Tourists traveling to the off-the-beaten-path destinations of Miches and El Seibo in the East need to look for roadside outstanding new murals painted by Dominican artists.
The new murals are part of the Dominican Public Art project undertaken by Bartolomé Pujals, of the Innovation Cabinet of the Presidency, with the backing of the Ministry of Culture. The effort has the support of the Public Art Trust through the governmental Fiduciaria Reservas.
Artist Kilia Llano, organizer and one of the muralists, highlighted in an interview with Diario Libre the contribution the invited artists are making to the development of the communities. She said the initiative will reach all the provinces in the country where young and experienced visual artists are invited to leave their mark on the walls in the cities and towns.
The project also has the backing of the Punta Cana Group, Banco de Reservas, the municipality of Miches, Infotep and the Armed Forces Vocational School.
For the start of the project, more than 30 artists painted around 40 murals in iconic local spaces in Miches and El Seibo under the direction of experienced visual artist Kilia Llano and the curatorship of Luis Graham Castillo.
“I feel that I am involved in something that, in some way, will change history as far as art education is concerned. I am very grateful to the director of the Innovation Cabinet, Bartolomé Pujals, because he believed in me and the entire team of Arte Público Dominicano, who have not seen this as a job,” said artist Kilia Llano.
Kilia Llano feels that she, and all those involved, understand their cultural contribution to the country. “In Miches we are already seeing the fruits of this. I have talked to children who had never seen a person painting art. This carries an educational message and we are giving a new attraction to the communities, which will also be positive on an economic level.”
She said the themes in Miches and El Seibo were historical memory, the origin of the land and the habitat.
She explained that in addition to the painting of murals, the artists participated in workshops that were organized to train community culture organizers.
“The most beautiful thing we experienced there was the hiring of the young people who served as assistants in this project. It was wonderful because they were happy,” explained Llano.
Among others who participated in the painting of the murals were Miches sculptor Genaro Reyes (Cayuco), who is also a promoter of the Cultural Center, and the visual artist Evaristo Angurria. Also Spanish artist Yes and Puerto Rican artist Damalola, Argentinean Marcelo Ferder.
Other participating artists were: Shak, Freco, Mr. Letta, Cayuco, Angurria, Torrijo Reyes, Edgar Valerio, Pedro Veras, Will Gom, Gabz, Atahualpa Royo, Israel Feliz, Lizander Jiménez, Koco Toribio, Amable Cedeño, Anthony Rodríguez, Memo Ruiz, and Werner Olmos. Also, Silvio González, Naysa Dumé, Chylanda Thelismas, Julita Chulita, Irene Sierra, Karina Crousset, Lidisset Reyes, Sócrates Troncoso, Norkelly Acosta, Lombardo Valdez and Carlos “Tito” García.
The Innovation Cabinet will be taking the Dominican Public Art project all around the country. “It is a project designed to strengthen citizen coexistence through the transformation of public spaces into creative environments that revalue the Dominican identity,” said Bartolomé Pujals, director of the Innovation Cabinet.
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Diario Libre
8 November 2022