Tom Lea: \u2018Brushstrokes from the Frontlines of WWII\u2019<\/p>\n
An opening reception for a new exhibition exploring the World War II artwork of El Paso-born artist Tom Lea, featuring 36 framed prints created while he served as LIFE magazine\u2019s first accredited war artist-correspondent. The exhibit includes original sketchbooks and materials from Lea\u2019s wartime service and examines his work across four major theaters of war.<\/p>\n
When: 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Jan. 24<\/p>\n
Where: Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens, 500 W. University Ave.<\/p>\n
Cost: Free<\/p>\n
Information: tomlea.com<\/a><\/p>\n Outdoor Cooking 101:\u00a0<\/p>\n A hands-on workshop focused on campfire cooking with a Dutch oven, offering participants an opportunity to practice outdoor cooking techniques at Franklin Mountains State Park. Space is limited and advance registration is required.<\/p>\n When: 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Jan. 24<\/p>\n Where: Franklin Mountains State Park, Visitor Center, 2900 Tom Mays Access Road<\/p>\n Cost: $8 (ages 13 and older); $3 with Texas State Park Pass; $1 (ages 5-12)<\/p>\n Information: tpwd.texas.gov<\/a><\/p>\n Bob Snead Street Dedication Ceremony<\/p>\n El Paso County will formally recognize Robert \u201cBob\u201d Snead \u2014 a decorated combat aviator, Western artist, actor and historian of the Buffalo Soldiers \u2014 with a public street dedication ceremony honoring his decades-long impact on the community.<\/p>\n \u2018New Year, New Trees\u2019 Community Planting<\/p>\n El Paso County Parks and Recreation is launching its 2026 \u201cNew Year, New Trees\u201d initiative with community planting events aimed at expanding shade and green space across the county. Volunteers are being invited to help plant trees at sites throughout the county, starting with Tornillo Trail in Coyote Park, part of a broader push that aligns with similar efforts such as the city of El Paso\u2019s 915 Tree Keepers program.<\/p>\n Coming Up<\/p>\n \u2018La Boh\u00e8me\u2019 with El Paso Opera<\/p>\n Giacomo Puccini\u2019s opera will be presented in a reimagined production at St. Rogers Depot, with the venue transformed into a theatrical space for a limited engagement. The 2026 staging features five performances, including a Sunday matinee, with expanded seating options and tiered ticket pricing.<\/p>\n When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, with additional performances through Feb. 7<\/p>\n Where: St. Rogers Depot, 420 N. Campbell St.<\/p>\n Cost: Varies<\/p>\n Information: epopera.org<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018The Edge is a Center\u2019 at Rubin Center gallery<\/p>\n A group exhibition dubbed \u201cThe Edge is a Center\u201d at the Stanlee and Gerald Rubin Center for the Visual Arts explores contemporary graphic design through the work of University of Texas at El Paso alumni whose practices span murals, packaging, branding and other forms. The exhibition examines how designers shaped by life along the U.S.-Mexico border navigate and redefine boundaries across cultures, disciplines and media.<\/p>\n When: Opening reception, 5-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29. Exhibit closes April 11<\/p>\n Curator walkthrough: Noon-1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, led by guest curator Ana Gabriela Becerra and senior curator Andres Payan Estrada<\/p>\n Where: Stanlee and Gerald Rubin Center for the Visual Arts, 720 Dawson Road<\/p>\n Cost: Free<\/p>\n Information: utep.edu<\/a><\/p>\n \u201840 Years in El Paso\u2019: Tom Lea Collection Exhibit<\/p>\n The Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park will unveil Tom Lea\u2019s \u201cW.W. Mills: 40 Years in El Paso\u201d with an opening reception celebrating the hotel\u2019s 95th anniversary. The exhibit features 22 illustrations by Tom Lea along with the original book, presented in partnership with the Tom Lea Institute. Wine and light refreshments will be served, with remarks scheduled for 5:30 p.m.<\/p>\n When: 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29<\/p>\n Where: Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park, 106 W. Mills Ave.<\/p>\n Cost: Free<\/p>\n Information: tomlea.com<\/a><\/p>\n Peak Challenge: North Franklin Peak<\/p>\n A strenuous, guided hike that takes participants from the West Cottonwood Springs trailhead along a steep, rocky ridgeline to North Franklin Peak, the highest point in Franklin Mountains State Park, offering 360-degree views of El Paso, New Mexico and Mexico. Organizers note the roughly 8-mile trek is physically demanding and requires adequate footwear and water.<\/p>\n When: 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1<\/p>\n Where: West Cottonwood Springs Trailhead, Franklin Mountains State Park, 2900 Tom Mays Access Road<\/p>\n Cost: $5 (ages 13 and older); free for Texas State Park Pass holders and children 5-12<\/p>\n Information: 915-444-9100<\/p>\n Mark Your Calendar<\/p>\n 3rd Annual Black History Tour<\/p>\n A daylong community tour highlighting the lives and legacies of prominent Black historical figures connected to El Paso, including Estine Davis, Henry O. Flipper and Dr. Lawrence Nixon. The event is organized by the McCall Neighborhood Center and the Eastside-Central Coalition.