Rockin' for Juan - Photos from the Interaction

Here are some pictures from the small gathering that CANVAS hosted for rock bands/singers and artists who will be participating in our upcoming rock and art project this October.

The CANVAS Garden by day. It's a small bonsai garden in Quezon City, generally not open for the public, except on special occasions.


The Garden is beside our Showroom which is going to be opened only by appointment. For this occasion, we displayed artworks, contest pieces and book covers (none of which are for sale) from past projects.

Artist Mark Justiniani being interviewed by MYX, which covered the event.

Sancho Sanchez, Managing Director of Songstream Music, CANVAS' partner for this project.

Artist Fred Esquillo and Kevin Roy of rock band Loquy exchange thoughts and ideas on their respective works. In the background is "Amorsolo's Song" a painting by Farley del Rosario for CANVAS' children's book, "Sol - A Legend About the Sun."

Artist Elmer Borlongan telling Robin Rivera, music producer and representative of singer Dong Abay about his artwork for this project.

L to R - Sancho (managing director, Songstream Music), Toti Dalmacion (president of Terno Recordings, manager of Up Dharma Down), Carlos Tañada (guitarist, Up Dharma Down), Robin Rivera (record producer of Dong Abay and Eraserheads, representing Dong Abay)

Sancho talking with Up Dharma Down's manager about Winner Jumalon's piece (who passed by early in the afternoon) - a montage of photos taken on a road trip from Manila to Zamboanga - for the project.

Singer Cynthia Alexander and artist Plet Bolipata viewing Plet's piece.

L-R: Gigo Alampay (Executive Director, CANVAS), Rob Chien (President, Ambient Media), Sancho Sanchez (Managing Director, Songstream Music), and Eric Enriquez (Managing Director, Ambient Artist Center). Songstream Music, CANVAS' partner for this project, and Ambient Media Center are subsidiaries of Ambient Media.



We had the artists and bands sign this shirt. Everyone else got a free shirt as a souvenir. :-)


The CANVAS Garden at night.

The CANVAS family. It was a good night for everyone.

Kristo Manila 2008

Apostle's Creed at 1/of Gallery

The "Kristo" exhibits in Malolos, Bulacan were started by Salvador Ching as part of his 'panata.' He annually invited fellow artists in this Lenten offering, featuring works that served as their reflections on the passion of Christ.

In 2005, The Artery brought the Lenten art show to Manila for the first time as "Sabachthani," a highly lauded gathering of 46 emergent and established visual artists. Thus, the Kristo Manila leg was born.

In 2006, over 50 artists participated in "Behold," the second noted lenten offering.

Last year, over 70 artists joined the presentation dubbed "Into Thy Hands," taken from Christ's last words when with His last breath, He offered His spirit to God the Father.

This year's Kristo Manila exhibit is titled "Apostle's Creed." Fourteen paintings by the same number of artists are featured, each inspired by a different Apostle. They were spurred to create their pieces as though seeing through the eyes of Christ's disciples whether during the present or a rendering of how it was to be in the Savior's presence. The process by which Apostles were assigned to the artists was a simple drawing of lots.

Participating artists are Anton Balao, Allan Balisi, Buen Calubayan, Salvador Ching, Salvador Convocar, Melvin Culaba, Anna de Leon, Roel Obemio, Wilfredo Offemaria, Vincent Padilla, Brenda Praico, Farley Del Rosario, Rex Tatlonghari, and Jomike Tejido. The Kristo Manila 2008 Exhibition is curated by Buen Calubayan.

While the previous years' exhibitions were characterized by visual deluge that echoed the agony of Christ's Passion, the lessening of numbers in "Apostle's Creed" is meant to usher solemnity into this Holy Week's reflections.

"Apostle's Creed" opens on Monday, March 17, 2008 at 7:00pm and runs until March 29, 2008 at 1/of Gallery, Serendra.

* Painting is "Repentance" by Salvador Ching (Assigned Apostle: Judas Iscariot). Mixed Media (Acrylic on Malong).

Rockin' for Juan - A Milestone Coming Up

On our Rock and Art project for October, we're hosting a small party for the bands and the artists this weekend. They'll be exchanging their first set of songs and artworks respectively, so this is a major milestone and we're very excited.

Sorry, it's a closed affair just for them. We're keeping it cozy to give them a better environment to interact and get to know one another.

But check out the design for the limited edition shirts we've designed to give out as souvenirs.

Front:


Back:

One Last Lecture

It's graduation season, so here's a little gift for all graduates out there (and for everyone else). If you had one last lecture to listen to before you go out into the world, here it is.

It's not really about what it means to be Filipino, but given all that's happening today, this could help put things into perspective. It's a little over an hour long, so if you have the time, watch it. If not, trust us - find the time and watch it.



In the meantime, here's the back story.

And here's the epilogue.

Convocar at 1/of Gallery

"CHARACTERS, CREATURES, AND CRITTERS"

Salvador Convocar presents his latest works at 1/of Gallery in an exhibit dubbed "Characters, Creatures, and Critters." One of the only few mixed media artists whose works have been embraced by serious collectors, he is known for a coterie of subjects made whimsical and mysterious with his washes of color combined with archaic symbols and patterns. The collection is a delight to viewers and a must for avid Convocar followers.

The exhibit runs from March 3 to 14, 2008. Call 1/of Gallery in Serendra at 901-3152 for details.

ABOUT SALVADOR CONVOCAR

Salvador "Buds" Convocar is recognized as one of the noted Filipino artists of our time. He is known for his paintings, pastels, illustrations, graphic design, and mixed media artworks. He has had exhibits all over the country and was also an art educator at DLSU-College of St. Benilde, St. Scholastica's College, University of the East, and Far Eastern University. He was president of the renowned Saturday Group, was vice president of the Art Association of the Philippines (AAP) for some years, and is now its newly elected president. Some of his achievements include recognition in the AAP Annual Competition (1992), Philippine Art Awards (1994-1996 & 2001), and Diwa ng Sining Awards (1994 & 1996) among others. Convocar has participated in international exhibits and competitions such as the SOHO-International Art Competition (1992) and the Bronze Dimensional Illustration Competition (1995), both in New York. In 1994, he represented the Philippines at the Sao Paolo Art Biennale in Brazil.

Vote for Tubbataha Reef!

THE Tubbataha Reefs, a natural marine park in the Sulu Sea between Palawan and Mindanao, has been nominated to become one the 7 natural wonders of nature.

Tubbataha Reefs was the only entry from the Philippines accepted by the Switzerland-based non-profit New7Wonders Foundation for inclusion in the prestigious list.

“There were 10 sites nominated from the Philippines, but Tubbataha Reefs was the only entry accepted,” said William Azucena, information officer of the Sulu-Sulawesi Seascape Project under Conservation International.

In its Web site, the New7Wonders Foundation said it received 200 nominations from half a million people within the first few months of the campaign.

The top 77 official nominees will be eligible for consideration by the New7Wonders of Nature panel of experts for inclusion in the group of 21 finalist candidates.

As of today (March 1), Tubbataha ranked 33rd on the list.

The list is composed of natural sites or natural monuments that were not created or significantly altered by humans for aesthetic reasons. A nominated site must either be a natural site, a natural monument, or a landscape.

Tubbataha has been declared as one of the four world heritage sites in the Philippines by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

To vote for Tubbataha Reefs, click here.