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2010 Limón Roots Black Culture Festival
Afro-Culture Week, cultural shows, conference and Caribbean products exhibit, Aug. 25, Fernando Centeno Güell School, Guadalupe.

Japanese Culture Festival
Feature a conference on traditional Japanese music and theater, led by Michiko Hirama, Aug. 25, 3 p.m., Teatro Universitario UCR, Calle de la Amargura, San Pedro.

2nd Public and Participative Art Series
Closing activity, Aug. 25, Central Bank Museums. Info: 2243-4224, 2243-4219.

Art City Tour
Free tour of San José museums and galleries, Aug. 25, 6-8:30 p.m., start at Contemporary Art and Design Museum, Central Bank Museums, Jade Museum (INS) or National Museum. Info: 8817-3136, gamcultural@gmail.com.

Philharmonic Orchestra in Concert
Aug. 25, 8 p.m. at the National Theater.

“Un día menos”
Theater, dance, multimedia, Aug. 25, 7 p.m., Spanish Cultural Center.

The Costa Rican culture minister has suspended the director of the National Museum, Patricia Fumero, following allegations that she was violating laws that protect the country's archaeological heritage.

The move follows on the heels of an incident last Thursday, in which more than 100 pre-Columbian pieces were removed from a home belonging to Fumero's aunt and uncle. Her family was allegedly holding the pieces in violation of a 1982 law that declares that all historical artifacts found in the country are the property of the state.

During a press conference last week, Fumero said she was aware of the existence of the pieces, and that the museum was initiating the process of collecting them. She added that many of the pieces were already registered with the National Museum.

Fumero said she removed herself from any involvement in the case in order not to be involved in a conflict of interest.

But apparently that wasn't enough for Culture Minister Manuel Obregón, who asked her to take a temporary leave on Monday.

“I have ordered an audit in the National Museum in order to thoroughly understand the facts and, to ensure the full transparency of the audit, I have also decided to temporarily remove the head of that institution,” he said in a statement.

Obregón said the purpose of the audit is to respond to accusations relating to national heritage laws. He said he would cooperate with the prosecutor's office in any investigation of Fumero or the museum.

Lawmakers Tuesday debated proposed changes to a casino tax bill that would charge a 15 percent tax on earnings from casinos based in Costa Rica, but would exclude online betting operations. These would pay a one-time annual fee of $50,000 instead.

The original bill, put forth by the government of President Oscar Arias, proposed a 2 percent tax on gambling operations – whether they are Costa Rica-based casinos or call centers accepting international bets here – sparking concern in the casino and online gaming industry.

Should the stiffer tax be applied, it would generate an estimated $30 million in annual tax earnings, the Finance Ministry said.

However, that estimate is about $50 million less than original government projections for casino tax revenues. In July 2009, former Finance Minister Guillermo Zúñiga said a 2 percent tax would bring from $80 to $85 million into state coffers. Chinchilla has said she hopes the money will help fund citizen security programs.

Another motivation for the casino tax is to reduce the nation's ever-expanding fiscal deficit. In May, t he Finance Ministry reported that the public deficit stands at over ₡ 292 billion ($556 million), more than double the ₡ 127 billion mark ($242 million) registered through the first four months of 2009. The deficit, which currently represents 2.18 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), is expected to reach 4.8 percent, or about ₡ 876 billion ($1.67 billion), by the end of the year.

In 2009, the Tourism Ministry (ICT) reported that there were 53 casinos in Costa Rica and an estimated 300 online betting operations and call centers. In 2008, the gambling and betting industry raked in an estimated $4 billion.

“The principal idea of the bill is to regulate activity,” said Zúñiga, who is now a legislator for the National Liberation Party (PLN). “Gambling is something that we are currently not monitoring and, therefore, not taking advantage of. If we can regulate it, it could create millions of dollars for the economy.”

To Ana Wien, cows represent both life and nature – especially in Costa Rica. Her affection for cows encouraged her to turn cattle into works of art.

An exhibition at the Confort Suizo bedding showroom in Plaza Itzkazú in the western San José suburb of Escazú opened last week, displaying Wien's project, in which sculptures of cows symbolize concepts like springtime, magic and the sea.

Wien has always appreciated the importance of cows to society. She saw them as a perfect theme for a collection of sculptures about life.

“They're very important, these animals,” Wien said. “They make the milk, they are a gentle animal. I enjoy the concept of the cows. They are beautiful animals.”

There are 18 cows in total. The first cow visitors see is the largest. A life-size replica of a big, blue cow with a red underbelly greets customers in the parking lot. Inside, Wien's artwork – which also includes various handbags and purses she designed, as well as paintings – decorate the mattress store.

The sculptures are made out of resin and colorful splashes of acrylic paint. In addition to the life-size cow, 10 medium-sized bovines (50 x 35 centimeters) and eight small ones (25 x 15 centimeters) are placed around the store.

A cow sculpture called “Imitation Spring,” features a sky blue cow with paintings of flowers lining the animal's side. A miniature butterfly has landed on the bovine's back.

One called “Path full of life” has a tribal feel. A bleached white cow has colorful markings and patterns all over its body. Only the horns and udders are shaded in; both are blue. Three small flowers dot the top of the cows head, giving the creature an aura of holiness.

Another cow representing the ocean is drenched in deep shades of blue. Conch shells are stuck to the cow's back. Props such as tiny frogs, turtles or little bottles of milk add to many of the sculptures. The vivid acrylic colors bring out each cow's poise.

Wien, who studied at the University of Costa Rica, has painted and sculpted for 33 years. In 2005, she won awards for her artwork in both Miami and New York.

The exhibition runs through September 3. Confort Suizo is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.