Esta página no está disponible en español.

Orlando Sentinel

Kissimmee City Hall To Show Works Linked To Puerto Rico

The Osceola Center For The Arts Is A Sponsor Of The Show Of 60 Pieces From 5 Local Artists.

By Sara Sheckler, Special to the Sentinel

July 16, 2004
Copyright © 2004 Orlando Sentinel. All rights reserved.

KISSIMMEE -- Paintings of five local artists of Puerto Rican descent will be showcased at City Hall during an exhibition called "The Floridian-Puerto Rican Art Connection."

The art show will kick off with a free reception from 5 to 7 p.m. today at City Hall, 101 N. Church St.

Works of John J. Browne Ayes, Amaury Diaz, Zila Forrer, Tania Levy and Obed Gomez make up the exhibition, which continues through Sept. 16.

The Osceola Center for the Arts is sponsoring the exhibition with the city and El Centro CulturalPuertorriquena de la Florida Central at El Museo de Ponce in Puerto Rico.

"All the artists paint in a very bright, colorful and bold style," said Phyllis Ross, director of visual arts at the Center for the Arts. "Puerto Rico has very bright colors in its flowers and greenery."

The City Hall space will feature nearly 60 works covering realism, cultural landscapes, cultural symbols, surrealism and expressionism, among other styles.

The title was concocted by Ayes, the temporary director of venue acquisition for El Centro de Cultural Puertorriquena de la Florida Central at El Museo de Ponce, to underscore the artists' Puerto Rican heritage.

Some of the artists were born in Puerto Rico. Others, including Ayes, were born in the United States. Ayes is the curator of the exhibition.

Ayes' artistic influences include Salvador Dali and Leonardo da Vinci. One of his pieces, "Hispanic Heritage II" depicts two recently deceased musical icons, Tito Puente and Celia Cruz, along with a Spaniard and a Taino Indian.

Levy's "El Pescador de Trasmayo" illustrates a fisherman preparing his net for a day's work at sea in Vieques, Puerto Rico. The beach reflects the colors of the early morning sun.

Diaz's "Boricua" shows an island patriot with a Puerto Rican flag wrapped around his back.

Gomez's "Rumbero" illustrates the rumba influence that came to Puerto Rico in the 16th century with slaves imported from Africa.

Forrer's "Gaul" was inspired by an ancient Romanesque sculpture, the "Dying Gaul."

For details, call City Hall at 407-518-2307.

Self-Determination Legislation | Puerto Rico Herald Home
Newsstand | Puerto Rico | U.S. Government | Archives
Search | Mailing List | Contact Us | Feedback