Antonio Tobias "Toby" Mendez's Sculpture of Theodore Roosevelt is Installed
After in-depth research and reading about the former president, SAIC alum Antonio Tobias “Toby” Mendez (BFA 1988) created and completed a seven-and-a-half-foot bronze, monumental sculpture of Theodore Roosevelt, now installed on the west lawn of the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site in Buffalo, New York. Mendez, in his own words in the interview with the Buffalo News says, “This is the first official portrait that I’ve done of a president.”
A prolific sculptor throughout the past 30 years, Mendez has also created sculptures of Ghandi in Long Island, New York, Thurgood Mashall in Annappolis, Maryland, and a number of sports sculptures outside of the Boston Red Sox's Fenway Park and Baltimore Orioles's Camden Yards.
As an interesting sidenote, Mendez's father, Tony, was an ex-CIA agent whose role in the Iranian hostage crisis was the basis of the film Argo.
Image from the Buffalo News
In celebration of alum Georgia O’Keeffe: My New Yorks opening current SAIC students were invited to submit artworks inspired by O’keeffe and the city of Chicago.
An image from the exhibition opening of “My Chicagos: SAIC Students Honor Georgia O’Keeffe.”