arts

The old Curundu Middle School and its unmistakable dome were one of the more visible pieces of real estate that Panama received pursuant to the Carter-Torrijos Treaties, and at the beginning of the Moscoso administration the plan was to tear it down. Fortunately, that idiotic notion fell before a wave of protests, mainly from Panama's musicians and theater people, and instead the old junior high was named after Mireya's late brother-in-law Harmodio Arias and turned over to the University of Panama, which relocated its fine arts and physical education departments there.

The university's budget woes show at the facility. Though they have eliminated the mold on the windows from the time when the electric company shut off the lights and air conditioners, the dysfunctional clocks are the first obvious indication of maintenance not done.

Despite that, the art students are systematically filling the walls with murals and other spaces with sculptures. Give them a few years and the public art at the Curundu campus will rival that at the University of Panama central campus, but there are already some nice things to see.

Shown above and below are parts of a long canvas inside the dome itself, with symbols of Panama's recent centennial that include a couple of this country's controversial historical figures, martyred Liberal guerrilla leader Victoriano Lorenzo (above) and social reforming military strongman Omar Torrijos (below).

Who goes there in Davy Jones's locker?

Are the influences of Spanish abstract artists and Mexican muralists present on this wall?

This is not The Cosmic Juggler at work, but may be a sculptural depiction of that phenomenon.

This is the University of Panama, not the Donald Trump organization or the local modeling agencies, and thus the standards of beauty reflect Panamanian sensibilities.

Also in this section:
Art students leave their mark in Curundu
London Royal Ballet dancer Iñaki Urlezaga coming to town
Oliver Twist, adapted to the Casco Viejo
Gabriela Sosa's new short film well received

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