(See photos of the lecture at Jackie Hird Photography)AVILES DIGNITARY EMBRACES ART EXCHANGE
The St. Augustine Art Association was the site of a standing-room-only crowd September 7, when Roman Alvarez, City Councilman of Aviles, Spain gave a presentation on the art colonies of the Sister Cities. At the conclusion of the evening, the Councilman was recognized as a distinguished Honorary Member of the Art Association by Diane Bradley, President.
The talk included historic photographs of Spain's Asturias region and images of paintings by Spanish artists, including famous 19th century painter, Joaquin Sorolla. An exhibit of maritime and landscape paintings created by the St. Augustine Lost Art Colony as well as several by Menorcan artists was installed in the Marguerita Phillips Gallery to complement the lecture. It will be on display through October.
Alvarez shared details about the original St. Augustine delegation that traveled to Spain. "Perhaps the 1924 Delegation was the impetus for the founding of the St. Augustine Art Association which happened that same year," Alvarez proposed during the lecture. "It's worth researching."
The Councilman accepted an invitation from the St. Augustine Art Association to establish an art exchange with the City of Aviles as part of the commemorative events of St. Augustine's 450th Anniversary. "Aviles is a city of rich culture, just like St. Augustine," he said. "We attract artists from all over the world and will benefit by sharing with each other."
The lecture was sponsored by the Florida Humanities Council, through a partnership grant that will feature a series of lectures and educational materials focusing on St. Augustine's artistic ties to Spain. The art exhibit was the culmination of the JoAnn Crisp-Ellert grant from the Community Foundation of Jacksonville to catalog the St. Augustine Art Association Permanent Collection.
Art historian and Spanish translator, Elizabeth Duran Gessner, the Florida Humanities Council grant historian, assisted with the lecture. Mary Jane Ballou, director of Cantore St. Augustine, provided harp music during the evening.
Photo - Elizabeth Duran Gessner, Art Association Grant Historian, Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Klein, Commissioner Don Crichlow, Councilman Roman Alvarez and wife Maria Eugenia, Paul Williamson, City of St. Augustine (photo by Jackie Hird)
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