Belizean artists exhibit in Merida

Three Belizean artists, Gilvano Swasey, Yasser Musa and Michael Gordon are exhibiting their work in Merida in the Yucatan. The show at the Olimpio Hall also includes photos of an art park in Benque Viejo Del Carmen and was opened this weekend by Prime Minister Said Musa. Artist Joan Duran, who spent a number of years in Benque and currently lives in Merida, helped coordinate the show in an effort to get Belizean artists some international exposure. Merida was recently designated the cultural capital of the Americas by the Organization of American States. Duran says the new gallery is the perfect place to showcase contemporary Belizean art.

Juan Duran, Artist

“So right away I approached the authorities of the city and– just for a political idea–I said, now you guys you have a new building, okay, we in Belize have new artists. Why don’t you match the new building with new artists and see what happens.”

Prime Minister Musa

“It’s clearly something that’s not normal for them to see. I think it’s a very distinctive exhibition, but it does give a feel of contemporary art of Belize, an art that is searching for a different type of creativity in our country. So I think that it’s a very good representation of Belize, especially blended with the Garifuna music that we are hearing right now outside.”

Garifuna artists performed Punta and Paranda music at the exhibition and in the Park of the Americas where a Belize Column was unveiled. The exhibition and concert are part of “Belize Week” in Merida.