In the historic city of Cáceres, Spain—surrounded by paintings by Goya, El Greco and Zurbarán—the Franciscan fathers of the Monastery of Guadalupe offer a unique summer experience: a school that combines art with spirituality.
JAVIER VIVER
Director, Observatory of the Invisible
Both art and spirituality aim to observe the invisible, that is, to discover all that is part of the mystery. Art has the amazing ability of putting us in the presence of that mystery.
The approach to the school is similar every year but each edition is given a new touch. This year's theme is “Mary, temple of art.” One of the activities stars the painter Santiago Ydáñez and a flamenco artist.
JAVIER VIVER
Director, Observatory of the Invisible
Santiago wants to paint a Virgin Mary and the flamenco artist is going to put music to it. He is going to make an improvised song that follows what Santiago is painting.
What is experienced in these workshops goes beyond art and includes special shared moments. Activities are carried out, such as a polyphonic prayer.
JAVIER VIVER
Director, Observatory of the Invisible
This is carried out over coffee and a conversation you have with someone, which may have started in a workshop. Then you continue it over dinner.
Then there are other special moments of great spirituality. There is a polyphonic prayer every evening, before dinner, where suddenly everybody joins their voices together and there is this wonderful thing that happens when everybody creates a harmony.
The 130 summer students create and learn in an incomparable place, overflowing with history, art, music and spirituality.
CA
TR: AT
