Pasundayag sa Dabaw: Building a community of artists

Photo by Lemuel Josh Jardeni
Photo by Lemuel Josh Jardeni

IT is when we come together that the community becomes stronger.

This is what Pasundayag sa Dabaw, a local art fair, has proven when it successfully pulled off its debut edition on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at Project 587 by Juna Subd. in Davao City.

We say it was successful because it gathered over a hundred participants and visitors, two speakers, 11 visual and digital artists, nine local performers, 12 micro-to-small businesses and partners.

The plan was just to initiate a small gathering of artists in a public place with a short program, but with the outpouring support of the industry partners, Pasundayag Sa Dabaw featured four components of the art fair: An art talk, Flea Market; Art Exhibit; and The Performance.

“We have a vibrant art community in Davao City but what we want to highlight here is to spotlight artists who are still very new in the industry, those who really need exposure and platform to showcase and introduce their art and works,” head organizer Loel Balangauan told SunStar Davao.

He added that Pasundayag sa Dabaw intends to show the public what is the plight of the community and their potential given the changing landscape of the art realm.

“Above all, it is an event where artists can meet their fellow artists and come together amid diversity, after all, we are one community and we speak the same language,” he said.

For the art talk, visitors learned from two distinguished speakers about art production by Vince Lim, the creative director and account manager of Filmspire Multimedia Productions; and social media storytelling by SunStar Davao’s digital service and content head Ace June Rell S. Perez.

Aside from the talks, visitors were also able to check and discover exciting goodies and merchandise from local entrepreneurs at the Flea Market. It featured Stash Duds, 13th Avenue, SYMMETHRIFT by esknta, Hobbyba Handmade, Devils & Black Sheep, Veronicas Choice, Alyara's Davaoc, and GoodKarma.Tgm.

Art enthusiasts were also treated as the fair highlighted 17 artworks from 11 homegrown visual and digital artists and brands namely Gio Karlo, Yanong Ritrato, RPixels, DC Roles, SQE RA, Glen Magallano, Allan James Aquino, Eric Jay Jayme, Cristine Cadayas, Loy Portraits, and Marc Ryan Kim. This provided the artists with a platform to market their works to the public.

Lastly, the fair also served as a stage for nine up-and-rising musical artists to entertain Dabawenyos. The visitors were entertained by the diverse performances of Carge Aquino, Cianry Israel, Bud Vibes, EJ Cutin, J. Bato, Gregory Neil, Dee, Maric Gavino, and Onin.

Helping Balangauan to make this debut art fair possible are Marc Ryan Kim Dante, Ellaine Palmamento, Justin Joshua Pungyan, Avant Oberlin, and Kemuel Duran. The event was also supported and sponsored by Project 587 by Juna Subdivision, Concepts by Gab, Kapewenoz, and SunStar Davao.

“We really believe that there are several noteworthy artists that showcase Mindanaoan pride through distinctive and dramatic art pieces that represent life, culture, history, and stories about Davao City. In this modern time, Dabawenyo artists were also recognized on different platforms, especially on social media,” he said.

Following the success of its debut art fair, Balangaun hopes that more art fairs and gatherings will be organized in the city where artists can come together and raise one collective voice for progress and sustainability.

“With the success of our debut, the team is already discussing if we are going to make it an annual event. Nothing’s final yet but that is not impossible,” he said. ASP

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph