With the murals of the Enrique Díaz de León Auditorium providing a spectacular backdrop, Mexican diplomat and lecturer Gregorio Luke presented his lecture, “Orozco, the power of truth” about the life and work of José Clemente Orozco on December 1. The presentation was sponsored by the UDG Center of Arts, Architecture & Design (CUAAD) and the University of Guadalajara at Los Angeles (UDGLA), the UDG program which aims to promote, through its educational, artistic and cultural services, the heritage of the Mexican and Mexican-American community in Los Angeles.

Luke, who had arrived from Los Angeles, began by explaining that the Mexican community living in this American city is going through difficult times due to “the push for immigration reform” as well as the economic crisis that has affected the building industry, which employs a high number of Mexican immigrants. In light of such circumstances, he said the presence of UDGLA in Los Angeles was a “true sign of hope."

He reminded the audience that this UDG initiative has brought figures such as Carlos Fuentes and Carlos Monsivais to California’s Mexican community through conferences which have been free and open to the public. "The hope of continuing this inter-community relationship has brought contentment to Mexicans," he said, adding that UDGLA is “making a beautiful and generous contribution which will put us in closer contact with our homeland.”

The expert in Mexican art also spoke about the life of Orozco, who hailed from Zapotlán el Grande (now Ciudad Guzmán), his artistic career and works. Luke said that the murals on the Enrique Díaz de León Auditorium’s dome were representative of Orozco’s work. He also claimed that Orozco, unlike many other artists, is indeed a profit in his own country since his murals, especially those in Guadalajara, have been properly preserved, restored and lighted.

Luke, who showed great passion for the subject of his lecture, said that his objective was not to cover all of Orozco’s work but to encourage the audience and others to go and see the Mexican muralist’s art and appreciate it from a fresh perspective.

In particular, he emphasized Orozco’s keen eye and love of truth, qualities which led him to criticize all sectors of society. Orozco, in contrast to other muralists of his time, chronicled all facets of the revolution. In other words, his works not only depict the heroic aspects of revolutionaries, but also their acts of cruelty and torture, with great emphasis on the horrors of war.

He affirmed that, given resurgence of racism and religious fanaticism in many countries around the world, Orozco’s ideas are more valid today than they have ever been. He encouraged the audience to look up at the Auditorium dome and re-think Orozco’s work - to see the muralist as an artist who sought to express different points of view and defend reason, science and freedom over the darkness of ignorance and fanaticism.

After the lecture, CUAAD rector Mario Alberto Orozco Abundis and UDGLA Cultural Affairs Coordinator Elisa Ramírez presented Luke with two special gifts in appreciation for his work to promote Mexican culture: a jersey from the University of Guadalajara’s soccer team, and a book about Orozco’s works by Sofía Anaya Wittman.

Luke is a current member of the Advisory Council of the Institute for Mexicans Abroad. He has also been Director of the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, CA, Mexican Consul for Cultural Affairs in LA, Deputy Director of the Mexican Cultural Institute in Washington, DC and First Secretary of the Mexican Embassy in Washington, DC.