EL PASO (October 27, 2009)--A concrete embankment serves as a canvas for a new 200-foot-long mural of the rising sun in El Paso that’s composed of recycled marble tile remnants.

It was designed and erected by artist Roberto Salas and students and faculty associated with Land Arts of the American West.

The interdisciplinary field program is based at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.

Program founder Bill Gilbert, a UNM art professor, told the El Paso Times that he and his students camped out at the hillside neighborhood and spent a week erecting the mural.

The project was finished a few days ago.

Gilbert says educators try to show students "a whole bunch of ways to be an artist."

A date has not been set for dedication of the mural.