HORSES, heavy textures, gouts of pastel paint and pulverized earth—all these come together in the works that visual artist Jose Ferdinand “Joy” Rojas II brings to his second solo exhibit, “Material Maker.”
The show will run from April 15 to 30 this year at the Pinto Art Museum.
Rojas, a lawyer by profession, had a well-received sold-out first solo show in December 2017 entitled “Strong Material” that featured abstract mixed-media paintings.
His second exhibit also offers abstract works featuring textures, finishes, and colors that evoke the personalities and abilities of the racehorses after whom both shows are named and others as well.
A racehorse owner since his bachelor days and a well-respected member of the Philippine Thoroughbred racing and breeding community (he once served as chairman of the Philippine Racing Commission), Rojas is enamored of horses and racing and these influences emerge in his work, both in the process and the product.
The process of raising a successful racehorse starts in selecting the traits of its sire and dam. The resulting foal is nurtured with proper nutrition, which must be carefully planned, chosen, and appropriately given. It is trained, and again wise selection governs the process from choosing a trainer to drawing up the conditioning program. Choosing a jockey to ride the horse in a race is yet another step.
Similarly, Rojas selects the materials, from paint to canvas to other media, that for him will bring to life his idealized concepts of a particular horse combined with his other life experiences including travel around the world.
Both breeding and horseracing may be deemed creative processes, and Rojas conveys that creativity in his paintings.
In this second exhibit, works such as ‘Fiorella’ retrace the metallic color fields of Rojas’ first show, but with an increased sense of sophistication and elegance.
‘Rhummaker 2’ and similar paintings showcase contrasts in color, texture, line, and form, with texturizing materials such as metallic foil, glass beads, and pulverized volcanic rock and sand adding interest and a tactile dimension.
Finally, works such as ‘Confetti’ are playful and perky, providing a counterpoint to the works of more somber colorways with their splashes of pastel over metallic and pearlized paints.
The titles of the above works are the names of actual racehorses that competed on Philippine tracks.
Rojas’ current works show a greater mastery of materials and techniques and a higher level of sophistication and artistry, straddling the sensibilities of Jose Joya’s works of the 1960s and ‘70s and contemporary moods.
For these reasons, “Material Maker” is another significant milestone in the career of this dedicated and hardworking artist, and will be a rewarding and interesting experience for art lovers.
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The Philippine Pedagogical Institute will host a national seminar-workshop next week in Baguio City for senior high-school teachers on the teaching of creative nonfiction.
The seminar speakers are Ateneo de Manila University’s Danilo Francisco M. Reyes and Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo director Louie Jon A. Sanchez, both essayists and poets.
They will introduce participants to the practice of the genre, and offer modules on the teaching and appreciation of non-fiction texts as well as the writers’ workshop method.
The workshop will be held on April 14 to 16, 2018 at the Hotel Supreme Convention Plaza. For more details, e-mail philippinepedagogy@gmail.com or text 0939-926-0272.
This is an excellent idea and quite timely as CNF is becoming more popular, not just among the literary set. I know of several teachers who are eager to know more about this to be able to impart the knowledge to their students.
Writing essays has been a part of school days for decades—there are those who will recall their blue-covered ‘theme books’ from elementary and high school—but CNF as a particular genre is not tackled as such. It could be quite rewarding for those students who enjoy writing, and what better—and easier—way to start than mining one’s own life experiences for narratives.
Teachers who are well instructed in CNF, what it is, and how to write it will be assets to their schools and students. Best wishes to the organizers and participants.
Dr. Ortuoste is a writer and communication consultant. FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO
