New Platforms for Art

Art and Design

Feb 3

Central Luzon Art Fair makes its debut this year while Tarlac Art Fair returns for its second edition.

Text and images courtesy of Tarlac Art Fair
February 3, 2023

The first ever Tarlac Art Fair took place from October 1 to November 13, 2021 and was a satellite exhibition of ManilART. It began with a simple realization by Tarlaqueña artist and organizer Melissa Yeung-Yap that there were always Tarlaqueños who win various national art competitions. Melissa messaged the artists individually and created a group chat to talk about possible projects. This led to Tarlac Art Fair, a showcase for Tarlac-based artists to come together and exhibit their artworks.

“Thankfully, the Tarlac Provincial Government and the Tarlac Provincial Tourism Department fully supported the event,” said Yeung-Yap, noting that they provided space at Diwa ng Tarlac, along with panels, lights, and manpower.

Tarlac Art Fair was conceptualized in early 2021 in the midst of the pandemic. The pandemic was part of the reason it was organized. “So many exhibits got canceled and so many artists were posting about the struggles they’ve encountered during the pandemic,” recalls Yeung-Yap. The event could help to promote regional artists, as well as showcase the rich history and heritage of Tarlac.

The first Tarlac Art Fair had a ripple effect. Neighboring provinces contacted them, asking if they can collaborate. The organizers proposed starting an art fair that would exhibit artists’ works from seven provinces—Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales. This gave birth to the Central Luzon Art Fair.

2022 saw the opening of two art fairs—Tarlac Art Fair Year 2 from October 5 to 31 at Diwa ng Tarlac, and Central Luzon Art Fair Year 1 from October 15 to 23 at Bulwagang Kanlahi, both in Tarlac City. The two events were hosted by the Provincial Government of Tarlac – headed by Gov. Susan Yap, who happens to be an art patron and enthusiast – and the Tarlac Provincial Tourism Department. These activities coincided with the celebration of Museums and Galleries Month in October, launched by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in the Province of Tarlac this year.

Attending the opening of Tarlac Art Fair was Tarlac Governor Susan Yap; Tarlac 2nd district Rep. Christian Yap; NCCA National Committee on Art Galleries Chairman Danilo Rayos Del Sol; Dr. Jose Eleazar Bersales, Head of the NCCA National Committee on Museums; Rizza Salterio of the National Museum of the Philippines; and local government officials from Tarlac and representatives from the Central Luzon Association of Museums and Southern Luzon Associations of Museums.

*Tarlac Art Fair ribbon-cutting ceremony with Gov. Susan Yap, Rizza Salterio, Danny and Tess Rayos Del Sol, Dr. Jose Eleazar Bersales*

The opening of the Central Luzon Art Fair was graced by the presence of Senator Francis Tolentino; Tarlac Governor Susan Yap; Tarlac 2nd district Rep. Christian Yap; Tarlac 3rd district Rep. Bong Rivera; Regional Director Carol Uy, DOT Region III; Pampanga 4th district Rep. Anna Bondoc; Atty. Fernando Cot-Om, COMELEC Provincial Election Supervisor; Dr. Eliseo Dela Cruz of PHACTO (Provincial History, Arts, Culture and Tourism Office) Bulacan; Atty. Jose San Pedro, Provincial Tourism Officer of the Provincial Government of Nueva Ecija; LausGroup of Companies Chairman and CEO Lisset Laus-Velasco; representatives from Boysen Philippines; and local government officials from Tarlac and surrounding provinces. Though not in attendance during the opening, Ambassador of Israel to the Philippines Ilan Fluss and Madame Gila Fluss visited on the last day of the fair.

*Grand Prize winner of the Tarlac National Art Competition: Emil Jay Guiang’s “In Time”, 36 x 36 inches, oil on canvas.*

Aside from the opening ceremonies, fair activities included art exhibits and talks by Toym Imao and Manny Garibay, free art workshops conducted by the Tarlac State University’s Fine Arts Department, and workshops given by artists from Tarlac and Pampanga.

