New year art blast

Monday, February 21, 2011

THE Cebu Artists Incorporated (CAI)—a local organization of visual artists whose members include professional painters, sculptors and photographers—opened the new year with a big bang.

CAI did not just came up with the usual run of the mill show of artworks that happens all year round. The group instead organized three simultaneous and collaborative exhibitions that opened one eventful January night.

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All these took place in i1, i2 and i3 buildings at Asiatown, IT Park, Lahug. The exhibit, entitled “Mithing Sugbuanon,” was divided into three components in order to spread the 30-plus artists taking part in the activity.

That so far was the biggest gathering of artists since the year started. Works by 10 photographers were shown at i1 building. They were Cris Dy, Victor Gocela, Jorgen Lim, Joven Lim, Gil Maningo, Joseph Ong, Mark Puerto, Nick Sagnoy, Dong Secuya and Paulo Tallo.

The photos were a dazzling mix of glamour, sports, travel, portraiture and photo-journalism in classic black and white and contemporary colored digital shots. At the i2 building lobby were the representational artists who exhibited landscapes, still life and figure paintings were Cesar Castillo, Darby Alcoseba, Paulino Carvajal, Betsy Alterado, John Dinglasa, Celso and Fe Pepito, Karen Pepito, Sister Raissa, Lurline Rodriguez, Jose Sarahan, Tony Vidal, Gary Watin, Sonia Yrastorza, Guido Lubanga and Mila Yuson.

The modernist and contemporary were all stationed at the i3 building. They included sculptor Methusael Carredo; the mixed media works of Jason Dy SJ; the surrealist Frenchman Remy Rault; abstractionist Karl Roque Jr.; and this writer.

Overall, the event appeared to be more of an artist’s convention than a typical art exhibit. When artists of different styles and persuasions gather in one evening, it sure is expected to be one of those long and lovely nights.