Benvinguts! Welcome! In creating this blog my intention is to show those who have not had the pleasure of getting to know Catalonia what an incredible, history rich, vibrant, progressive, and creative corner of the world it is. Whether you’re planning a trip, looking for more information about Catalan art, or are just curious about Barcelona read on!
Having spent a year in Madrid and half a year in Valencia, I have many a time traveled to Catalonia and developed a strong connection with the people and society there. I have always had an irresistible desire to travel and a creative spirit both of which are be a great help in my getting to know Catalonia. Back in gradeschool when I spend my art (and math and science) classes mimicking Miro’s work I couldn’t have told you where his city, Barcelona, was much less that a language called Catalan was spoken there.
I think that this part of the world, for the most part, remains a mystery to many. Yes, Catalonia gave us Dali, but what about Ramon Casas, a defining force of the Modernisme movement? The point here being, that when we dig deeper than just the most well known names we can find many more gems throughout this great land’s history. With an exceptionally valuable territory located right on the Mediterranean Sea, Catalonia has undergone great transformations and has a history and culture that is unique and quite important.
I sincerely hope that you enjoy reading this blog and that it can help spark an interest in Catalonian culture. I am by no means an expert on this subject, and would greatly appreciate comments, suggestions(or corrections if the time calls) and any other contributions you would like to make. If you do have a question leave a comment on any article or email me (in Catalan, English, or Spanish!) at: jmvanriper@gmail.com
Moltes gràcies!
~Jessica Van Riper
horitzons macos 