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Photographic Exhibition “Save the Forest, Save the Culture” A Great Success, Despite Winter Storm Conditions January 20, 2011 The “Save the Forest, Save the Culture” exhibition opening at The Gabarron Foundation – Carriage House Center for the Arts was a great success, despite winter storm conditions with bone-chilling winds and freezing rain. This exhibition’s relevance as a cultural event of global importance was made obvious by an incredible turnout of guests, who filled the gallery and entrance space from 6 until 8pm on Tuesday, January 18. The “Save the Forest, Save the Culture” Exhibition joins a roster of other scheduled events throughout the year in celebration of the United Nations’ International Year of Forests, 2011. Photographs by Attila Lorant and Antonio Briceño of South and Central American rainforest peoples, their cultures and natural environments are currently on display at the Carriage House and in Times Square for the next two months.
The Gabarron Foundation, “Save the Forest, Save the Culture” Photographers, Curators and the United Nations Forum of Forests Secretariat participate in this exhibition primarily through mutual recognition of their corresponding initiatives to aid in creating a sustainable society by promoting culture and environmental responsibility. Juan Manuel Gabarron, the Carriage House Center’s Vice President and CEO, introduced the exhibition and its participants to a gathering audience. The “Save the Forest, Save the Culture” Project co-founders and Exhibition Curators, Alessandra Mattanza and Ana Santos, Exhibition Curator and Designer, Augusto Ferretti, and the Director of the Forum on Forests Secretariat of the United Nations, Jan McAlpine, followed his introduction with brief presentations further describing their particular agendas in expansion of “Save the Forest, Save the Culture”.
Mr. Lorant and Mr. Briceño had traveled from Hungary and Venezuela, respectively, to attend the opening event and to view their works in the gallery space, which were met with overwhelming admiration for their individual qualities in reference to the exhibition’s larger purpose. Standing amongst his photographs the day following the opening, Mr. Lorant recounted his conversations from the preceding night; he was overwhelmed and pleasantly surprised that most people approached his work by first embracing the larger issue of deforestation and its detrimental effect upon global ecology and native interests: preservation of local culture, community and survival. International interest concerning deforestation and environmental sustainability was represented by event attendees. Dr. Thietmar Bachmann, Cultural Attaché of the German Consulate in New York City, Bisila Bokoko, Executive Director of The Spain-US Chamber of Commerce in New York, Paloma Marugan from ICEX, Spanish Model Almudena Fernandez, among others, were included among the evening’s guests. Mr. Gabarron also welcomed Carlos Pujol, CEO of Cemusa, to the Carriage House Center for the Arts.
Cemusa, a multinational street furniture company based in Spain, joins the Gabarron Foundation in presenting a digital street exhibition in Times Square to accompany “Save the Forest, Save the Culture” at the Carriage House Center. The Times Square exhibition is an exciting installment of Mr. Lorant and Mr. Briceño’s photographs. A rotating selection of 5 images will be selected weekly and exhibited sequentially on 16 screens, with each set of 5 photographs displayed for a combined total of 30 seconds, every 8 minutes. Potential viewership during the digital exhibition’s length numbers up to 6 million people. “Save the Forest, Save the Culture” will be exhibited at The Gabarron Foundation – Carriage House Center for the Arts and in Times Square until March 19, 2011.
The Gabarron Foundation-Carriage House Center for the Arts is a non-profit institution and an exclusive international center specializing in art exhibitions and other cultural activities. Since 2002, we have strived to be an excellent platform in the United States to spread Spanish culture, and above all contemporary art. At the same time our organization has promoted exchange and understanding between Spanish and American cultures, providing a space for interaction and enhanced appreciation of emerging and established cultural figures from both countries. For further information and/or images: Curatorial and Exhibitions department Tel: 212 573 6968 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 212 573 6968 end_of_the_skype_highlighting ext. 10 exhibitions@gabarron.org