Now on its 47th year, the Art Association of Bacolod-Negros (AABN) launched its anniversary art exhibit at the second floor of SM City North Wing Friday, August 5.
Dubbed as Hidlawanay, the exhibit title was coined by AABN past president Nunelucio Alvarado.
AABN president Tey Sevilleno said this is a revival exhibit after they weren’t able to do similar activities for the past years when lockdowns were implemented due to the ongoing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Sevilleno said that 60 of their more than 80 members joined the exhibit that will last until the end of the month.
She said that the isolation in the last two years might be considered challenging for the art association as they cannot meet and get together.
“But it also has brought a chance to each and every artist to do more work because of extra time for reflection and creativity,” Sevilleno said.
The AABN president noted that artists thrive under pressure and as chroniclers of their time and as foreseers of the possible future, they continue to be resilient movers in the society.
At the opening rites of the exhibit, Sevilleno expressed gratitude to their partners especially SM City Bacolod and the Negros artscape for providing a creative space for the different exhibits and art fairs that the association has been doing.
AABN also recognized the support of the local government of Bacolod City led by Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez especially for recognizing the group as the founders of MassKara Festival and being propellers of the local art scene.
For her part, Councilor Em Ang, who is the Sangguniang Panlungsod committee chairman on History, Arts and Culture, assured that there will be more art events to be expected from the group.
Ang said that as seen in the exhibits of AABN that the artists were unfazed by the lockdowns but actually has given them more valued time to their craft.
As of now, AABN are gearing up for their 50th anniversary in the next three years.
Its board of directors and committee heads are mapping out what they will need to do on their way to our golden path.*