Art blooms again

The Bloom Arts Festival is back and bigger than ever with hundreds of artists lending their talents to putting local art in the spotlight.

This is not an ordinary art show. It’s a party, a network, an opportunity, a full-on celebration of creativity. And the best part is, it’s free. “We believe you don’t have to pay to see art, and that you don’t just pass through an exhibit. You take it all in and get lost in it. This is why we have the Bloom Arts Festival, you come and you stay to see art, and you leave wanting to create something,” says organizer Tof Zapanta.

Last year, the Bloom Arts Festival was a love letter from a group of creatives to a thriving art space in Manila, Cubao X. The bijou shoe expo had turned into a gathering of almost 100 young artists, their best works, and an overwhelming response from people who had supported the event.

This year, the festival is even bigger. A new line-up of more than a hundred artists’ works will be displayed, as well as an open submission area for students who want to exhibit their works and gain exposure, or see their babies up on the wall next to some bigger names in the industry.

Also new in Bloom this year are talks to be given by some artists; and musical acts from Chocolate Grass, Bent Lynchpin, Tarsius, Wilderness, and Nouvul, with DJ sets by Caliph8, Major Chi, Kikimachine, and Ayon.

Organizer Samantha Samonte also quipped: “We’re doing it at The Collective this year, which we believe to be another perfect place to let everyone experience Bloom as if they’re walking in and out of neighboring galleries, indulging in the art at the convenience of one venue.”  

Bloom is possibly the biggest underground art affair in the city today, with an impressive number of up-and-coming artists participating. This movement puts art in a place where it belongs: available for everyone to enjoy without fear of over-pretention. Let the art speak for itself.

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Bloom Arts Festival will launch today, Nov. 15, 4 p.m. at The Collective, Makati.

In boxes like before?

Clarissa Gonzalez currently works as a senior designer at Flux Design Labs. Her artwork is concept-driven and minimalist, often taking form in a fusion of strong geometric shapes and more subtle organic elements. She loves space, nature, and is heavily inspired by literature.

Bloom newcomer, Daryl Feril is a freelance illustrator and graphic designer from Bacolod City. He has worked with big design agencies such as AR New York and Story Worldwide London. Although he is miles away from Manila, he is excited about sharing his works in the festival.

Epjey Pacheco has been actively exhibiting his art in various galleries and exhibition spaces in Manila and abroad. His major influences for his art: old Jingle magazine illustrations; Memento Mori minus the gore; Wesley Valenzuela; Mexican art’s juxtaposed content and aesthetics; and the Internet. Aside from gallery work, he also dabbles in street art, customizing vinyl toys, and ukay-ukay shopping.

Isobel “Iso” Francisco just recently started making art for an audience. When she’s not working as a copywriter during the day, she organizes exhibits under Spidersilk Productions and events under the global alternative art movement Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School Philippines.

You may have seen Kay Aranzanso’s chalk art, typography and illustrations in Commune Café, Lombardi’s, and The Crowd Bar and Resto. Kay has been active in producing various illustrations, typography and designs for different clients including Adarna House, TBWASMP, Ayala Foundation, Inc., Kanlungan Foundation Inc. and Gawad Kalinga to name a few.

Quiccs Maiquez is an illustrator, toy designer, and live art artist, whose style is deeply rooted in his love for Japanese Mech franchises. He has represented the Philippines in Thailand’s 2012 CE Planet Toy Global Contest and the recently held International collaboration in Tiger Translate: Mongolia. He is currently the art director of and co-owner of Burnwater Design Studios.

Raf Banzuela’s art is an evolution — exploring thoughts, emotions and the subconscious, and illustrated in a few varied styles. He mainly works with pencil, ballpoint pen, and paper as well as the computer for digital paintings and vector illustrations.

Vaughn Pinpin is a visual communications student at the University of the Philippines. He is an aspiring artist currently based in Quezon City. Also, hats often concern him. 

John Ed De Vera has won a number of awards, which is not bad for a guy who took up advertising because it sounded better than nutrition and dietetics. Paper craft is an obvious hobby, which explains why he always has a perforation cutter in his bag. He is also quite good at playing DOTA.