Marlowe Toledo Villagonzalo in Shared Vision: A Group Exhibit in New York City, USA

-


It is always a source of joy and pride for artists to exhibit their work globally and to personally interact and showcase their art pieces with people who are interested.  Such an opportunity came to a prominent 46 year old visual artist from Punta Princesa, Cebu City, Marlowe Toledo Villagonzalo. Together with master Cebuano cubist Celso Duazo Pepito, his equally talented wife Fe Madrid Pepito, and notable US based Filipino artists, Luis Caraos, Romeo Cortes Jr. and Bobby T. Yalong, they will present Shared Vision, an art exhibit in New York City USA, from September 17-30, 2022.

As a distinguished mid career artist who has been carving a name to become an established artist in Cebu and the Philippines, Marlowe needed a platform to elevate his artistry and present his talent to the world.  "New York is one of the places where dreams can become reality. This is a memorable one for me and marks a milestone in my art journey.  My artwork is my life, it is my expression and freedom to the utter realities of life coming from the deepest corner of my mind and heart ", he said.

 At a younger age while he was still in Surigao, Marlowe has always wanted to become an artist. Deep in his heart he believed the value of his artistry as it manifested even when he was still five years of age. His early fascination with art has motivated him to draw trucks, ships and even bikes. 

He recalled that he was one of those many children who loved to draw the images of famous Filipino actors and actresses, especially that of Fernando Poe, Jr. In third year high school, he was introduced to the art of paper cuts which added to his creative skills. 

To positively nurture his creativity, he enrolled as one of the many students in an Architectural Drafting class where he gained additional knowledge that positively contributed to his aspiration of becoming a painter. Going into college, Marlowe traveled to Cebu to enrol in a course in Fine Arts at the University of San Carlos, but unfortunately, he was late for the enrollment, thereby forcing him to take up Architecture in Cebu Institute of Technology. 

 

This unintended shift in direction made him a Licensed Architect in 1999, and a registered Master Plumber at the same time. But before privately practicing his profession, he first worked in an Interior Design Firm in Cebu where he gained experience and attained financial means that allowed him to buy art materials and tinkered with them in his pastime. 

 


With opportunities to design and build houses, and creating plans for subdivisions, Marlowe considers himself a technical person in the field of architecture and construction. Though, it was not part of his original plan to be involved in such professions, he found it very fulfilling and felt profoundly grateful for what he had accomplished in these fields.

 

 

While continuously practicing architecture, he happened to meet Orley Ypon in his Studio in Toledo City, and looking at Orley's works, Marlowe's aspiration to go back to painting re-ignited. The desire was gradually brewing in his heart, encouraged to engage in painting again.  Thus, he made it a point to start painting his favorite subjects like vendors, still life, landscape, and flora.

More at ease with oil paints as his primary medium, he is deeply fascinated with applying thicker and bolder colors unto his canvas. Attributing this painting style the way Impressionists did theirs. He loves to paint with much loaded brush, creating an impasto effect that made his works truly sensational, if not, amazing.

 

Tagud, 36"x24", Oil on canvas, 2021

For any painter, joining an art exhibit is one fulfilling moment, and for Marlowe, it happened in 2001, when he was invited as one of the exhibitors in the First Cebu Open Air Art Festival at the garden and lagoon of Ayala Center Cebu. He has follow up exhibits at Shade of Summer at SM Art Center Cebu, and Art Explosion at Ayala Center Cebu at same year. His connection with Cebu Art Association has given him opportunities to join the group's exhibits in different venues from 2002, 2003 up to 2010.

He also got invited to exhibit his works with Portrait Artists Society group in 2012, and had his first Solo Show at same year at the Cebu Academy of Arts at Aloha Apartelle, in Cebu City. As he actively created more artworks, more invitations to exhibit also came. In 2021, he was part of the TIGUM- TIGUM+BISWAL Group Exhibit at SMSeaside, and one of the exhibitors of Mugna+Lantaw -2, organized by ArtPortalCebu Gallery in Pitogo, Consolacion,Cebu. He also took part of the First Visayas Art Fair in Montebello Villa Hotel in Cebu City. 

