently, she serves as the program director and gallery curator of La Galeria de la Mision de Senecu, sponsored by the Ysleta Independent School District department of fine arts and located at the Student Entrepreneur Center; in the gallery, she designs and implements art education for students, parents, teachers, and the community in a multicultural environment; and WHEREAS, Ms. Casillas-Lowenberg earned her bachelor's degree in art education from The University of Texas at El Paso and her master's degree in human resources, art, and art therapy from Webster University; in addition to receiving a Texas teacher's certificate for special education, she was trained in museum and gallery education through the National Association of Art Education; her studio skills were honed when she studied muralism at the University of Guadalajara and took private sculpture classes with Militon Salas; and WHEREAS, This esteemed educator and artist has received the Hispanos Triunfadores Award for Art and has been inducted into the El Paso Commission for Women Hall of Fame; she has also been recognized by Leadership El Paso and National Hispanic Leadership for Youth for her mentorship of women and youth in the arts; and WHEREAS, Ms. Casillas-Lowenberg's commitment to the arts includes membership on the City of El Paso Public Arts Commission, the El Paso Museum of Art Advisory Board, and the State Advisory Board of VSA of Texas; she has been justly selected to participate in the National Institute of Education for Mexicans in the Exterior in Mexico City; and WHEREAS, Lupe Casillas-Lowenberg is truly an inspiration, both as a working artist and as an educator; her civic engagement and professional career are dedicated to her beloved city of El Paso, which continues to flourish under her artistic wing; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas Legislature hereby commend Lupe Casillas-Lowenberg for her civic, educational, and artistic contributions and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued success and achievement; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Ms. Casillas-Lowenberg as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.