International Cultural Festival Opens

International Cultural Festival Opens
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 11/12/2011

Visitors will enjoy painting exhibitions, artistic, literary, dance and musical presentations.

…a manifestation of Dominican spirituality here and in the rest of the world as they celebrate St. Michael the Archangel.

The Ministry of Culture (MINC in Spanish) and the Saint Michael Foundation collaborated on the opening of the “International Cultural Festival,” a manifestation of Dominican spirituality here and in the rest of the world as they celebrate St. Michael the Archangel.

The Ramón Oviedo Art Hall will host the photos, paintings, drawings, sculptures and other elements about the life of St. Michael. The exhibition is opened until December 5^th.

Artists from several countries are taking part in the exhibition: Cuba, Italy, Peru, Argentina, Haiti, USA, Uruguay and the Dominican Republic.  Speeches about St. Michael will be given by national folkloric researchers such as Dagoberto Tejeda, Geo Ripley, Josefina Rodríguez and Fray Santiago Bautista. In addition, poets Mateo Morrison, Federico Jóvine Bermúdez, Raisa White, Valentín Amaro, Deisy Tousaint and  Félix Villalona, will be on hand to discuss various literary topics.

Geo Ripley, coordinator of the “International Cultural Festival,” stressed that this exhibition on St. Michael the Archangel is a living demonstration of Dominican spirituality. “The transcendent view of this Archangel has become, without a doubt, an emblematic essence of Dominican spiritual culture; the indigenous, the European and the African all joined together in this singular exhibition.”

President of the Saint Michael Foundation, Josefina Rodríguez, said that since it began in 2003, the Foundation has been dedicated to rescuing and preserving the cultural traditions of the Dominican people by placing a great deal of emphasis on Patron Saints celebrations in remote communities around the country, helping in the planning and organization and contributing related activities to help proliferate local and national culture.

During the inaugural event of the International Cultural Festival, there was a dance presentation under the direction of Carlos Veitía. In addition, Duluc and their Drums performed as well as the General Commander’s Army Band.

Painter, Geo Ripley, speaks to the audience at the opening event. He is accompanied by folklorist Dagoberto Tejeda and Luis de León, Deputy Minister of Education.

Sculpture of Archangel Michael.

The public watches “St. Michael’s Victory” Dance put on by the Dominican National Ballet.