CCLEX, Watercolor, 2022


In 2022, he participated in Paglaum, a group exhibit at SM Seaside Cebu. Marlowe still believes that involving oneself in art will entail a lot of sacrifices and determination, thus, he continually conditions himself to prepare for whatever it entails to painstakingly nurture his artistic gift to fulfill his desire to follow his artistic dreams.

PAINTING EXHIBITS:

2001 1st Cebu Open Air Art-Festival (Garden and Lagoon, Ayala Center, Cebu) 

           Shade of Sumer (SM Art Center, Cebu Phil.)

           Art Explosion (Ayala Center, Cebu Phil.)


2002 Colores De Verano (Montebello Villa Hotel, Cebu Phil.)


2003 CAA Art Exhibit & Induction Ceremony (Casa Gorordo Museum, Cebu Phil.)

2004 CAA Art Exhibit & Induction Ceremony (Casa Gorordo Museum, Cebu Phil.)

         Mixed Works (Sasanora, Cebu Phil.)

2005 CAA Art Exhibit & Induction Ceremony (Casa Gorordo Museum, Cebu Phil.)

         CAA Midyear Art Exhibit (Waterfront Hotel, Cebu Phil.)

         Panag Hugpong (SM Art Center, Cebu Phil.)

         Pinta sa Abril (JY Mall Lahug, Cebu Phil.)

Ataa Alumni Art Exhibit (St Theresa Auditorium, Mango Cebu City)


2006 69th CAA Art Exhibit (SM Art Center, Cebu Phil.)

         Artnight @ the Tops ( Tops Busay, Cebu City)

         Art Portal of Cebu (Waterfront Hotel, Cebu Phil.)

2007 Visual Variation (SM Art Center, Cebu Phil.)


2008 Argao 400 (SM Art Center, Cebu Phil.)

Q Gallery Grand Opening (Q Gallery,A.S Fortuna St.,Mandaue City.)

         2009 Modes of Summer (SM Art Center, Cebu Phil.)


“Palitada” A Two Man Show W/ Jess Najarro (Q Gallery,Mandaue City)                 



          Kibilin sa Tinuohan “ Pahinungod sa Sugbo’ (SM Art Center, Cebu Phil.)

         73rd CAA Art Exhibit (SM Art Center, Cebu Phil.)

         Mix and Match (Waterfront Hotel, Cebu Phil.)

2011 In His Image (Self Portrait) (SM Art Center, Cebu Phil.)

2012 An Art Journey (1st One Man Show) (CAA;Aloha Apartelle, Cebu City)

     Portrait and Scene (SM, Cebu Phil.)

Landscape and Scene (CICC Cebu Phil.)

         Paspi Group Show (CHAC Museum, Cebu City)

2021 Pasundayag sa taga sugbo (Aroma Art Gallery,Toledo City)

          TIGUM-TIGUM+ BISWAL (The Artwalk of Fame, Skyhall, SM Seaside City

         Cebu Phil.)

         MUGNA + LANTAW-2 (ART PORTAL CEBU- Consolacion, Cebu)

         NATURE: ART’S INFLUENCE (Rizal Memorial Library and Museum,Osmena

         Blvd, Cebu City)

         ART TABANG 4 / VFA Visayas Art Fair (PASPI)-Montebello Villa Hotel, 

         Banilad,Cebu City

2022 PAGLAUM (Upper Level Near Lemon Grass, SM Seaside City Cebu Phil.)

PAKIGSAULOG SA KADAUGAN (Mactan New Town, Lapu Lapu City.)

UNANG SUMAD (ART PORTAL CEBU- Consolacion, Cebu.)

AMUMA NI MAMA (Lower Ground Level, SM City Cebu Phil.)

