art exhibits, at present

Art happenings in and around the Island of Palawan.
Most happenings were in Puerto Princesa City, its main capital.

In the past few years many art events are unfolded and celebrated but not widely documented.
The city has a rich trove of culture performers, painters and craftsmen, whose studios or shops are not  located in popular business areas, hidden away from the hustle and bustle of the city's commercial districts.

with other Palawan artists during the opening of one of my  exhibits, in Gypsy's Lair and Artcafe'

Since the closure of Kape Kamarikutan at Galeri, (the usual exhibit and workshop space in the city)  artists were extending to alternative venues like artcafes, hotel lobbies and a museum.
Last May(2012) the CAFE (Concerned Artists For the Environment) launch an art exhibit in one of the hotels in the city of Puerto Princesa. Hotel lobbies and cafes are the most common venues for the local artist's art shows.This was the most recent art events for this year in the visual arts scene.The Skylight Hotel just recently opened its lobby for art venue.

Skylight Hotel lobby located in Rizal Avenue..

C.A.F.E. is one of the visual arts group in the locality, composed of painters, sculptor, and musicians. Their aim is to reflect in works the modern life in the island.
The group is composed of Palawan artists whose purpose is to create art based on relevant events that affect the lives of the community and of the society and to highlight important issues for public discourse.

          Founded in 2003, in an art café by Charles Wandag(now based abroad) and Jonathan Benitez, it has no permanent members, no binding organizational by-laws, but the core is composed of serious artists who act as organizers. The idea is “like having a conversation over a cup of coffee”, It is about transforming “arguments” into visual imageries and offered to the public for opinion.

Invited individual can automatically become part of the group that could function as organizer as well. Members are artists who practice the true spirit of creativity, dedication to his own artistic vision and established artists in Palawan art scene.

performance art by Raquel de Loyola, the author, and two other artists in Kalugtan Arts Festival, 2010

The town of El Nido, aside from its beautiful lagoon and majestic limestone cliffs, also host to art festivals called Kalugtan Arts Festival, Kalugtan means "earth" in Cuyonon, its local dialect. High caliber artists from different parts of the Philippines attended this event.The festival showcased artworkshops, performances, lectures and exhibits.Intended to promote its local artists and educate its communities, the affair adds color and flavor to the town's prestige.

The Kalugtan is one the Arts festival Celebrated annually,  the first and most popular was the Kamarikutan Arts Festival held in Puerto Princesa City ( a separate post will be assigned for this topic).

One may noticed, my posts were not discussed in chronological order, or a continuation of past posts, as I am still in the process of gathering facts and data to support my story. Art blogging is complex because pertinent issues arise as areas mentioned might need some validation along the way. I might be viewed as out of context for those with in depth understanding of Palawan art, but my point of view is that of a person telling a story-not as an art historian or for academic purposes, but a conversation about what I do.Since I might document directly or indirectly my art community, I decided to make it more factual, in doing so, I have to consult the other key players and associates to posit me right on the road.Thank you Dinggot Conde- Prieto, a respected curator/artist/cultural worker.
Other posts are just  glimpse of recent activity, while I am "refreshing" my memory on the preliminaries: How Palawan Art was developed.

refer to my blogs for more postings about art events..more postings to come!