The Grail. The Urquiza Museum of Fine Arts School was founded in 1818 as a rustic “field school for boys” in the middle of nowhere; Therefore, it is the oldest school in the city of Buenos Aires; although in this colonial period the Flores area was a separate district in the province of Buenos Aires.
There were no crops in this area; Just pastures, perhaps a farm, then a car park or it served as a suitable field for parties or political events. But first the church and later the schools gave identity to the neighborhood with Plaza Pueyrredón (which we all know as “Plaza Flores”) and the arrival of the tram.
The school, which occupies about 32 m at 2370 Yerbal Street between Fray Cayetano Rodríguez and Caracas, was closed between 1838 and 1853 due to budget shortages related to political decisions or war problems, such as the Anglo-French blockade of the Río de la Plata.
Later, from 1864 onwards, the institution underwent several name changes and numerous moves until it had its own house designed and built by the renowned architect between 1894 and 1895 Alejandro Christophersen (1866-1946), Norwegian citizen and resident of Argentina. It should be remembered that he was the architect of many iconic buildings such as the Stock Exchange, the Anchorena Palace, the Spanish Hospital, the facade of the Café Tortoni and the Basilica of Santa Rosa de Lima.
In keeping with the Argentine school rationalism of the time, it features large windows that naturally illuminate the classrooms. Gables on the first floor give it a stately touch, and a balcony with balustrades stands out. Inside, the gallery features a checkerboard floor (typical of elegant colonial villas) bathed in light thanks to a generous high skylight. Between the original structure and the later additions, the facilities unfold four levels.
Today is the School #1 School District 12 Grail. Urquizabut it went through various designations until it was assigned to him Urquiza as a patron. In a series of dates and events, it is worth noting that in 1977 the first five students entered to mark the beginning of mixed studentswhich later added the beginning level to the primary school and, going into its more recent history, in 2007 the Intensification in art (dance, theater, visual arts and audiovisual media).
It was designated in 1998 by the Buenos Aires City Legislature for its historical value and its invaluable artistic heritage of great Argentine masters, such as: Benito Quinquela Martín, Luis Perlotti, Raúl Soldi, Guillermo Roux, Mariette Lydis, Luis Zorz And Lola Frexas.
This year, the improvement of the building and exhibition spaces is a joint effort of the Cultural Management and Plastic Education Curriculum Management Divisions of the Primary School Directorate, the General Directorate of Maintenance of the Municipality, the Quinquela Martín Fine Arts Museum, the Huellas de la Escuela team, the Cultural Heritage Divisions and the Educational Community.
Marcelo Di Gioiaa biologist and former student who graduated in 1975 and was proud of his time at the school recalled to LUGARES: “It was a very nice time, there was a warm atmosphere and it was nice to be surrounded by art. I went from kindergarten to seventh grade. Of course, so many paintings caught our attention, but at that age it didn’t seem strange to us, but something normal.”
Back then it was still a boys’ school and we had the usual primary school subjects.” Along with his former classmates, he has fond memories of the 6th and 7th grade science teacher, Román Luis Capo, who lived up to his last name… “except when he got angry,” adds Marcelo.
It was in 1963 when the visual artist Carlos Sprovieri (former student and director of the school) marked the beginning of the museum concept together with the famous painter Benito Quinquela Martín, who, following pedagogical criteria, bequeathed many of his works to, as he said, “encourage and awaken the vocation of the student and guide him through the regions of dreaming and poetry”.
From the moment you enter it is there Oil paintings, watercolors, tempera paints and collages everywhere. After climbing the entrance stairs, on the left is a large oil painting of the harbor, painted by Francisco Buzzurroon the right a bust of Saint Martin by the Italian sculptor Manuel Pinnisi and next to it a sculpture of the actor Enrique Muiño by Luis Perlotti… In this way, daily teaching takes place between paintings, sculptures, memorial plaques, drawings, filletings and engravings.
One of the jewels of cultural heritage Blue hour in La Bocaby Quinquela, the artist’s only blue nocturne, recorded in 1963. It occupies a special place in the exhibition, which includes special rooms, a covered terrace, a gallery, stairs, a meeting room or administrative areas.
It also affects the route The constitution guides the people2011 Tempera created by neighbor Roux (for a Santa Fe Legislature mural) and gifted to the school in 2012. “With all my love,” he wrote below when handing it over.
Just like on an easel which I love Raina wonderful oil painting Oscar Vazone of the great mariners of the harbor landscape in harmony with realism. This was one of the many canvases that were restored and cleaned – a laudable fact of historic preservation – a painstaking process that revealed the silhouette of a ship in the background.
And not only does the property preserve Christophersen’s print, it also houses a bust of him, sculpted by the great Italian sculptor. Troiano Troiani (who came to the country in 1914 on a scholarship from the Argentine government) and was donated to the facility by his colleague Antonio Pujía.
During his time at the Roberto Barrani Gallery – painter and former director ad honor of the museum – creations by art teachers from the school district are on display, a valuable participatory cultural endeavor.
“Our art gallery has 430 works! All donated by neighbors and artists, figurative in style, distributed according to a thematic curatorial distribution. We try to use the works as inspiration for students and implement them comprehensively, from the first to the seventh grade. There are children who pick up the themes Antonio Berni: the immigrants, the figure Juanito Laguna, the theme of “monsters” in his sculptures and collages made from waste,” the directors of the school and museum told LUGARES. Gladys Di Benedetto and Patricia Jastrzebski.
“Between May and November, 1,088 people visited the museum, including children and adults… we are talking about students from other schools, parents, neighbors, teachers and visitors to the Night of the Museums,” it said. Unfortunately, at least for now, it is the only date open to the public.
Regarding the importance of Don Benito, they said that in part of the 60s and 70s “a dozen artists gathered in a room on Friday evenings or Saturdays at lunchtime to eat pasta à la quinquela, that is, in the colors of Italy: pesto, tomato and white sauce. It happened in what is now the Norman Room. At that time the school administrator complained about these eccentric characters of the Order of the Screw”. (The humorous prize that Don Benito gave to creative personalities who committed positive actions for society and… a little crazy − who were missing a screw −).
The painter from La Boca was the first honorary president of the museum and was succeeded by the renowned soldiers Soldi and Roux.
Related to Urquiza, the famous writer Roberto Arlt (1900-1942) wrote: “I was still in elementary school when I was bitten by the literary bug. I swallowed books and vomited stories.” Poetic mention of who attended this school because he lived in the Flores neighborhood, an area he considered his “home.”
An important author of Argentine literature, he proved to be a precocious writer, voracious reader and magician of the pen, displaying a grotesque and fantastic aesthetic.
Another talent trained in these classrooms is the musician, singer, keyboardist and composer Daniel Melero“prominent figure of the culture of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires” who told LUGARES: “We had an open terrace to play ball and in the peace we were surrounded by paintings and no one damaged any. This environment was very inspiring, as were the teachers. For me it was a great influence, something positive. They know what it is to play among works of art! I always remember it.” Blue hour in La Bocafrom Quinquela Martin. Without a doubt, it was a fantastic experience because we were closely connected to writing, literature or history; although mathematics was also required,” he told LUGARES.
The record producer (of Soda Stéreo, Babasónico…) took his first steps as an artist in front of an audience in elementary school. An event was held in the auditorium where 12-year-old Melero played guitar and sang and also performed with the band they formed. “Back then, I was already composing songs that my parents supported. And with a few colleagues we put together a band that the drummer gave the name: Phaz. Yes, with an h in the middle.”
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