Last Friday the 10th of August, immeadiatley after attending the Café de la Leche at Tracadero in Dominicus, we headed up to Altos de Chavón for the opening cocktail of the new art exhibit “Buscando Esencias” presented by famous Dominican designer, Jenny Polanco and photojournalist, Emiliano Larizza.
The Altos de Chavón art gallery buzzed with activity and excitement as both artists, Jenny Polanco and Emiliano Larizza welcomed the many guests, proudly showing off their joint project, pointing out their favorites, enthusiastically and passionately describing the inspiration behind each one – and of course also posing for numerous photos.
“Buscando esencia represents the search of a fashion designer and a photographer who want to unite fashion and photography so that the two art forms co-exist at the same time.”
— Emiliano Larizza, photojournalist
Artfully and unusually displayed on artists workbenches, the photographs were laid horizontally, allowing guests to literally pour over each one – a concept dreamt up by the exhibit’s curator, Manuel Blanco, who really wanted visitors to be able to get “up close and personal” with each image.
“Buscando Esencia”: Sugarcane – an iconic image of La Romana
A surprise addition to the exhibit was the “La Romana” collection – which following the passion and instincts of Jenny Polanco and Emiliano larriza were rather spontaneously shot only the week before the exhibit open – but with stunning results. The images of the “La Romana” collection were shot in Altos de Chavón and out in the sugar cane fields surrounding the town of La Romana.
“The exhibit looked excellent, it is a pleasure to work with top class professionals such as Manuel Blanco and Emiliano Larizza. Manuel Blanco’s idea to present the images horizontally in the very tables that the students of the Altos de Chavón school work on was very poetic idea and an interesting way to demonstrate the creative process.
Being able to present my vision of the “Dominican essence” felt a little intimidating and personal – as it is a representation of my feelings, a protest and celebration at the same time and trying to communicate that with images was not easy, but I think we achieved it. Everyone was certainly very impressed by the display and the excellent quality of the photography.
Every photo in each different location has it’s own story to tell, with it’s own individual essence and spirit, but I am especially proud of “Ofelia flotando en el rio Chavón” (the model Ofelia floating in the Chavón river) – this one really is a work of art.
“Ofelia flotando en el rio Chavón”
This search for essence is a work in progress, we started in the Santa Barbara barrio of Santo Domingo, continued in San Pedro de Macoris and at the Jamaica Fashion Week, finishing up in La Romana, where we were able to enrich the collection with our perception of La Romana; the rivers, sugar cane and countryside.”
Also on display were a collection of Jenny Polanco fashion designs – samples from her new line, and they were stunning! Many of these beautiful dresses are not yet available to buy, but some are already on sale in the Jenny Polanco Boutiques in the Marina Casa de Campo and Altos de Chavón! Ladies, it’s time to shop!
Buscando Esencia art exhibit in Altos de Chavón
The art exhibit “Buscando Esencia” will remain on display at the Altos de Chavón art gallery (open 9am – 6pm, closed Wednesdays) until September the 10th 2012.
So if you missed the opening there is still time to pass by, admire and purchase, and while you’re there we recommend you also pop into one (or both) of the Jenny Polanco Project stores in Altos de Chavón, where you’ll find great fashion and accessory items, as well as Haitian and Dominican arts and crafts.
The following photos are a sneak peak of the “Buscando Esencia” exhibit in Altos de Chavón:
The following photos were taken during the opening of the art exhibit “Buscando Esencia” at the Altos de Chavón art gallery in Casa de Campo on Friday the 10th of August 2012: [nggallery id=1375]
About Jenny Polanco
Jenny Polanco is a Dominican fashion designer with over 30 years experience in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Paris and New York. Her “Pret a Porter” (ready to wear) and Couture designs are most popular for being sophisticated yet simple, classic and easy to wear – enhanced by typically Dominican “touches”, such as buttons crafted from amber, horn, larimar, mother of pearl and coral.
