Page 428 - Arte e Historia

The Author
Danilo de los Santos, is a visual artist, art critic, cura- giving lectures, taking part in different colloquiums,
tor, historian, cultural consultant and professor.
He was born in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic in
1942, linked with Santiago de los Caballeros, where he
grows up and get an education. He was initiated in arts
by the painter Mario Grullón, then studied at the Fine
Arts Academy under Yoryi Morel and Federico Izquierdo
guidance. He also studies Education at the Pontificia Uni-
versidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), then pur-
sues a Master at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras
premises (1974-1976) with the Ford Foundation support.
Later on, he gets certified in Cultural Management at the
Latin American and Caribbean Centre for Cultural Devel-
opment (CLADEC), Caracas, Venezuela, 1989.
As a university professor, he works at the PUCMM
(1969-1989), as the Director of University Cultural Ex-
tension, Publications, History and Geography Depart-
ments. He also directed the EME-EME Dominican Stud-
ies Magazine (1980-1987).
He co-founded the Friordano Group, has more than
30 individual exhibitions in his record participating
in several collectives as well. He has been awarded for
painting (VI León Jimenes Competition, 1970), drawing
and installation (XVIII National Biennial, 1992), and
sculpture(XIX National Biennial, 1994); besides the Jury
Special Prize at the First Nickel Palette Biennial (Bonao,
2005). On the arts field he is known by the artistic nick-
name Danicel.
He was the President of the Art Critics Dominican
Association, affiliated to the Art Critics International
Association; and the Director of Santiago’s Fine Arts
School. He has written for different media, apart from
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Biennials and national competitions Juries. He was a
consultant for the León Centre project and the curator
for the opening exhibitions «Traces and Memory: León
Jimenes Family» and «Dominican Art: Origin and Tra-
jectory.» As a Puerto Plata’s native, he keeps permanent
contacts with that city, collaborating with the Renova-
tion Society, its Competition «Our Country First» and
many other local cultural festivals.
He is the author of a number of art and history
texts, among them: «Painting on the Dominican Soci-
ety» (1978), «The Santiago’s Painters» (1970), «Notes of
a Young Painter» (1979), «Cándido Bidó’s Blue Paradise»
(1999) and Dominican Painting’s Memories» (2003-2009)
a research in 10 volumes sponsored by the León Jimenes
Group. Also: «Raul Morilla: Corpus Common Narra-
tives» (2012), and «50th Anniversary’s Album 1962-2012
- Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra.» He is
also the co-author of «Dominican History’s General Vi-
sion» (1977), «100 Years of Dominican Painting» (1988),
«Customs Collection» volume I, (Customs General Di-
rection, 2007), Äpeco: Photography, History and Life»
(Cámara de Diputados de la República, 2008), «Clara
Ledesma, Fantasy Kingdom» (Cámara de Diputados
de la República, Galería de Arte Nader, 2008). Also,
«Juan Plutarco Andújar, Contemplation and Serenity»
(2009).
In 2009, on a public ceremony, the Ministry of Cul-
ture declared him a Nation’s Cultural Asset. In 2010 he
works as a curator of the First Caribbean International
Triennial. The Puerto Plata VI Restoration Festival, in
2013, paid homage to him.