MetroVan Independent News September 2015 | Page 12

12 MetroVanIndependent.com September 2015 lifestyle/entertainment Ribbon cutting ceremony headed by Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer, Philippine Ambassador to Canada Petronila P. Garcia, organizer Lenore R.S. Lim, Danvic Briones, Tessie Dichupa, Imelda Cajipe Endaya, Carlos Esguerra, Edgardo Lantin, Esmie Gayo McLaren, Bert Monterona, Jose Trinidad and Art Zamora. Photo courtesy of Simply the Best TV Show Pagtitipon – a 5-day art exhibition featuring Filipino Canadian and Filipino American artists By Luisa Marshall “Pagtitipon” -- a Gathering is a five day art exhibition, from August 10 to 14, 2015, showcasing the collective body of original works by Filipino Canadian and Filipino American artists at the Roundhouse Community Centre. The event was sponsored by The Filipino Music and Art Foundation in BC in co-operation with the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver and Global Pinoy Diaspora Canada. PAGTITIPON, literally translated from Pilipino is “A Gathering” or the coming together of a group of ten talented Pagtitpon guests and attendees. Filipino-Canadian and Filipino-American artists such as Danvic Briones, Tessie Dichupa, Imelda Cajipe Endaya, Carlos Esguerra, Edgardo Lantin, Lenore R.S. Lim, Esmie Gayo McLaren, Bert Monterona, Jose Trinidad and Art Zamora. The art exhibit was highlighted by a reception with the ribbon cutting ceremony and members of the consular core headed by Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer and guest of honour Philippine Ambassador to Canada Petronila P. Garcia. In recognizing the efforts of organizer Lenore R.S. Lim, Ambassador Garcia noted: “I believed that never have so many acclaimed Filipino Canadian and Filipino Photo by Bert Morelos American artists been involved in a single exhibition here in Canada. Tonight, you have successfully assembled a group of talented artists known for their respective artistic styles, and whose works span decades of hard work and dedication to their craft. Thus, allow me to describe this art exhibition as a celebration of creative convergence of divergent artistic genre.” Pagtitipon had a huge turnout at the ceremony highlighting the artists by the exhibit’s curator and Manila based contemporary visual artist Imelda Cajipe Enday. This proved that the Filipino Canadian artists are emerging from a long hibernation to showcase their work in the international art market. The uniqueness of styles in their work showed extraordinary artistry and exceptional creativity. Recipient of the Philippine Presidential Award for Arts, Pagtitipon main organizer Lenore R.S. Lim said in the realization of her brainchild, “Pagtitipon is a gathering of artists to share what they had done, to share their life and their medium. And at the same time I got some New York artists to meet the Vancouver artists so in the future, maybe, the New York artists will invite the Vancouver artists.” Lim is a prolific artist who specializes in printmaking and travels extensively from New York to Manila to Singapore to Vancouver. She does her concept and planning while she’s traveling but she does the execution of the printmaking in New York where the press and master printmaker is. “Inspiration could be anywhere. Most artists start with nature and then nostalgia. So from nature and nostalgia, and then you go into a little "Some of us like to give different messages in our work and that’s very important in art. And to be able to share it with each other in Pagtitipon is one of the highlights of my art career, so far.” - Esmie Gayo McLaren obstruction so you can also have social issues.” Pagtitipon exhibited the various work of the different artists that were carefully selected. In Vancouver’s artist Esmie Gayo McLaren’s words, “Seeing all of the paintings here, you can see the different styles and some of us like to give different messages in our work and that’s very important in art. And to be able to share it with each other in Pagtitipon is one of the highlights of my art career, so far.” Founder of Dimasalang Group and cubist master SYM Mendoza graced the exhibit, “I like the title Pagtitipon, and it’s really, really Filipino. This is important for us because “Pagtipon-tipon”, hindi lang sa pagsamasama ng ordinary artists ito, mga group of artists that are very knowledgeable and they’re also good artists. They’re very good now in rendering and, also, expressing themselves. Now as I see the general painting ng pagkalahatan, the Filipinos have improved a lot already. We are globally exposed because of that. I hope all the Filipino artists will profit from this exhibit.”