Masks in Mar del Plata

By Cecilia Glanzmann

Prior to the latest Book Fair in Mar del Plata, and also during the Fair, the Book of Masks and Poems by sculptress Marta Díez and poet Rubén Vela was presented at the imposing Villa Victoria.
Organized by writer Marta Salvador and held under the auspices of the Cultural Secretariat of Mar del Plata, the EMTUR declared it to be of Touristic Interest. Poet Esther de Izaguirre pointed out to the importance of the book being presented at the place where mythical Victoria Ocampo had lived. This, she held, together with the Masks being displayed, contributes to creating the illusion of a trip to a timeless place, most suitable for acknowledging a wonderful book with poems by inspired Vela and Masks by outstanding sculptress Marta Díez.
She told us , “It is the disquieting beauty of mystery, the miracle producing symbols, inexpressible feelings. Hers are masks and sculptures that remind us of the time when, joining their outer nature and their own human nature, early men grasped the mysterious shapes so as to invoke the gods”.
Furthermore, writer Bertha Bilbao stated, “Marta Díez’s book displays her power for absorbing various cultures, her efforts as a researcher, and the impregnation of that which is numinous in her art.
Rubén Vela adds a plus to the work which enriches it, his contribution adding to the mystery. He seems to notice that explaning, commenting, analysing, rather than cast light on Marta Díez´s artistic corpus, might blurr it. Hence his having chosen poetic text to convey his feelings. A most suitable correspondence of the arts.