International Art Day

Celebrating creativity, community, and the human spirit

Today, April 15, we celebrate the power of human creativity and the legacy of one of the most influential minds in history: Leonardo da Vinci.
This date was chosen in 2012 by the International Association of Art (IAA) to honor Da Vinci’s birthday and represent peace, freedom of expression, and the cultural diversity that art inspires worldwide.

Art: Mirror and engine of society

Art is not a luxury; it is a fundamental part of being human.
Throughout history, it has served as a powerful tool to express ideas, emotions and challenge the status quo. From cave paintings to contemporary installations, art has documented our evolution, questioned injustice, and fueled social change.

In times of crisis or transformation, art offers comfort and reflection.
It helps us understand ourselves and the world we live in. Art has also played key roles in political and social movements, becoming a voice for resistance and progress.

Honoring the artists in our communities

Today is not just about celebrating iconic masters—it’s also about recognizing the countless contemporary artists whose names may not be widely known but whose work enriches our daily lives.

These creators, often working quietly, are the ones who strengthen cultural identity and build community through their dedication and talent.

Let’s also acknowledge the small galleries in our cities and neighborhoods that support these local artists.

These spaces play a vital role in promoting new voices, cultural dialogue, and artistic growth. Supporting them means nurturing art in its most authentic and accessible form.

Conclusion

Art reflects who we are, but it also shapes who we can become.

On this International Art Day, let’s celebrate its power to connect, challenge, and inspire—and let’s support the artists who keep that power alive in our communities.

Carlos Apitz: Bringing art to life in Miami

In Miami, artist Carlos Apitz runs an art studio that offers painting classes for all ages and skill levels.

His dedication to art education and cultural outreach has made his studio an ideal space for creativity and artistic growth, contributing to the cultural heartbeat of the city.

Filippo Costa: Un Ícono de la Cultura Urbana de Caracas

Para mis paisanos venezolanos, especialmente a los caraqueños hoy les escribo sobre Filippo Costa, un ícono de la Cultura Urbana de Caracas. Si comiste perros calientes en la plaza Altamira… este texto es para ti.

Filippo Costa, inmigrante italiano nacido en Sicilia, llegó a Venezuela en 1967 buscando nuevas oportunidades, gracias a su cuñado Filippo Saglimbeni, quien ya era conocido por vender perros calientes en la Plaza Francia de Altamira. Esta conexión familiar le permitió a Costa integrarse rápidamente en la vida caraqueña, siguiendo los pasos de su cuñado y convirtiéndose en una figura emblemática de la ciudad de Caracas.

En Caracas, Filippo gestionó su propio carrito de perros calientes en el municipio de Chacao, apuntando a una clientela muy especifica: Las personas que disfrutaban la vida nocturna de la ciudad, especialmente al este de la misma. Por esta razón trabajaba hasta la 1 y 2 de la mañana, especialmente los fines de semana, durante varias décadas fue el único vendedor de Perros Calientes abierto en las noches caraqueñas.

Con el tiempo, la actividad comercial de Filippo se convirtió en una tradición para los residentes. Su carisma y dedicación a sus clientes le ganaron el reconocimiento no solo de la comunidad, sino también del Instituto del Patrimonio Cultural (IPC), que lo declaró Patrimonio Cultural de la Ciudad en 2007, reconociendo su trabajo como parte del patrimonio oral e histórico del municipio Chacao y de la ciudad capital, Caracas.

Lugar de Encuentro.

A lo largo de los años, el puesto de Filippo se transformó en más que un simple negocio; fue un lugar de encuentro para los caraqueños, quienes disfrutaban de sus Perros Calientes (Hot Dogs) y su amigable atención. Por allí pasaron innumerables personajes de la Política, las artes, la farándula y de la sociedad capitalina; bien si eras alguien que salía de una discoteca, estudiabas para los exámenes finales o trabajabas de noche, terminabas comiéndote un Perro Caliente donde Filippo.

Filippo Costa tiene muchas anécdotas de aquellos años y de sus clientes; unos visitantes habituales eran los Presidentes Lusinchi y Carlos Andres Perez que hacían una parada estratégica antes de llegar a la Casona (Residencia Presidencial).

El juguito de piña.

Muchos recordaremos que Filippo no ofrecía refrescos o sodas en su puesto de perros calientes, nunca vimos marcas como Pepsi, CocaCola o Golden, el ofrecía Jugo de Piña. La razón de esto es muy sencilla según nos explica el propio Filippo: “Mi negocio no era vender refrescos, era vender Perros Calientes. Si yo vendía refrescos la gente se llenaba por el gas de las bebidas y comían uno o dos perros, pero… si bebían el juguito de piña sin gas… comían 3 y hasta 5 perros calientes”.

Esto es un buen ejemplo de tener claro y estar consciente de los objetivos de tu negocio sin importar el tamaño del mismo.

El Perro Especial: Un toque de buen humor.

Siempre recuerdo a un buen amigo, que cuando llegaba al puesto, Filippo siempre le ofrecía un “Perro Especial” y el siempre accedía. Todos sonreíamos de manera complice esperando el final para reírnos.  El “Perro especial” no tenía salchicha.

