{"id":15502,"date":"2020-06-12T23:48:41","date_gmt":"2020-06-13T03:48:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/vaearts.org\/US\/?p=15502"},"modified":"2020-06-20T15:16:03","modified_gmt":"2020-06-20T19:16:03","slug":"james-alcock-is-one-of-the-two-recipient-of-vaeas-paez-medal-of-art-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vaearts.org\/US\/james-alcock-is-one-of-the-two-recipient-of-vaeas-paez-medal-of-art-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"JAMES ALCOCK is one of the two recipient of VAEA\u2019s P\u00e1ez Medal of Art 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

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June 13th 2020<\/div>\n
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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A message from<\/div>\n
The Venezuelan American Endowment for the Arts<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Ali Cordero Casal<\/div>\n
Chairman<\/div>\n
The Venezuelan American Endowment for the Arts<\/div>\n
& the Board of Directors<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Today we celebrate VAEA’s 30th anniversary\u00a0and the 230th\u00a0 birth anniversary of\u00a0\u00a0Jos\u00e9 Antonio P\u00e1ez<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0with this important announcement.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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JAMES ALCOCK<\/strong><\/div><\/h1>
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Jimmy Alcock (location), 2019. Photo by Clarissa Alcock Bronfman<\/p>\n<\/div>

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About James Alcock<\/h2>\n
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Architect Walter James Alcock Matos, also known as Jimmy Alcock, is one of the most prolific Venezuelan architects of the late 20th century. He was born in Caracas, Venezuela, on September 14, 1932. After finishing elementary and middle school in Caracas, Alcock attended St. Edmund\u2019s College (1946\u20131949) and University of Cambridge School of Chemistry (1949\u20131952), both in England. Back in Caracas, he enrolled in the architecture faculty at the Central University of Venezuela, graduating in 1959, and he later served as Landscape Architecture and Architectural Design professor. He also taught Landscape Architecture at Sim\u00f3n Bol\u00edvar University, USB. He has been a member of various public and private architecture juries and is a frequent guest speaker at various institutions and organizations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

In his long professional career in Venezuela, he worked as a public and private institutions advisor, from 1994 to 2001; he became Director of the National Art Gallery, GAN and the Director of the art institution \u201cSala Mendoza.\u201d During the period 1960-1963 he worked with Architect Jos\u00e9 Miguel Galia before practicing privately at his company \u201cAlcock, Architect.\u201d In 1987, he associated with Frank Alcock and transformed his practice into “Alcock & Alcock, Architects”.<\/p>\n

Jimmy Alcock was the architect of the iconic Poliedro de Caracas (1971\u20131974), a geodesic dome 125 meters in diameter, the largest one of its kind at the time. It\u2019s commonly described as “the largest multipurpose room in the city<\/em>.”<\/em> Among his others notable works built in Caracas, it is worth mentioning the Altolar multifamily housing building; Parque Cristal building; Paseo Las Mercedes Shopping Center; redesign of the Alfredo Sadel Square; Univel building; Bank of the Caribbean building; Deaco Building; Lopez House; Las Mercedes Tower, among others. In Barquisimeto, Lara State, the Jira-Jara Hotel; in Vargas, the Recreational Plan of the Central Coast, and nationwide, the Service Stations System of the Venezuelan Petroleum Corporation. There are multiple educational, recreational projects, commercial projects, professional schools, cemeteries, gardens and landscape projects, plazas, urban developments, spas, village remodeling, hotels, shopping centers, banks, multifamily and single-family homes, clubs, and more. The presence and influence of Jimmy Alcock in Venezuelan architecture is felt everywhere.<\/p>\n

