MESSAGE IN THE SAND

YOUNG ECO-CHAMPION IS A NEW CHILDREN'S HERO

Art Book Aims to Involve Children in Conservation

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (November 2008): The Center for Art, New Ventures and Sustainable Development (CANVAS), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting greater awareness and appreciation for Philippine art, culture and the environment is proud to announce the publication of MESSAGE IN THE SAND, a new children's story by internationally bestselling author Charmaine Aserappa. The new children's book will be launched with an exhibition of original acrylic on canvas paintings which were specially created for the book by rising Filipino artist Roel Obemio. Obemio's solo exhibition will open with cocktails at 6pm on Thursday, November 27, 2008 at the prestigious Ayala Museum in Makati City.

An exquisite art book for children, MESSAGE IN THE SAND introduces the young eco-champion, Miguel, who loves the sea and sets out to save it. He is armed with nothing but faith, imagination and his mother's love and encouragement; his only weapons are those that the sea has provided for its own preservation – seashells, seaweed and sand. With these simple tools, Miguel must battle two giants: the powerful mining company, whose toxic waste is ruining the beach and killing the beautiful fish and seabirds; and the powerful ocean that keeps washing away his words. The book teaches gentle lessons in perseverance, and in finding unusual and peaceful means to effect change. It inspires and empowers children to act against seemingly insurmountable odds, showing us how even one child can make a difference.

Proceeds from the sale of the paintings and the book will benefit and be used to further CANVAS efforts to promote Philippine art, culture and the environment. The book, and a complete range of giftware featuring the paintings from MESSAGE IN THE SAND will also be available at its online store CANVAS Downstream.

First edition hardbound versions of MESSAGE IN THE SAND are available through CANVAS, the Ayala Museum and 1/of Gallery in Serendra. A special e-book version of MESSAGE IN THE SAND, together with an accompanying teaching module, is being prepared by CANVAS, and will be made available for free downloading on its website.

Charmaine Aserappa is the author of IN A JAPANESE GARDEN (with woodcuts by Akiko Naomura; Council Oak Books, San Francisco, U.S.A 1999). A Publishers Weekly Top Ten Gift Book, an Amazon.com Five Star, Most Wished For and Most Gifted Book, IN A JAPANESE GARDEN appears on Bestselling Lists all over the world in categories as diverse as philosophy, architecture, and poetry, and is used in many schools. Charmaine Aserappa said, "It was an honor to be invited to write MESSAGE IN THE SAND for CANVAS. I am delighted with the book and hope its message will spread across the world. We all share this wonderful but fragile planet, and children must be taught that caring for it is the sacred duty of every human being."

Roel Obemio's glowing acrylic paintings for the book have been inspired by the art of Fernando Botero (Colombia), and Mauro Malang Santos (Philippines), but are entirely original, and the unique and endearing characters in MESSAGE IN THE SAND are tenderly and amusingly rendered.

For more information, please email info@canvas.ph, or text/call +63 917.890.6160.

Who Will be Our Obama?

Perhaps the better question is, do we really need our own version of Obama - someone Filipinos can see as a transformative leader, a savior... burdened with expectations so high it would make most others dizzy?

We had one such leader before, of course, in Corazon Aquino. Talk to those who were there, especially in the giddy months of February, March and April 1986, capped by her triumphant speech in the US Congress - and the chills, tears, hopes, inspiration and dreams - not just here in the Philippines but on a global scale (as country after country will invoke her name and use people power to oust leader after leader in the late 1980s) will sound familiar.

Fast forward to today, when the hopes and dreams of EDSA have long been dashed for many (but not us - a preternaturally optimistic bunch - at CANVAS), and still we continue to look for inspiration or salvation from singular personalities.

The danger of Obama's victory for the Philippines is that many will now look to see if any in our current crop of political leaders offers similar inspiration... and we will be doomed to look in the least likely place to find one. Scan the list of likely and even probable presidentiables for 2010, and no one - absolutely no one - offers a vision of change that we can truly call, well, visionary.

And this now, is the challenge then for Juan... if we cannot find inspiration in our leaders, where will we now look?

We in CANVAS know and say that we need not look far. We only have to look within ourselves, to the people close to us and to the people we run into everyday in our everyday lives.

