Page 340 - Arte e Historia
P. 340
Danilo De los Santos
The rise of national arts kept pace during the period buildings that housed the «Fair of Peace and Fraternity of
1950-1960, characterized by political exaltation and set- the Free World,» opulent celebration that marked the de-
backs faced by the tyranny of Trujillo. The artistic his- cline of the regime. In successive years, the dictatorship
tory grows with the new and diversified generation of faces armed invasion of exiled opponents, the outbreak
visual arts creators; with five recorded official biennials, of conspiratorial activities, the opposition of the Catho-
Arts reviews published in newspapers, and the encour- lic Church, conflicts with several American countries
agement of individual and group exhibitions planned by that generated diplomatic breakups and the economic
government institutions, schools of Fine Arts, the Na- sanctions lead by the United States. In May 1961, a plot
tional Gallery, the Dominican Party, Cultural Centers produces another historic tyrannicide, with the result of
(Alliance Française and Dominican-American Central), a rapid change in the nation, when civil liberties and par-
group movements as National Artists’ Circle, the Nucle- ticipatory democracy were restored, bringing forth new
us Ábside that promotes modern Catholic art and Group times.
Four, which include Jaime Colson, Joseph Gausachs, Gil-
berto Hernández Ortega and Clara Ledesma, pioneering The emergence of civil, business, militant and po-
nucleus that emerged in 1954. litical associations, all free from nepotistic authoritarian-
ism, are dynamic centers of five years during which ap-
The artistic boom includes private places that pro- pear various governmental forms (the Balaguer mandate,
mote exhibitions like the Studio Ledesma’s and Gal- Council of State, Bosch Constitutional Government and
lery Aufant’s, representing novelties as the new names de facto Triumvirates). Gubernatorial forms as the tenure
of sculptors, artists and painters: Paul Giudicelli, Mario in office of President Balaguer, considered Trujillo’s last
Gaspar Cruz, Silvano Lora, Ada Balcácer, Fernando Peña proxy (1960-1961), the formation of a Provisional State
Defilló, Sunday Liz, Guillo Pérez, Eligio Pichardo, Hilario Council (1961-1962), Juan Bosch mandate by electoral
Rodríguez and Antonio Toribio, which add up to the vote (February-Septembre,1963) overthrown by a coup by
most recognized: Yoryi Morel, Celeste Woss y Gil, Jaime right-wing sectors and the de facto regime that integrate
Colson, Darío Suro, Prats-Ventós, Hernández Ortega, several Triumvirates (1963-1965) facing social conflicts
Martínez Richiez… They are all leading figures in indi- and guerrilla uprisings, culminating with the revolu-
vidual shows, exhibiting their works in new collectives, tion of April 24 in the capital city, and the second U.S.
and obtaining awards in Dominican biennials and in in- military intervention. Despite the instability brought by
ternational competitions. many governments and the aftermath, the democratic ex-
perience manifests initiatives and measures both official
The construction and opening of the Palace of Fine and private.
Arts, built on a block with gardening, with colossal
sculptures set by Prats-Ventós and large murals by Vela The granting of autonomy to municipal councils, in-
Zanetti, define a style revival of neoclassical architecture, dustries and state institutions, became a breaking point
that rigid dictatorships use as a sign of political grandeur to the government monopoly that allowed private sec-
in many Western capitals; «Ciudad Trujillo,» name given tors to undertake cultural, business and financing ini-
by dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo to the First City of tiatives. From the private sector emerged Development
Santo Domingo, is a clear example of the latter. The Association in Santiago de los Caballeros (July 6, 1961),
opening of the Palace of Fine Arts in 1956, was part of whose members undertook the patronage of the High-
the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the «Trujil- er Institute of Agriculture, Health Center of Santiago,
lista Era» in (1955). The anniversary was held in a set of Cibao Association of Savings and Loan, Banco Popular
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