‘Tapestries’ at the After Shack
By Mini Zamora-Arceo
October 6, 2008
A night of arts for the soul. A night of sumptuous Kapampangan cuisine for the body. And a night of music for the heart. A night of tapestries of people and life.
Last Saturday’s (October 4) opening of the After Shack Gallery and Artists’ Venue is a one of a kind experience for all Kapampangans who seek time and space to express their feelings, sentiments, desires, aspirations and anything that pleases the senses.
The gallery was full of energy. The soft yellow lights gently cast life to some 30 paintings, photographs and sculptures inside the gallery. Most of them are works of the seasoned and revered Pampanga Arts Guild clan. Few are works of equally skilled artists like Conderlos Lingat, Boy Arceo, and Don Reich De Dios of the Kalinangan Telabastagan, Stephanie Zamora, Badet Totuico and Bruno Tiotuico.
PAG Past President Norman Tiotuico’s protruding faces molded in plaster of Paris relay stories of street children longing for love and compassion. His award-winning sculpture titled “Equilibrium” speaks of the humanity’s sense of balance. Made from wood, fiber glass, brass and clear cast resin, the 60x72x24-inch sculpture exudes the life of men struggling to create stability amidst the intricacies of this material world.
The seasoned sculptor Edille Paras, who recently created the life-size bronze-finish statue of the late Cardinal Rufino Santos, showcased his skill in perfecting replicas of drapery using mixed media. The precision and details of his works exhibit his mastery of the visual arts, making a common weave design a pleasant artwork for the eyes which likewise creates an illusion that tests the mind.
Acrylic and fabric in color. That is Jerry Bautista. Another vanguard of PAG and a living advocate of Kapampangan culture and arts. A master of abstract art, his works communicates to the senses using visual language. The colorful lines and colors provide balance opposite the furrowed fabric. A visual statement that portrays the tapestries of life itself. The irony of bliss in a world inundated by hatred, poverty and despair.
Contrary to the typical picture of sunrise, Reynaldo “Jun Bap” Cruz gave life to “Munag Sumala,” the Kapampangan epic goddess and eldest daughter of Aldo, also known as Aring Sinukuan. His mastery of the use of resin creating strands of lace meandering and creating a visual illusion completing the magical sunrise.
The revered elders of PAG, Rafael Maniago and Ronnie Tayag exhibited their prowess in the use of oil and acrylic. More of an impressionist, Maniago created a replica of the Kalinga houses built inside the Nayong Pilipino Expo Clark. Capturing the perceived light at the time he was painting the image of the houses, Maniago gave justice to the grandeur of these indigenous people’s cultural icon. Tayag’s “Talangka” on acrylic is simply a masterpiece coming from a homegrown artist, nurtured and bred as a pure-blooded Kapampangan. Also coming from the talented and patriotic Tayag clan, known for their love and dedication to Kapampangan culture and arts, Ronnie Tayag likewise made his name as an excellent creator of mixed media art.
Long Melo’s “Satellite Love” in pencil and crayons on canvass poses a bold message to those who believe in the mystical unknown. Like the intangibilities of art, Melo’s creations transcend the boundaries of the unit mind and the physical world. He is one of the few visual artists who have distinctive art that speaks aloud to their audience’s psyche. When you see one of his works, you immediately know that it’s Melo’s.
Paks Pineda’s “blue” paintings are surreal. Not that they are literally blue but the aura is more striking than real. Like Melo, Pineda’s works are so distinctive. His paintings are pictures of deep emotions that continuously perpetuates through time. Created in acrylic, Pineda gives a different meaning to “blue.” Not despair and loneliness but another life. Another air, another world beyond.
“Circus” and “Reng Kakayung Karapatan” by Paul Del Mundo are expressive, daring and screaming images in pen and ink. For others, Del Mundo’s drawings might be seen as murky and sad. As for me, they are excellent visual statements that readily call for radical change. Their simplicity is their most powerful feature.
Lorina Tayag-Capitulo’s untitled series in mixed media are another face of abstract art. Her works perfectly represent the philosophy of abstraction, the presentation of fundamental changes in the society. A colorful message depicting the intellectual and social unrest felt by either an individual or a group.
Scrap metal put together to give life to another subject. A genius artwork using mixed media. Another PAG oldie, Robert Odejar showcased a totally different style from his usual caricatures, watercolor and acrylic paintings.
John Pangilinan’s bronze-finish rubber foam picture of a lady is a breakaway from the traditional. Pangilinan gave a different texture to portraiture. The bronze-finish likewise gave his creation a classy projection despite the subject’s plainness.
Borg Meneses is a master of digital art. Meneses’ perfection of perspective and colors gives seamless attribute to his subjects. His photographs’ excellent perspective provides depth to his subjects and gives another life to a supposedly flat image. His subjects’ statements are another thing to consider. Pictures of people from Apo market, the common folk living the ordinary life yet immortalized in a perfect image of reddish skies and vanishing light.
The mixed media works of Lingat, de Dios and Arceo are similarly impressive. The found objects and indigenous material such as bones, wires, rope and bamboo illustrate the artists’ exceptional imagination. As for Badet’s and Stephanie’s collography works are likewise impressive. Still life suspended in eternal image. Relics of earth materials captured in an artwork are something to behold.
And Bruno, the youngest artist amongst the exhibitors is a promising photography genius. His frame of the children of Quezon province was the only piece sold last Saturday. A beautiful image of children clad in their colorful household clothes posing side-by-side under a collapsing nipa shack.
As I have said earlier, the opening of the gallery was a delight especially to the guests. Kapampangan culture and arts advocates like Renato Tayag, Rene Romero, Myrna Bituin, Tess Guanzon, Agnes Romero, Willie Villarama, Angeles Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting, Dir. Ronnie Tiotuico of the DOT Region 3, Cris Cadiang, Averell Laquindanum and more were simply happy to be with the artists. Their support and that of the media people is greatly appreciated.
The legendary son of Mabalacat, Ysagani “Yatu” Ybarra led the musicians in a night of singing and serenading. His soulful song “Yuhya” tells a story of one’s pleasure and longing of the rich Kapampangan language and culture. The Kapampangan youth likewise intensified the energy by singing original Kapampangan songs. The Five Against the Wall, T.H.E.M., Mental Floss and Ram Nulud rocked the night.
But the most pleasing of all is the sumptuous food provided by Cioccolo Restaurant, owned by the Ruperto Cruz and Family. Pasta in red sauce with crunchy olives and wheat bread, fresh sashimi, tasty apple and potato salad with bits of meatballs, dumplings and barbeque.
Cioccolo is one of the most patronized restaurants in Pampanga today. It is located at the Grand Palazzo Royale grounds in Cutcut, Angeles City. Managed by Chef Froilan Cruz, it is the best stop for pasta and salad lovers craving for a touch of fused European and Kapampangan cuisine.
The magical night of After Shack is however dedicated to the Alaya Movement. The believers of Alaya and vanguards of the message of Atin Cu Pung Singsing. The organizers and movers of After Shack. For all the children of Alaya – Mang Dan, Norman, Badet, Jerry and all PAG members, Mike, yaku, Rey, Andy, Jon, Dani, Ram, Marlon, Bruno, Den, Ave, Tita Ces, Yatu and the rest – a toast to us! (end)
