GFDD and FUNGLODE Photo Exhibit Highlights Beauty and Diversity of the Dominican Republic

New York, 09/13/2011

“Breathtaking”, “Stunning”, “Magnificent” were just some of the many impassioned comments made by hundreds gathered at the inauguration of the “New Perspectives of the Dominican Republic” photo exhibit on September 13 at the City College of New York Amsterdam Plaza. Distinguished guests included the Dominican Consul General in New York, Maximo Cortcino, State Senator Bill Perkins, leaders in the NY Dominican Community, students and the general public. The photographic exposition, an ongoing initiative of Global Foundation for Democracy (GFDD) and its sister institution in Santo Domingo, Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE), is being held in collaboration with the City College of New York Libraries and the CUNY Center for Dominican Studies Institute.

The exhibit, taking place until October 31 in an area of Manhattan know for its large Dominican Diaspora, will showcase aerial images from the book “New Perspectives: Dominican Republic”, a publication by GFDD and FUNGLODE realized by an international interdisciplinary team led by Project Director and Editor-in-Chief, Natasha Despotovic. The photos featured in the Exhibit are by Dominican-based photographer Anne Casale. It features 56 images from the provinces of: Samaná, La Altagracia, Santiago Rodríguez, Santo Domingo, Perdenales, Barahona, Monte Cristi, Valverde, Puerto Plata, Santiago, Espaillat, Salcedo, María Trinidad Sánchez, Duarte, Hato Mayor, El Seibo, La Romana, San Pedro de Macorís, Monte Plata, San Cristóbal, San José, Azua, La Vega, San José de Ocoa, Sánchez Ramírez, Peravia, Monseñor Nouel, Independencia, Bahoruco, Elías Piña and Dajabón.

The show was opened by Master of Ceremonies Anthony Stevens-Acevedo, Assistant Director of the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute. He then introduced College of New York President Lisa Staiano-Coico, who gave her introduction in Spanish to the delight of the crowd. She welcomed collaboration with the Global Foundation and said that City College demonstrates a special interest in the Dominican Republic, especially of Upper Manhattan, through the Dominican Studies Institute - the sole academic research center in the country dedicated to studying the Dominican community in the U.S. She continued by saying that Dominicans represent the largest community in the City College student body.

Ramona Hernández, Director of the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute (CUNY DSI) & Professor of Sociology at The City College of New York, thanked all present in particular GFDD whom she explained helps DSI remain “visible & tangible” and serves as a reminder to all of the vital roles Dominicans play in the greater New York community. She also acknowledged the staff of GFDD and of CCNY for their invaluable work to make this exhibit happen including a special thanks to Prof. Sarah Aponte, who was responsible for coordinating the work for the exhibit on behalf of the CUNY DSI, and to established Dominican artist Luis Leonor, who designed the photo exhibit structures.

Next, GFDD’s Executive Director & Project Director for “New Perspectives: Dominican Republic”, Natasha Despotovic, took to the podium. She said the aerial photographs capture many different parts of the country from a perspective that most do not get to see. The idea for this project came as a result of a flight from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana, where she and the internationally acclaimed photographer Anne Casale saw workers in cane fields and began to spontaneously shoot photos. Before its arrival at CUNY, the exhibit has been on display in Santo Domingo, Santiago, Barcelona, Washington, DC and at the United Nations during the annual General Assembly meeting.

Director Despotovic went on to say that it was a pleasure to work with CUNY and hopes to work on many more projects together with the purpose of contributing to the social, economic and democratic development of the Dominican Republic.

Anne Casale thanked GFDD for all their support in bringing the Exhibit to fruition and said that she was honored to participate in the “New Perspectives: Dominican Republic” exhibit, a project endorsed by President Leonel Fernández. “This exhibition gives us all a chance to enjoy the diversity of colors and contrasts the country has to offer. The Dominican Republic has a vast wealth of natural beauty, much more than just its beaches”. She added that the DR is “a never-ending source of magnificent views” and that she hopes the images presented in the exhibit will stimulate a move to protect the nation’s beaches, preserve its archaeological heritage and strengthen its cultural identity.

Both the book New Perspectives: Dominican Republic and the photo exhibit are projects of GFDD and FUNGLODE, non- profit organizations registered in the U.S. and the Dominican Republic. The book, New Perspectives: Dominican Republic is a 300 page bilingual English-Spanish publication comprised of nearly 400 aerial images. The publication is divided into 9 chapters – Reflections of Light, Coasts, Heights, Plains, History, City, People, Tourism and Work – that contain images and text describing various aspects of the country’s history, culture, ecology and contemporary life.

Entrance to the Exhibit is on Amsterdam Avenue between West 137 and 138th streets and is free and open to the public.

For individuals interested in purchasing the book or hosting their own “New Perspectives” photo exhibit, more information can be found at: http://www.newperspectivesdominicanrepublic.com  

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