On October 8, winners of the Tarlac National Art Competition, Tarlac artists and fashion designers had a show titled Igniting Potentials at Art Lounge Manila – The Podium in Metro Manila.

*Juror’s Choice of the Tarlac National Art Competition: Mark Gabriel S. Manalastas’ “Suporta’t Gabay”, 36 x 48 inches, acrylic on canvas.*

When asked about how she managed to organize two art fairs, Yeung-Yap shared that they’ve been organizing monthly exhibits at Diwa ng Tarlac since the first Tarlac Art Fair in 2021 so they’ve become more adept at it. Some of the artists who have taken the lead in the exhibits for Tarlac Art Fair include John Melvin Garcia, Kenneth Soriano Garcia, and Ayen Quias for the group shows; Breih Pascua and Jan Marco Tabamo, who organized the LGBT exhibit; Sariel Armando Ancheta, who led the sculptors; Judeo Razon Herrera with the Tarlac State University Fine Arts Department; and Angel Blair Navarro Cokiangco, who helped to organize the Tarlac fashion designers exhibit and the 1st all-Tarlac fashion show.

Central Luzon At Fair ribbon-cutting with Sen. Francis Tolentino, Gov. Susan Yap, Rep. Christian Yap, Rep. Bong Rivera, Rep. Anna Bondoc, Carol Uy, Atty. Fernando Cot-Om, Dr. Eliseo Dela Cruz, Atty. Jose San Pedro, Lisset Laus-Velasco

For the Central Luzon Art Fair, provincial curators and coordinators helped to gather artworks for their province’s respective booths. These included:

•Aurora – artist and coordinator Sherwin Gonzales

•Bataan – Lydia Velasco and Family, Chris Pizarro and other artists

•Bulacan – artist and coordinator Buddy Ching

•Nueva Ecija – artist and coordinator Amangpintor and the Amangpinto Art Museum

•Pampanga – Lisset Laus-Velasco, Chairman and CEO of the LausGroup of Companies

•Tarlac – Gov. Susan Yap and the Provincial Government of Tarlac, artist and coordinator Melissa Yeung-Yap, Tarlac State University College of Architecture and Fine Arts Department

•Zambales – artist and Art Gapo founder Farley Del Rosario, sponsor Engr. Sherwin Sionzon, Elmer Borlongan and Plet Bolipata-Borlongan

Aside from funding provided by the Provincial Government of Tarlac, sponsors such as Katinko, Boysen Paints, Ford Tarlac, and Metrobank Art & Design Excellence helped to make the fair a success.

*Installation view of Central Luzon Art Fair*

Every event has its share of challenges. In the case of the Central Luzon Art Fair, they ran into a problem with the Bataan booth because the coordinator failed to invite local artists to join. With two days left before the ingress, the organizers had to scramble to look for artists from Bataan. Fortunately, Lydia Velasco and her family of artists, together with other artists from Bataan, came to the rescue, and they were able to secure more than enough artworks to fill the Bataan booth.

The rewards far outweigh the challenges, and the positive responses they’ve gotten have made all the effort and hard work worthwhile. “Our team was overwhelmed with an outpouring of gratitude from all the artists for being given this platform to showcase their art. It was also very rewarding to see the artists pay it forward by giving free art workshops. There’s also a post-art fair wave where different artists from various provinces and regions messaged us to share that they’ve been inspired to organize their own exhibits and even influence their local government officials to support them,” said Yeung-Yap.

Toym imao, Gov. Susan Yap, Sen. Francis Tolentino, Emmanuel Garibay

Next year, we can look forward to the 3rd Tarlac Art Fair at Diwa ng Tarlac and the 2nd Central Luzon Art Fair, which will likely be held in Pampanga. Hopefully, these events can plant the seeds for more art fairs to be organized in various provinces and regions in the Philippines.