September 25, 2023
Delta College has relocated "Monumento a la Raza," created by former art student David Torrez, a pioneer of Chicano art in the Midwest.
Initially installed in the college’s courtyard, the concrete “stelae” – an upright
inscribed concrete slab – was relocated to the east side of the main campus near the
entrance of J Wing for open display.
On September 20, 1989, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Torrez, a Saginaw
native, presented Delta College with the hand-carved 5-foot-tall Mayan monolith in
tribute to his Mexican heritage. Covered in carved images of maize, warrior kings,
eagles, serpent boats, musical instruments and seashells with dates engraved on the
side, each one tells a story.
“As far as I know, the work is a one-of-a-kind anywhere. The stelae itself dates back
thousands of years. It was used as a historical marker in front of Mayan temples,
recording every 10 to 20 years of history,” Torrez told The Saginaw News at the time.
Dr. John E. Vargas, D.O., his family and members of the Hispanic community commissioned
the stelae that Conce (Sam) and Carmen Olvera dedicated in memory of their son Luis.
Lisa Sebbe, the oldest of Torrez’s three children, recalled watching her father carve
“Monumento a la Raza,” which translates to “Monument to the Race,” out of Styrofoam,
rubber molding, and cement.
“As a kid, I remember him talking through his process, explaining that he did deeper
cuts because he needed to make the concrete show,” Sebbe said.
Mary Ellen Torrez, sister of the artist and former Delta College staff member present
during the installation ceremony, credited the muse of his lifelong creative expression
as their father.
“Our parents moved here from Mexico, but our dad instilled in us a lot about our culture,”
she said. “David loved the ancient history of Mexico and the Mayans. He dedicated
most of his drawings or murals to that.”
“Monumento a la Raza” is now part of the Delta Sculpture Walk, a free outdoor collection
of works showcasing multiple styles and media by various artists. Visitors and students
can enjoy the works of art around campus 365 days a year – without needing an appointment.
For a map and information about each sculpture, visit www.delta.edu/sculpturewalk.
By Ashley Terrell, Writer