Lanzarote recognizes the work of outstanding entrepreneurs of the Island and several entities that have contributed throughout the 20th century and the beginning of this 21st century to the progress and economic, social and cultural development of the island of volcanoes. Since this Friday, the 7-meter-high sculpture that the members of Rotary Club Lanzarote have donated to the city of Arrecife and the island of Lanzarote has been exhibited in the central roundabout of Avenida Fred Olsen, in the capital of Lanzarote, in front of the Reducto beach. The work has been designed by the Lanzarote sculptor Paco Curbelo and is named Conejero, a tribute and permanent recognition to the entrepreneurs of Lanzarote.
The presentation of the sculpture took place at 11.30 am this Friday, the 26th, in the roundabout located near the guaguas interchange and near the old cemetery of Arrecife, near the Cabildo de Lanzarote building. The event was attended by the mayor of Arrecife, José Montelongo, the deputy mayor of Arrecife, Rafael Juan, the councilor of Culture of Teguise, Olivia Duque, the parliamentarian and mayor of Haría, Marci Acuña, the island director of the General Administration of the State in Lanzarote, Juan Prats, the Governor of Rotary International for Spain D 2201, José Ramón Civantos, and the president of the Rotary Club Lanzarote, Ventura Acuña González. Also attending were members of Rotary Club Lanzarote as well as the different personalities who have been recognized by Rotary Club Lanzarote with the Conejero del Año award, including Kenneth Gasque, the creator of Ironman Lanzarote, among others; the painter Santiago Alemán, Larry Yaskiel, the director of Cáritas Lanzarote, Dolores Villaba, and the widow of the adopted son of Lanzarote, Jesús Soto. The artist Paco Curbelo was present at the event with his wife, the painter Rufina Santana.
The sculpture, a giant-sized replica, is the one that Rotary Club awards each year to outstanding personalities and entities of Lanzarote, since its foundation as a philanthropic and solidarity club on the island. Among other personalities, they have been distinguished with this award (a sculpture by Paco Curbelo), to recognize the contribution to the progress and development of Lanzarote in different fields of outstanding people and entities, such as César Manrique; the Hermanos Díaz Rijo, creators of the first seawater desalination plant; the artist Jesús Soto; the ceramist Juan Brito; the hotel manager José Figuereo Vivancos; the businessmen Juan Rosa Perdomo and José Calero - both promoters of the great urban and tourist developments on the Island; the psychiatrist Julio Santiago Obseo; the Societies La Democracia and El Torrelavega; the Palliative Care Unit of the Hospital Doctor Molina Orosa; Ramón García, known as Don Ramón el Practicante; the painter Santiago Alemán, as well as Kenneth Gasque, the creator of Ironman Lanzarote, among others.
The donation of the sculpture, entirely paid for by the members of the Rotary Club, coincides with the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Rotary Club Lanzarote, which belongs to Rotary International, whose first club was founded on February 23, 1905 in the city of Chicago, in the United States.
Since its creation in Lanzarote, Rotary has stood out for promoting initiatives of a solidary and cultural nature, helping and collaborating in favor of the groups and NGOs of the Island.
During the event, the mayor of Arrecife, pointed out to the media that "it is a pride for Arrecife and Lanzarote to have a sculpture of these characteristics, which in this strategic place of the city, enhances the projection and entity of Arrecife and recognizes the great work of all the Conejeros of the Year awarded by Rotary, authentic entrepreneurs and personalities of Lanzarote".