Sprawling New Mural Honors Civil-Rights Leader During Hispanic Heritage Month

Sprawling New Mural Honors Civil-Rights Leader During Hispanic Heritage Month

Artist Lemus at work

The latest project from UP Art Studio, a Houston-based consulting firm that curates and implements public art to cultivate civic pride, will be unveiled tomorrow in the Greater Northside District. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the new 3,000-square-foot mural, created by Gelson Lemus (aka w3r3on3), honors the late Judge Alfred J. Hernandez.


Hernandez, a child of migrant farm workers from Mexico, spent his career advocating for Latinx citizens before passing in 2010 at age 93. He was a civil rights leader, the first Hispanic judge in Harris County and a three-term president of LULAC. The tunnel on North Main Street was named after him in 1997, and now, Lemus — also an immigrant who has found opportunity in Houston — has painted murals on each side of the Hernandez Tunnel's south entrance.

"The tunnel has been converted into a beautiful landmark that honors our father and his contributions to the betterment of the Hispanic community and creates a notable gateway to the Near Northside," said the judge's son, Alfred J. Hernandez, Jr., in a statement.

Images and motifs depicted include plumeria flowers (Hernandez's favorite), a portrait of the judge, and paintings of newspaper clippings featuring headlines of civil rights breakthroughs. The project has been in the works since 2015, and to celebrate its completion, UP Art Studio and Lemus will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 500 North Main St. tomorrow at 10am.

People + Places
The Latest in Anti-Aging Tech Now Available in River Oaks

Dr. Edward Lee and Nuveau

DR. EDWARD LEE believes in bringing the most advance treatment options to his patients at Nuveau. At the River Oaks practice, he performs the latest nonsurgical rejuvenation procedures, such as BOTOX and fillers, various laser treatments, and other nonsurgical treatmetns such as CoolSculpting and EmSculpt. He also does facelifts, upper and lower blepharoplasty, brow lift, and rhinoplasty for facial rejuvenation. Plus, he can achieve natural results with breast augmentation and breast lift surgery, as well as body contouring, such as liposuction, abdominoplasty, Brazilian butt lift and mommy makeovers.

Keep ReadingShow less

Lauren Anderson and Fady Armanious

EVER A GLAMOROUS event, the Houston Ballet's annual black-tie ball was a glimmering affair at the Wortham, where 500 guests joined event chairs Kristy and Chris Bradshaw and Melissa Juneau.

Keep ReadingShow less
Art + Entertainment

Gayla Gardner, Jacquie Baly and Julie Baker Finck

THE DOCTOR IS in! One of Houston’s most engaged civic leaders, Jacquie Baly, has a new title after earning her Doctorate in Education and Organizational Change & Leadership from USC. And some of the city’s heavy hitters turned up for a swanky reception at Tony’s to congratulate her. “Education and community leadership go hand in hand,” said Dr. Baly. “This honor fuels my continued mission to create meaningful change.”

And they weren’t alone in their admiration. Both the City of Houston and the State of Texas declared the day of the to-do “Dr. Jacquie Baly Day,” complete with official proclamations.

Keep ReadingShow less
Style+Culture