belize - state · stephen alvarez caracol, belize chromira print raymond gehman maya mountains,...
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�BelizeThe NEC Group of the Art in Embassies Program of the US State Department’s Office of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) curated, commissioned, and installed the permanent art collection in November, 2006. The OBO Interiors & Furnishings Division also participated.
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Belize is an ethnically diverse and culturally rich society made up of Creole, Mestizo, Garifuna, Mayan, European, Middle Eastern, Mennonite, Chinese, and East Indian peoples. The landscape of Belize is similarly rich and diverse encompassing lush tropical rain forests, offshore cayes, and the second largest coral reef in the world. This ecological beauty creates a unique haven for divers, hikers, bird-watchers, and other lovers of nature. The art collection in the US Embassy was selected to celebrate the diversity and beauty of nature—both of the United States and Belize.
The works range from large abstracted landscape paintings to photographs of Belize’s exotic terrestrial and aquatic wildlife. Photographs by National Geographic photographers Raymond Gehman, Stephen Alvarez, Nicole Duplaix, and Barry Tessman depict a variety of subjects such as the moonrise over pre-Columbian ruins, fauna and flora from the Turneffe Atoll, and other images from the Belizean landscape. A series of photographs by Michael Long afford an intimate view of nature in his dramatic close-ups of water cascades. Traces of nature surface in the three lattice-like, floral-shaped sculptures by Susan Plum. Nancy Lovendahl’s organic
sculptures of ceramic, rope, and brick resound with natural texture and shape. The three grand paintings of Niagara Falls by Allison Schulnik offer divergent impressions of one of America’s most iconic natural wonders. Alfredo Arreguin’s mosaic painting, Cosmic Flamingoes, captures the viewer with flamingoes soaring across a morning sky. Roxanne Rockwell’s brightly colored apples and oranges floating through the sky make one ponder the beauty of nature in a fantastical form.
We hope this new permanent art collection for the United State Embassy, Belmopan will inspire the viewer to connect with the natural splendor so abundant in the beautiful country of Belize.
Curator’s Note
�Dianne Kornberg1 N. Leutkeana II, 2004Edition �/1�2 N. Leutkeana I, 2004Edition �/1�� Celebration 1, 2004Edition �/1�All pigment ink on rag paper
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1�Skip BrownCay Caulker, BelizeChromira print
Raymond Gehman Rio Frio Cave, Chiquibul Forest Reserve, BelizeChromira print
1�Stephen AlvarezXunantunich near San Ignacio, BelizeChromira print
Steve WinterBelize Zoo, BelizeChromira print
2�Michael Long1 Blessed Water, 200�Edition 1/�2 Forest Breath, 200�Edition 1/�� Granite, 200�Edition 1/�4 Rock of Ages, 200�Edition 1/�� Time is, is Not, 200�Edition 1/�Photographs
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Nancy Lovendahl1 Greenwich Mean Time, 200�Cast paper, stainless steel and mixed media2 The Quadrants, 2004Ceramic, stainless steel and mixed media
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41Connie ArismendiSevilla, 2002Acrylic on panel, pencil on mylar
AlfredoArreguinCosmic Flamingoes, 200�Oil on canvas
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Raymond Gehman Maya Mountains, BelizeChromira print
Stephen AlvarezCay Caulker, BelizeChromira print
Stephen AlvarezHand Print Cave, Roaring Creek Valley, BelizeChromira print
Nicole Duplaix Turneffe Atoll, BelizeChromira print
Stephen AlvarezLamanai Archeological Reserve, BelizeChromira print
Ed GeorgeSilk Cay, BelizeChromira print
Nicole DuplaixTurneffe Atoll, BelizeChromira print
Kenneth GarrettUntitledChromira print
Stephen AlvarezCaracol, BelizeChromira print
Raymond GehmanMaya Mountains, BelizeChromira print
Nancy LovendahlAfter Rumi, 2001Ceramic, rope and mixed media
Roxene RockwellApples, 1���Collage on wood
Alfredo ArreguinCosmic Flamingoes, 200�Oil on canvas
Connie ArismendiBishounen (Beautiful Boy), 2002Acrylic on panel, pencil on mylar
Connie ArismendiSevilla, 2002Acrylic on panel, pencil on mylar
Allison SchulnikNiagara Falls #2, 2004Acrylic on canvas
Works not pictured