It only happens this Sunday, March 17, but the visual and gastronomic treat is a great excuse to don one’s hat and take a stroll amongst the trees, lawn, and booths. The fair opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m. so there’s no excuse not to check out this fun art gathering.
Besides, it’s also for a good cause: the art bazaar aims to support the Museum Foundation of the Philippines’ projects and programs for the National Museum of the Philippines and its network.
Visitors are advised to take it light and easy as the atmosphere is casual and the public gets the chance to engage and interact with 60 exhibitors who’ll be glad to talk to you about their creative wares and artworks.
Prices are from P70,000 and below, so it’s a joyful find to purchase artworks at accessible prices.
Where to go, what to do if you’re just too overwhelmed to walk the entire course of the lush park? Here’s a cheat sheet for discovering and enjoying the works of artists to watch for.
1. Demi Padua, one of the featured artists this year, is a native of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, Demi’s paintings and sculptures are rendered with a trompe L’oeil style that brings drama to the works. Besides his works on show, BPI has collaborated with Demi by way of fans where a work of his appears. Quite a special fan for fans of the rising graphic artist and painter.
2. Abstract artist Pepe Delfin explores geometric shapes, squiggles, and lines in her paintings. Her vibrant hues and structured compositions evoke experiences and emotions of living in the modern world.
3. Clarence Chun, who primarily engages in abstraction to create narratives centered on his connections and relationships to places he had lived in. With a childhood spent in Leyte and later, residing as an adult in Hawaii, Chun’s body of work depicts biographical narratives drawn from his personal history as a first-generation immigrant.
4. Fabric artist and photographer Kat Palasi is also the creator behind Abek Home + Culture. A long-time participant of Art in the Park, Kat deviates from her exquisite hand-embroidered clothes handsewn from indigenous and handwoven textiles. Her fabric art carry lovely and magical narratives that reflect on her experiences as a Cordillera-based artist. Her framed works been receiving wonderful reviews from Art in the Park visitors in the past.
Among her pieces this year, “The Woman Who Dreams,” which is made from abaca fabric dyed in natural indigo, hand-stitched with mostly naturally dyed fabrics.
According to her, “It’s about a young village girl who finds herself while working abroad as a nanny and a house cleaner— first in Singapore then she transfers to Canada. But always, at night she dreams of home— of people who might be sick, of ancestors long gone, of loved ones, of what rituals might be appropriate for those who communicate with her through her dreams. It’s about culture and how it is always inside of you.”
5. Graphic artist and painter Dindo Llana‘s works are always a joy to behold as they bring about a whimsical, child-like mood that offers glimpses of Philippine life. For the past years, Dindo has been sharing booths with artist friends like Kat Palasi.
Dindo tackles mythological creatures like the manananggal and kapre. He says, “It’s fun to imagine them in the human context and setting. On a serious note though, these creatures are depicted addressing environmental issues. They are after all the social controls of the environment. They are guardians of their habitat, the mountains, forests, seas, and rivers.”
Dindo will also be presenting his popular Lola series, featuring the elderly women of his childhood. Visit Dindo Llana, Kat Palasi, and their artist friends at Booth number 6.
6. Street artist Muffy Roxas is another low-key but talented person to check out. A member of Urban Sketchers, Muffy has participated in various group exhibitions and says that she enjoys documenting her everyday experiences and observations through her on-the-spot drawings. Her sketches are also important platforms for preserving heritage areas such as the Philippine Postal Office building that she was able to capture on her sketchbook before and after the tragic fire.
Expect these talented artists to be scattered at Art in the Park as they sketch the most interesting details about the event.
7. After a walk in the park, and as the evening becomes cooler, settle down at the refreshment area for cocktails, food, and other beverages. Celebrate a day of art with over 21 food and drinks vendors. Quench your thirst at the San Miguel Brewery, booth. Enjoy happy hour, a quick snack, or dinner at Yuan’s Paella Plus, BCuts and Mo Cookies, Maryland Chicken, Odd Cafe, Merry Moo Ice Cream, Rafik Shawarma Holy Crepe, and more.
For more information, visit www.artinthepark.ph and follow www.facebook/artinthepark and @artintheparkph on Instagram.