Barcelona Opens Paint Exhibition “Our Expo: 5 Artists of the Dominican Republic”

Barcelona Opens Paint Exhibition “Our Expo: 5 Artists of the Dominican Republic”
Barcelona, ??Spain, July 16th, 2014

The extensive pictorial exhibition by Dominican painters is successfully on display at the BCM Art Gallery

The busy opening ceremony brought together leading Barcelona society personalities, among which we can highlight art collectors, intellectuals, cultural managers, art critics; personalities from the diplomatic and consular corps, such as the Dominican Vice Consul, Socorro Cruz, among other leading figures.

“These are five painters who have a clear awareness of their craft and the worldview that supports it. They are open to the most diverse waves of contemporary art of solid academic background. Forged in the Western tradition, their creative work and respective styles have been structured in a constant process of dialogue with the great masters and painting movements of yesterday and today”.

“In short, we are before art workers who are well grounded in the present; who refer us again and again to their time and affairs”, stated Alejandro Arvelo, an art critic, regarding the artistic proposals by Dustin Muñoz, Gabino Rosario, José Pelletier, Manuel Toribio and Miguel Valenzuela.

Our Expo: 5 Artists of the Dominican Republic, presents the viewer more than thirty works of art, enriched by five rooted and individual styles that represent a configuration of Hispanic cultural development, with special emphasis on the dynamic and diverse artistic history of their native country.

The busy opening ceremony brought together leading Barcelona society personalities, among which we can highlight art collectors, intellectuals, cultural managers, art critics; personalities from the diplomatic and consular corps, such as the Dominican Vice Consul, Socorro Cruz, among other leading figures.

Common trajectory
The renowned artists, trained at the National School of Visual Arts (leader in the country), teach at that same institution today; also, they hold executive positions in the cultural sphere from the State to design public policies to promote and strengthen artistic identity. They have been rewarded with numerous awards and recognitions in biennials, and by national and international agencies, for their contributions to the visual arts and their lives of service. Their professional careers include several solo and group exhibitions held in different continents, whose works are part of major public, private and museum collections, both within the Dominican Republic and abroad.

The visual artists
Dustin Muñoz, a PhD in Philosophy from Universidad del País Vasco; philosopher with a Master’s degree in Scientific Research, both degrees granted by the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), where he currently teaches. His murals are displayed in two of the most important cathedrals in his country of origin, and in the emblematic Obelisk of the City of Santo Domingo.

Gabino Rosario, is a graduate in Education with a minor in Advertising Arts from UASD. Fulbright Scholar at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, USA, where he majored in drawing, painting and printmaking; specialized in Printing Industry from the State Institute of Art at Urbino, Italy. He teaches at various universities and has represented the Dominican Republic at the IAA-UNESCO and other forums.

José Pelletier, is a graduate of Visual Arts from UASD (Magna Cum Laude), where he currently pursues a  Master’s degree of Visual Arts. He has a diploma in Arts Teaching from Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra. He was selected in 1999 by the Winsor & Newton World Contest, as well as by Dimensions and Delights, Abro Art Gallery, Miami, and Dreambox Project, District & Co.

Manuel Toribio, has a degree in Visual Arts from the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, where, in addition, he currently pursues a Master’s degree in Visual Arts. He is the former Director, and current professor, at the National School of Visual Arts, where he obtained a degree in Drawing.

Miguel Valenzuela, has a degree in Visual Arts from UASD. He specialized in Painting at the National School of Visual Arts, institution where he occupies the highest position as its Director. He is a smelter, painter, illustrator and sculptor. He founded his own school of visual arts, which stayed active for more than a decade.

The gallery
“Our Expo: 5 Artists of the Dominican Republic” will be open to the public during the month of July.

BCM Art Gallery was founded in 2005 with the objective of bringing the art of new artists and of others with extensive experience to the streets. Since then, and to date, it has put on display valuable exhibitions by Spanish and international artists. The art gallery is directed by curator and museographer Montse Bosch and is located in an exclusive area of the Eixample of Barcelona.