EL ARTÍSTICO WORKSHOP IS VISITED BY INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITIES IN LA ROMANA

EL ARTÍSTICO WORKSHOP IS VISITED BY INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITIES IN LA ROMANA
Santo Domingo, March 24th, 2015

Representatives of major international universities visited the facilities of the company El Artístico in La Romana on Sunday, March 22. The purpose of the visit was to meet the majestic artistic work done by José Ignacio Morales, best known in the art world as El Artístico.

College students from Lesley University – Expressive Therapies Cambridge M.A. en Boston, Pratt University – Art Therapy Brooklyn N.Y. y the College of New Rochelle – Art Therapy College of New Rochelle – Art Therapy New Rochelle N.Y., accompanied by Crecimiento Comunitario Proyectando Esperanza Foundation (FUCPE), received abundant and unforgettable impressions and memories during this visit, which constitutes a major contribution to tourism in the region of La Romana and the country in general.

The group selected El Artístico Workshops taking into account the experiences of this institution in its relentless assistance to people with psychological and behavioral impairments or limitations and its efforts in achieving their development and overcoming of those problems.

During the visit, the young students toured the factory premises and appreciated the work done by the company and the participants of El Artístico Free School. The School runs thanks to the José Ignacio Morales Foundation, which for nearly 40 years has contributed to the arts education of thousands of young people from La Romana and elsewhere in the country.

In the opinion of Mr. Morales, “this visit also creates the platform so that in a not too distant future these universities and El Artístico Workshop form strategic alliances that contribute to combat some of the social problems affecting the region.”

The visitors said that their visit to El Artístico has been an important starting point to implement their learning experience in the psychological field. “The results helped us very much to develop art psychology in our schools and universities.” This visit generated hopeful promises of strategic alliances with the José Ignacio Morales Foundation and the company El Artístico.

At the end of the visit, as is the tradition with all visitors to El Artístico Workshop, the hands of young visitors Kayden Anthony, Daniela Niakaros, and Averi Harris were immortalized in an artwork that adorns the entrance to the company.

MORE ABOUT JOSE IGNACIO MORALES.-

José Ignacio Morales – El Artístico is the owner and Director of the Art Workshop located in La Romana and of the Foundation that bears his name. This Foundation implements the education, training and production program, where youth in conflict with the law and who are socially vulnerable are trained in technical careers and life skills. Young people learn about courtesy, values, behavior management and teamwork so that they are vindicated as entrepreneurs and productive individuals.

Part of the teachings that these young people receive revolve around honor codes established by the Foundation and the artistic company, which are organized according to stages in order to promote a better and greater learning process. They highlight the Minute consisting of stopping to think before acting, especially when faced with improper situations, the Word of Success in Courtesy which is a code that promotes keywords such as “I can”, “at your service”, “excuse me”, “please”, “how can I help you”, among others. The Slacker Test seeks to change attitudes quickly and assertively and to promote the need for service to others.

José Ignacio Morales, known as “El Artístico”, was born in La Romana, Dominican Republic. He is a sculptor and producer of practical metal arts objects, which has made it possible for him to be considered by national and foreign experts as one of the leading sculptors of the Dominican Republic. He was an instructor at the professional school of the Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic and has collaborated with decorators and designers involved in the renowned Casa de Campo Hotel. He is one of the most important links in the creation and production of decorative metal in the city of the artist Altos de Chavón. He created great works for Oscar de la Renta, Robert Redford, Dominic Bluhdorn, Roberto Copa, Ariela Storniolo, Danilo and Tony Claro, Haward Parnes, Clara Morales, Bren Simón, and Mica Stergun, among other famous personalities, as well as for important national and international hotel chains, such as: Casa de Campo, Altos de Chavón, Riu Hotels, Melia Hotel, Hodelpa Hotel, LTI Hotel, and Dominicus Hotel, among others.