Sixteen years in the making, El Mesteno (Mustang) rears up on its hind legs to greet travelers at Denver International Airport.  Nicknamed, “DIAblo” and “Blucifer” among others, the neon blue steed stands in a prominent position on a hill south of the main terminal on Pena Boulevard has not gone without controversy or tragedy.  Visible to those arriving and departing the airport, the glowing red eyes have conjured up other nicknames such as Satan's Stallion, and Denver's Devil Mustang.  "It is not my job to censor myself," artist Luis Jimenez once said. "An artist's job is to constantly test the boundaries."  And test the boundaries he did until his tragic end at the hands of this steed.

A Denver arts panel commissioned well known, although controversial, artist Luis Jiminez (July 30, 1940 - June 14, 2006) in 1992 to create a sculpture for the International Airport that would open in 1995.  $162,000 was paid upfront but the first (of many) deadlines was missed in 1994.  The city filed several lawsuits over the years and Jimenez countered sued (there was talk that the sculpture would be put inside the terminal which Jimenez did not like), but both parties would dropped their suits if the sculpture was finished.  Jimenez was having several health issues: his eyesight, suffering a heart attack, and his hands were starting to give him problems.  The last deadline for the artist was May 31 2006.  He missed the deadline, but was working hard to get the sculpture finished when tragedy struck.  A large piece of the sculpture was being moved with a hoist which came lose, striking Jimenez and pinning him against a steel support, according to a news release.  Jimenez suffered severe injuries to a leg in the accident causing massive bleeding. Doctors at Lincoln County Medical Center pronounced him dead.  

But the sculpture did not end with Jimenez's death.  His wife, children, and family friends helped finish the sculpture and it was delivered to Denver in February, 2008 and the dedication was held on June 12, 2008.  "Mustang" has been gazing his red eyes on travelers and visitors to DIA ever since.