The Petroglyphs of the Orosi Volcano

From the print edition

By Charlene Golojuch | Special to The Tico Times

Among the cloud forests in Santa Rosa are some of the oldest artifacts in Costa Rica. Pre-Columbian settlers left thousands of messages for subsequent generations by carving diagrams and symbols into rocks. An enormous area near the Orosi Volcano is home to thousands of these artifacts.

Called “petroglyphs,” the carvings have been studied for years, and recently a group of artists have made it their mission to bring the important works into the limelight. Spearheaded by artists Carlos Hiller and Rebeca Alvarado Soto, a group of 25 leading artists have examined the area and petroglyphs and transformed them into visual art. Recreating original interpretations and developing new interpretations, the artists hope to have documented these artifacts and brought them to the attention of both the Costa Rican community and tourists.

Participating artists include: Fernando Carballo, Otto Apuy, Florencia Urbina, Emanuel Rodríguez, Leda Astorga, Ana Elena Fernández, Aurelio Vidor, Carlos Hiller, Roberto Lizano, Fabio Herrera, Mario Maffioli, Claudio Vidor, José Jackson Guadamuz, Rebeca Alvarado Soto, Jonathan Torres, Shi Chang, Adela Marín, Priscila Aguirre, Angel Lara, Karen Clachar, Sussy Vargas, Juan Carlos Ruiz, Norma Varela, Gabriela García, and Ricardo Alfieri. 

The exhibit will travel throughout Costa Rica. Starting at its origin at the Guanacaste Conservation Area Santa Rosa National Park, the exposition will then travel to the following locations: Hidden Garden Art Gallery (Sept. 29-Nov. 9), Daniel Oduber International Airport (Oct. 12-Nov. 30); Museum of Guanacaste (Nov. 11-Dec. 10), and during 2013 at the Museum of Contemporary Arts in San José. 

The show opens Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Hidden Garden Art Gallery. For more info, please contact the Hidden Garden Art Gallery at 2667-0592 or 8386-6872, located 5 kilometers west of the Daniel Oduber International Airport, or hiddengarden@thevanstonegroup.com. Gallery hours are Tues.-Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m., or by special appointment.