I mold, I shape, I sculpted the earth clay.

I was very lucky to have a firsthand experience in pottery making today. It was fun and a very creative experience. After that painful art of tattooing last few weeks ago now I’m into playing with mud and dirt.

So, together with my Design students we went to a local pottery shop in San Roque, Albur. Kuya (by which I forgot to ask the name, could it be Junnalyn? It’s the pottery shop’s name) prepared the clay mud for us. After massing it up with water and removing a few roots and unnecessary objects he then grinds it to make the mud finer. He makes a demo with a few pots for the students and by the looks of it seem like the process was easy. Imagine shaping the pot with your mudded hands and forming it to the desired round or conical shapes with only your bare hand and of course with constant sprinkling of water.

After a few turns it’s my moment of truth. I step into the turn table which was manually operated by pushing the molder with the hands then eventually with your foot. At first it went a bit ok but as soon you get to the complicated parts it became more difficult to manipulate. Then you need to have a soft yet firm hands to be able to mold the shape and lastly a since of symmetry to achieve a balance form.

Ok, mine didn’t go fine. After a few tries I finally give up.

I decide to sculpt and mold the clay without the aid of the turn table. Luckily I made a few pieces. By which we have leave the products in Kuya’s shop for weeks to let it completely dry before cooking it to a very big oven.

With this experience, a realization came to me. There is no job that’s too easy and there are no lesser kind of work. I just can imagine the efforts of Kuya to finished one pot, I even give up to making mine how much more producing a dozen?

Jokingly I told my student, “Now you know it’s not easy to make just one pot so never break the garden pots at your home.”

Life in a fast Lane

Life isn’t like the one in the song that goes “it’s a fast line” or is it?

Been out of the country for two years and back for a year now but it’s just a span of like few months and you can’t help to wonder what I’ve been up to for those passing 365 days?

Luckily I have some photos that says where I been to, how I look and what are the hair styles I sort. Personally the first four months was the fun and enjoyable part, and then few more months of going penniless and sorting jobs, the last quarter shall I say are the busiest days of my year. Ok, let’s not make the talk too long let the pictures tell you more of the story.

Bohol Arts Festival 2011: It’s not too late to talk about it?

The midst of the busy preparations way back two months ago together with the other organizers on a late evening meeting, a question just pop up, “are we going to continue with these?”
Well, the answer was a sounding YES and last December 16-18, 2011 the first artist run, artist initiated festival took place. I was talking about the culminated Bohol Arts Fest 2011 that just ended a few weeks ago. It’s never too late to blog about this right?
So I am going to share the best parts that I love during the festival. I am definitely part of the organizing committee so it’s kinda hard to enjoy the event when you’re part of the back stage person but I do have some favorite parts and it’s a different perspective from the back.

Day 1
We all know it’s the registration part at the morning and the opening proper in the afternoon but what you all don’t know was that the putting up of the banners and the setting up of the stage was made in a rush. I was there around 4 in the morning of December 16, 2011, first day for the Christmas dawn mass and first day of the 5 months preparation for the festival. I was on my feet early that day setting up our installation exhibit. The pieces of bamboos from Joey save me, just like the way I plan it, mask on stick of thick bamboos on the ground. Eric, who did not sleep, finished touching up the bamboos on the side of the stage before he rest eyes that dawn breaks. So the rest goes… the tarpaulins run late on printing, the banners needs to hang and one more tent needs to be put up. The list goes on what things needs to be finished and what needs to be done but it was a work on progress.
So it was time for the opening program… “What was that?” “Where are the performers?” “Are the Keynote speakers coming?” everyone in the backstage was in panic mode. Thanks to Tweng’s performance it saved the whole of the program. Why not? Can you imagine a performer gone wild in the middle of the drum beat, in the middle of the crow, spread some red paints on his body and dance like nobody’s around? To add up his chanting “What is art?” and asking the crowd to go crazy with him, expect the unexpected every time Tweng performs and like we were crazy of the things he might do.
Lastly for that day was the opening of the curated art exhibit. And yeah, the speaker, Sir Sio Montera was not able to show up because of the typhoon that was causing the slight rain and the cancelation of all sea travels. The program was kept simple, cutting of the ribbon and then viewing of the paintings. The guests were the same persons present at the opening program. Back stage spoilers, the artworks were not all yet displayed, if lucky enough you might spot Roi Ferre putting up his artworks on the other side. It wasn’t that strictly curated after all, some paintings were just fillers.

