"For the Love of Painting" - An Art Exhibit

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One of the "desirable" things the pandemic accorded us was solitude. Solitude brings silence, and with silence comes stillness. Silence (Matthew 6:5-8) eliminates the external secular noise, and stillness (Psalm 46:10) the internal mental chatter (guilt, worry, too busy with earthly concerns). These attenuates the voices of the flesh; worship becomes effortless and  the mind more attuned to the Spirit of God, making creativity, a shared trait of God and men, conducive. 

Praying in the Spirit necessitates that one is continually connected to God. If this connection is cut by sin, one has to pray to reconnect. Christians must maintain this connection for prayer to be effective. We pray for God's will to be done and that He be merciful to humanity whom He loves inspite of them undeserving of His love.  If it isn't God's will then He might even give you something better. 

We lost God's trust when we do evil. When everyone has turned their backs on God because of our lustful, self righteous, and unforgiving hearts, He may allow evil leaders to lead. David was a murderer, Solomon was a womanizer, Paul was a killer and persecutor of the early church. Sinful men are usually the truly repentant ones than the proud and self righteous because of the nature of their deeds. In the end it is between man and his God. Even the sinful man on the cross who was crucified with Christ was not baptised or able to do good deeds, but by faith and God's mercy, he is in heaven. So who are we to judge these evil leaders?  They are patriots who loved their country more than God. But We just pray that in their end, they would love God above country and that true repentance would come to them. Justice will be served; if not in this lifetime, then in the afterlife. 

We can't fathom God's mind, but what we can fathom was revealed by Jesus Christ when He lived here in Earth. That why it's futile to be constantly debating on Christian issues, after one has spoken his part, let him go but pray that God will endow him with wisdom to understand. If we are too insistent, it shows we are too dependent on ourselves and less reliant on God's merciful nature.

So for artists, it can be a time to feel lonely, self-pity or it can be the best time to be productive.  Great works of art are created when time abounds and loneliness becomes a great motivator for productivity. These art works are free, spontaneous and uncoerced by unscrupulous collectors or businessmen, and thus comes out extraordinary. With nothing to focus on but their craft, splendid and stunning works are created.

Our artists were branded as "non-essential" during the pandemic and during typhoon Odette. They were unprioritized, shunned by society and out of work.  But work they did for the love of the Art. 


The best works of artists I have been following since I started collecting more than 12 years ago, like Celso Pepito, Benjie Goyha, Audie Estrellada, Fe Madrid Pepito, Cesar Cabase Castillo,  Jose Kimsoy Yap, Boy Carvajal Kiamko and more, sprang from this pandemic, where these "non-essentials" have the luxury of time. 

There were no commissioned works, no art fairs, no art festivals, no art shows or art exhibits with deadlines. Their stomachs and pockets were empty and their eyes were full- of tears, but they marched on and continued painting- for the Love of Painting.

Out of this pandemic came out the extraordinary works of these emerging and mid career Cebuano artists. They are John Paul Abejar, Artemio Anga, Boyet Auditor, Ariel Caratao, Arnel Casquejo, Audie Estrallada, Rodel Estudillo, Kenneth Gequillo, Malvin Lim, JM Llanos, Roberto J. Olvido, Jerry Pangalay, Victoria Rhea Rosacina, Kevin Serad, Kent Laurence Tautohan and Marlowe Toledo Villagonzalo.

Catch them and have the chance to own their post-pandemic masterpieces at SM Seaside at their opening on September 30, 2022.  The exhibit will run from September 28-October 28.

 

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. (Proverbs 46:10)

 








Location: Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines

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