Campus artwork follows 'The Trail of the Industrial Revolution'

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The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences hosted a ribbon-cutting for an eye-catching mural in Willard-DiLoreto Hall on Oct. 9. More than 50 friends and supporters of the artist, Dr. Thomas Zaccheo, filled the front entryway of the building, where the piece is installed.

The artwork, titled “The Trail of the Industrial Revolution,” speaks to the environmental cost of progress after the Industrial Revolution, which saw a decline in hand-made goods as machines learned to create them faster and for a lower cost. 

“This led to the excessive use of natural resources and the disposal of countless used products, often thrown away rather than repaired until they were beyond use,” Zaccheo explains.

The mixed-media mural depicts a male figure made of metal, fitted with gears, running toward an image of a woodland. Behind him is a trail of found waste and garbage, including wrappers; electronics; and other household items.

“My goal in creating this work was to spark action and discussion about a major problem in the United States and around the world — we are drowning in our own trash,” Zaccheo says. “In the piece, I attempted to contrast the beauty of the natural world we entered into with the production of massive amounts of municipal solid waste we left in our trail.”

A QR code posted alongside the piece invites viewers to learn more about the mural’s conception and impact. 

Zaccheo created “The Trail of the Industrial Revolution” with Central students, who brought in bits of their own trash to add to the mural, which they weighed and separated into components to calculate the cost of its transport out of Connecticut, which no longer houses trash-to-energy plants or municipal dump sites.

Zaccheo, 92, is a retired gastroenterologist who initially pursued sculpture and ceramics Ƶ as a way to relax off duty. His hobby soon became a passion, and he has logged more than 100 hours of coursework Ƶ. When he retired from his medical practice, Zaccheo was ready to embark on a second career as an artist.

In her remarks at the ribbon-cutting, President Zulma R. Toro noted, “Dr. Zaccheo’s journey reminds us how education and creativity can bring people together, build community, and enrich all our lives. We are proud to add his vision to our campus and grateful for the conversations it will spark for years to come.”

To date, Zaccheo’s work has been exhibited in the New Britain Museum of Art; the Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington; the Hudson Valley Museum of Contemporary Art in Peekskill, N.Y.; and, of course, Central, which hosted a 177-piece retrospective exhibit of his work in 2024.

In appreciation for the university courses and faculty mentorship that have enabled him to hone his craft over the last decade, Zaccheo donated all proceeds from the retrospective — some $8,700 — to the ceramics/sculpture program.

Cutting the ribbon to "Trail of the Industrial Revolution"

Dr. Thomas Zaccheo cuts the ribbon at the official opening for his art installation Ƶ as Dr. Gil Gigliotti, dean of CLASS, and President Toro stand by to assist. (Photo by Zach Cunningham)