Now on its third year, The Center for Art, New Ventures & Sustainable Development (Canvas) presents the “Looking for Juan” Outdoor Banner Project. In celebration of José Rizal’s 150th anniversary, the exhibit is aptly titled “Relevant Rizal?”

Seventy artists have joined this year’s project. The original works on display at Vargas Museum are expressions of the artists’ views and thoughts on the importance and relevance of Rizal today. Together with each artist’s brief statement, the images are printed on tarpaulin and displayed as banners around the UP Academic Oval; the pedestrian underpasses along Legaspi, Sedeño and Salcedo in the city of Makati; and the gardens of Bencab Museum in Baguio City.

The three venues in Makati carry sub-themes: “Remembering Rizal,” “Rethinking Rizal” and “Reviewing Rizal.”

“As we commemorate the 150th birthday of our national hero, we invite the viewers to join us, as we walk, bike or drive around the magnificent tree-lined Oval of the University of the People or walk through the underpasses in Makati and in the gardens of Bencab Museum, to contemplate and reflect on what his life, words and sacrifice mean to all of us, as Filipinos,” said Gigo Alampay, executive director of Canvas.

From Rizal depicted as a playing-card icon, son of man, superhero, to McDonald’s mascot, the exhibition offers a variety of renditions that shall surely delight art enthusiasts.

Participating artists are Leonard Aguinaldo, Aldy Aguirre, Daniel Aligaen, Reynaldo Amido, Japs Antido, Mark Arcamo, Anton Balao, Jojo Ballo, Zeus Bascon, Yveese Belen, Jet Bernal, Johann Bitancor, Plet Bolipata, Jomer Bolesa, Sergio Bumatay III, National Artist Ben “BenCab” Cabrera, Michael Cacnio, Xander Calceta, Buen Calubayan, Rolf Campos, Roen Capule, Jef Carnay, Salvador Ching, Marika Constantino, Dansoy Coquilla, Dawani de Leon, Anton del Castillo, Farley del Rosario, Daniel de la Cruz, Tomas Daquioag, Chloe Dellosa;
Ferdinand Doctolero, Weena Soberano-Espardinez, Liza Flores, Garapata, Alee Garibay, Mark Justiniani, Cathy Lasam, Erwin Leaño, Raymond Legaspi, Dante Lerma, Dave Lock, Agang Maganda, Lotsu Manes, MV Manalo, Neil Manalo, Ferdie Montemayor, Roel Obemio, Archie Oclos, Jim Orencio, Jay Pacena, Raphael Pagarigan, Anthony Palomo, Jill Arwen Posadas, Omi Reyes, Henry Royales, Kirby Roxas, Don Salubayba, Jerson Samson, Julius Samson, John Santos, Pam Yan Santos, Brendale Tadeo, CJ Tañedo, Rex Tatlonghari, Jomike Tejido, AJ Tolentino, Juanito Torres, Juan Elani Tulas, Franklin Caña Valencia, Wesley Valenzuela and Ramel Villas.

At the end of the outdoor banner exhibitions, the tarpaulins will be recycled into one-of-a-kind functional-art tote bags which will be sold to benefit selected charities, as well as other cultural and environmental projects of Canvas.

“Relevant Rizal?: The 2011 Looking for Juan Outdoor Banner Project” is co-presented by the National Commission on Culture and the Arts.