IT BEGAN, as many beginnings do, at a wedding.
Old high school classmates Marisa Romero and Myrna Buendia had bumped into each other at one such affair and, while updating each other on their lives, discovered that they both wanted to learn how to paint. But parental objections got in the way, until that ?Tapping the Creative Universe? seminar under Jim Paredes, where Marisa excavated her old dream of painting. Running into Myrna galvanized her into action, and soon enough, the two women found a teacher in Nestor Villanueva.
?Nestor lets you blossom in your own time and space,? shares Marisa. ?He lets you take time to grow your craft.? In 2000, Marisa and Myrna began the painting class in earnest with ?Teacher Ness.?
Four years ago, Marisa invited her friend Vida Doria Legaspi to a ?Healing Through Art? session she was conducting at the Sta. Maria della Strada Parish at Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City. Vida had been suffering from depression after the death of her mother. Since that day, she has been a regular student at the art classes in Marisa?s house in Quezon City.
Ely Mendiola, a retired piano teacher, started painting with them three years ago after suffering an aneurysm in her spinal column. Other students come and go, but these four are the regulars at the weekly Thursday painting class.
At 40, Anali Garcia is the youngest in this group of accomplished women. An artist by profession, she graduated with a degree in art restoration from the prestigious Palazo Spinelli in Florence, Italy. To date, Anali has held four solo exhibits in Manila and in Florence, showing off her mettle in her abstract and expressionistic style.
The friendship between the four women has deepened through their shared love of painting. Teacher Ness, usually a man of few words, admits that he has stayed on as their teacher because he also learns from his students.
But beyond teaching them art techniques and principles, Nestor has taught them to believe in themselves, says Marissa.
Proof of their newfound confidence in themselves is their joint exhibit on garden scenes, a reflection of their love for nature and the environment. Curated by Antonio Salac Santos, the exhibit runs from February 1 to 15 at the Ricco Renzo Cafe and Galleries, ground floor, LRI Business Plaza, N. Garcia Street, Makati City.
?Rent? Onstage
TAKE an intimate journey through a year in the lives of a circle of friends living their dreams, battling their demons and celebrating life on the streets of New York City?s East Village. Meet would-be filmmaker Mark, songwriter Roger, sweet transvestite Angel, exotic dancer Mimi and other unforgettable characters as they confront the challenges of poverty, morality, paying the rent and making the most of their time in the award-winning musical, ?Rent.?
For tickets to the opening matinee show on February 6, 3:30 p.m. at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater in RCBC Plaza, Makati, contact 0920-9148175, 0917-7941984 or email nodaybuttoday2010@gmail.com.
Art Auction for ACCP Grantees
RARE works by Arturo Luz, BenCab, Betsy Westendorp, Lao Lianben, Don Salubayba, Elmer Borlongan, Jon Santos, Wire Tuazon plus 60 other artists will be made available at the Asian Cultural Council Art Auction on Saturday, February 6 at 4 p.m. at the Finale Art File on Pasong Tamo, Makati. Previews are set on February 4 and 5.
Funds raised in the auction will provide grants to outstanding artists for them to learn from and be exposed to other artists in Asia and in the United States.
Noted ACCP grantees include Lucrecia Kasilag and Jose Maceda (both National Artists for music); Tikoy Aguiluz (noted film maker); Jose Joya (CCP Gawad award and National Artist for visual arts) and Alice Reyes (founder of Ballet Philippines). The ACC fellowship program has supported over 600 Asian and American artist scholars since its inception.
The Finale Art File is located in the La Fuerza Building (Gate1), 2214 Pasong Tamo, Makati.
Beautiful at Any Age
REGARDLESS of shape, size, color or age, a woman?s body has a story to tell ? and each story is beautiful. So says artist Yasmin Almonte in her ongoing solo exhibit, ?Affirmation,? on view at the Mag:net Gallery in Katipunan until February 4.
?I don?t care what society defines as beauty,? Almonte says. Turning 53 this January, the artist validates her worth ?as a human being, a mother, grandmother, educator, lover, artist and friend. A person who feels. A woman.?
Mag:net is located at 335 Agcor Building, Katipunan Ave., Loyola Heights, QC. For inquiries, call 929-3191, or visit www.magnetgalleries.com. ?
