WHILE art does not limit one’s imagination, artists inevitably face restrictions as they lack the venue where they can showcase their masterpieces.
That is why a member of the Davao Watercolor Society, which is a group of local visual artists in the city, had put up a restaurant and transformed it into a gallery that is open for everyone who has passion for arts and culture. It has now become a place where diners can enjoy variety of foods while artists and art enthusiasts can do art session as well.
The members of the society meet at the Pepper’s Iberica resto owned by couple Allan Peter and artist Chiqui Aportadera every week where they do workshops and art sessions. The good thing is, anyone who wishes to join can actually share the art session with the group and learn too.
In an interview with VoxPop Davao, Davao Watercolor Society President and artist Lito Pepito shared that most art galleries have become more focus on the business nature and had already set aside the most important part which is the art appreciation aspect.
“Mas maganda ito [art gallery] ngayon kasi the artist herself owns the place,” Pepito said, pertaining to Chiqui and her resto which has been transformed as an art gallery.
Pepito said that those who owned art galleries in the city had become ningas-kugon (a Filipino cultural trait that refers to an enthusiastic start of doing things but quickly losing it soon after) when they had taken over and saturated the market.
“It is important that the gallery owner [also] has the appreciation of art and not only in the business,” Pepito said.
According to Pepito, the owner of the resto had come up with the idea of converting the place into an art gallery as she wanted to develop her passion in painting and sustain it.
“[The] gallery is open to anybody who loves art so kaya nagiging art unlimited na,” Pepito said who had also shared that their group is going to launch an art exhibit on December 8 dubbed as “Art unlimited.”
As an artist, Pepito shared how those who have the talents and skills are discouraged to pursue their passion in painting as other galleries would look into their credentials and whether which university they had graduated before they are allowed to do an exhibit and showcase their art works.
“Ang iba na may talent…nawalan nang pag-asa na maging artist,” Pepito said, adding that the gallery has been opened “to give everybody a chance” to showcase their artistry.
Pepito also did not fail to share the current trend where everyone does digital art but he said that visual artists who do their arts manually must give value to what they do.
“Tayo nalang ang natitirang gumagawa nito so magiging extinct na tayo sa future [at dahil dyan] kailangan na itong mga ginagawa natin ngayon ay talagang bigyan na natin ng halaga kasi ko konti nalang tayo (There are only few of us who are doing this and we will be extinct in the future and because of that, artists must put value on what they do),” Pepito said.
The art gallery is opening a new avenue for art appreciation in Davao City, Pepito said, underscoring that there is a need to go down to the grassroots level so that art appreciation will not only be limited to the elites.
The group also offers art workshops and do free sessions to indigent people. With this, they are positive that more people who have the potentials in doing artistic works will find a haven where they could share their art.
Maximizing talents and skills, this is what the group hopes to be reflected among those who desire to become artists.
While there is still a dearth of galleries such as this, one door has just opened for the aspiring artists that could lead them to more opportunities.