Tom Lea Day

The celebration of this noted Texas artist is in conjunction with the annual Tom Lea Month organized by the Tom Lea Institute in El Paso, Texas. The mural ‘Stampede’ on the wall of the Odessa post office was painted by Tom Lea in 1940.

Events will begin at 2:00 p.m. at the downtown post office located at 200 North Texas Avenue. Local historian and teacher Trudy Lewis will give a brief talk about the history of Odessa as portrayed in the mural. Following her talk, participants will convene at 2:45 p.m. in the Rodman Auditorium at the Ellen Noël Art Museum. Adair Margo, president of the Tom Lea Institute will talk about Tom Lea as an artist, writer and historian. She will discuss the ‘Stampede’ mural in particular and its importance to the art and history of Odessa.

Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, Tom Lea (July 11, 1907—January 29, 2001) was a painter, illustrator, muralist, war correspondent, writer and commercial artist. The bulk of his art and literary works were about Texas, north-central Mexico, and his World War II experience in the South Pacific and Asia. Two of his most popular novels, The Brave Bulls and The Wonderful Country, are classics of southwestern American literature.

Other events and happenings surrounding Tom Lea Month will take place at Harry Ransom Center, Austin, Texas; The Gage Hotel, Marathon, Texas; various locations in El Paso, Texas; New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico; Ciudad Juárez and Janos, Chihuahua, Mexico. These will occur on various dates in October. For a full listing of events go to www.tomlea.net