It is open to the public from ten in the morning to six in the evening, from Tuesday to Sunday.
By Ana María Ramos
El Inmobiliario
SANTO DOMINGO.-If you want to immerse yourself in local culture and delight your eyes with the magic of the visual arts, the Museum of Modern Art (MAM) invites you to stroll through its spacious galleries and experience the charms of its exhibitions free of charge.
Located in the Plaza de la Cultura in Santo Domingo, where various buildings were constructed to showcase the knowledge and expressions of our people, the building that was once called the Modern Art Gallery began its heyday on December 15, 1976.
Its name was changed to Museum of Modern Art in 1992, reflecting the evolution brought about by technology, which no longer limited itself to traditional sculpture, adding video, photography, performance, and other art forms. Thus, it became known as the Museum of Visual Arts, instead of the Museum of Plastic Arts.
The MAM is under the supervision of the General Directorate of Museums and since the creation of the Ministry of Culture in 2000, its guidelines are administered by that entity.
The Dominican architect José Miniño was in charge of designing the spacious three-story building, which also includes a basement level. Constructed of concrete, this cultural center boasts ample spaces where national and international artists exhibit their works on both the first and second floors.
It was during the COVID-19 pandemic that the museum reopened its doors, after being closed for renovations for four years. “We opened with the 29th Biennial, an event held every two years in which all Dominican artists or foreign artists who have resided in the country for five years participate,” says Ronald Gómez Nin, Public Relations Coordinator.
Although the opening date has not yet been specified, work is already underway on the installation of the permanent exhibition, which has not been put back in place since the remodeling and is selected from the more than fifteen hundred pieces that the Museum has in its custody.
“We are working on setting up the permanent exhibition, which will be on the third floor and will open to the public soon. The issue is that the Biennial held last year occupied the entire museum and ended in December. Since then, temporary exhibitions have begun, and we are currently selecting the works that will be put on display. The museum has about 1,500 pieces, of which between 80 and 100 are taken out; the rest are stored in a designated area,” says Gómez Nin.
The MAM is open to the public from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Tuesday through Sunday. Its current director is the architect Federico Foundeur. On the first floor, there is a shop where you can buy exhibition catalogs, souvenirs, and other books about the arts.
The museum's permanent collection includes Dominican, modern and contemporary art, spanning more than a century of sculpture, painting, drawing, printmaking and photography, as well as foreign works, mainly from Latin America.
The museum's visitors are primarily those interested in culture, tourists, university students completing assignments for their professors, and students from public schools and colleges organizing excursions to the museum from various parts of the country.
Gómez Nin mentions that buses full of students arrive from Neyba, Barahona, San Francisco de Macorís, Mao and other points of the national territory, who are received and led through previously coordinated guided visits.
The first exhibition shown at the Museum almost five decades ago was that of the Canadian artist Robert Russin, and among the numerous exhibitions that stand out in its history are those of Pablo Picasso, Rauschenberg, Eugenio Granell, Yoryi Morel, Paul Giudicelli, Jaime Colson, Theodorè Chaseriaux, Vangelis, Leopoldo Maler, Fernando Varela, Ramón Oviedo, Silvano Lora, Pérez Celis, Arnaldo Roche-Rabell and José Bedia, among many others.
Current exhibitions
Gustavo Vélez is a Colombian artist whose exhibition opened on October 14th and will run until January 29th, 2023. “Forms and rhythms in the geometric dimension” is the name of the show, which features 32 sculptures spread across the first floor, the front esplanade, and a portion of the basement.
The sculptures measure up to 6 meters in height, as is the case of "Visions", a work in white Carrara marble installed in the central plaza of the Museum.
“Last night we inaugurated a retrospective exhibition of Manuel Montilla, a prominent Dominican artist, which covers 50 years of artistic career, his entire life in the arts with works that come from his workshop and were provided by collectors,” explains Gómez Nin, referring to the exhibition “Imaginary Cosmos”.
Throughout the entire second level you can enjoy a fascinating tour of an exhibition that combines various art techniques.
If you want to change up your Sunday, whether with family, your partner, or simply on your own, head to the Museum of Modern Art and immerse yourself in a bath of good culture that will delight your senses.
