Perhaps the most outstanding grouping of these architectural jewels of Puerto Plata are those located around the main square. As part of the preparations for the Puerto Plata Nights celebration that took place during the Dominican Annual Travel Exchange (DATE) 2004 tourism convention, Tropical Paints sponsored an external renovation of a dozen houses in the area. The well-known fine arts maestro and Puerto Plata native Jorge Severino acted as an advisor to help the company archi- tect assigned to the project identify and respect the pastel colors of the homes’ early days. This collaboration resulted in a successful association of architecture with the plastic arts.

The renovation of the Puerto Plata houses was part of a broader nation- wide program undertaken by Tropical Paints that combined the efforts of the Office for Monumental Heritage (who provided the historical background information and necessary permits), the cooperation of the occupants of the houses with the plastic artists (who made recommen- dations for the appropriate paint colors) and the painters themselves, who with their big brushes carried out the actual work.

Veronica Sencion, the coordinator of the Tropical Paints project, empha- sizes that the endeavor has contributed to the salvaging and protection of the national vernacular architecture. “We consider this joint effort of so many an example to be followed,” she says. “We often lament the individualism prevalent in the cultural and particularly the artistic field. But, if there is a pointed motivation and efficient coordination, indiffer- ence can be replaced by the will to work together and the best results will come forth. This homage to art and the traditional Dominican house is irrefutable proof of this statement.”