Juliaca, October 1959
“ORIENTATION”
STREET REPORT
REPORT TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS, PUNO
-In which school did you perfect your knowledge of art?
-In the National School of Fine Arts of Lima as a scholarship holder since 1946 and then as a student of mural painting.
-Who were your teachers?
-Mr. Alejandro González, who besides being a good painter is a tireless student of Peruvian art and is currently in charge of the artistic crafts section of the School of Fine Arts. As a mural teacher I had the prestigious Peruvian muralist Carlos Quispe Asín, one of the best national muralists, whose work we can appreciate in the building of the Ministry of Public Education.
Then as a teacher Mr. Sabino Springer, a painter who has exhibited in Peru and has participated in Biennials abroad; otherwise all the teachers of the School of Fine Arts of Lima collaborate in the artistic development of any student and also instill that spiritual and ethical taste that give the teachers more than teachers are friends: Alberto Davila, Segundo Springer, Juan Manuel Ugarte (Director of the School), Carlos Attilo Castillo and the sculptor Joaquin Roca Rey. Also, the direct collaboration of critics of great merit as Juan Acha (J. Nahuevca) and Fernando de la Jara, who maintain columns in various newspapers and magazines such as “El Comercio” and “La Prensa” of Lima.
-Did you participate in art exhibitions?
-I have participated in many group exhibitions, in painting and six more: At the ANEA, at the Art Institute of the Municipality of Lima and the Institute of Contemporary Art; also in an exhibition held in Buenos Aires. By participating in contests I have obtained the following prizes and rewards:
1950 First Prize in Painting “San Juan de Amancas” at the National School of Fine Arts.
1947 - 1951 and 1956 - 1958 Scholarships National School of Fine Arts.
1954 Second Prize awarded by the Municipality of Piura - Piura Week.
1956 Second Honorable Mention in the Salon of the Municipality of Lima.
1957 First Honorable Mention in the Salon of the Municipality of Lima.
1958 National Painting Award “Ignacio Merino” and Promotion of Culture.
-Were you a professor at any school?
1954 -1954 Degree of Professor of Plastic Arts No. 46781 issued in October 1954.
1955 Professor of the Teacher Training Course of Guadalupe by Directorial Resolution No. 302.
1957-1958 Professor of Drawing and Manual Arts at the Almirante Guisse School in Lima and Santa Margarita School in Callao and the Sacred Hearts School in Recoleta.
-Could you tell us how you were appointed Director of the Regional School of Fine Arts of Puno?
-Through a contest organized by the Directorate of Culture of the Ministry of Public Education, in which I presented papers to the public with art notes published in Regístulas, with the participation of several teachers of outstanding merit. I was appointed by Ministerial Resolution No. 5770 dated 27-4-59.
-What conditions does your school offer to students who have graduated from a Cultural Center?
-In the School that I direct none of the Professors of this Regional School of Fine Arts of Puno, is a graduate of any Superior Center of Culture.
-What are the dispositions of the Puneño Student for Art?
-In general in Puno there is a great disposition for art (music, painting, poetry, literature, etc.), but it is curious, I still do not find this type of student with a strong artistic vocation willing to take art seriously as a means of artistic expression and willing to investigate the problems of plastic art and the influences that our art has suffered.
-In what condition did you find the school when you took over its management?
-It is quite abandoned, because it lacks until now, for example, a School of Painting works as it should, without hygienic service, without a lot for live models, without adequate lighting for drawing, inadequate classrooms for study, the eleven days of taking charge of the Directorate I made a trip to Lima, again, to expose this situation to the Minister, the current one is providing us with the best facilities.
-Thank you, Mr. Delfín, for your interesting statements. I hope that, as Director of Culture, your school will be able to adequately fulfill its public work.
-To the Representatives for Puno: Teófilo Monroy Solórzano and Jorge Basadre. To the gentlemen of Amat, who have offered me their valuable cooperation, to the distinguished Monrroy, who gave me all his support. We hope that the representatives do not forget that the artistic culture of their land needs the decisive and energetic collaboration of their authorities. We are trying to restore the school with scarce resources. Our students are ninety-four, including twenty-four at night. We have no better lighting installation....