3 T he Ministry of Foreign Affairs is proud to present the work of renowned Colombian artist, Olga de Amaral, at the Colombian Ambassador’s Residence in Washington. Mrs. Amaral’s singular talent has earned her a place of prominence in the world of contemporary international art. Her work is distinctive for the way it expresses nature and transforms it into a manifestation of culture, lending beauty and dignity to the ancient traditions of weaving and tapestry. It draws on foundational elements from her native environment and Colombian architecture through her choices of designs and materials. She uses gold to bring elegance and power to her art, recalling the importance of this metal to pre-Columbian works and the art of our nation’s Colonial Era. In Olga de Amaral’s work we find traditional crafts, popular art and outstanding modern expressions. These combine to present unique and timeless examples of abstraction. Her creative strength and her marvelous capacity result in powerful and memorable images that evoke far-flung times and places. Our best ambassadors for Colombian culture are artists like Olga de Amaral, whose incredible talent and distinctive use of native elements has produced art that is recognized and admired throughout the world. C a r o l i n a B a r c o M I N I S T E R O F F O R E I G N A F F A I R S Á l v a r o U r i b e V é l e z P R E S I D E N T O F T H E R E P U B L I C O F C O L O M B I A L i n a M o r e n o d e U r i b e F I R S T L A D Y O F C O L O M B I A M I N I S T R Y O F F O R E I G N A F F A I R S C a r o l i n a B a r c o M I N I S T E R C a m i l o R e y e s R o d r í g u e z V I C E M I N I S T E R J a i m e G i r ó n D u a r t e V I C E M I N I S T E R O F M U L T I L A T E R A L A F F A I R S M a r í a M a r g a r i t a S a l a s S E C R E T A R Y G E N E R A L M a r í a E l v i r a Q u i n t a n a D I R E C T O R O F C U L T U R A L A F F A I R S R a f a e l G a r c í a E s q u i v i a A D V I S O R E M B A S S Y O F C O L O M B I A T O T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S L u i s A l b e r t o M o r e n o a n d M r s . G a b r i e l a F e b r e s - C o r d e r o A M B A S S A D O R B e r n a r d o O r t i z M I N I S T E R P L E N I P O T E N T I A R Y M a r í a C l a u d i a G ó m e z M I N I S T E R C O U N S E L O R F r a n c i s c o E c h e v e r r i M I N I S T E R C O U N S E L O R C a r l o s M o r a l e s C O U N S E L O R E s t e b a n P i e d r a h i t a C O U N S E L O R J u a n J o s e Q u i n t a n a C O U N S E L O R P a t r i c i a R o j a s P R E S S S E C R E T A R Y A l e x a n d r a B a r d e n h e u e r S O C I A L S E C R E T A R Y C l a u d i a E s t r a d a T H I R D S E C R E T A R Y A n d r e s G a r a y T H I R D S E C R E T A R Y A n a M a r í a C u r r e a C U L T U R A L A T T A C H É