2 more Clark art exhibits set

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By Ashley Manabat

CLARK FREEPORT – Two more art exhibits are now in the works after the success of the ongoing “Salangian Art Exhibit” at the Clark Museum here.

“Salangian,” a Kapampangan word which means to light or to ignite in English, is now ongoing and will be capped with a big impromptu art exhibition on the closing ceremony on June 30.

Bennylee Bondoc, event organizer for Salangian, said during the media forum “Balitaan” organized by the Capampangan in Media, Inc. in cooperation with the Clark Development Corp. at the Bale Balita here last Friday, the first of the two succeeding art exhibits will open in October while the next will be in December.

Bondoc said the December exhibit will be launched as the Pampanga Arts Festival.

“Our goal is to uplift all the artists in Pampanga and unite them to make Pampanga as the art capital of the north,” she said.

Bondoc also said the impromptu art exhibition at the gazebo of the Clark Museum set on June 30 will feature on-the-spot painting and sculpture and even live models. It is also open to the public.

Last April 26, three leading groups of artists in Pampanga converged at the Clark Museum for the opening of “Salangian,” the biggest art exhibit in the province as part of the 25th anniversary celebration of the CDC.

The three artists’ groups are the Culture and Arts Council of Angeles City headed by Wing Pingol as executive director, Gamat Kapampangan founded by Dr. Vittorio Pantig, and the Progressive Art Movement Philippines (PAMP) with president Ronnie Tayag.

Bondoc said PAMP is not only for visual arts but also has music headed by noted instrumentalist Conrado “Titus” Del Rosario III, an awardee of the Most Outstanding Kapampangan Award (MOKA) and director of the Sunlag Ensemble.

Meanwhile, Dr. Pantig, a prominent surgeon, is also fast emerging as a distinguished sculptor. During the forum, the medical practitioner said his being a surgeon is a big factor in his being a sculptor and as an artist.

Pantig said his skill as a surgeon comes in handy with his deft as a sculptor.

“The only difference is that in surgery there is no room for mistake while in sculpting, mistakes can always be corrected,” he said.

Bondoc said the youngest artist in the exhibit is 17 years old and the oldest is 75 in the person of another MOKA awardee, Leonardo Tulabut.

Noemi Julian, manager of the CDC Tourism and Promotions Division, said around 75 Kapampangan artists joined the event while more than 100 of their artworks were exhibited at the Gallery 2 of the Clark Museum. Andy Alviz, one of the featured artists and lead organizer, has said the activity served as a platform to celebrate the creativity and artistry of Kapampangan painters, sculptors and other artists.

He also cited the suitability of Clark as the location for the event.

Alviz recalled that last year, various Kapampangan artworks and craftsmanship were featured during the 31st Association of South East Asian Nations Summit.

They were showcased at the ASEAN Villas, Clark International Airport Corp. VIP lounge and ASEAN Convention Center.

Meanwhile, among the artworks currently on display at the Clark Museum are the artworks of famous Kapampangan sculptor Willy Layug, the paintings of Rafael Maniago and the Pidayit of Philip Torres.