{"id":15043,"date":"2019-12-19T00:50:10","date_gmt":"2019-12-19T00:50:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dominicanaonline.org\/?p=15043"},"modified":"2019-12-23T12:17:11","modified_gmt":"2019-12-23T12:17:11","slug":"cultura-entrego-el-premio-nacional-de-artes-visuales-2019-a-cuatro-reconocidos-artistas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dominicanaonline.org\/en\/cultura-entrego-el-premio-nacional-de-artes-visuales-2019-a-cuatro-reconocidos-artistas\/","title":{"rendered":"Ministry of Culture Issues National Visual Arts Awards to Four Distinguished Dominican Artists"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Santo Domingo, December 18, 2019 <\/b>\u2013 Minister of Culture Eduardo Selman headed a moving awards ceremony this past Tuesday,\u00a0 <\/span>December 17, where four of the Dominican Republic\u2019s most distinguished visual artists were distinguished for their lifelong artistic trajectory.<\/p>\n

The artists honored during the event were plastic artists Jorge Severino and Amable Sterling, sculptor Bismarck Victoria and photographer Domingo Batista.<\/p>\n

The event was held on the day the country celebrates the National Day of Plastic Artists.\u00a0 <\/span>The four Maestros honored received special diplomas and approximately US$20,000 each for their contributions to Dominican art.<\/p>\n

Artists Jorge Severino and Amable Sterling were selected in the Painting category.\u00a0 <\/span>Domingo Batista in Photography and Bismarck Victoria in Sculpture. Many local plastic artists filled the lobby of the Ministry of Culture building during the event to express their support to their distinguished colleagues.<\/p>\n

Minister of Culture said in his opening remarks that \u201cthe artists that are to be distinguished have in common their creative commitment in their particular artistic specialty to which they have dedicated their lives.\u00a0 <\/span>They are also distinguished for their exemplary attributes as Dominican citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should all be proud to share our nationality with these distinguished Dominicans, who with their art have taken us with them throughout the world as a nation of men and women who are intelligent and creative,\u201d also stated Minister Selman.<\/p>\n

Before the Minister\u2019s remarks, art critic Marianne de Tolentino<\/b> and member of the jury and director of the National Gallery of Fine Arts, also highlighted the fact that this time the National Visual Arts Award is not only recognizing one particular artist, but four at the same time.\u00a0 <\/span>In her remarks she read the biographies of the four artists.<\/p>\n

The event organizers also explained the reasons why the four artists were chosen to receive the respective 2019 awards.<\/p>\n

Four Artists Honored:<\/b><\/p>\n

Jorge Severino:\u00a0 <\/b>Plastic artist Severino was chosen for his refined presentation on canvas of reality, history and myth.\u00a0 <\/span>He is the sole interpreter of the Afro-Antillean beauty, and for his special technique known as \u201cWhite over White.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Amable Sterling: <\/b>Chosen by the jury for his absolute control of drawing, painting and anatomy techniques, and his overall commitment to teaching art to the younger generations.<\/p>\n

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Bismarck Victoria:\u00a0 <\/b>Defined as a conceptual sculptor and an expert on refined and voluminous lines, reaching monumental characteristics.<\/p>\n

Domingo Batista: <\/b>The jury defined Batista as a powerful, sensitive and poetic photographer, who continuously researches his object of attention.\u00a0 <\/span>His technique is perfect, bringing together light, nature and people.<\/p>\n

The awards ceremony was held at the lobby of the Ministry of Culture.\u00a0 <\/span>Government officials, artists and distinguished artists were present during the event.<\/p>\n

Since the founding of the Annual Awards in 1993 only one artist was chosen annually to receive the prestigious award.\u00a0 <\/span>However, beginning in 2019 the decision was made \u2013 as recommended by President Danilo Medina, who modified the decree that created the Award \u2013 to choose four artists rather than one.<\/p>\n

The categories included in the modified decree were painting, drawing, sculptor, photography, video, engraving and installations.<\/p>\n

Selection Committee<\/b><\/p>\n

The jury, or Selection Committee, consisted of Minister of Culture Eduardo Selman, Maria Elena Ditr\u00e9n, director of the Museum of Modern Art; Marianne de Tolentino, Director of the National Fine Arts Gallery; Miguel G\u00f3mez, president of the Dominican College of Plastic Artists; Pinky Landry, president of the Association of Art Critics; Juan Julio Bodden, president of the Association of Galleries of the Dominican Republic; Mar\u00eda Amalia Le\u00f3n, president of the Eduardo Le\u00f3n Jimenes Foundation; Myrna Guerrero Villalona, director of the \u201cMuseo Bellapart;\u201d Fidel Munnigh, director of the School of Art History of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo; and Abil Peralta, curator and advisor to the Chamber of Deputies.<\/p>\n

National Visual Arts Award<\/b><\/p>\n

The National Visual Arts Award is issued each year to representatives of the country\u2019s visual arts community in recognition of their lifelong commitment to the arts and their contribution to the strengthening and development of national art. To date, the following renown artists have been issued this top honor award: Dar\u00edo Suro (1993); Antonio Prats Vent\u00f3s (1995); Fernando Pe\u00f1a Defill\u00f3 (2010); Ada Balc\u00e1cer (2011); Domingo Liz (2012); Ram\u00f3n Oviedo (2013); Elsa N\u00fa\u00f1ez (2014); Jos\u00e9 Cestero (2015); Thimo Pimentel (2016); Rosa Tav\u00e1rez (2017) and\u00a0\u00a0Iv\u00e1n Tovar (2018).\u00a0 <\/span>Awards have also been issued to top visual artists who have passed on: Gaspar Mario Cruz; Luichy Mart\u00ednez Richiez; Clara Ledesma; Silvano Lora; C\u00e1ndido Bid\u00f3; Paul Giudichelli; Gilberto Hern\u00e1ndez Ortega; Guillo P\u00e9rez; Soucy de Pellerano; Jos\u00e9 Rinc\u00f3n Mora; Tony Capell\u00e1n amd Danilo de los Santos.<\/p>\n

Also, the award has as a primary goal to recognize the artist\u2019s dedication and contribution to the artistic community, Dominican society and the young and future generations. It is a commitment made by the Dominican State to further strengthen and expand the visual arts of the Dominican Republic.<\/p>\n