Tacloban City—The Kolor Banwa art group has opened an exhibit in the city as a tribute to the sacrifices of the frontliners amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“There has been a growing desire to connect to Mother Nature more. Seeing with an artist’s eye, allows one to see the light in the midst of darkness. We grieve because of the loss of lives and jobs but we are grateful for the gift of courage, of people doing what they can to make a difference,” said poet and educator Raquel Cabrieto about the exhibit.
“This is a tribute for the people who have offered their lives, for front liners, for people who still choose to hope and those who feel hopeless. It is a humble offering of peace and hope,” she added.
Dubbed as “Kalungganayan: finding hope through an Artist’s eye,” the exhibit is also “inspired by the changing context of the world” during this time of lockdowns.
“As much as we are locked down in our homes, there are more people who find ways to connect to each other through different ways. Mother Nature was able to take a break from the pollution brought about by the busy-ness of city living,” said Cabrieto, who is supporting the group.
According to Cabrieto, the Waray term “Kalungganayan” or bounty, bright perspective and hopeful future, aims to “inspire others to find beauty amidst the challenges, to capture the gifts and blessings of our current times” through the collective and personal experiences of the artists.
During the start of the quarantine in March this year, Kolor Banwa also held two online exhibits dubbed as “Damat (Plague)” in May and “Sumpay (To connect)” in June.
Kolor Banwa or Kolor Han Biswal Arte nga Waraynon celebrated its 15th anniversary last March 11, 2020.
The group had their first exhibit in 2005 at the art gallery of Tacloban’s leading art historian/visual artist and now retired University of the Philippines Visayas Tacloban College Professor Dulce Cuna Anacion.
Participating artists in this year’s “Kalungganayan” group exhibit are Aljun Alvarez, Clint Gonzales, Aldrin Mercado, Archimedes Prisno, Jimmy Barredo, Orly Barredo, Philip Salem, Tata De La Cruz, Myra Medalla, Joan Bituin, Ricardo Peñaranda, Nikko Montilla, Aulefrau, Felix Limpoco Jr., Arnel Cabanatan, and Dante Enage.
The exhibit runs from August 22 to September 22, 2020 at the Breadshop Box Café, Real Street, Barangay 75-Fatima, Tacloban City.
Health protocols will be observed at the exhibit venue, organizer said.
