We Are Proud To Support This Project. 

Please join us for a collaborative exhibition project, featuring the collection of Miguel Chirinos, curated by Miguel Rojas-Sotelo, and assisted by Marlon Torres.

Exhibit dates: July 9 to September 23, 2011  Fredric Jameson Gallery. Friedl Building. Duke University, East Campus. Durham, NC.

Gallery hours: Mon – Thurs 9am to 4pm. Except during special events; Friday and weekends by request; see website for further details.

Information at: bolivarblvd@gmail.com

Tel. 919-699-4036 / 919-681-3883

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Acompañenos a la exhibición y proyecto colaborativo, que presenta parte de la investigación de Miguel Chirinos sobre el impacto de Simón Bolívar en los Estados Unidos; co-organizada por Miguel Rojas-Sotelo, y asistida por Marlon Torres.

Fechas: Julio 9 a Septiembre 23, 2011. 

 Fredric Jameson Gallery. Friedl Building. Duke University, East Campus. Durham, NC.

 Horario al público: Lunes a Jueves 9am a 4pm. Excepto durante los eventos especiales; viernes y fines de semana por reserva. Vea la página Web para más detalles.

 Más información: bolivarblvd@gmail.com   Tel. 919-699-4036 / 919-681-3883

 

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Simon Bolivar was a central figure in the 19th century wars of independence of Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Panama. Known as “The Liberator,” Bolivar is regarded as one of the most influential political leaders in South American history.

Prior to his successful political and military career, Bolivar traveled and studied extensively in Europe, and also toured the United States and Caribbean nations.  These travels deepened his understanding of global events and further inspired his revolutionary ideas.  Today, from New York to Missouri to North Carolina, one can find tributes both to Bolivar’s tour through the United States and to his legacy of visionary leadership in South America, in the form of monuments, place names, and products. 

Similar to the US bicentennial events celebrated in 1976, Venezuela commemorates its bicentennial anniversary of independence from Spain this year.  With this exhibition, we join in the bicentennial celebration by highlighting the US footprint of Simon Bolivar, a visionary leader often referred to as the “George Washington of South America.”

The primary exhibit items are part of a larger collection by Miguel Chirinos, a local historian and native of Venezuela who has studied and written about Bolívar. The exhibition has been curated by Miguel Rojas-Sotelo and assisted by Marlon Torres.

The exhibition is divided in three zones that try to feature the complexity of the objects produced (and collected by Chirinos) around the name Simon Bolivar.

  1. Branding Bolivar
  2. Memorializing Bolivar
  3. Historical Facts and Curiosities


Miguel_Chirinos.pngMiguel Chirinos was born in Caracas, Venezuela in 1967 and grew up in the historic city, La Victoria, Aragua State in Northwest Venezuela. Although Chirinos´s educational background is in computer science, his passion is history, and he has continously sought out opportunities to visit historic sites in his country of origin, especially those related to Simón Bolívar. Chirinos moved to the United States in 1996, where his interest in Bolívar´s life has continued, and has grown to include research on Bolívar´s trip to the United States in 1807.
Chirinos lives with his family in Durham, North Carolina, where his most recent work involves researching and writing articles about Latin American heroes whose images are portrayed on print money. These articles have been published in specialized magazines and journals and are available online. He has also participated in annual conventions, international congresses, currency shows and educational programs for young people.
With this exhibit, Chirinos hopes to engage a wider audience in his interest related to Simón Bolívar´s life, and in particular to the US legacy of Bolívar´s travels through this country.