The mayor of Villanueva de la Cañada, Luis Partida, has inaugurated an exhibition entitled 'Villanueva de la Cañada, 400 years of villagehood', showcasing a collective display of nearly fifty artworks created by local artists. The exhibition is hosted across three galleries in the Centro Cultural La Despernada, named Aulencia, Guadarrama, and De la Vega, and offers a journey through the history, heritage, and landscapes of the municipality through various artistic disciplines.
The opening ceremony began with a performance by the Talía theatre group, directed by Leonor Parrilli, and was attended by participating artists, local councillors, and numerous residents. During his speech, Mayor Partida, accompanied by the Councillor for Culture, Jesús Fernando Agudo Sánchez, and the exhibition curator, artist Silvia Martínez, emphasised the role of art as a medium for expression and understanding. He stated, 'Art, in all its disciplines, has an extraordinary capacity to convey ideas, values, and emotions, but also to bring us closer to our past and help us view it from new perspectives.'
Partida also congratulated the artists for their talent and creativity, expressing his pride in the municipality's vibrant artistic community: 'As mayor, I am very proud that our municipality has such a large and participatory group of artists. Congratulations to all for this wonderful work.'
During the event, the mayor received a historical newspaper clipping from 1905, presented by the curator on behalf of all the artists, which contained information about the occupations and businesses present in the municipality in the early 20th century.
The exhibition is notable for its diversity in techniques, styles, and materials. It features predominantly paintings created in watercolour, oil, and acrylic on canvas, alongside sculptures, bas-reliefs, ceramic and bronze pieces, as well as photographs. All works are connected by the theme of the 400th anniversary of Villanueva de la Cañada being granted the title of villa.
Among the represented motifs are La Despernada, the princess who, according to legend, gave the municipality its name; the Castillo de Aulencia, a medieval fortification; and various natural sites within the locality.
The exhibition will be open for public viewing until 28 November, from Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 21:00, and on Saturdays from 10:00 to 14:00. Admission is free.
The local artists involved in this exhibition include Alfredo Figueiras Fernández Ojanguren, Alicia Fernández Zúñiga, Álvaro Alfonso Gómez, Amalia Pérez Cuadrupani, Annette Schock, Arancha García Sanz, Borja Martín, Clara Sancho Salvat, Elena Blanch González, Elena Corral García, Encarnación Hernández Rozas, Fernando Lancho, Héctor Marín Suárez, Inga Ivanoba, Javier Montesol, Jorge Aldama Blanch, Jose Carlos Espinel, Juan Alberto Martínez Rodríguez, Leonor Parrilli Saracco, Lina Arias Vega, Lola Durán Durán, Luis Agulló Spottorno, Luis Felipe García Díaz, Luis Merino Santamaría, Maite De La Rosa Kehrmann, Manuel A. Junco, María Sáez Rojas, Marina Arcos Checa, Marta de Cambra Antón, Melania Rebull Trudel, Mercedes Durán Espuny, Miguel Ángel De la Rosa, Miguel Llanos Morán, Mónica Cerrada Macías, Mónica Varela Louro, Oscar Bueno, Patricia Morenés Gurruchaga, Pedro Requejo Novoa, Pedro Terrón Manrique, Raúl Cogolludo, Ricardo Sarria Varela, Rosa Vázquez Vázquez, Silvia Martínez García, and Susan Connell.
