Bienal de Arte de Ponce is a biennial international art exhibition that takes place in Ponce, Puerto Rico, during the month of November. The event is sponsored by the Commission on the Arts of the University of Puerto Rico at Ponce. It has been called "the most important art biennial in Puerto Rico." As a biennial event, it takes place once every two years.

Recent expositions

Over 120 artists, including painters and sculptors, showed off their talents during the 14th exposition that took place from 20 November 2014 to 7 February 2015. Styles presented range from realism to

abstract Abstract may refer to: * ''Abstract'' (album), 1962 album by Joe Harriott * Abstract of title a summary of the documents affecting title to parcel of land * Abstract (law), a summary of a legal document * Abstract (summary), in academic publishi ...

costumbrism ''Costumbrismo'' (sometimes anglicized as costumbrism, with the adjectival form costumbrist) is the literary or pictorial interpretation of local everyday life, mannerisms, and customs, primarily in the Hispanic scene, and particularly in the 19t ...

and the support media includes

canvas Canvas is an extremely durable plain-woven fabric used for making sails, tents, marquees, backpacks, shelters, as a support for oil painting and for other items for which sturdiness is required, as well as in such fashion objects as handbags ...

, acrylic, glass, wood, metal, India ink, even mixed media and digital art, among others. Presentations are made ranging from watercolors to pencil to oil, among others.

History

The event started in 1986. The event takes place at the Biblioteca Adelina Coppin Alvarado library of the University of Puerto Rico at Ponce. It started as a local arts show to showcase the talent of artists from the city of Ponce and the southern Puerto Rico region, but has grown into a more international exhibition with artists from all over Puerto Rico, the United States and the Dominican Republic. (Note: This event should not be confused with the ''Bienal Municipal de Arte de Ponce'' (Ponce Municipal Art Biennial) which started in 2011, takes place every other year from the Bienal de Arte de Ponce (i,e., 2011, 2013,...2019, etc.), and is staged by the Ponce Municipal Government.)

Dedication

Since the seventh exposition in 1998 it is a common practice to dedicate the event to a visual artist. The 13th exposition was dedicated to Roberto Colón Ocasio, director of the Department of Visual Arts at the university and one of the co-founders of the exposition in 1986. The 14th exposition was dedicated to Ana Bassó Bruno, a sculptor and former art professor at the

Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Puerto Rico The Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico) is a private Roman Catholic university with its main campus in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It provides courses leading to Bachelor's, Master's and Docto ...

Venue

The event has consistently taken place at the Adelina Coppin Alvarado Library of the University of Puerto Rico at Ponce. There, well-known professional artists and art critics evaluate the exposed works based on their own merits, not based on the name of the artist. Some of the critics in the past have included Miguel Conesa Osuna, Jaime Descals, Margarita Sastre de Balmaceda, Luis Larrazál Mejía, Carlos Morell Martel, Pedro Pacheco and Gladys Nieves. Well established artists, such as

Wichie Torres Wichie Torres (29 March 1952 – 7 February 2020) was a Puerto Rican oil canvas painter. He was an exponent of the costumbrismo movement. He is also the first person in the Central America and Caribbean region to have ever undergone two indep ...

, Pedro "Peyo Tata" Pacheco, Julián Ruiz, Frankie Soldevila, Luis F. Larrazábal, Norberto Martell, Gladys Nieves, Alberto Ongay, Howard Orsini, Orlando Santiago Torres, as well as beginning artists show off their talents during the exposition.''Décimotercera Bienal de Arte en la UPR en Ponce.''
Maribel Caraballo Plaza. UPR Informa. University of Puerto Rico. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.

References

{{Reflist Contemporary art exhibitions Art biennials Art exhibitions in Puerto Rico Art festivals in Puerto Rico Tourist attractions in Ponce, Puerto Rico Recurring events established in 1986 1986 establishments in Puerto Rico November events Entertainment events in Puerto Rico Events in Ponce, Puerto Rico Puerto Rican art University of Puerto Rico

Recent expositions

History

Dedication

Venue

See also

References