Art, nature festival at Greenfield Estates

Visitors of the Ayala Greenfield Estates in Calamba, Laguna were treated to an abundance of art, nature and leisure recently. The country’s most prestigious art community, The Saturday Group, with its Chairman Emeritus, renowned artist Mauro "Malang" Santos, graced the occasion. Families and art enthusiasts were given a rare chance to interact with the artists and watch them conduct on-the-spot painting sessions. Guests who reserved a lot at Ayala Greenfield Estates that day each brought home for free artwork that depicts the landscape of Ayala Greenfield Estates, done by a member of the Saturday Group.

It was a bright Sunday when the village clubhouse was transformed into an art gallery where the artists’ works were exhibited and offered for sale. The artfest opened with a Eucharistic celebration officiated by Fr. Russell Matuloy. Parents and children toured exhibit hall and marveled at the vivid portrayal of nature and life scenes.

The clubhouse view deck, which look out over Mt. Makiling, was converted into a mini-artists’ avenue where visitors observed the artists at work and got their portraits done, reminiscent of the European street art scenes. In the social hall, The Saturday Group’s Magoo Valencia taught adults the basic watercolor painting. While their parents tried their hand at painting landscapes and still life, kids gathered near the infinity swimming pool to learn how to become an artist and dabbled in finger painting, clay sculpture and ceramic painting with the help of the Museo Pambata staff children with the best artworks were awarded with special gifts courtesy of Honda Alabang. Owners of Honda vehicles were likewise given a special bonus — their units were given a free diagnostic checkup.

Assistant vice-president Jun Bisnar welcomed the visitors at Ayala Greenfield Estates, a place described by the members of the Saturday Group as "an artist’s haven." "We want our artists to see the place and do some paintings here since this place is really a good way of highlighting the environment," he explains."The community has good views; nature is close by. Even the artists are saying they like the mountainside view because they can see a lot of subjects and scenery that they can paint."

The timing of the event is perfect because the art industry is enduring hard times these days. Malang, the indefatigable CCP Gawad Para Sa Sining Awardee for Visual Arts laments that the government seems to have forgotten the artists so that many art studios are now closing due to lack of appreciation and support.

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