He has received countless awards, including Municipal Architecture Prize, for the Parque Cristal Building (1987); Municipal Architecture Prize, for Unifamiliar Housing Project (1987); Regional Architecture Prize, with Architect M. Fuentes, for the Jira-Jara Hotel, Barquisimeto, Lara State (1987); National Architecture Award (1993), Francisco de Miranda Order, 1st. Class (1994). He was also invested as a Member of the National Academy of Engineering and Habitat and the Steering Committee, Chair XXXI (2003), Carlos Ra\u00fal Villanueva Order (CAV), 2014.<\/p>\n

Publications: “Alcock Arquitectos 1959-1992,” National Art Gallery. Various books and magazines, national and international.<\/p>\n

Contests Won: 1960 – Plaza Las Am\u00e9ricas; Ca\u00f1o Amarillo, Caracas; 1961 – Service Station National Network (Venezuelan Petroleum Corporation); 1964 – New Headquarters of the College of Engineers of Venezuela.<\/p>\n

This legendary Venezuelan architect has said: “I was born and trained here, and could not live in another country\u2026 I have always believed that making a building is taking on a responsibility to the city\u2026 Architecture is more a formal approach than a technological feat, which does not mean that they cannot be intertwined”.<\/em><\/p>\n

At the conceptual level, his technical considerations are treated similarly in every architecture project. His work has stretched to traditional, classical formulations on a larger scale to free arrays of pavilions within a garden. Alcock says that, “We have a methodology that is quite complex.”It is <\/em>very important that the architect knows how to build… If you don’t know how to build, you can’t design\u2026 Jimmy Alcock is not one of those who believe that the details are resolved on the fly. When he finishes his plans, he knows exactly how the work will look\u2026 We do not believe in chance; everything is intertwined and thought \u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n

A jazz lover, he confesses: \u201cI could not be an architect without jazz.\u201d<\/em> Likewise, he acknowledges his addiction to reading and refers to a phrase by Albert Einstein that defines his position when he expresses how complicated it is to explain the architecture: \u201cAll the elements that come to mind are more or less clear images that can be reproduced and intertwined. Expressing them in words is much more difficult.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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About Alcock and Gehry<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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This year VAEA is honoring with the 2020 Paez Medal for the Arts two prestigious architects recognized worldwide: Walter James Alcock (Venezuela) and Frank Owen Gehry (USA)<\/p>\n

They, as sensitive and talented artists, have used architecture as their means of expression. Both are and will be recognized as excellent creators of remarkable works of unquestionable beauty and technological contributions, icons of their time. Let’s hLet’s honor who honor deserves.<\/p>\n

Texts by:<\/p>\n

Henrique Vera
\nArchitectural Design Professor
\nFaculty of Architecture and Urbanism UCV
\nBetty Richards (VAEA)
\nProfessor – Research Methodology
\nReferences taken from content written by Jos\u00e9 Luis Colmenares, Alejandro Ram\u00edrez Mor\u00f3n @aleramirezve and journalist Karina Lyn.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Acerca de James Alcock<\/strong><\/h2>\n

El arquitecto Walter James Alcock Matos, tambi\u00e9n conocido como Jimmy Alcock, uno de los arquitectos venezolanos m\u00e1s prol\u00edficos de finales del siglo XX, naci\u00f3 en Caracas, Venezuela, el 14 de septiembre de 1932. Despu\u00e9s de terminar la escuela primaria y secundaria en Caracas, Alcock asisti\u00f3 a St Edmund’s College (1946\u20131949) y la Facultad de Qu\u00edmica de la Universidad de Cambridge (1949\u20131952), ambos en Inglaterra. De vuelta en Caracas, se matricul\u00f3 en la facultad de arquitectura de la Universidad Central de Venezuela, gradu\u00e1ndose en 1959, y luego se desempe\u00f1\u00f3 como profesor de Arquitectura del Paisaje y Dise\u00f1o Arquitect\u00f3nico. Tambi\u00e9n ense\u00f1\u00f3 Arquitectura del Paisaje en la Universidad Sim\u00f3n Bol\u00edvar, USB. Ha sido miembro de varios jurados de arquitectura p\u00fablicos y privados y es un orador invitado frecuente en diversas instituciones y organizaciones.<\/p>\n