Filippo recuerda que una vez alguien se comió 6 especiales. Y esa mamadera de gallo o jodedera típica del humor venezolano también fueron parte de el buen semblante de este emigrante italiano, que con una broma inocente buscaba hacer reír a sus clientes y hacer un poco más entretenida la noche.

¿Qué es de la vida de Filippo hoy?

Al llegar el siglo XXI los cambios en la dinamica de la ciudad y del país junto con las dificultades de mantener una operación nocturna, llevaron a Filippo a cerrar su puesto icónico en la Plaza Altamira, como muchos de nosotros, decide emigrar para acompañar y apoyar a su hijo en EEUU, donde hoy es un abuelo feliz que vive junto a sus nietos y su hijo Antonio.

Pero su legado aun sigue vivo en la memoria colectiva de la ciudad y a través de su hija Mariela y su esposo Roman, con un nuevo enfoque al prestigioso nombre de su padre: Filippo en tu Fiesta.

Filippo en tu Fiesta

Para los Costa, Perros Calientes es sinónimo de familia, dedicación al trabajo, buena atención y tradición, todo estos valores junto a un buen producto y receta se unieron en Filippo en tu Fiesta, la versión para eventos y fiestas privadas, para que los niños conozcan este icónico perro caliente y los no tan jovenes, recuerden buenos momentos con un gran sabor.

Filippo en tu Fiesta esta activo en Venezuela de la mano de su hija Mariela y según me comentaron, muy pronto en Miami, con Filippo en persona. Te recomiendo que los sigas en Instagram: @filippoentufiesta

Compartir estas crónicas nos permite recordar el valor de nuestras vivencias y cómo pequeñas historias forman parte de algo más grande: el gentilicio venezolano.

¿Tienes alguna anécdota curiosa o personaje icónico de tu ciudad? ¡Nos encantaría conocerla! Compártela en los comentarios.

With his first exhibition called “New Pop” the Venezuelan Carlos Apitz stands out among the many artists who are currently residing in the United States.

Analitica.com, 02/09 2017  – Por Laura Martínez – Photo : Nuevo Herald

With his first exhibition called “New Pop”, the Venezuelan Carlos Apitz stands out among the many artists who are currently residing in the United States.

He started in 1980 as a graphic designer, it was at that time that he made his first artistic works for the market. However, time later he stopped this branch to delve into commercial illustrations, which led Apitz to found the first computerized department in the city of Caracas, in 1987. By then, he only had a Mac 512 machine, but his success was that they multiplied to six more computers for the agency in a few months.

As he told Analítica.com, his agency was the first to invoice, taking the entire creative team by surprise. From that moment on, he applied the “commission earnings” modality, due to the innumerable designs sold, which began to give his agency new management and innovate in more effective earnings systems.

In 1991 he decided to become independent and thus began a tour of talks and private classes to recognized companies, which currently do not exist in Venezuela. He emphasized that today “many of the people who worked by my side already have their own companies, thank God.”

For the years 2002-2003, he was hired by the Yukery juice company to make the main image for the children’s market, the result of the project is a little raven, which he called Blue. However, years later he was chosen, again, as the creator of the image of Del Monte juices, this time designing Monty, a funny green bird.

Another of his skills at the moment of giving free rein to his passion is the elaboration of caricatures, which gave much to talk about on social networks; since most of them issued a message from some Venezuelan. However, for political and economic reasons he stopped the art for about 5 years, which at the time forced him to leave his native land.

Currently, Apitz is focusing on a new style, this being modern pop art with a lot of colors and incorporating a bit of kinetic style.

The lung of Caracas
With over 30 years of experience in this medium, Carlos Apitz reinvented himself with “New Pop”, an exhibition in which he brings together more than 20 works, including one of the most characteristic paintings of his career, inspired by the Ávila hill. , the work is called “The Ávila in five times”.

“If you look closely at the Ávila mountain, you will see that in the morning it has one color, at noon it has another color, in the afternoon it has another color, at night it has another color and in the early hours of the morning it has another color (almost dawn). …) then, instead of making five paintings with the same mountain but with different skies, I decided to make a single image five times”, he said.

“When I arrived in Florida I realized how essential it was for me to have a mountain around me, since everything here is flat and I am used to the mountains of my land, in this case, Caracas.”

In the exhibition you can also find portraits of the famous Frida Kahlo, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Marilyn Monroe, the latter being one of the painter’s favorites since he claims to be an admirer of her beauty, because of how expressive the image could become. remembered sex symbol.

The exhibition is located in the Adelmo Gallery, embedded in a well-known Cuban neighborhood in Florida. “The acceptance of the people has been so great that in the first stage of this project we had to close the doors because no more people entered the place; that is why we decided to extend it for a month,” said Apitz.

Regarding the current situation of Venezuelans, as immigrants in the United States, Apitz explained that “many who have left Venezuela as professionals come to Florida to do any type of work and this situation is difficult, because unfortunately here (USA) you will not be able to exercise your career. I have already had many cases that have knocked on my door and it is sad to see all this.”