Day 2
Unlike the first day where the hassle and rumble of the registration booth due to lacking of printed IDs and kits that were not properly hand outs much worries were encountered. Where the heck is the sound system? Like it was supposed to be a festival with music and live sounds. Arts demo should have started in minutes ago but what is going on? The banners where still not yet ready and some just arrive yet so we started hanging them, while the performers “Barrio Amigo” started to roll out there short play as soon as the borrowed sound systems were set up. I missed the short film forum that was running at the Meridian Hotel so I can’t say how it all went. Where I am? I am at the Plaza stuck with the on-going competitions.
Afternoon came and preparations for the photography exhibit was not yet over, 3 in the afternoon we call out some crowd to witness the ribbon cutting of the exhibit at the National Musuem. Big thanks to Sir Ric Ramasola for gracing the occasion even thou he had a small disappointments with us. Then in the evening, speakers from UP Cebu for the morning film forum arrived so we had to gather again some audience for they brought with them some sweet short films. Oh! Indeed it was sweet… but not for the minors, those who were there, you know what I mean. It opens the eyes literally wide open of the participants and some were encourage to continue doing short films, big thanks to Ara and Christian!
When we were done at the Meridian Hotel the cultural evening show was already starting and the moment that welcomes us was the splendid performance from Diwanag Dancers, no wonder they were sent to China, it was an amazing dance number they put up! There were several singers and performers that evening that just made the passing public watch and mused but it does not end there, the party continues at the City Gardens where bands of different genre performed. I got it from there, my fever! Stress out and tired body plus a bottle of strong beer equals a hang over and a fever.

Day 3
Trying to wake up early when you staying late and drunk were really difficult. I had no choice for the forum on Industrial Design would start at 8 AM. I run here and there trying to prepare the venue, “Where’s the LCD projector?”, “Are the mics Ok?” blah blah blah… it never stops there. A few more minutes my colleague and my speaker for that morning arrived. “Where are the participants?” then I realized only a few sign up for the forum. Meanwhile Sir Sio arrived at the same hall with the expectation that they will have the forum in the same area. Ok, so what happened? The forum went on with booth the participants for Industrial Design and Visual Arts forum in one hall. Sir Miki gives at least an hour talk about Industrial Design and the rest of the morning went to Sir Sio for Visual arts.
It does not end there yet. Everything was moved so was the program. The workshops on Print making and mixed media went on the afternoon for at least 2 hours with the short time the participant’s enjoyment was cut short for we have to start what I consider the boring moment of the day, The Artist Talk. It was supposedly tailored for the audience but what happen was it became a discussion of boring topics where some of the high school participants can’t relate to it. Oh well lets skip that part!
Then we have dinner, a budget tight dinner for everyone. 2 pieces of Siomai and a piece of Puso (rice wrap in coconut leaf). Honestly it could have been more if the food was properly coordinated, the barbeque for everyone was not done and the other stuffs were left, my apologies to the participants. I even forgot I have a fever. I had to prepare the winners for the contest and the prizes as well. The program which went like unprepared look more of a talk show between Tweng and Glenn.

I'm in the film

I really loved films and since i was a kid i have been a coach potato. No wonder if acting on cameras for a shoot or for film i don't give a damn hesitations. So when a friend, Roi, called out for casting i volunteered myself.

Take a peek of what Roi got for the Silak Film Festival 2011, as part of the Bohol Arts Festival 2011. "Seraphim" is his entry and won the prize for the best in original score.

Check out my first cameo role... :)
(oh! its the english version by the way)

For Every Woman

Just wanna share a read from the compilation of literary i had when i was still in my college days...

For Every Woman
by: Nancy Smith

For every woman who is tired of acting weak when she knows she is strong, there is a man who is tired of appearing strong when he feels vulnerable.

For every woman who is tired of acting dumb, there is a man who is burdened with the constant expectation of knowing everything.

For every woman who is tired of being called an emotional female, there is a man who is denied the full right to weep and be gentle.

For every woman who feels tied down by her children, there is a man who is denied the full pleasure of shared parenthood.

For every woman who is denied meaningful employment and equal pay, there is a man who must bear the full financial responsibility for another human being.

For every woman who has not been taught the intricacies of an automobile, there is a man who was not taught the satisfaction of cooking.

For every woman who takes a step towards her own liberation, there is a man who finds that the way to freedom has been a little easier.

"Baji"

The opening night of the all Boholana artist exhibit at HNU Museum was a hit success! It was well participated by the contributing artist and friends. As part o f the Women’s Month Celebration Asia Center for Sustainable Future and Women’s Development Center in association with the Holy Name University Photographic Museum and the Office of Hon. Godofreda O. Tirol work together to make this lucid dream real.

To note the exhibit had gathered 43 artist all together come up with each masterpiece displayed in the area. composed of literary works, film, photography, digital and traditional paintings as well as performers.

Kudos to the organizers! may it will be done annually to create awareness on the issues that women of today are facing.

Baji

This post excites me.. not only its about women but the upcoming exhibition is something to watch out for.. an all Boholana Artist exhibiting there purest works of artistic craft.

You will never see them altogether gathered like this. They don't only love shopping they love arts too!