Obama, speaking about his recently deceased grandmother, said "She was one of those quiet heroes that we have all across America. They're not famous. Their names are not in the newspapers, but each and every day, they work hard." Anyone could just as well have been speaking about the countless Filipinos across the country, and indeed, all over the world.

Everyday Filipino heroes are all out there... and it is in this light that CANVAS, through its Looking for Juan Program, have long been conceptualizing, and will soon launch a new major event, centered on this very theme.

Details to follow...

Does It Really Matter To Us?

We don't know exactly how, or exactly why, but we're sure the answer is yes.

Tsubibo

Ang I.N.K.'s "Tsubibo" opens at Shangri-la Mall

Children's illustrators group Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang-InK) opens their 17th annual exhibition titled "Tsubibo" on Tuesday, October. 28 at the 4th level Shangri-la Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City.

"Tsubibo," explores one of the most popular attractions for children and children at heart: the carnival, in a showcase of over 30 works from Ang I.N.K. members using digital art, paper sculpture, drawing, painting and mixed media.

Ang I.N.K. treats its audience to the sights and sounds of the carnival as "Tsubibo" presents the carnival's wild and wacky cast of characters, and delves into the thrills and chills of rides, arcade games, and other sideshow attractions.

Founded in 1991, Ang I.N.K.'s roster includes full-time freelance illustrators, graphic designers, painters, writer- illustrators, visual arts teachers and students, and artists working in publishing companies, design-related firms and advertising agencies. Apart from children's books, Ang I.N.K. members or "INKies" continue to produce workbooks, textbooks, murals, animated features, product designs and merchandising, both individually and as a group. Several INKies are recipients of local and international awards and continue to make names for themselves both here and abroad.

Presented by Adarna House, OMF Literature, Summit Media, and Oishi, "Tsubibo" runs until Nov. 14 at the Shangri-la Plaza Mall, followed by a 1-day exhibition at the UP College of Fine Arts Art Bazaar on November 15.

For inquiries, e-mail blooey@gmail.com.

Some Pics from Last Night's Rocking for Juan Event

So... a little over a year since the idea initially came to us, the big night finally arrived. We had a very well attended Rakenrol show - one of our biggest in terms of the number of guests (estimated between 200 and 250 people) who actually came. For the first time, by the Museum's closing time (10pm), the forty or so bottles of wine that we ordered had all been consumed, and had very nearly run out of food as well...

No matter, it looked to us that no one really noticed, and that everyone had a great time...



We didn't tell everyone that a couple of the bands/musicians would be playing. About an hour into the opening, we had everyone move to the lobby in another section of the Ayala Museum...


...where we explained the rationale behind Looking for Juan - In Art and Rock & Roll and then treated everyone to a surprise preview of some of the songs that emerged out of this collaborative experiment.


Vin Dancel and Peryodiko rocked the Museum.

Photo credit: Rico Quimbo



We set up an LCD projector to show the images that accompanied the songs that were being played.


Cynthia Alexander followed with her songs. In the picture below, artist Plet Bolipata explains her artwork just before Cynthia played her song.

Photo credit: Elmer Borlongan aka fotobumbong

The CD with all the songs will come out, hopefully by the third week of November.

Interesting side story: Shortly before the opening, the Ayala Museum folks requested us to keep the level down to a respectable 50 decibels, to which we of course agreed, thinking that 50 decibels should be more than enough for what we had in mind.

We googled it only this morning, and found out that 50 decibels is the sound of the summer rain, or a normal conversation from three feet away.

Photo credit: Rico Quimbo

We'd like to think everyone had a grand time (unknowingly - we'd like to emphasize) breaking the 50-decibel limit.

And we thank the Ayala Museum for reassuring us this morning, despite our - really - unavoidable failure to meet their request, that CANVAS has not yet overstayed its welcome. :-)


And finally... if you know the girl below with the videocam...


or any of the people with the cameras below...

Photo credit: Rico Quimbo

...or just anyone else who may have taken pictures or videos during the event, please tell them that, if its ok, to please send us a copy of their shots/footage. Just email them to info@canvas.ph.

We'd love to keep them in our files for posterity, and post them on youtube and here on our blog.