A Famous Mexican Sculptor Wanted Students to Stumble Upon His Art. At RRCC, They Will.

When students walk through the front door of Red Rocks Community College’s Lakewood campus over the next few months, they’ll be greeted just inside by 21 stunning sculptures.  

Some feature recognizable historical faces. All invite a closer look.

The artist, Mexican sculptor José Sacal wanted students to be able to “stumble” upon his art pieces during a typical day. That’s what his widow, Sylvia Sacal, told the community during an opening reception at RRCC last week.  

For Red Rocks Community College, art has long been a priority. Art pieces from students, former students and community members line all the major hallways. Art programs are thriving and feature some unique degree options including in theater and fine woodworking. Students sell their work on campus during big events. Plus, the Lakewood campus includes an art gallery that hosts many exhibits throughout the year. Currently, the gallery is hosting a quilt exhibit. Next month, 36 Latinx community artists will showcase their work during a Hispanic Heritage Month exhibit.

Now, the Sacal exhibit is front and center in the main lobby.

Dr. Wendy Lubin, one of the RRCC leaders who helped organize the exhibit, thought the opportunity was a great way to expose students to the artwork of a famous Latino artist. As an emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution, she leads multiple efforts to increase programming and support for students of color.

“It’s a way of celebrating Mexican and Latino culture on campus,” she said. “Sacal’s work can encourage conversation and reflection.”

Sacal’s work is featured around the globe. He was the first Mexican to have a permanent art installation in China.  

The sculptures on display at RRCC are from a collection of Sacal’s work where he focused on depicting historical icons and artwork in his own abstract way.

During the opening reception for the exhibit, Gregorio Luke, a renowned expert on Mexican culture and art, who was also a friend of Sacal, traveled to Colorado to speak about Sacal’s work.

Dozens of community members and RRCC employees attended and learned more of what went into various pieces.

Gregorio said Sacal’s abstract lens goes back to his upbringing in Mexico. Facing opposition to focus on art, he went to medical school for a time, and worked on cadavers, studying human bodies and shapes. Later, he spent some time visiting patients at a psychiatric facility, and Luke said that Sacal was struck by how human faces were changed when they were uninhibited.  

Later, his wife’s family introduced him to the wedding dress business where Sacal learned about fabrics, design and how to transform European trends into dresses for his Mexican clients.  

All of those experiences contributed to his abstract lens that he used to depict historical figures in different ways.

For Ghandi, Luke said that Sacal wanted to be able to depict that Ghandi was a flexible but also strong person. He depicted him with elephant feet, representing the strength and endurance of elephants, but the legs lead into Ghandi’s body bending backwards and looking at the observer.

“We want students to get to know these characters, to imagine them, to study them,” Gregorio said. “Even to take selfies with them.”

The sculptures will be on display at the RRCC Lakewood campus through Nov. 3. The exhibit is open to the public during regular campus hours.