 



AWARDS:

2023  First Prize Winner, Cordova on the Spot Painting Contest

2021 3nd Prize Winner (Dr. Jose Rizal Portrait Painting Contest Sponsored by: CHAC-Cebu City


2021 3nd Prize Winner (Visayas Art fair on the Spot Painting Contest Sponsored by : VAF

2008 2nd Prize Winner (Don Martino Abellana on the Spot Painting Contest) Sponsored by: CHAC Municipality of Car-Car

.

2007 Finalist (Don Martino Abellana on the Spot Painting Contest) Sponsored by Donia Modesta Gaisano

2004 Finalist (Bagakay Point Light Station Painting Competition) Sponsored by: Coastal Highpoint Ventures Inc. Cebu Phil.

2002 Finalist (Don Martino Abellana on the Spot Painting Contest) Sponsored by: Donia Modesta Gaisano)

1994 First Prize Winner (On the Spot Poster Making & Slogan Contest) Sponsored by DOST) Surigao City

1993 Artist of the year (Awardee) Surigao Del Norte School of Arts & Trade (SNSAT) commencement.

1993 2nd Place (On the Spot poster Making & Slogan Contest) Sponsored by Dost Surigao City

1993 3rd Runner-up (Regional on the Spot poster Making & Slogan Contest Sponsored by DECS r10) MalayBalay, Bukidnon

 


Popular posts from this blog

The Visayas Art Fair 2024- Connect, Create, Cultivate

-
Image
  How do you show appreciation for your art and culture? By owning it- it is a piece of your heritage - a future relic. It does not have to be very beautiful or costly. But if it "speaks" to you, acquire it, keep it, because you like looking at it, your descendants will thank you for it. Your painting might be in the Cebu City museum in 2068!    Take the time to visit the Visayas Art Fair 2024. Twenty eight galleries from all over the country showcasing deeper visual imageries and a diversity of styles and representations. The VAF aims to expound on the relationship between the visual arts and the creative industries that fuel their economic potential.    The Visayas Art Fair was a historical undertaking in 2021 with the banner, Connecting The Islands Through Art, initiated by the National Commission for Culture and Arts , together with the Cebu Design Week Inc., Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas , Sacred Heart School for Boys Batch 1985 Foundation, a
Read more

Rodolfo S. Cornejo on Stamp

-
Image
Rodolfo S. Cornejo is the first Filipino composer who received an honory degree from a government recognized music school in the United States . He is also remarkable for his pianistic and compositional know-how by improvising a piano composition at the spur of the moment.   He was born on 15 May 1909 in Singalong , Manila . At the age of six, he had his formal piano lessons. After 2 years, he played fourteen pieces and six encores for his recital. In that same year, he became the organist of the Pasay Catholic Church when they moved in. When he was ten, he composed a piano piece entitled, " Glissando Waltz ". He became so keen and inspired about music by his mother's genuine support.    At 13, he composed the "Salute", a military march that was also published. He also composed the Philippine Suite: Paalam sa Pagakadalaga , Okaka Variations , Paalam na Sinta , Oriental Fantasy , Nocturne in G, Piano Concerto no. 1 , and the Moro Wedding Dance . At 14, tw
Read more

Manuel H. Bernabe on Stamps

-
Image
Manuel H. Bernabe (1890-1960) “King of Balagtasan ” in Spanish was a poet, linguist and politician, Manuel Bernabe was born on February 17, 1890 to Timoteo Bernabe and Emilia Hernandez of Paranaque, Rizal .   At the age of 10, he already started writing verses. He studied at the Ateneo de Manila where he finished his Bachelor of Arts degree with high academic standing in 1907, and then took up law at the University of Santo Tomas , but not able to took up the bar exams. In 1910, Manuel’s first poem was published in the Renacimento Filipino.   In 1912, he translated Virgil’s Aenid from Latin to Spanish. In 1913, he received an award for his poems: “Himno al Sagrado Corazon de Jesus (Hymn to the Sacred Heart of Jesus ), “El Zapote,” and “Espana a Filipinas”.   In 1912, he joined the staff of La Democracia and in 1918, of La Vanguardia of the Roces Publications . He was a columnist but from time to time he also published poems and short stories in the magazine Exelsior.   Manuel
Read more

