After the weekly food market at Jaime Velasquez Park in Salcedo Village, Makati, the park was transformed into one of the year’s most awaited art fairs.
Now on its sixth year, Art in the Park, hosted by the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, was held last Feb. 18. Aside from art exhibits, there were magical performances, good food and striking music.
Both new entrants and regular exhibitors offered a fresh collection for art enthusiasts. For us youngsters, we enjoyed the presence of street art makers Vinyl on Vinyl, as well as, newcomer Secret Fresh. The two were able to add new-age graphic design touches to the roster of traditional and contemporary art. The place was also a good avenue, not just to see art, but to talk to the creators and like-minded artists.
Fine-art students were also able to showcase their creativity through various school booths.
Lala Pavilando, an 18-year-old student from the Philippine Women’s University School of Fine Arts and Design, was part of the exhibit. Her paintings leaned towards surrealism. Like Pavilando, most of the students were in their third and fourth year.
At the Technological University of the Philippines’s booth, students were selling customized hand-painted aprons (P500 each). Second-year students like Grace, Rose Anne, and Kier used aprons as their canvas. This was a good venue for them to show their talent.
Most of the students were inclined towards contemporary art, from watercolor to acrylic painting, and even the occasional digital prints.
FEATI University’s Fine Arts majors showcased artwork from its second and third year students. A standout piece was a flawlessly crafted wire sculpture of a cockroach. There were handfuls of painting, a boxful of etchings, and some artistic nude photographs for sale. Student art can go as low as P500, and higher than P5,000.
Art-loving students did not miss the chance to experience this once-a-year fête, like the DSLR-toting Advertising Arts major from University of Santo Tomas, Seline Mae Ong. This CFAD (College of Fine Arts and Design) student was happy to see artworks from different schools and our very own local contemporary artists, especially some of Leeroy New’s work. She mentioned that it was unfortunate UST did not join this year, so she hopes they will join next year.
Meanwhile, a fan of Vinyl on Vinyl, School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFa) student Dara Ang, found a lot of inspiration that could help her hone her craft. There were also sculptures, pottery and even a short film to entertain art lovers.
These creations were not just for viewing pleasure; they were also for sale at a very affordable price. Art in the Park is something every budding artist and art lover should not miss. Until next year.
