Rockefeller first became interested in the region through its artists, and then through the Venezuelan subsidiary of Standard Oil of New Jersey--the family business.
The mimes and actors in the region piqued the interest of Rockefeller. 
mnli hypothesis: The mimes and actors in the region piqued the interest of Rockefeller.  premise: Rockefeller first became interested in the region through its artists, and then through the Venezuelan subsidiary of Standard Oil of New Jersey--the family business.