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• 12 / 05 / 2008

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Artist Jose Antonio Rodriguez Fuster was yesterday presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Cuban Foundation Cultural Goods. The honor was presented to him by Minister of Culture Abel Prieto in recognition of the quality and originality of the artist’s ceramic work.

The distinction was made during the opening ceremony of the 12th International FIART crafts fair, which began on Thursday in the Pabexpo exhibition hall, and will run until December 14.

Along with Fuster, also awarded were Clotilde Rodriguez for work in papier-mâché; and Samuel Wenstein, Petrolina Escobar, and Benita Martin Esterbina Benitez for their work with cloth, while the textile award went to Teresita Cao.

The occasion was also appropriate for the bestowing of the Master Artisan Award to more than a dozen other creators, among whom stands out Carmen Fiol, who has been involved with artistic creation for more than 70 years.

FIART 2008 is dedicated to the Cuban province of Sancti Spiritus, and brings together designers from 13 countries, who are represented among the fair’s 278 booths.

The exhibition’s purpose is to foster the development of handicrafts and promote excellence in a wide variety of forms, which are created with a contemporary vision without turning the back to tradition.

Those attending the opening ceremony included deputy ministers of Culture Rafael Bernal and Julio Ballester; UNEAC president Miguel Barnet, National Council of Visual Arts president Ruben del Valle, as well as several National Art Award winners.

(ACN)