CULTURE
Towards the
Center: Rebirthing Women Artists
Not a
meaningless touch, the "pat on the back" women artists gave each other at
the conclusion of the recently held First Northern Luzon Women Visual
Artists' Conference-Workshop leaves an indelible (re)birthmark, to remind
them of their rebirthing experience.
BY MERCY DULAWAN
Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat
Participants of
the First
Northern
Luzon Women Visual Artists' Conference-Workshop
NORDIS PHOTO |
Not a meaningless touch, the "pat on the back" women artists gave each
other at the conclusion of the recently held First Northern Luzon Women
Visual Artists' Conference-Workshop leaves an indelible (re)birthmark, to
remind them of their rebirthing experience.
Made possible by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)
and The Global Fund for Women, the conference was organized by the Grupong
Damili (literally, group forming clay into pottery), with the University
of the Philippines (UP) Baguio Kasarian Gender Studies Program and the
Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary on March 10 to 12.
|
The gathering became an extraordinarily potent venue for the meeting of
minds, souls and hearts among women artists. Mentors like Brenda Fajardo,
Alma Quinto, Karen Flores, Luchi Ticzon and Liza Ann Acevedo-llagan shared
their expertise and retold their own art and life stories. The interchange
held magical power over each participant. In the end, it was the mentor
who thanked everyone for the experience she labeled a "gift," a special
present in her "new" life.
Unlike the metaphorical "Karayom" (Needle) in Alma Quinto's presentations,
the sharing substantiated by other personages in Baguio City like Prof.
Reynaldo Rovillos of UP Baguio Kasarian, Atty. Lulu Tabanda of the
Balikatan sa Kaunlaran (Shoulder to Shoulder for Progress) Baguio, Baguio
City Vice Mayor Reinaldo Bautista, Sr. Margarita Jamias of the Maryknoll
Baguio Community and Madam Divina Bautista of the International Delphic
Council, connected each strand to create a tapestry reflective of the
participants' present perspectives and future visions, clearer, yet ever
transforming; and prophetic in its perceptions for growth as a distinct
group as well as part of the larger art scene.
Evoked from the three-day gathering was the artists' reclaiming of their
babaylan (the native high priestess of Philippine folk religions)
status as life-shapers, memory-keepers, nature-preservers and healers.
Most importantly, the artists expressed the power of their art as acts of
love, caring for one another, and as powerful tools for consciousness
awakening.
As
Rovillos put it, "The women artists are now reclaiming and proclaiming
their rightful space in the male-dominated world of mainstream art and in
society as a whole. I find the exhibit’s theme, ‘Rebirthing the Woman,’ a
very appropriate theme. I take this to mean that women artists want to (re)define
‘woman’ beyond the constricting stereotypes by society. This also shows
that women artists are shifting the discourse, from the periphery towards
the center."
Toward the center, the group led their other friends from other art
disciplines. The Tanghalang Bayan ng Kabataan (Tabak or Youth People’s
Theater)-Baguio and the UP Tayaw dance troupe, Jennifer Patricia Cariño as
composer/singer/poet, friends from the Pi Sigma and Pi Sigma Delta with
Prof. Toto Colongon, Joanne Sotto and Portia Aquino, the SALiVV theater
group led by Raffy Kapuno, whose musical beats and rhythms struck deep and
soulful heartstrings.
Our gustatory buds were stimulated by a taste of traditional "chocolate
eh," made by a process valued and practiced during the Rizal era. Famed
Baguio City restauranteur Jojo Castro demonstrated the "Batirol"
method of chocolate making.
The art exhibit dubbed as "Rebirthing the Woman II" at Maryknoll Sanctuary
Gallery will be there until April 11. The artworks made by the
participants during the conference remain to be expressed little by little
in many different ways.
Kudos to all who joined the conference. Bless yourself. Place your right
palm on your nape and say, "Believe in yourself," your palm over
your head and say, "Celebrate your gift," and on your forehead,
with the words, "Dwell in your creativity."
Northern Dispatch / Posted by Bulatlat
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