Tops Artfest 2024- A Celebration of Art

-
Image
The TOPS ARTFEST 2024: Why The Cebu Community Should Not Miss It?  By Celso Duazo Pepito I was happy to graduate in Fine Arts in 1981 at the University of the Philippines Cebu . But for the next two to three decades of  my art practice, my journey as member of creative community were full of difficulties and challenges. In the 80's and 90's we had very limited platforms for exhibition, encouraging us to organize our exhibits in hotels , restaurants , malls , hospitals , etc . Added to our problems is the limited art collectors in Cebu during that time. Attendees of exhibitions, more often than not were same people who have the heart for collecting artworks. And there were instances when these collectors will shy away from art exhibitions, with valid reasons that they do not have enough walls to hang their collections. With this problem in mind, few artists have opted to look for another job, if only to survive. There were few passionate painters, however, that opted to nurture
Read more

Glimpses of Old Cebu: Images of the Colonial Era

-
Image
" Glimpses of Old Cebu: Images of the Colonial Era " is a 276-page coffee table book of nearly 600 of the best photographs, postcards , stereoviews and lantern glass slides of Cebu and its many towns taken between 1870-1945. More than just a mere showcasing of rare, never-before-seen images, the book also provides a treasure trove of information accompanying nearly every picture. The author, Lucy Urgello Miller has been collecting vintage Philippine postcards and photographs for over 20 years, the thrust of her collection being Cebu . She acquired 90% of her Cebu collection in the United States where she is living with her husband Richard "Rick" Miller. Most of the collection was bought at antique postcards shows. Lucy has about 1,000 pictures and postcards on Cebu but she selected only the best and most interesting for this book. Mommy Gingging, Lucy and my wife Grace A blue-blooded Theresian, Lucy spent her entire education from kind
Read more

The Kudyapi- The Philippine Two-Stringed Lute

-
Image
The kutiyapi or kudyapi, is a Philippine two-stringed, fretted boat-lute. It is the only stringed instrument among the Maguindanao people, and one of several among other groups such as the Maranao and Manobo . It is four to six feet long with nine frets made of hardened beeswax . The instrument is carved out of solid soft wood such as from the jackfruit tree.   Common to all kutiyapi instruments, a constant drone is played with one string while the other, an octave above the drone, plays the melody with a kebit or rattan pluck (commonly made from plastic nowadays). This feature, which is also common to other related Southeast Asian "boat lutes", which were influenced by varying degrees by Indian concepts of melody and scale via the Malay archipelago .   Among the T'Boli , Manobo and other Lumad groups, the instrument (known as Hegelung, Kudyapi or Fedlung) is tuned to a major pentatonic scale . Among groups like the Bagobo , the Kutiyapi (Kudlung) is also used as
Read more

Vicente Fabella on Stamps

-
Image
Vicente F. Fabell a (1891-1959). Educator, economist, civic leader and the first Filipino certified public accountant . He was the founder of Jose Rizal College .  He was born on May 7, 1891 in Pagsanjan , Laguna , the third of six children of Juan Fabella, who served as mayor of Pagsanjan during the Spanish and American regimes, and Damiana Fernandez.    He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of the Philippines in 1912 and then continued his studies in the United States, obtaining concurrent degrees of bachelor of philosophy from the University of Chicago and diploma in commerce from Northwestern University in 1915. That same year, he became a certified public accountant in the state of Wisconsin .   In 1916, upon his return to the Philippines, he became a professional lecturer in accounting and auditing at the University of the Philippines . At the same time, he opened the accounting firm, Vicente Fabella and Company.   He was instrumental in the founding
Read more