“Modern Tribe” by Local Artist Luis L. Lopez Captures Diversity and Sense of Community

San Antonio, Texas—June 23, 2016--Community leaders joined officials from Metropolitan Methodist Hospital, a campus of Methodist Hospital, in unveiling the city’s newest piece of public art, “Modern Tribe,” during ceremonies at the hospital on June 23.

The sculpture, created by local artist Luis L. Lopez, will be a community landmark on the hospital campus at 1310 McCullough Avenue and Brooklyn Avenue.  Joining Greg Seiler, CEO of the hospital, and Lopez in the ceremony were City Councilman District 1 Robert Trevino, and State Representative District 119 Roland Gutierrez.

“With this sculpture, we celebrate the well-being of our community and the addition of a signature public art piece to our Tobin Hill neighborhood and to downtown San Antonio,” said Seiler.  “As downtown’s most comprehensive hospital we serve a diverse part of the city.   ‘Modern Tribe’ represents this diversity as well as an important sense of community.  Just as we work to heal our body, we see this work as nourishing the soul.”

Metropolitan Methodist Hospital has been working with community and civic leaders to enhance the neighborhood around the hospital.  “This sculpture reflects the collaboration that has been going on throughout the community as we all work together to make Tobin Hill a great place to live,” said Councilman Trevino.  “We appreciate the commitment that the hospital is making to the area and the investment, not only in our healthcare, but in quality of life and sense of community.”

The 30-foot high aluminum sculpture features circular shapes, traditionally symbols of wholeness and infinity, which are painted different colors to represent diversity.   The work will be lit at night to be seen from the distance.

“The towering presence will be a manifest of a healthy society that will be inclusive of the whole universal race,” said Lopez.  “It will serve to inspire and uplift the human psyche.”

Recognized for his abilities as a conceptual artist who focuses on projects with his unique blend of spontaneity, creativity and effectiveness, Lopez is known for La Casa Rosa, his art studio in Tobin Hill.  His work has been exhibited at art galleries throughout the United States and also can be found in private collections, institutions and universities. 

Lopez created the Tobin Hill Arts Alliance and initiated the second Friday “Art on the Hill” art walk in San Antonio. Under his supervision, more than 10 different locations and galleries are displaying art and sculptures from local artists.

About Metropolitan Methodist Hospital:

Metropolitan Methodist Hospital, a campus of Methodist Hospital, is a 330-bed hospital providing a complete range of health care services to Center City San Antonio and to the many neighborhoods and businesses that border its centralized location. Easy freeway access makes Metropolitan Methodist Hospital convenient for patients, visitors and physicians to access from all parts of the city. Metropolitan Methodist Hospital is home to the Metropolitan Methodist Hospital Women’s Pavilion, the only facility in downtown San Antonio completely dedicated to the health of women and their newborn babies. Metropolitan Methodist Hospital offers outstanding bariatric care, cardiac care, general and surgical care, neurosurgery, inpatient rehabilitation services, sleep disorder evaluation and the largest emergency department in downtown San Antonio. Metropolitan Methodist Hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission in stroke care and is designated as an accredited Chest Pain Center.  The Breast Cancer Center was the first Center in San Antonio to be accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) and the hospital is also the first Texas hospital to be awarded Gold Seal of Approval for sepsis quality measures by The Joint Commission.