LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University welcomed two prominent Spanish artists and poets to campus last week for their North American debut.
Alexandra Domínguez and Juan Carlos Mestre visited classes at Transylvania and two public schools: Bryan Station High School and the School of the Creative and Performing Arts. They also gave a free, public reading of their work on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m. in Transylvania’s Carrick Theater. Following the reading, a reception in Morlan Gallery featured “Swept Up in Whispers,” a colorful exhibition of their art books, etchings and paintings.
Additionally on Nov. 12, the married couple gave an Art Talk at 12:30 p.m. in Morlan Gallery. This event also was free and open to the public.
Domínguez and Mestre —who have presented together only once before—have exhibited their works throughout Europe and in South America.
Domínguez, who was awarded the Gran Premio Nacional Salón Sur de Pintura in Chile, studied art at the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid and Real Academia de Bellas Artes de Sant Jordi in Barcelona. Her poetry collections—including “The Conquest of Air”—also have won awards.
Mestre is among Spain’s most acclaimed contemporary poets, winning recognitions such as Premio Adonáis and the National Poetry, National Literary Critics and Jaime Gild de Biedma awards. Though his principal medium is poetry, he is a self-trained artist, working especially with ink and watercolors and as a printmaker.
‘Swept Up in Whispers’
This exhibition is currently open and runs through Dec. 4. Admission is free, and Morlan Gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m. weekdays, closed Nov. 25-27. To make a special appointment to view the gallery, call director Andrea Fisher at 859-233-8142. Morlan is in the Mitchell Fine Arts Center off West Fourth Street.