The Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Guadalupe, in Cáceres, is relevant for its history and its architecture; it combines the Gothic, Mudejar, Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical styles. This 14th century monastery, which began to be built by order of Alfonso XI, received Saint Teresa of Jesusto Saint Pedro de Alcántara, to Saint Vicente Ferrer, to Saint Francisco de Borja and to many other personalities of the arts and religion, as well as to Spanish monarchs and European emperors; The Catholic Monarchs met there with Christopher Columbus, and works by Zurbarán, Goya and El Greco are preserved there. It is located on the southern slope of the Altamira hill and both the beautiful surroundings and the magnificent and beautiful construction and its meaning seem the perfect place to host “The Observatory of the Invisible”.
“The Observatory of the Invisible” is an event aimed above all at students (bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate) and recently graduated professionals in fields of all artistic disciplines
“The Observatory of the Invisible” is a summer school of art and spirituality. This year, in its second edition, it takes place from July 25 to 30. The organizes the VIA Foundationfounded by a group of artists with the aim of promoting art and artists through the renewal and integration of the various disciplines and research, training and exchange of experiences and knowledge, within the Guadalupense Holy Year and with the support of the Archbishopric of Toledo and the Royal Monastery of Guadalupe. It is an event aimed mainly at students (bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate) and recently graduated professionals in fields of all artistic disciplines.
The name, “The Observatory of the Invisible”, is undoubtedly very suggestive. “Art is not there to make the obvious visible. That’s what reality is for. The invisible is precisely what art talks about, the mystery, what cannot be talked about, but can be contemplated, ”explains Javier Viver, one of the creators, in an interview in El Debate.
This school of art and spirituality allows about a hundred young people to learn and grow from the hand of prestigious professors in their different disciplines
The format is designed so that each participant chooses among the available workshops according to their discipline and interest. On the other hand, there are a series of transversal activities in which the unity of the arts, their role in promoting culture and their social responsibility will be palpable. Activities such as concerts, colloquiums, polyphonic prayers, film forums, interdisciplinary evenings or exhibitions.
This school of art and spirituality allows about a hundred young people to learn and grow from the hand of prestigious professors in their different disciplines. The seven workshops available this year are from Photography (with photographers Eduardo and Sema D’Acosta), paint (with Elena Goñi), writing (with Izara Batres), music (with Ignacio Yepes), theater (with the actor Joaquín Notario), sculpture (with Pedro Quesada) and binding and embroidery (with Yolanda Andrés and Natalia G. Vilas).
It is hopeful to see that among the young generations there is an interest in excellence, spirituality and beauty
In addition to general registration, “El Observatorio de lo Invisible” has a list of universities (including CEU, UNAV, UNIR and UFV) that collaborate by providing scholarships to students who are interested in this summer school to that they can enjoy a reduced registration fee.
It is hopeful that projects like this arise, that seek development and improvement, and that aspire to the integral contemplation of the artist, of the human being. It is encouraging to know that there are people interested in working in such companies. And, above all, it is hopeful to see that among the young generations there is concern for excellence, spirituality and beauty.
The Observatory of the Invisible: a school of art and spirituality