The exhibition Por las Calles de San Juan, composed of works by master artist Rafael Tufiño, remains open to the general public at the Galería de San Juan following its opening during the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián.
Here are all the details.
A celebration of Tufiño's life
The exhibition serves as a celebration of the life of the beloved Puerto Rican visual artist, who would have turned 100 last October 2022. The Comité Centenario de Rafael Tufiño and the Municipality of San Juan joined together to honor his memory and present the works, which highlight the streets, plazas, beaches and houses of San Juan.
What you'll find at the Galería
Many of the pieces in the exhibition will give you a sense of Tufiño's perspective during the years he lived in properties on calles Sol, San Sebastián, Norzagaray and Cruz, in Old San Juan.
The collection includes linocuts, acrylic paintings, oil paintings, woodcuts, drawings, silkscreens, sketches and photographs, all from the perspective of the artist, who died in 2008 at age 85.
"This exhibition should make us reflect, not only on Tufiño's life, but on the life of a child who grew up selling peanuts and sweets on the streets of San Juan, dressing as a saint during the Fiestas de la Cruz and who, despite his physical departure, has been immortalized in his work," said San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero Lugo, who was present at the opening of the exhibition.
Gallery and hours
The Galería de San Juan is located on calle Norzagaray. The exhibition is open to the general public Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. On Sundays, hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
What to know about Tufiño
Rafael Tufiño was an artist of Puerto Rican origin who distinguished himself in painting, drawing, murals, illustration and the visual arts. He was born in New York in 1922 and came to Puerto Rico for the first time when he was 8 years old.
From a young age, he stood out in the arts. He was a founding member of the Centro de Arte Puertorriqueño, through which he promoted Puerto Rican culture and native expression through the arts.
Many knew him as "el pintor del pueblo" for capturing scenes of everyday Puerto Rican life in his work. His most famous piece is titled La Plena and is held at the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
