Residents of Rhode Island Experience Photo Exhibit: New Perspectives: Dominican Republic

Residents of Rhode Island enjoyed the natural beauty, culture and integral spirit of the Dominican Republic during a special Gala Gallery Night Reception sponsored by Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE) in
collaboration with the University of Rhode Island’s Urban Arts & Culture Program. Via GFDD/FUNGLODE’s aerial photo exhibit “New Perspectives: Dominican Republic,” gallery visitors were transported to the country’s 31 provinces.

The October 20 event featured live music, a folkloric dance performance and words of welcome from GFDD representative, Alicia Alonzo, and Coordinator of the Urban Arts and Culture
Program, Steven Pennell. Ms. Alonzo thanked the University of Rhode Island community for their commitment to promoting cultural diversity and understanding and emphasized that this same commitment is at the core of GFDD and FUNGLODE’s mission and vision.

The photography exhibit, inaugurated on September 15 and on display until October 31, has
formed part of the University of Rhode Island’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrations.  A selection of 58 aerial images has been on display at the Providence Feinstein Campus Gallery.

The images come from a publication of the name which represents nine conceptual categories – reflections of light, coasts, heights, plains, history, city, people, tourism and work. The project, led by Editor-in-Chief, Natasha Despotovic, Executive Director of
GFDD, features the photography of Franco-Dominican photographer, Anne Casalé. The photographs commemorate the country’s achievements in the areas of economic, social, environmental and democratic progress.

Through this initiative, GFDD and FUNGLODE seek to expand and enrich understanding of the Dominican Republic. The exhibition has been shown with great success both nationally and in Europe, the United States and South America.

Related link: http://www.uri.edu/prov/missionvision/urbanarts/currentgallery.html