MAKING of Cordilleran bling kicked off the 4th Tam-awan International Arts Festival (TIAF 4).
A workshop for Cordilleran bead making by the Concepcion Chaong Bead Makers Team from Karao, Bokod and the Abra contingent of Ruby Bersamin commenced Wednesday at the Artist village starting the five-day festival.
Over 100 students from the Baguio City National High School, San Juan, Ilocos Sur and Pangasianan flocked to the artist village for workshops on arts, crafts and beadmaking.
TIAF 4 is themed "Jewels of the Cordillera" slated from May 15 to 19 where a convergence of art of set with groups still coming in from Tabuk, Kalinga, Abra Province, Romblon, Binangonan, the Pampanga Arts Guild, Grupo Biag (Vigan Artists), Bacolod, Laguna, Dumaguete, Batanes, Philippine Art Educators Association and GSIS Team, Pangasinan, University of the East Students and the University of Iloilo.
The Tam-awan Village Artists (TVA) also pooled together to offer workshops led by Chanum Foundation president Jordan Mang-osan's workshop and demonstration of his trademark solar drawing.
TVA artist, Tara Lalaine Natividad educated participants on the craft of Dream Catcher making while mechanics of portrait sketching will be done by Jenny Lorenzo, while a bead making demonstration and workshop by Clinton Aniversario.
Senior TVA artist Patrick Palasi showed his trademark coffee painting while water colour painitng workshop was led by Ged Alangui.
Acrylic painting by was done by Resty Lopez while Art Lozano gave participants a chance to learn a craft that can double as a livelihood on his mono print design workshop.
The event is in tandem with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in celebration of the National Heritage Month highlighted in May, Baguio City has been chosen as a venue to highlight traditional, culture and heritage along with Apayao, Batanes, Cebu, Dapitan, Manila and Sarangani.
Official opening ceremonies are set on May 17, Friday, with a traditional cañao followed by a press conference.
TIAF 4 will be graced by South African Ambassador-Her Excellency Agnes Nyamande-Pitso, Ambassador Delia Domingo Albert and NCCA executive director Emelita Almosara.