Documentary series celebrates Vela Zanetti’s legacy in Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo.- The Meritorious and Respectable Lodge Cradle of America No. 2 has announced the presentation of the documentary series “Vela Zanetti in the Dominican Republic,” a production directed and researched by filmmaker and historian Manolo Rodríguez Vidal that explores the life, work, and artistic legacy of the renowned Spanish muralist during his years in the country.

The event, designed as a celebration of Dominican cultural heritage and historical memory, will combine documentary screenings with a guided tour of some of Vela Zanetti’s earliest murals in the Dominican Republic, preserved within the Masonic temple in Santo Domingo’s Colonial City.

The program will begin with the screening of selected episodes from the documentary series, which examines the artist’s influence on Dominican visual culture after his arrival in the country as an exile following the Spanish Civil War. Attendees will then have the opportunity to tour the historic murals, considered an important part of the nation’s artistic heritage.

According to Rodríguez Vidal, the initiative seeks to preserve historical memory and highlight Vela Zanetti’s contributions to Dominican art, while connecting new generations with a legacy marked by symbolism, human values, and social commitment.

The event will take place on June 24 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cloister of the Cradle of America Lodge No. 2, located on José Reyes Street in Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone. Admission will be free and open to the public until venue capacity is reached.

Organizers said the gathering offers a unique opportunity for art enthusiasts, historians, students, and the general public to rediscover an essential chapter of Dominican cultural history through both film and direct engagement with one of the country’s most significant mural collections.