- Culture and Extension
With poetry, music and dance they commemorate the beginning of Gabriela Mistral in the world of letters
In the month of August, along with the anniversary of the city of La Serena, the date on which Gabriela began to write for the newspaper “El Coquimbo” is also remembered, thus beginning her fruitful career.
110 years ago, the young woman from the Elqui Valley and living in the Las Compañías sector, let her fertile imagination and talent fly with two fundamental writings. On August 11 she published “The Forgiveness of a Victim” and on August 30 of the same year “The Death of the Poet,” surprising readers because she was a young woman of only 14 years old.
That is why the Mistralian Center of the University of La Serena organized a day that included poetic readings, declamations, dances and the reading of the full text of the story “The Forgiveness of the Victim”, told by attendees of the activity, including , representatives of the Regional Government and the Department of Culture of the Municipality of La Serena.
"For this celebration, we call on Neighborhood Councils, the Gabriela Mistral Group, which has been recently established, schools and especially young students from the University of La Serena, belonging to the Design major, who in addition to actively collaborating "They have worked hard so that we could all share this significant occasion for our region and for the literature of the world," said the director of the Mistralian Center, Dr. Rolando Manzano.
Later, in the courtyards of the campus, the invited schools concluded the activity with dance performances and dance theater that reflected the feelings of young people regarding the texts of the distinguished creator.
In this regard, the academic vice-rector of the University of La Serena, Dr. Jorge Catalán, highlighted the great work carried out by the Mistralian Center and its associated organizations. “I find this rootedness of Gabriela Mistral in Las Compañías and the commitment of the students to continue on the poet's path to be relevant. I also find the work of the professors and our University to increase the cultural heritage and national values very commendable,” said Dr. Catalán.
On the occasion, a metal structure was also presented that will protect the house where Gabriela Mistral lived from inclement weather and cover it until the long-awaited restoration works begin.