PLASTIC ART IN THE CULTURES - A SUCCESS IN CHASICÓ

By Juan Ignacio Schwerdl

For an afternoon, art drew the attention of the entire Chasicó community. The cultural event – an unusual one in Tornquist district - drew around 250 persons, among whom some of the most famous artists and writers in our country and in the area. Plans are already under preparation for it to continue. Juan Ignacio Schwerdt – Special reporter. The first edition of “Plastic Arts in the Cultures-2008” was held at Chasicó with enthusiastic pupils and guest artists participating in the event connected with painting and sculpture, organized by Dr. Alejandro Caride and plastic artist Marta Díez, the owners of Chasicó Park. "It couldn´t have been better", emphasized Caride. "We expected around 12 to 15 entries, but the children in Chasicó submitted some 60 to the competition." "Besides, we succeeded in fulfilling our deep wish that our artist guests would donate some of their works to the schools in the village; we handed over several books to the children and the local libraries, and we even managed to prepare an exhibition of painting and sculpture in the open air, amid the Chasicó countryside, with some 100 works by both local pupils and successful artists well known in our country and in this area." Even the weather was favourable to the event: the strong wind Chasicó had had to put up with during the week scarcely blew yesterday. Besides, it had rained heavily for four hours on the previous day, but at 6 it stopped, allowing guest artists, teachers and pupils to suitably place their works. The area chosen for the display is known as Los Altares (The Altars), a round plot of land covered with pine trees amid beautifully undulating fields. Right there, at noon, the formal opening of the event took place before an audience of around 250, mostly children from Nº 1 Secondary School (Chasicó Annex), Nº 24 School and Nº 904 Kindergarten. After several short speeches, Caride and Díez introduced the jurors for the cultural contest, consisting of none other than Rubén Vela, ne of the most important contemporary Argentine poets; Marcela Costa Peuser, publisher of the respected "Arte al Día" ("Art Update") periodical; and Laura Feinsilber, an art critic and writer whose contributions are published in "Ambito Financiero" newspaper and "Arte al Día" periodical. The jurors went over some 60 works created by the children and young people of the village, either individually or in groups, and chose the best 12 among them. According to Costa Peuser, it was not an easy task. "Going through such wonderful pieces by young people from 3 to 18 years old was a true surprise – even more so considering that they had no training at all in art", she said. "So much energy, such wonderfully creative strength, were enriching to us", Feinsilber added.´ Rubén Vela was just as enthusiastic , "It was truly moving that so many persons showed so much enthusiasm for art. I have very seldom seen something as natural, honest and refreshing", he stated. The ceremony also included giving out diplomas and awards to the participants,as well as reading a legal document certifying donation of 11 paintings and sculptures to the schools in Chasicó. After the opening ceremony, children and adults visited the large art gallery in the open air, where works by the pupils hung from pine-tree ranches, as did those made by artists Marta Díez, Lotty Inchauspe, Carlos Giusti, Rafael González Moreno, Laura Waissmann, Laura Vidaurreta, Elba Dell’Arciprete, Rubén Bustillo, Estela Salerno, Patricia Altmark and Nacho Perrando, among others. “The event was a full success,” remarked Caride. "We expect it will mark the beginning of similar gatherings of a cultural nature. We are in fact already busy at them, in connection with the stage, vocational guidance, technological transfer and so on.” - - - - - - Sunday, October 12, 2008 "The event was well worth the effort", Díez stated. Artist Marta Díez, one of the organizers of the event, underlined yesterday the enthusiastic effort from the Chasicó community in face of the proposal. "Enthusiasm among the children and the community is a sign that a lot more may be expected from art. The mere fact of watching the children as they got into touch with works by renowned artists, and even chat with those artists, are a sign that it was well worth taking the challenge." Gustavo Trankels, the governor, commented that, even if it is true that culture is a part of his governing plans, "it is encouraging that private persons contribute to it. “This cultural event arose from a generous proposition from Marta (Díez) and Alejandro (Caride), who opened their doors to the Chasicó community – an unprecedented, well worth following example in the district,”, he emphasized. Besides those mentioned above, several other persons connected with art participated in yesterday´s event, i.e. (poet and story writer from Jujuy province) Susana Quiroga; (writer and critic) Horacio Semeraro; writer María Blanca Nuri; deputy Ismael Passaglia, and even Dr. José Emilio Burucúa (h), the winner of the Konex Platinum 2004 Award, plus Afaf Saab de Handam, wife to the Lebanon ambassador in Argentina, who presented the work of Gibrán Khalil Gibran, the widely known philosopher and artist.