“BUTTERFLIES AND ZEBRAS, AND MOONBEAMS AND FAIRY TALES.THAT'S ALL SHE THINKS ABOUT. RIDING WITH THE WIND." LITTTLE WING LYRICS BY JIMI HENDRIX

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

Surrounded by 1850s-early 1900s circa buildings in front of it (Steadman building) and on all its sides, this psychedelic mural that harks back to the late LSD-dropping 1960s or early 1970's jars the senses. Butterflies, humming birds, eyes peering out from the center of flowers, and trippy figures surely convey a sense of downtown Brownsville. Or does it?  

Mexican City artist Sofia Castaneda – who'll pocket a cool $20,000 like Los Angeles muralist Ted Kelly – said her murals "brought people together."

Not this one – or come to think of, neither did Kelly's. 

Those of us who survived the 70s when Purple Haze, Orange Sunshine and Blotter acid were popped like aspirins with a decidedly out-of-this-world effect might experience flashbacks upon seeing the finished product. 

But it won't trigger flashbacks of the conjuntos, Charro Days, the Mexican Revolution next door that spilled into Brownsville, the beginning of the Chisholm Trail, Fort Brown, or the cattle and horses of the border's Mexican-American and Anglo agrarian and ranch culture and economy upon which local history is based.

Nowhere. They don't know us or the border culture. How can they?

This pseudo psychobabble can't hide the utter disconnect between these images of us by outsiders like the artists from L.A. and Mexico D.F. Up to now, Mayor Juan "Trey" Mendez hasn't said who decided on these modern deco and geometric-psycho  murals to grace the walls of buildings in the historical district. Was it former Community and Government Affairs director Ramiro Gonzalez and their sycophants? Or was it just cosmopolitan wannabe Ramiro? You know, Austin-on-the-Rio Grande.

SpaceX billionaire Elon Musk – through his Musk Foundation – plunked down $77,000 to "beautify" downtown Brownsville. Instead, once done here, these artists will – like the monarch butterflies on the latest creation – flit out of town cash in hand.

Come to think of it, that does reflect the nature of this Mendez Administration. 

A four-way hit anyone? It'll knock your socks off!