Last weekend, I went to the RONAC Art Center for a seminar on “Art Appreciation”. I’ve always been one to dabble in visual arts; I’ve been sketching on and off since I was kid. I’m one of those “I know what I like, but i don’t know my art” kind, so the opportunity to learn more about appreciating art was hard to pass up.
My favorite pieces at the RONAC Art Center
Art Appreciation 101 consisted with talks by gallery owners about how they started in collecting art. Robert Brion Santos even brought some pieces of art from his collection and shared important tips in collecting art work.
After the talk, Artists In Residence conducted a mini art workshop with us participants. We were given crayons and sandpaper ( a first for me to use) to create our own portrait masterpieces. They first demonstrated how to make the basic shapes, and as we started on our portraits, went around encouraging us and giving s tips on how to improve our work.
It was a fun experience, especially since the people I shared the table with seemed to have enjoy the activity as much as I did. We were probably the most rowdiest bunch in the room. I guess that happens when you’re having fun. It also must have helped that we were surrounded by such fantastic artwork in the gallery. A big thanks to BAGO and the RONAC Art Center! You have made art appreciation much more enjoyable for me.
If you’d like to do some art appreciating yourself, how about checking out ManilArt 2011?
Now on its third year, ManilArt 2011 promises a more diverse and vibrant art exposition. The maiden run of ManilArt in 2009 had a painting of a jeepney by Onib Olmedo as its banner piece, while 2010 bared Andres Barrioquinto’s “Crystal Gazer.” This year, ManilArt is privileged to have the artistry of highly sought painter Elmer Borlongan with his obra “Batang Edsa.”
This year’s fair features more than 300 represented artists and hundreds of artworks on display. Participating galleries were required to propose unique concepts for their exhibitions. ManilArt 2011 seeks to merge the visual arts with other disciplines. Programs will include a modern-dance interpretation of Borlongan’s art by premier contemporary-dance maven and Dance Forum founder, Myra Beltran during the gala.
And in continuing its intent to further inform art enthusiasts, the ManilArt lecture series this year includes, among others: “Semiotics in Visual Art” by Oscar V. Campomanes; and “How We Turn Paintings into Bicycles: Lessons in Art, Law, and the Internet,” by Gigo Alampay.
Meanwhile, in commemoration of National Hero José Rizal’s 150th birth anniversary, award-winning poet, fictionist, playwright, and essayist Vim Nadera will give a talk titled “Visuals on Rizal Today.”
Merging the literary and the visual arts, ManilArt 2011 also has a treat for little art fans. Children will enjoy the storybook reading hour at the lecture room.“The Rocking Horse,” which features paintings by Elmer Borlongan will be told aloud by Carisse Escueta, a former preschool teacher who is now executive director of RepubLikha. Radio and TV personalities, Gang Badoy of Rock Ed Philippines and Ramon Bautista, have also been invited to read. Artists in Residence, Inc. (AIR) will give a lecture on basic drawing.
Among the art fair’s goals, in conjunction with promoting Philippine art, are to compound visitorship and strengthen support from both local and foreign exhibitors.
This year, ManilArt 2011 also aims to fortify media relations to expand media coverage that is both more extensive and intensive.
ManilArt 2011 is happening from today, August 24 until the 27th at the NBC Tent in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The gala night is tonight, but it is by invitation only. If you’d like to check out the art, you can do so starting tomorrow. Hope to see you there!
The event is presented by the Bonafide Art Galleries Organization (Bago) and the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA). For details, call 5316231 or 0917-8511333, or e-mail info@manilart.com. Visit www.manilart.com.
