Over 500 works by Cordillera artists in one venue resonate with a unifying force that only art can bring.
SM City Baguio’s exhibition, “Art for Everyone,” has become a convergence of art groups led by Autism Hearts Philippines, Camp Folkswagen, Pasakalye Group of Artists, Tam-Awan Village Gallery, and Sining Sa Tubig. The event brought industry leaders and emerging artists into the spotlight, curated by Olan Cruz.
Cruz, now Baguio-based after his 30-year stint as lead curator at the Ayala Museum, said, “The works were arranged to tell a story, a narrative that speaks of its cause and the artists behind the event.”
Emerging artist Amparo Moldero-Magallanes, in her inaugural exhibit, featured her carefully crafted pen and ink pieces, as well as a collection of mixed-media creations depicting traditional games. Watercolorist and sketcher Sharla Macli-ing Ngayodan featured her iconic collection of selected spots in the city, while the upcoming Bag-iw Sketchers showcased a collection of work from various sketch walks.
The Bag-iw Sketchers, a community-driven group aiming to inspire and celebrate the art of urban sketching, fostering a sense of belonging among artists of all skill levels. Sining Sa Tubig, meanwhile, put together a collection of soft watercolor originals.
The exhibit opened on July 14 and is backed by the Creative Baguio City Council, led by Marie Venus Tan, and the Baguio City Tourism Office. It benefits Art Heals, Autism Philippines, and Helping Hands, with a portion of the sales going to their causes.
Tan stated that the exhibition is a testament to Baguio’s status as a UNESCO-declared Creative City, highlighting the artists and artisans behind each work. Industry leaders from Tam-Awan Village featured works by solar painter Jordan Mang-osan, which depicted the culture and heritage of the highlands, while Roland Bay-an of the Pasakalye group highlighted the exhibition with his freehand strokes of Cordilleran scenes.
The Baguio exhibition runs until July 26 at the Atrium.
Campfolkswagen, home to a collection of over 2,700 miniature Volkswagens, presented a collection of works depicting the iconic automobile.
In 2024, an art market launched at SM Supermalls nationwide earned the Gold Stevie® Award for Innovation in the Use of Events. It featured over 1,200 Filipino artists and showcased more than 4,000 artworks. This year’s month-long “Art for Everyone” exhibition was likewise simultaneously celebrated in Clark, Seaside City Cebu, Sorsogon, Iloilo, Bacolod, Dagupan, Baliwag, Dasmariñas, Downtown, Santa Rosa, Angono, The Podium, Lanang, North EDSA, and Aura.
More than a show of force by the city’s artists, the exhibition has brought together art groups with a varied expertise and backgrounds, unified in a cause to help beneficiaries and to inspire emerging artists to continue to create. Maria Elena Catajan