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Peruvian Tapestry and
Silverwork in New York |
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New
York opened a special exhibit on September 29, 2004 entitled: The Colonial
Andes: Tapestries and Silverwork, 1530-1830. The special exhibit will be
open through December 12, 2004. An International Scholarly Symposium will
be held on October 1-3 in connection with the exhibit.
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The arrival of Europeans dramatically
transformed the cultural landscape of the Andes, and changed societies
that had evolved over thousands of years in less than a generation. The
arts continued to flourish despite the upheavals and represent a
combination of Andean and European artistic traditions. The exhibit
emphasizes the European influence on the Incas’ crafts and way of life.
The changes began with importation of books, domestic objects and textiles
from Spain and later continued with Catholic education and instruction
from European artists. This exhibit of more than 175 works of art focuses
on the two uniquely rich and inherently Andean forms of art, tapestries
and silverwork that flourished during the colonial era. |
The artists of this period fused aspects
of both their native origins and European style to create a new form of
artistic expression. The exhibit features the finest examples of Inca and
colonial garments and tapestries, as well as ritual and domestic
silverwork. Together with a select group of colonial paintings and other
objects, drawn from museums, churches, and private collections in South
America, Europe, and the United States, the collection documents the
creative vitality of the complex Andean Culture that developed after the
conquest. The exhibit will be in the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Exhibition
Hall on the 2nd floor.
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The Area of the Lines of
Nasca Clarified |
In an effort to further protect the
cultural patrimony of Peru, the National Institute of Culture approved a
resolution with specific geographic parameters in the interest of
protecting the lines of Nasca. The lines are actually geoglyphs
constructed by moving the darker rocks to the side revealing the lighter
sand beneath. Some of the lines stretch for miles and are best viewed from
the air in order to see the entire figures.
In 1993, the lines were established to
occupy the ravines of Santa Cruz, Magallanes and Piedra, the valleys of
Santa Cruz, Rio Grande, Palpa, and Ingenio, and the Plains of Jumana,
Nasca, Las Trancas, and Crucero.
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National Directorial Resolution No.
654/INC established the exact locations of the lines using geo-location in
an effort to preserve and protect them for future generations.
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Tourism in Peru Increases |
Tourist arrivals in Peru from January to
July, 2004 increased by 24.9% as compared to the same period in 2003.
Carlos Zamorano Machiavello, the director of PromPeru, the Peruvian
Tourism Promotion Board, said that the numbers are encouraging. PromPeru
and the private sector have been working to increase the number of tourist
visits with a promotions and advertising campaign. He said that visits to
Peru are also increasing due to its stability and the diverse activities
available.
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The Travel Channel Films in
Peru |
The world renowned TV network, Travel
Channel, recently toured Peru’s main attractions to produce a documentary,
The Royal Tour of Peru. The tourist spots visited by the program include:
Chan Chan in Trujillo, Machu Picchu, the Nasca Lines and the Bay of
Paracas in Ica. The documentary will premiere at the end of the year,
first in the US and later in the rest of the world. It will put the eyes
of the world on Peru. It is expected to be viewed by 150 million people in
the United States and 300 million people in Asia and Europe.
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