En su larga carrera profesional en Venezuela, ocup\u00f3 los siguientes cargos y funciones: Asesor de instituciones p\u00fablicas y privadas, de 1994 a 2001: Director de la Galer\u00eda Nacional de Arte, GAN, Director del Sal\u00f3n de Mendoza. Durante el per\u00edodo 1960-1963 trabaj\u00f3 con el arquitecto Jos\u00e9 Miguel Galia; desde 1964 hasta 1981 ejerci\u00f3 su profesi\u00f3n de forma privada, a trav\u00e9s de su oficina: “Alcock, arquitecto”, y en 1987 se asoci\u00f3 con Frank Alcock y transform\u00f3 su pr\u00e1ctica en “Alcock & Alcock, arquitectos”.<\/p>\n

Jimmy Alcock fue el arquitecto del ic\u00f3nico Poliedro de Caracas (1971\u20131974), una c\u00fapula geod\u00e9sica de 125 m de di\u00e1metro, la m\u00e1s grande de su tipo en ese momento, “la sala multiusos m\u00e1s grande de la ciudad”. Entre sus otras obras notables construidas en Caracas, vale la pena mencionar el edificio de viviendas multifamiliares Altolar; Edificio Parque Cristal; Centro Comercial Paseo Las Mercedes; redise\u00f1o de la plaza Alfredo Sadel; Edificio giratorio; Edificio del Banco del Caribe; Edificio Deaco; Casa L\u00f3pez; Torre de las Mercedes, entre otras. En Barquisimeto, estado de Lara, el hotel Jira-Jara; en Vargas, el Plan Recreativo de la Costa Central, y en todo el pa\u00eds, el Sistema de Estaciones de Servicio de la Corporaci\u00f3n Venezolana del Petr\u00f3leo. Hay m\u00faltiples proyectos educativos, recreativos, tiendas-oficinas, escuelas profesionales, cementerios, proyectos de jardines y paisajismo, plazas, desarrollos urbanos, spas, remodelaci\u00f3n de aldeas, hoteles, centros comerciales, bancos, viviendas multifamiliares y unifamiliares, clubes … La presencia e influencia de Jimmy Alcock en la arquitectura venezolana se siente en todas partes.<\/p>\n

Ha recibido innumerables premios, incluido el Premio de Arquitectura Municipal, por el Edificio Parque Cristal (1987); Premio de Arquitectura Municipal, para Proyecto de Vivienda Unifamiliar (1987); Premio Regional de Arquitectura, con el Arquitecto M. Fuentes, para el Hotel Jira-Jara, Barquisimeto, Estado Lara (1987); Premio Nacional de Arquitectura (1993), Orden Francisco de Miranda, 1er. Clase (1994). Tambi\u00e9n fue investido como miembro de la Academia Nacional de Ingenier\u00eda y H\u00e1bitat y del Comit\u00e9 Directivo, Presidente XXXI (2003), Orden Carlos Ra\u00fal Villanueva (CAV), 2014.<\/p>\n

Publicaciones: “Alcock Arquitectos 1959-1992”, Galer\u00eda Nacional de Arte. Varios libros y revistas, nacionales e internacionales.<\/p>\n

Concursos ganados: 1960 – Plaza Las Am\u00e9ricas; Ca\u00f1o Amarillo, Caracas; 1961 – Red Nacional de Estaciones de Servicio (Corporaci\u00f3n Venezolana del Petr\u00f3leo); 1964 – Nueva sede del Colegio de Ingenieros de Venezuela.<\/p>\n

Este legendario arquitecto venezolano ha dicho: “Nac\u00ed y me form\u00e9 aqu\u00ed, y no podr\u00eda vivir en otro pa\u00eds”, “siempre he cre\u00eddo que hacer un edificio es asumir una responsabilidad con la ciudad”, “La arquitectura es un enfoque m\u00e1s formal que una haza\u00f1a tecnol\u00f3gica, lo que no significa que no puedan entrelazarse “.<\/p>\n

