FORMER BROWNSVILLE ARTIST MARK CLARK SHARES HIS THOUGHTS ON BROWNSVILLE ART SCENE AND HIS MURAL DREAM

Recently, we had a brief exchange with artist Mark Clark, former owner of the Galleria 409 on East 13th Street in Brownsville.  

Clark shared his thoughts on the Brownsville art scene, the Brownsville Historical Commission and his dream of a mural or set of murals in downtown Brownsville.

First of all, Clark's observations about the Brownsville art scene:

"Brownsville/Matamoros (the two halves of this border city are inseparable, despite the best efforts of state and federal governments), is an incredibly fertile place for art and music to thrive. 

It is the place where the two tectonic plates of Hispanic/Indigenous and Anglo/American culture grind together. 

Mexico City and Dallas seem equidistant, and Brownsville resembles no other city in Texas- or even in Cameron County. 

My art has been shaped and greatly improved by the dozen years i lived in this city. 

Though i arrived late, i will always consider Brownsville my home town.

Weren't you on the Brownsville Historical Commission?

"Yes. I used to be on the historical commission. Larry Lof was the only other member who put his money where is mouth was. 

The other guys would Mickey Mouse everybody about color schemes and signage then rubber stamp any fucking demolition permit that crossed the table.

'Well, he paid good money for that building, he can tear it down if he wants to." 

I told them i had to quit because my blood pressure was too high and that kind of shit was going to kill me.

I understand you sold the Galleria 409?

"I sold the building to John Edge and his wife, who is a Fruia. They have the Cadillac dealership.  

Larry Holzman could probably tell you who owns it now. 

Gene Fernandez is doing the restoration. It looks like he is using the 1916 photo I left for the Edges as his guide. 

He took off both balconies and had replaced one with metal and wood. 

The other one on the 407 side had wooden pillars and wood railing. The middle window there was originally a door that got turned into a window that got bricked up during the 1942 modernization. 

I wonder if Gene is going to add the two feet of brick with the dental pattern to the 409 side. It matched the 400 building across the street. 

He also needs to take off two feet of brick on the 407 side.  

407 was originally Henry Miller, the hotel keeper's home.  

John Webb's drugstore was on the 409 side. Webb died in 1855 and left his kid and the drug business to Miller, who got blown through a brick wall in a gunpowder explosion on the opposite corner of the same block. 

Miller survived, but couldn't make the half block walk to his hotel every day, so he built an apartment in the hotel and moved.  

After that, I'm told the building became a bar and a brothel, a cotton brokerage, car radiator repair joint, dry goods, customs broker then a travel agency." 

Perhaps, you've heard about the murals Brownsville is placing downtown?

"I used to dream of a mural project for Brownsville s alleys that would depict its history. 

The alley between Levee and Elizabeth would feature skeletons in combat from the Indian wars up to the Mexican Revolution. 

Between Elizabeth and Washington devils would demonstrate the local vices and between Washington and Adams angels would depict the virtuous acts of Cameron County history. 

It would be a drive through art show with a history lesson.

Oh, BTW, if you find out who the current owner of the Galleria 409 is, send me a text.  I'd like to know."