International famous artist, Al Sprague, has generously donated a signed original acrylic painting for our fundraiser. A beautiful pollera painting titled “Misty Group of Polleras.”
Al was born in Colon, Panama. He received a master’s degree from the American University and for 15 years taught high school and college art in Panama at the Department of Defense schools in Panama.
Al has become one of the most recognized artists to reproduce the beauty of Panama’s national dance in his paintings, drawings, and bronzes. He was one of the first artists to really define the Panamanian culture through the arts. His most noted works are of the Panamanian native dancing women in the traditional costumes of the “pollera” and the “montuna.
Two of his paintings were made into postal stamps of the Panama Canal Post Office, and are collectors’ items. Two other paintings were made into postage stamps for the Republic of Panama.
Many of his paintings of Panamanian fishermen and native dancers hang in banks and museums throughout the country of Panama, and have been purchased as gifts of state for the presidents of Spain, Venezuela, Mexico, Brazil, and the United States. Al Sprague paintings are included in the Presidential Libraries of Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan.
