La Loma chapel facade conservation done by March
AFTER EIGHT months of work, Escuela Taller says that its conservation work on the La Loma cemetery chapel’s façade is expected to be finished by the end of March. In a statement, Jeffrey Cobilla, architect and head of Escuela Taller’s conservation team, said that the completion of the chapel’s facade reaffirms Escuela Taller’s work in advancing preventive conservation in the country as well as its mission to give employment to heritage workers, particularly the graduates of Escuela Taller who were former out of school youth. Together with the Diocese of Kalookan, Escuela Taller launched the project in June 2021 and officially started work in July last year. The conservation team removed destructive vegetation that had crept into the masonry, removed the cement plaster that once covered the building, rehabilitated and replaced deteriorated and damaged masonry, and replaced lost details of the facade. Escuela Taller also removed safety hazards in the cupola. In the same statement, Fr. Paul Woo, Director of the Diocesan Commission on Cultural Heritage of the Diocese of Kalookan, said, “At present, the Diocese is on its way to publish a coffee table book that traces the beginnings of the Catholic Faith in the Diocese. Efforts are also now directed to look for more sponsors, benefactors, and other assistance needed to make way for the conservation of the left and right sides of the church.”
Korean Cultural Center finds a new home
THE KOREAN Cultural Center (KCC) has moved to a new and larger building at 59 Bayani Rd., Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. On the ground floor is a permanent interactive cultural exhibit that features hansik (Korean food), Hangul (Korean language), the hanbok (Korean national costume), and Korean tourist destinations. The mezzanine houses KCC’s library of 6,000 books and media resources related to Korean culture. Classrooms for Korean language, painting, and other Korean culture-related classes and activities are on the second floor. KCC provides free Korean language lessons as well as Korean culture classes to interested Filipinos. There is also a common area outside the classrooms where students can interact with each other. The K-Studio and the cooking classroom are both located on the third floor where students may learn (for free) sports, dances, and how to cook Korean food. Taekwondo uniforms, musical instruments, as well as costumes are stored there for free use by students. Guests may also rent the space for any event related to Korean culture. The fifth floor is where KCC’s exhibits and art installments are located. This year, it houses the first kinetic media art installation in the Philippines, entitled Punghwa: Light of ASEAN, created by the Korean interactive design group SILO Lab. The tentative opening of the building to the public is on March 25. For details visit KCC’s official social media pages: Facebook (@KoreanCulturalCenterPH), Twitter, Instagram, YouTube (@KCCPHIL), and website at https://phil.korean-culture.org/.
Book and exhibit launch of Brave New World
A PROJECT initially created to help artists make a living despite the COVID-19 quarantine has culminated in an exhibit and a coffee-table book. A collection of more than 400 works by over 300 artists was created. The culmination of these efforts is the book, Brave New World. The artists were asked about the role of art in times of crisis. The featured works also bear witness to the new reality of struggle to survive and work. Many artists also sought to honor frontliners as modern-day heroes. The book launch and exhibit opening will be on March 16, 6 p.m., at the Art Lounge Manila in The Podium. Featured artists in the coffee table book include Max Balatbat, Anton Del Castillo, Brave Mabalo Singh, John Paul Antido, Renz Baluyot, Kim Hamilton Sulit, Renato Barja, Jr., Wesley Valenzuela, Michael Villagante, Charlie Co, Antipas Delotavo, Angelito Antonio, Norma Belleza, Michael Cacnio, Ramon Orlina, Demi Padua, Winner Jumalon, Jojit Solano, Joel “Welbart” Bartolome, Sid Natividad, Chelsea Theodossis, Jomike Tejido, Manix Abrera, Roel Obemio, and Alfredo Esquillo, to name a few.
ARTablado celebrates Women’s Month
ARTABLADO presents the works of seven women artists of the group Kontemporaryo, all educators with different advocacies for women and young artists. The main theme of ARTablado this year is “Boundless,” while the theme on International Women’s Day Celebration in March is on “Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow.” The exhibit, “Kababaihan sa Sentro,” is about women, by women, and for women. The exhibit will run from March 16-31 to celebrate Women’s Month. Robinsons Land’s ARTablado, is at Level 3 Robinsons Galleria in Ortigas, Quezon City. The exhibiting artists are: Arlene De Castro-Añonuevo, Mary Rajelyn Busmente, Cynthia Leyson, Dara Solevilla, Sandra Torrijos, Bernadette Solina-Wolf, and Riza Zuñiga.
Dance in the time of pandemic webinar
YOUNG dance artists will discuss diverse choreographic choices and creative philosophies in choreography during the pandemic in a free webinar-forum entitled “From Us to You: Checking In on the Dance Community,” on March 18, 5 p.m. The talks are free and open to the public and will be conducted online via Zoom. Hosted by the Arts and Culture Cluster of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, the sessions highlight the artistic practice as a core human need and investigates the significant role of advocacy, leadership, equity and mentorship within an ethos of community care. Interested participants may register through https://tinyurl.com/5ftfppc7.
