MANILA, Philippines - On any given Saturday, drop by Velasquez Park in Salcedo Village, Makati City, and you will see white tents complementing the greenery of trees. This is the Salcedo Market, which is celebrating its fourth year.

Here you can have your pick of organic vegetables, fish and shellfish in ice, raw meat, fruits, freshly cooked food, pizza, dumplings, pancakes, crêpes, pasta and what-have-you.

On the last Saturday of the month, June 29, there will be a difference. The food sector will dovetail with the art industry (if one may call it that), and there will be Art in the Park and Art After Dark.

The former is held every June and November, and is organized by art buffs Lisa O. Periquet and Trickie Lopa for the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. It is now on its third year. The latter is the new kid on the block.

The objective of the organizers is to tackle and diminish the elitist image of art, and trundle up all those artworks?paintings, sculptures, prints, mixed-media, photographs, and throw in some furniture?away from the galleries, and bring them out into plein air, the open spaces, the parks, the outdoors.

And hopefully this will attract the attention or art lovers, art buyers and even passersby. The results so far have been encouraging. The twin-bill event was recently announced at a press briefing at Department 18 Restaurant in Salcedo Village by Menchie Duremdes, the foundation?s executive director, and foundation staffers/volunteers.

Old and new artists

Art in the Park will be held 8 a.m.-2 p.m. It will feature works by established artists like Edgar T. Fernandez, as well as emerging artists represented by their galleries or working individually. Participants include students from the University of the Philippines, Feati and Far Eastern University.

?We have a lot of young artists,? noted Lopa. ?[The show] is about what?s up-and-coming on the art scene.?

There will be 24 booths, with the top 10 sellers to be invited back in future exhibits, while making room for the next 10.

?Our target is young working people who set aside something for art, newlyweds, expats, and those who buy wedding gifts,? said Maribel Ongpin.

As for artists and their works, she quipped: ?We are looking at incipient BenCabs.?

At 5 p.m., as the lanterns along the trees are lighted, Art in the Park will reinvent itself, for the first time, as Art After Dark.

Showcased are works by eminent sculptress Agnes Arellano and other artists, along with more paintings, photographs, prints and furniture.

Throw in cocktail tables, jazz music by saxophonist Vince Lahorra, and a wine and tapas bar provided by wine specialist-gourmet Terry Selection. The happening lasts until 10 p.m.

Hmm. Sounds inviting.