In Greek mythology, Medusa is a Gorgon monster with venomous snakes for hair and a stare that turns its victims to stone. The artist was inspired by several encounters with the figure of the Medusa during his travels. In Venice, Italy, for example, he came across a display that featured a photography book with an image of a ballet dancer on the cover. The pose of the dancer is similar to that of the sculpture. Jorge Luis later visited the Basilica Cisterna in Istanbul during a research project on Islamic culture. In this underground water reservoir beneath the city, there are two columns submerged in water which include the head of Medusa, upside-down. Shortly after this experience, he returned to Puerto Rico to teach at the Escuela de Bellas Artes in 1999. Ten years prior, Hurricane Hugo had uprooted many mahogany trees on the island, which was collected as lumber. Some of the wood was later sent to Jorge Luis in New York City, allowing him to carve the sculpture. In 2010, he collaborated with his nephew Rey Roldan on a digital illustration of a scene in which the artist impersonates Perseus, a hero of Greek mythology who is known for many feats, including the beheading of Medusa. In this retelling, the artist spares Medusa, instead preserving her form as a wood carving. The image was used to illustrate the cover of the catalogue for the exhibition “Encounters,” held at Kingsborough Community College Art Gallery in Brooklyn which coincided with the 25th anniversary of his monumental sculpture Growth, the first Percent for Art commission completed in NYC in 1985.

En la mitologia griega, Medusa es un monstruo Gorgona con serpientes venenosas en vez de cabello y una mirada que convierte a sus victimas en piedra. El artista se inspiro en varios encuentros con la figura de la Medusa durante sus viajes. En Venecia, Italia, por ejemplo, se encontro con una pantalla que incluia un libro de fotografia con una imagen de una bailarina de ballet en la portada. Su postura es similar a la de la escultura. Jorge Luis visito mas tarde la Basilica Cisterna en Estambul durante un proyecto de investigacion sobre la cultura islamica. En este deposito de agua subterraneo debajo de la ciudad, hay dos columnas sumergidas en el agua que incluyen la cabeza de Medusa, virada al reves. Poco despues de esta experiencia, regreso a Puerto Rico para ensenar en la Escuela de Bellas Artes en 1999. Diez anos antes, el huracan Hugo habia arrancado muchos arboles de caoba en la isla que se recogieron como madera. Un pedazo fue enviada posteriormente a Jorge Luis en Nueva York, permitiendole tallar la escultura. En 2010, el colaboro con su sobrino Rey Roldan para disenar una ilustracion digital de una escena en la cual el artista personifica a Perseo, un heroe de la mitologia griega que es conocido por muchas hazanas, incluyendo la decapitacion de Medusa. En este recreacion moderna, el artista salva a la Medusa, preservando su forma como una talla de madera. La imagen fue utilizada para ilustrar la portada del catalogo de la exposicion „Encuentros,” celebrada en Kingsborough Community College Art Gallery de Brooklyn lo cual coincidio con el 25 aniversario de la escultura monumental Growth, la primera comision del programa Percent for Art completada en NYC en 1985.