Como a nivel conceptual, sus consideraciones t\u00e9cnicas se tratan de manera similar en cada proyecto de arquitectura. Su trabajo se ha extendido a formulaciones tradicionales y cl\u00e1sicas a mayor escala para liberar conjuntos de pabellones dentro de un jard\u00edn. Alcock dice que “tenemos una metodolog\u00eda que es bastante compleja”. “Es muy importante que el arquitecto sepa c\u00f3mo construir”. “Si no sabes c\u00f3mo construir, no puedes dise\u00f1ar”. Jimmy Alcock no es uno de los que cree que los detalles se resuelven sobre la marcha. Cuando termina sus planes, sabe exactamente c\u00f3mo se ver\u00e1 el trabajo. \u201cNo creemos en el azar; todo est\u00e1 entrelazado y pensado “.<\/p>\n

Amante del jazz, confiesa: “No podr\u00eda ser arquitecto sin jazz”, asimismo, reconoce su adicci\u00f3n a la lectura y se refiere a una frase de Albert Einstein, que define su posici\u00f3n cuando expresa lo complicado que es explicar la arquitectura. : \u201cTodos los elementos que vienen a la mente son im\u00e1genes m\u00e1s o menos claras que pueden reproducirse y entrelazarse. Expresarlos en palabras es mucho m\u00e1s dif\u00edcil.”<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Sobre Alcock y Gehry<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Este a\u00f1o, VAEA honra con la Medalla Paez 2020 para las Artes a dos prestigiosos arquitectos reconocidos en todo el mundo: Walter James Alcock y Frank Gehry.<\/p>\n

Ellos, como artistas sensibles y talentosos, han utilizado la arquitectura como medio de expresi\u00f3n. Ambos son y ser\u00e1n reconocidos como excelentes creadores de obras notables de indudable belleza y contribuciones tecnol\u00f3gicas, \u00edconos de su tiempo. Honremos a quien honor merece.<\/p>\n

Textos de:<\/p>\n

Henrique Vera
\nProfesor de dise\u00f1o arquitect\u00f3nico
\nFacultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo UCV
\nBetty Richards (VAEA)
\nProfesor – Metodolog\u00eda de la Investigaci\u00f3n
\nReferencias tomadas del contenido escrito por Jos\u00e9 Luis Colmenares, Alejandro Ram\u00edrez Mor\u00f3n @aleramirezve y la periodista Karina Lyn.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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About the P\u00e1ez Medal<\/h3>\n

The P\u00e1ez Medal of Art is awarded once a year to an individual or group that has had an impact and contributed to the excellence, growth, support and proliferation of the arts in Venezuela and the United States; Previous recipients include: Margot Benacerraf in 2019,\u00a0 Julian Schnabel in 2019, Gustavo Dudamel in 2018, Bob Colacello in 2017, Marisol Escobar in 2016; Annie Leibovitz in 2015; Sof\u00eda Imber in 2014, Robert Wilson in 2013 and Carlos Cruz-Diez in 2012.<\/p>\n

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Press information available in Spanish & English by request at\u00a0contact@vaearts.org<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>

About VAEA<\/h3>\n
The Venezuelan American Endowment for the Arts (VAEA) is a New York based 501 (c)3 public\u00a0charity, founded on June 13, 1990\u00a0\u00a0with the mission of promoting the best of Venezuelan and American cultures through bi-national cultural and social programs.<\/div>\n
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For additional information<\/strong>\u00a0visit\u00a0vaearts.org<\/a><\/div>\n
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For sponsor opportunities and early table reservations contact:<\/p>\n

Ali Cordero Casal, Chairman, alicorderocasal@vaearts.org<\/p>\n

+1 3053228899<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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