You can shop Jenny Polanco in Casa de Campo at both the Marina Casa de Campo and Altos de Chavón as well as in Santo Domingo at Blue Mall, Casa Virginia, Bella Vista Mall and in the Colonial Zone.
Click here to read more about Jenny Polanco and her designs
About Emiliano Larizza
Born in Rome in 1978, Emiliano first fell in love with photography in 2001 when he met Daniele, a man who became like second father to Emiliano as he taught him all the secrets of the profession. He then studied graphics, screenplay writing and fell in love with art, something which became a stimulus and a help in his continuous quest for the essence of photography: a means to express one’s own creative ideas.
Having traveled in Europe, Asia and the Americas, Emiliano settled in Dominican Republic in 2008 and from January 2010 started following the situation in Haiti, in the aftermath of the earthquake (see above photo).
Emiliano has has his work published in both national and international press such as Internazionale, L’Espresso, IlManifesto, IoDonna, Riders, Il Venerdi (Repubblica), The Guardian, Het Financieele Dagblad and Newsweek.
Find out more about Emiliano at: www.emilianolarizza.com
Spanish
Last Friday the 10th of August, immeadiatley after attending the Café de la Leche at Tracadero in Dominicus, we headed up to Altos de Chavón for the opening cocktail of the new art exhibit “Buscando Esencias” presented by famous Dominican designer, Jenny Polanco and photojournalist, Emiliano Larizza.
The Altos de Chavón art gallery buzzed with activity and excitement as both artists, Jenny Polanco and Emiliano Larizza welcomed the many guests, proudly showing off their joint project, pointing out their favorites, enthusiastically and passionately describing the inspiration behind each one – and of course also posing for numerous photos.
“The exhibit looked excellent, it is a pleasure to work with top class professionals such as Manuel Blanco and Emiliano Larizza. Manuel Blanco’s idea to present the images horizontally in the very tables that the students of the Altos de Chavón school work on was very poetic idea and an interesting way to demonstrate the creative process. Being able to present my vision of the “Dominican essence” felt a little intimidating and personal – as it is a representation of my feelings, a protest and celebration at the same time and trying to communicate that with images was not easy, but I think we achieved it. Everyone was certainly very impressed by the display and the excellent quality of the photography. Every photo in each different location has it’s own story to tell, with it’s own individual essence and spirit, but I am especially proud of “Ofelia flotando en el rio Chavón” (the model Ofelia floating in the Chavón river) – this one really is a work of art.
About Jenny Polanco Jenny Polanco is a Dominican fashion designer with over 30 years experience in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Paris and New York. Her “Pret a Porter” (ready to wear) and Couture designs are most popular for being sophisticated yet simple, classic and easy to wear – enhanced by typically Dominican “touches”, such as buttons crafted from amber, horn, larimar, mother of pearl and coral. You can shop Jenny Polanco in Casa de Campo at both the Marina Casa de Campo and Altos de Chavón as well as in Santo Domingo at Blue Mall, Casa Virginia, Bella Vista Mall and in the Colonial Zone. Click here to read more about Jenny Polanco and her designs
Born in Rome in 1978, Emiliano first fell in love with photography in 2001 when he met Daniele, a man who became like second father to Emiliano as he taught him all the secrets of the profession. He then studied graphics, screenplay writing and fell in love with art, something which became a stimulus and a help in his continuous quest for the essence of photography: a means to express one’s own creative ideas. Having traveled in Europe, Asia and the Americas, Emiliano settled in Dominican Republic in 2008 and from January 2010 started following the situation in Haiti, in the aftermath of the earthquake (see above photo). Emiliano has has his work published in both national and international press such as Internazionale, L’Espresso, IlManifesto, IoDonna, Riders, Il Venerdi (Repubblica), The Guardian, Het Financieele Dagblad and Newsweek. Find out more about Emiliano at: www.emilianolarizza.com