In the book of Genesis, when the Lord established His covenant of hope with humankind after the great flood, He gave us colors—every color in the rainbow and all the shades between.
In colors watercolorists see life. In the swirl of pigment in water, in the fluid dance of color on paper, in the serendipitous blend of hues, hope is lived and released in that moment of craft and expression.
Hope is what 55 artists of the Philippine Guild of Watercolorists will share through their artworks from September 2 to October 31 at the LRI Design Plaza. Hues of Hope is more than just a juried art exhibit; it is a shared celebration by artists who know that they are better and stronger together. Art, mostly a solitary exercise, thrives in community.
In Hues of Hope, the artists’ enlarged horizon includes a jury of international masters. Ze Ze Lai of Hong Kong, Praful Sawant of India, Eudes Correia of Portugal and our very own Cid Reyes and Ferdinand Isleta are the art greats who had chosen 55 artworks that reveal how creativity takes and gives courage.
Recognizing the immense power of art, the Philippine Guild of Watercolorists also brings to Hues of Hope a month-long calendar of art activities for everyone interested in watercolor. Each day starting September 2, enjoy live and virtual demos of watercolor styles, workshops by international masters, seminars on copyright, talks on marketing a painting, and on-the-spot contests.
Since its beginnings in 2016, PGW members—newbies, aficionados and professionals—have been growing on a regular fare of art tambays, from plein air sessions and exhibits, to the Kwentuhan series of virtual workshops spotlighting a conversation with and a paint-along by a professional artist. They are guided and inspired by a pool of Filipino masters who are PGW honorary members. Such learning and connections in this time of forced isolation—including the connection forged between the heart, mind and body of an artist while painting—are what PGW desires to share in Hues of Hope and in the membership it offers to watercolorists.
For truly, a gift of miracles is found not just in an artwork but also in the art-making. As Gerhard Richter once said, art may be the highest form of hope.
– by Janet Villa and Rolly delos Santos
Congratulations to the Award Winners chosen by our Jurors.
Grand prize- Renato V. Canlas (NCR)
2nd Prize Winner – Kyle F. Legaspi (NCR)
3rd Prize Winner – Dennis B. Lim (Bicol)
Honorable Mention: Teody M. Gaspar (Iloilo), Ludwig L. Ilio (Davao), Maxcel P. Migallos (Cebu), Richard A. Romeo (Cebu), Emmanuel B. Vailoces (Cavite)
Come visit the Hues of Hope exhibit from September 2 to 30, 2021. Walk-ins are welcome from Mondays to Saturdays 10am to 7pm at LRI Design Plaza, Makati City.
Special thanks to our Guests of Honor: Mr. Ferdinand Isleta, OIC Chief of the Policy Plan Formulation and Programming Division and Head of the Arts Section of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA); Mr. and Mrs. Tony Lo – LRI Design Plaza; and Dr Racquel Florendo – Vice Chancellor for Planning and Devt, UP Diliman.
For more details on Hues of Hope, please email pgw.exhibits@gmail.com or visit the PGW Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PhilippineGuildofWatercolorists
