Baguio City – Heritage, culture and art took centerstage anew as the Chanum Foundation staged the 14th Tam-Awan International Arts Festival (TIAF 14).
Concluded, October 3 to 6, 2024, in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), themed “Empowering the Artist through Community Galleries,” converging over 500 artists, culture bearers, workers and artisans from all over the country and the world for a 4- day artistic display at Tam-awan Village.
On October 3, a workshop for students on Cordillera song and dance is was facilitated by the University of the Philippines Program for Indigenous Cultures (PIC) with 70 participants from the Baguio City National High School, Saint Louis University with its dance troupe and symphonic band and delegates from the Tabuk City National High School.
The East-Side Collective Exhibit opens the partner café-gallery, Campfolkswagen where works paying homage to the iconic Volkswagen is displayed by artists, Acidhead, Angel PT, GA Castillo, Horhe Jacinto, Kamiru Otama, Patick Dotimas, Noel Tirona, Sayko Torres and Valor Betonio.
The 14th TIAF opened Friday, October 4 with a Bontoc Ritual, Inmangmang, enjoining the community to join in the celebration with the Men-Pattong or the beating of the gongs followed by the Men -Ay-yeng or spontaneous chant of the elders for the good tidings for the host ending with the butchering of a pig or the Men-Ayyengbay.
A morning press conference is slated led by Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Atty Trixie Cruz Angeles, Chanum Foundation president, Jordan Mang osan, Olan Cruz of Camp Folkswagen, Venus Tan, chair of the Creative Baguio Council, Kublai Millan president of Lawig Diwa of Davao and Kimberly Ramirez of the Orange Project Bacolod.
To formally opened the TIAF 14, the Tam Awan village dancers lead a community dance towards the village main gallery and the Ugnayan gallery where 100 works from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao are displayed dubbed as Vernacular Identities, the exhibition extends to the SM Baguio Level 2 terraces.
Afternoon talks by Andrew De Guzman and Roland Cruz is scheduled on the distinction of galleries and museums followed by the opening of the SM Baguio exhibit highlighted by a cultural performance led Edmarie Inda of the Manobo’s Wayeg Dance and ritual celebration.
In the evening, a free -wheeling talk with artists from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao is slated moderated by Olan Cruz and Horhe Jacinto aimed to connect and network regional groups to galleries and studios and open opportunities as well as the importance of the symbiotic relationship of artists and galleries.
On Saturday, October 5, a lecture on the artist-gallery relationship was done by Gallery Y’s Chris Yusi followed by the afternoon talk by Atty Trixie Cruz Angeles on law on artists and artist practices.
The evening will host cultural presentations led by the Philippine Art Educators Association (PAEA) and presentations from guests from Luzon Visayas and Mindanao.
The TIAF 14 closed on Sunday, October 6 with a Bontoc ritual for thanksgiving and blessing for all who partook of the celebration with Chanum Foundation officials joined by City Tourism Officer Alec Mapalo, Department of Tourism Cordillera regional Director Jovita Ganongan, sending off delegates of the annual celebration.
The TIAF is backed by the City Government of Baguio with the Department of Tourism – Cordillera and is done in celebration of Museums and Galleries month.