Visual Art of the Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture

The visual art of FPAC (Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture) is displayed at the PAN Pavilion - a space within FPAC that showcases Pilipino artists from around the world with the opportunity to network, exhibit and market their work. Every artist who participates in FPAC automatically becomes a member of the Pilipino Artists Network (PAN). PAN is a California statewide, capacity-building network for established and emerging Pilipino American artists to share ideas and resources. Nine different disciplines are represented in this network: traditional folk arts, dance, theater, music, visual arts, media arts, literary arts, arts education, and presenters.

 

The visual art displayed in the PAN pavilion is unique and broad varying from year to year with different artists participating. Each exhibition is reflective of the genres of art represented from a particular place and time that the artist chooses to exhibit. The subject matter of the art is usually Pilipino or Pilipino-American based, but also deviates to other universal content areas. Portraits, landscapes, collages, live art, etc. can be found at the PAN pavilion- works that are for the community and created by the community. Be it an original work of art or a print- visual art from FPAC is precious, eclectic and something you cannot find or purchase in commercial galleries. 

 

 FPAC 2007- Photo by Ernie PenaIn 2005, the FPAC PAN pavilion had its first live mural painting session with 6 murals produced by Pilipino American visual artists. This tradition of “live painting” where artists would collaboratively paint and improvise their artwork in front of a live audience is a practice that continues at every annual FPAC by the community. The size of the canvas or wooden panel for the live painting is dependent upon what the community donates to the PAN pavilion, making every year’s live mural truly exclusive and imaginative. The year after the inception of the live mural at FPAC (2006) marked the 2nd Annual PAN Art Walk in Historic Filipinotown, which included art exhibits in Tribal Café, Remy’s On Temple, and the Lotus Festival.   

 

Audible Soul- FPAC 2005 Community organizations such as Audible Soul often exhibit their artwork as well.   I purchased an interesting Lauryn Hill print from Audible Soul during FPAC 2005.  Whether you are an artist interested in “live painting” or exhibiting and selling work in the PAN Pavilion, your talents will literally enrich the festival with color and life. Afterall, the visibility of a community is directly linked to its arts. This year, the 18^th Annual FPAC PAN Pavilion will exhibit works from The Bathala Project- art based on ancient Pilipino script called baybayin.  Urban Bata, Christian Cabuay, Heredia Designs, and Agapito Doronio are some of the few artists that will be participating in the live painting sessions.  Other students and artists from the bay, to L.A. and San Diego will also exhibit their artwork and participate in a community live mural. To check out the interesting and rare visual art, and live mural painting, stop by the Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture on the weekend of September 12-13^th at Point Fermin Park in San Pedro, California. 

 

To get your tickets for FPAC today, please click here: http://www.filamarts.org/fpac/tickets/

 

 

(Artist David Raquel at FPAC 2006)

 

[Sources]

http://www.filamarts.org/fpac06/pan.html 15th Annual FPAC PAN Pavilion

http://www.filamarts.org/downloads/fpac07_program.pdf 2007 FPAC Program

http://www.filamarts.org/fpac/about/fpac-history/ 18^th Annual FPAC- History

http://filamfunk.blogspot.com/2008/06/creating-and-celebrating-philippine.html 6 Murals image, 16th Annual FPAC 2007

 http://www.hotlikewasabe.com/ Photography by Ernie Pena