<\/p>\n When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7<\/p>\n Where: Tour meets at McCall Neighborhood Center, 3231 Wyoming Ave.<\/p>\n Cost: Free<\/p>\n Information: mccallcenter.org<\/a><\/p>\n 2026 El Paso Black Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Gala<\/p>\n The El Paso Black Hall of Fame will host its second annual induction ceremony honoring 15 individuals and one organization for community impact, professional achievement and sustained contributions to the region. The event will also recognize legacy leaders posthumously, with El Paso\u2019s first Black fire chief, Jonathan P. Killings, receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award.<\/p>\n When: 6-9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 (doors open 5:30 p.m.)<\/p>\n Where: Starlight Event Center, 6650 Continental Drive<\/p>\n Cost: $75 early bird; $100 after Dec. 31 (tables available)<\/p>\n Information: blackhof.com<\/a><\/p>\n The Art and Flavor of Desert Foods at the MACC<\/p>\n A hands-on community workshop exploring the region\u2019s food traditions as part of the exhibition Les Sembrantes (The Sowers). Participants will learn about desert foodways through guided cooking activities led by local food practitioners, with opportunities to taste, learn and engage with the culinary heritage of the Chihuahuan Desert. The program is presented in collaboration with the Rubin Center for the Visual Arts and the El Paso Mexican American Cultural Center.<\/p>\n When: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026<\/p>\n Where: Mexican American Cultural Center, 201 E. Franklin Ave.<\/p>\n Cost: Free<\/p>\n Information: utep.edu<\/a><\/p>\n Change Makers 2026: Women in the Arts<\/p>\n The annual Women\u2019s History Month celebration presented by Progress321 and El Paso Matters this year will honor women whose creative work or advocacy has shaped the arts across the El Paso borderland, including artists, musicians, writers, performers, filmmakers, designers and arts supporters. Nominations for Change Makers 2026<\/a> are open through Friday, Feb. 21.<\/p>\n When: Thursday, March 26<\/p>\n Where: Mexican American Cultural Center, 201 E. Franklin Ave.<\/p>\n Cost: To be announced<\/p>\n Information: El Paso Matters Events\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n BTS at Sun Bowl Stadium<\/p>\n Global K-pop superstars BTS will make their first appearance in El Paso<\/a> as part of their 2026 world tour, performing two nights at Sun Bowl Stadium. The shows mark the group\u2019s return to the stage following a multi-year hiatus while members completed mandatory military service in South Korea.<\/p>\n When: Saturday-Sunday, May 2-3<\/p>\n Where: Sun Bowl Stadium, 2701 Sun Bowl Drive<\/p>\n Cost: Ticket prices to be announced<\/p>\n Information: Presale begins 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22; general sale begins 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at livenation.com<\/a><\/p>\n RelatedEl Paso events: Locos Live, DA candidate forum, Winefest, more LISTEN: EL PASO MATTERS PODCAST<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s a roundup of some culture and civic events in the borderland in the coming week. EPSO\u2019s \u2018Majestic…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":131958,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[4621,138,140,139,64],"class_list":["post-131957","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-el-paso","tag-culture","tag-el-paso","tag-el-paso-headlines","tag-el-paso-news","tag-events"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131957","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=131957"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131957\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/131958"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=131957"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=131957"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=131957"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769005750_4_Franklin-Mountains-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/BobSnead2.jpg\")
Bob Snead was one of El Paso\u2019s best-known artists of the 1980s and \u201990s. (Photo courtesy of Snead family)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769005751_646_ep_opera.jpg\")
El Paso Opera\u2019s 2025 \u201cEncores and Overtures\u201d performance at the Elmont Special Event Center. (Courtesy El Paso Opera)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Tom-Lea-Illustration.jpg\")
\u201cEarly Citizens,\u201d and illustration by renowned El Paso artist Tom Lea, is among the works featured in William W. Mills\u2019 \u201cForty Years at El Paso, 1858-1898.\u201d (Courtesy Tom Lea Institute)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Locomotive-Ozzy-e1729016226290.jpg\")
<\/a>DateOctober 16, 2024El Paso events: Meet El Paso Matters journalists, take in live opera, symphony performances![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Headline-Happy-Hour-1200x675-1.png\")
<\/a>DateJanuary 22, 2025Earth Day celebrations, Full Moon Fiesta, El Paso Symphony Orchestra concert among El Paso events this week![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ESD-San-Paulo-scaled-e1713295340378.jpg\")
<\/a>DateApril 17, 2024<\/p>\n