Tuesday, April 15, 2008 Sugbu attack By Ritchie Landis Doner Quijano
Cebu is looking good.
Local art has never been moving as fast as lightning and as loud as thunder as it is now.
Just three weeks ago we had visiting artists from Manila showing their works alongside their Cebuano counterparts.
Now barely over with the euphoria, it is happening again.
Another group, this time composed of 11 artists from the capital of the Philippines, is coming over and will be joined in by local boys Javy Villacin, Sio Montera, Jojo Sagayno, Evan Bejec and this writer for three consecutive days of art openings and three simultaneous shows in three venues, in three big galleries and in three big cities.
The show is called “Sugbu Asdang, Art in Public Places.”
It’s a first-time-ever gathering of nonmainstream artists here in Cebu. This first of a kind collaboration by two groups intends to bridge the physical distance through art expression.
It will also showcase artworks in experimental form and installations in a beach setting, streets and corridors just outside the galleries.
The show will be the beginning of future artistic projects in Cebu, which will help develop the province as the epicenter of art for all Filipino artists in the days to come.
It will start at the SM Art Center, Cebu City, on April 16; at the 856 G (Gabriella) Gallery in Banilad, Mandaue City, on April 17; and at the Bluewater Gallery of Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort in Mactan Island on April 18 with an installation and performance night. The opening program will start at 6 p.m.
Participants from Manila are Pandy Aviado, Red Mansueto, Gig de Pio, Caesar Velez, Florence Cinco, Eghai Roxas, Ross Capili, Manok Ventura, Olan Ventura, Cesare Syjuco and Jean Marie Syjuco.
At this magnitude, the group exposition will be a pivotal show for an exchange of public exhibition between three cities, and to redefine the face of art spaces and exhibits. The Cebuano art scene has never looked this good.
