Celebrities Meta, Colombia

Writers and Poets

Eduardo Carranza (1913-1985) – Poet.
This Colombian poet was a pioneer of the Piedra y Cielo movement.
Carranza was a literature professor at the 'Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario' in Bogotá, at the University of Chile, (Chile) and at the 'Universidad Central' of Madrid, Spain.
He held diplomatic positions, was a member of the Colombian Academy of Language and was also the editor of numerous newspapers and magazines.
His first book, Songs to Initiate a Festival, was published in 1936. His other published works include Six Elegies and One Hymn, Blue December and She, the Days and the Clouds.
In 1990, the Colombian government posthumously honoured him with the creation of the Eduardo Carranza Literary Prize. He was born in Apiay.

Daniel Arango Jaramillo (1921-2008) – Writer, lawyer and professor.
This prominent writer earned a degree in Law and Social and Political Sciences from the National University of Colombia.
He was Vice Principal of University of Los Andes and Liberal Arts professor at the university. He instilled respect for spiritual values, the need to serve society in a responsible way and a love of history.
He was the director of the National Police Magazine and director of the Fine Arts Department He was also the Director of the Ministry of Education museums and exhibitions.
He was governor of Meta Department, Minister of National Education, member of the House of Representatives, councilman of Bogota and Colombian ambassador to UNESCO. His essays were published by the Caro y Cuervo Institute in 1996, in the book called The City Is . Arango was born in Villavicencio.

Artists

Gustavo Parra – Landscape painter.
The sensitivity for nature shown in the bright painting of Gustavo Parra have earned him nationwide prestige. The artist was born in Barranca de Upía, in 1948.

Gustavo Benavides – Painter.
Among his many individual exhibits, Benavides' most outstanding are Territorialidades, Video Caricature and Rostros de Por Aquí, which were shown in 1999. He has also presented his works in collective exhibits in Bogotá and Villavicencio, where his work has been greatly received.
Benavides was born in Villavicencio in 1959.

Libardo Archila Sanabria – Painter.
This great artist and professor of fine art has participated in collective exhibits as well as having displayed his work individually.
He has received many honours and distinctions. Archila was born in Villavicencio in 1974.

María Eugenia Baquero – Painter.
This famous artist specializes in murals and engravings.
Her work has been displayed throughout Colombia, Spain, and Italy and has received international recognition in the form of awards. She was born in Acacias.