MY FIRST SHOW OF THE YEAR!

THIS EXHIBITION IS BASED IN INDIANAPOLIS, IN, LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE. The Philippine Cultural Community Center is graciously hosting this show of international and national artists. I submitted two artworks for this exhibition in tribute to my mother’s teenage memories of the fiestas in Cebu, Phillippines. They are pictured below the curatorial statement.

“FIESTA, EVERYONE IS INVITED” CURATORIAL STATEMENT

Popularly known as "fiestas"(festival, festivities), the roots of these fiestas in the Philippines are in Catholic Christianity brought by the Spanish conquistadors. Islam and indigenous fiestas also existed before the Spanish arrivals. Fiestas were not only celebrations in honor of a saint or an expression of communal aspirations but also as tools of propaganda for example spreading religion.

The 42,000 known festivals in the Philippines vary as they can be religious, cultural, or both. They can have religious services, parades, theatrical play and reenactments, religious or cultural rituals, trade fairs, exhibits, concerts, pageants and various games and contests.

Some festivals, such as Holy Week and Christmas, are declared as public holidays therefore observed and celebrated nationwide. 

The Philippines is fast growing as a tourist destination not only because of their attractions and natural wonders but also of the fiestas. On a global scale the Philippines is known for many things but sadly stereotypes about its people pervade too. 

Filipinos are known as overseas workers. For the most part the reputation is good and these workers help their families at home and contribute to the economy through their remittance. They work mainly as domestic helpers, baby sitters etc. Not many people know of the Philippines except it is a good source of OFWs or overseas Filipino workers.  There are other stereotypes as well that are positive such as the Philippines is home of champion boxers or beauty queens. It is also home to world class artists. 

That being said, this exhibit, "Fiesta, Everyone Is Invited" will focus on such artists' works that will show the different fiestas of the Philippines. This will show the festive spirit of the people of the Philippines, in spite of their differences, struggles and hardships. No longer will others stereotype the Filipino people as an unhappy lot and in continuous struggle but people who give time to celebrate in spite of adversities. This is where the true strength of the Philippines can be found: in its people's resilience, creativity, love of life and of course, festiveness.

Vimiragon, a Filipina artist living in Paris came up with the idea to show a different side of Filipino social behavior. In her mind, there is more to the pervading focus of Filipinos on their mundane problems, which is not entirely true. They can celebrate and make fiestas to whisk away their sadness, problems and everyday woes.

The artists participating in this exhibit, both foreign or Filipino, will have a great opportunity to learn a particular culture and produce artworks related to it. Each will have a particular vision and interpretation of their chosen fiesta theme. 

“The Philippine calendar is full of festivals all throughout the year. The Filipinos call it ‘fiesta’ – a party where everyone is invited to join! Every barrio, town, province, and city has their own fiesta to celebrate once a year. So for sure there’s always a fiesta going on somewhere around the country. Rain or shine, good times or bad, it’s unstoppable. the fiesta must go on!  It would be a great experience if you could join these events, witnessing the usually happy Filipinos going even happier!” -  Excerpt from https://www.tropicalexperiencephilippines.com/events-festival-philippines

The best way to spend time in a Philippine fiesta is to forget about time, therefore I invite you to do the same with this exhibit. Everyone is indeed invited.

ARTIST STATEMENT: 

In my artworks, I paint the fiestas of my Nanay’s youth…

— a world of sweet sticky banana cue, cracking boiled peanuts (nilagang mani), the delicious aroma of suman wafting in the air, vibrantly colored tissue paper flags swaying in the wind, laughter spilling from open doors, neighbors reconnecting through shared meals, as she traveled from one house to another in her barangay.

Lovers twirling around, under the bright lights,  dancing to the music vibrating throughout the plaza.

She was once a girl wide-eyed in Cebu, watching dancers with their beaded skirts and feathers that they adorned ripple like rivers, flooding the streets, offering up Santo Niño with every step.

These stories are hers—but they are also ours—woven with memory, flavored with joy, and rooted in the rhythm and spirit of “Bayanihan”.

My love collaged, encapsulated within each brush stroke, tributes to my Nanay.