The Manila Times hails top ‘Intramuros on Canvas’ works
The Manila Times on-the-spot painting project-turned-extensive exhibit, “Intramuros on Canvas,” has happily discovered future masters among the hundred-plus entries that drew art lovers to the three-week visual arts celebration at its offices in the famous walled city of the capital. The Times initially chose the Top 21 works from 125 submissions, finally whittling it down to the Top 5 in time for the exhibit’s last day on July 20.
It can be recalled that for sessions which started on June 12, Independence Day, 118 artists went around the former Spanish seat of power in search of their chosen subject and inspiration, and finally interpreting that part of the city in their respective artistic expressions.
Overall, the project not only gave emerging Filipino artists and even hobbyists a platform to showcase their talents, but effectively promote Intramuros as a creative destination as well.
Painter and exhibit curator Jeff Consumo — also referred to as “Jeff Con” by colleagues and best known as art mentor of the late President Cory Aquino — played a large role in the entire process of this two-pronged endeavor, from the planning stage all the way to the selection of the top pieces.
“We’re didn’t focus on one section [of the walled city]. Kaya pinili natin itong konseptong ito ay para may wider view ang artist to capture a whole story in their work,”Consumo explained to The Sunday Times Magazine.
“Moreover, in highlighting Intramuros through the works of these up and coming as well as several named artists, we are able to promote the destination as an art district dahil nandito naman talaga yung heritage.”
Explaining this goal further, Consumo related, “Kaya natin sinimulan yung on-the-spot project kasi makikita ng mga tao na, ‘Uy, meron palang nag-pai-painting dito,’ and from here on sunod-sunod yan. Dapat tuloy-tuloy na ang pagiging open at pag-draw ng artists sa Intramuros.”
The Top 5 paintings which were selected as the best of the best from Intramuros on Canvas are “Fort Santiago (Manila Cathedral)” by Victoriano Leblorato; “Muralla” by Edzon Dela Cruz; “Manila Cathedral” by Froilan Galpo; “Pagkatapos ng Ulan Kalye Sto. Tomas” by Wilfredo Calderon; and
“The Manila Cathedral Intramuros” by Pete Velasquez.
The Intramuros on Canvas exhibit which ran from July 1 to 20 at The Manila Times College Multipurpose Hall, was made possible with the premier publication’s partnership with the Intramuros Administration and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.