Tabula Rasa | Tabula Rasa wows crowds at 1st M.A.F.E.

The by-invitation only GALA NIGHT of the MINDANAO ART FAIR AND EXHIBIT(M.A.F.E.) on Oct. 4 was jam-packed with visitors from our city, the provinces and Metro Manila. Our V.I.P. guests included: Vim Nadera, Director, V.P. Creative Writing; Atty. Elba Cruz, Sotheby Curator; Leo Gerardo Leonardo, Visual Arts Teacher, PH HS Sch. for the arts; Cesar “Cid” Reyes, Art Critic & Author Leeroy New, Int’l Artist & Designer Dominic Rubio, Artist/Painter Rosalie Zerrudo, Artist Riel Hilario, Sculptor Paul “Pope” Dalisay, Sculptor Jack Teotico, Publisher: Art + Magazine Director, Galerie Joaquin Melissa Yeung-Yap, Artist, Q.C. Gallery Owner Charlie Co, V.I.V.A/ Bacolod artist Dr. Mendez, Big & Small gallery, Al Ryan Alejandre, NCCA.

The 12 paintings in the Tabula Rasa booth by Dadai Joaquin, Jane Ramos, Madoline de la Rosa, Jojo Jimenez, Daryl Descallar and Dinky Munda were well-received by the visitors. The three monumental sculptures by Brando Cedeño were — in the opinion of this writer — the “best of show, sculpture”. Congrats Brando, you are now not just the Michelangelo of Lanzona Subdivision but of Mindanao! Thanks to artist/curator Ega Carreon for curating the Tabula Rasa exhibit at MAFE.
The paintings — and artists — in BINTANA ART GALLERY were equally impressive. The paintings of J.C. Gonzalez were featured on the first page of a local newspaper. Alex Alagon,
Tabula Rasa exhibit at MAFE.

The paintings — and artists — in BINTANA ART GALLERY were equally impressive. The paintings of J.C. Gonzalez were featured on the first page of a local newspaper. Alex Alagon, Gilbert Miraflor, George Abaigar, Vic Secuya and the rest also drew raves. The young, up and coming artists featured by the ART PORTAL GALLERY showed a lot of promise and potential. One of the highlights was the large (6ft x 20ft wide) mural painted by PIGURAS ART GROUP, earning in my opinion the award for “Best of show-painting”. This collaborative painting “The Silent Witness” is in exbinit at Ateneo (Jacinto Campus).

Other notable works of art were the sculpture of award winning sculptor Pope Dalisay who is based in Dagupan City with his family, clay sculptures of Vic Dumaguing, UM Fine Arts professor; and the paintings of Jeff Bangot, DCHS Head of the Special Program for the Arts. In general, the artworks in the Davao booths were outstanding. The outside — D.C. exhibits were equally impressive. I especially like the Talaindig soil paintings Raul Bendit, waway Saway, Niño Tecson andRJ Waway.

This Mindanao Art Fair and Exhibit being the first is a “work-in-progress” — much like the first V.I.V.A, the first Art Fair PH and the first ManilaArt. There were some LAPSES, SHORT-COMINGS and AREAS for improvement. We all need to be united in correcting these because the second is coming next year.

Tabula Rasa’s contribution to M.A.F.E.

Aside from Dinky Munda’s suggestion to hold sattelite exhibits around the city, Tabula Rasa artists Daryl Descallar and Brando Cedeño shared their services to M.A.F.E.: (Photos from left) The poster of the M.A.F.E. by Daryl Descallar and The token by Brando Cedeño for the honored guests and speakers at the M.A.F.E.