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GREENHILLS MALL, San Juan City (SDN) — Once again the Ortigas Art Festival, now on its 8th iteration this year, is off to a rousing opening here, with no less than City Mayor Francis Zamora leading scores of attendees.
This is the first time the annual art exhibition is being held in the city, its former home Estancia Capitol Commons Pasig City, Metro Manila.
It opened on Thursday, July 11, with artists from around the country, and some from abroad who joined the festival to showcase their brilliance and artistic talent.
The festival coincides with the 94th Anniversary of Ortigas Land, giving more meaning and significance to the activities, with the event revolving around the theme of “Art for All: A Celebration of Borderless Artistic Expression” and the paintings, sculptors, and photographs set up at the mall’s East Wing and South Wing Atriums, 4th Floor Tech Hub, and Promenade Cinema on the 4th floor. Viewing for the public is free.
Architect Renee Bacani, vice president and head of Ortigas Malls, cited Ortigas Lands’ anniversary which transcends innovation, excellence, and community.
On the other hand, the Ortigas Land official noted the art festival’s blossoming into an award-winning recognition, welcoming its coincidence with the 94th anniversary observance.
“The festival marked a new milestone to celebrate the 94th Anniversary of Ortigas Land,” says Bacani.
Zamora led the ribbon-cutting ceremonies, signaling the opening of the activities, punctuated by ballet dance performance, among other showcases that celebrated the Filipino talent.
Among participants in the festival are individual artists and groups, some of them Angono Artists Collective, Ortigas Foundation, Ortigas Foundation, Pasig Art Club, Linangan Art Residency, Shine Vitto Gallerie of Mindoro, international Filipino fashion designer Chynna Mamawal, Carlos “Totong” Francisco II (grandson of National Artist Francisco ‘Botong’ Francisco), and Raul “Ponz” Roco, Jr. (son of the late senator Raul Roco), and others.
Zamora cited San Juan City’s successful effort to register Metro Manila’s lowest crime rate, and the first local government unit (LGU) to be declared drug-free.
One of the objectives of the festival, obviously, is to make art closer to the masses, break the boundary separating the artist and viewers, and everyday life.
Art and other fields of free expression in one roof
The mayor of the city in his opening remarks congratulated Ortigas Land for its 94th Anniversary as he conveyed his full support for the festival attended by known personalities from the art scene and art galleries.
He also communicated his childhood and personal connection with San Juan where he spent his young days and grew up to be a man.
Going back to Bacani, she walked back to the triumphs of the art festival in the past years, including recognition from the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards and International Business Awards that showed Ortigas Land’s long-term promise to art, innovation, and care and attention for the community.
Among the personalities present included Pasig City Councilor Angelu De Leon-Rivera, Angono Councilor Jo Anne Saguinsin, Marites Ortigas of the Ortigas clan, and other officials of Ortigas Malls.
Zamora was joined by festival consultant Renato Habulan, artist-curator, emphasized that it is the goal of the event to get art closer to people, and people to art.
“We believe that in giving free access to art, we are helping artists to prosper and strengthen their art’s connection to the community,” says Habulan.
True to this goal, for those interested to create their art, the 4F Tech Hub is available for workshops, art talks, and pop-ups, including Watercolor Pop-Up Art Fair of the Philippine Guild of Water color I started (PGW), Art Talk with Linangan’s Manny Garibay, and Workshops of Pasig Art Club and Born in Film photographers.
All the workshops are provided free, only registration is required from participants.
The festival also introduces the joining of art with other fields with the collaboration of the Film Development Academy of the Philippines (FDAP) to offer free movie showinf at Promenade Cinema: 7 p.m., Cinema 4): Babae at Baril – Hulyo 11, John Denver Trending – Hulyo 12; Thy Womb – Hulyo 18.
Visitors may visit the East Wing Atrium for creations of the Angono Artists Collective, Linangan Art Residency, Ortigas Foundation, Shine Vitto Galerie (Mindoro), San Juan Artists, at Pasig Art Club.
At the South Wing Atrium featured exhibits belong to Art Circle, Art Point, Jean & Galleries, Nami Aet, and Born in Film.
Rising international young fashion designer Chynna Mamawal has her space at the festival where she displayed her couture creations. She is the daughter of Prof. Marie Mamawal, formerly of ABS-CBN media organization, and teaches at De La Salle University (DLSU).
Part of the activities are dance performance of The Learning Tree, Halili School of Dance, and hip hop group UPeepz.
The festival is open everyday during mall hours and runs until August 24. So there’s ample time for everyone to come and visit.
Come on, what are you waiting for, this might just be the time to discover your inner artistic self, whether you are already an artist, art enthusiast, student, or a regular mall goer, the 8th Ortigas Art Festival invited you to join and share with the celebration of a free and creative expression because art is not just for the few, but for everybody.
If you need more information, go visit Greenville Mall’s Facebook page and Instagram account. — EDD K. Usman (/)