THE ARTISTIC prowess of Thomasians is showcased in a number of art exhibitions and musicals running until February. Here is a short list:
Mark Salvatus: Meet Me Halfway (until Jan. 13 at 1335 A. Mabini St., Ermita, Manila) – Inspired by his experience of moving from Manila to Osaka, Japan, College of Fine Arts and Design alumnus Mark Salvatus exhibits his mixed-media installations, abstract drawings and videos that survey the struggles of gradual adaptation to new and unfamiliar environments.
Homebound: A Survey of Recent Developments In Angono Contemporary Art (until Feb 12, Bulwagang Carlos V. Francisco, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Pasay City) – Two Thomasians, along with 29 other artists, commemorate National Artist Carlos “Botong” Francisco’s birth anniversary. The exhibit features visual narratives of the rich culture in Angono, Rizal, Francisco’s hometown.
Last Full Show (until March 4 at Bulwagang Juan Luna and Bulwagang Fernando Amorsolo, CCP, Pasay City) – Renowned folk artist Danilo Dalena showcases his 50-year-old masterpieces in “Last Full Show,” a CCP retrospective exhibit. It features the artist’s sketch and painting series dipped in the techniques of expressionism. The exhibit also displays the artist’s most recent drawings, mostly done during his years of absence in galleries because of several health crises.
#LUZ@90 Curated by Ambeth R. Ocampo (until April 17 at Ateneo Art Gallery, Quezon City) – In commemoration of the 90th birth anniversary of National Artist for Visual Arts Arturo Luz, historian Ambeth Ocampo catalogs Luz’s earliest and recent artworks in #Luz@90. An alumnus of the old College of Architecture and Fine Arts, Luz was known for his Carnival and Cyclist painting series in the 1950s. The exhibited artworks, which include the famous oil-on-plywood painting “Bagong Taon” from 1952, come from the private collection of the Luz family and the Ateneo Art Gallery.
Sa Wakas, the Pinoy Rock Musical (Jan. 12 – Feb. 5, Power Mac Center Spotlight, Makati City) – Playwright and poet Ina Abuan’s musical play “Sa Wakas” returns to the stage after its first run in 2013 at the Peta Theater Center. Co-written by director Andrei Pamintuan, the play tackles teenage love and infidelity. It features the songs from defunct alternative rock band Sugarfree’s album of the same name.
Noli Me Tangere, the Opera (Jan. 28 – Feb. 3, 2017, Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, CCP, Pasay City) – The opera adaptation of National Hero Jose Rizal’s masterpiece Noli Me Tangere, written and composed by National Artists Felipe de Leon and Guillermo Tolentino, respectively, will be re-staged in the last week of January by the CCP and J&S Productions. The opera will feature the voice direction of Conservatory of Music faculty member Ronan Ferrer.
Art Fair Philippines (Feb. 16-19, The Link Carpark Ayala Center, Makati City) – A premier annual event for art exhibiting and selling, Art Fair Philippines is a venue for showcasing contemporary artworks to generate support for Filipino artists. This year’s fair will mirror the changes in the local visual art scene with a number of international galleries participating along with the country’s top galleries.
