In celebration of A art

In the life of an artist, there are moments that seem to lift one from the dreary, mundane, and tedious details that make up the business of living. The exact reason I chose to "follow my bliss"– art and creativity – is because life can be so much more if lived with the full potential and passion of a soul in search of what is real, authentic and true in life.

People say every problem offers you a gift. I never understood this saying until years after that fateful day when my family and I were robbed at gunpoint in our house in Alabang. That was back in 1989. I was 19 years old. I never understood what good could come out of it. I was just glad we all came out of it alive and that God spared us.

Looking back, I see indeed, a gift was given to me that day; from then on, my mind just opened up and looked at life as a present, so easily wasted, taken for granted till the day it has to be given up.

I set my mind to finishing college at Ateneo and head for further studies in art in New York City. To be completely honest, I was clueless as to where I’d end up. Where was this path going to take me? I had no idea. All I had was a gut feeling and an unsatiable urge to learn all I could in this craft my heart was leading me to. "If there’s a will, there’s a way." This old cliché echoed in my ears. Tracing my life back during those days, I see a chasm separating life as I knew it, and life as it was going to be from now on.

And so, I found the Art Students’ League in the heart of the city. Right away I felt its kindly spirit.

In its catalog it says "Although times have changed, the fundamental principles of the Art Students’ League have not. The philosophy of the school is based upon awareness of the importance of artistic creativity and the greatest respect for artists who devote their lives to art."

Then began my life as an artist, adventurer, searcher. I dove into the world art offered me and was so thankful for every step I took towards the mastery of painting, etching and sculpture. Familiarity with tools came hand-in-hand with burgeoning self-knowledge of my own sensibilities and tastes.

On my first year here, I saw the McDowell show of young artist Michael Grimaldi. He had received the most prestigious award in school. He traveled to Europe and was given his own show in recognition of his talent and efforts. I was in awe. We were the same age. His paintings seemed to me of the highest quality and from then on the heights of the McDowell Grant became a goal etched into my mind that was already being filled with other goals.

God works in mysterious and wondrous ways. As I honed my craft and got busy with my own shows in Manila and New York, one day in May 2000, the McDowell Award was handed to me. It was one of the happiest days. I still remember reading my name on the top of the list of winners in the school elevators.

From then on, my life seemed to fly. Events came on after another in such a fast pace. I went to Europe, visited St. Petersburg and the famed Hermitage, Munich, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Bruges, Amsterdam, the Hague, Paris, Provence, Milan, Florence, Venice. So many places! A total of 27 cities. I’d seen so many planes and ridden so many trains, it was hard to keep track. I joined international group shows, won awards. Life was full and enriching.

Within a month of returning to New York, the devastating events of September 11 occurred. We were all shaken and, again, I contemplated on the thoughts on life and mortality that led me here in the first place. We never really know when we will have to let go and leave it all behind. I close my eyes with the realization that humankind is capable of both destruction and creation. I pray God to guide us all. Even the least positive thing we do carries with it a ripple effect.

It is with this in mind that I would like to share with the public one of the celebrated moments in the life of one artist – the opening night of my McDowell show at the Art Students’ League last October 11. I’d like to give my sincere thanks to the League, my parents, and Paul who has been my partner through it all, and God who made a path for me where before there was none.