Lovely time at Art in the Park 2014

Installation by Maxine Syjuco.

I've heard of it before yet I still keep on missing it year after year anyway. But yesterday, March 23, I was finally able to catch Art in the Park at the Jaime Velasquez Park in Salcedo Village, Makati City. Although I only arrived at past-five already, I still had a good two or so hours looking around, perusing the artworks, and grabbing some dinner and coffee.

Art installations
The steel frames and enlarged photographs installation by artist Maxine Syjuco first greeted me at the park. I then made a right and into artist Pete Jimenez's exhibit dubbed "Iron Will," a visually intriguing display of everything iron, cast, twisted, and welded in every which way. There were huge pieces involving car hoods and doors, pipes and pipe elbows, as well as smaller items that would fit perfectly atop a console.

Pete Jimenez's "Iron Will."

Amused by this contraption. That spring of a trunk, by the way, was bobbing and swaying lightly in the wind. And oh, I reckon those shoes would make for a cool design for real shoes.

Come nightfall, Olivia d'Aboville's light installation came to life. The dandelion-like fringes were made of cut plastic bottles, I believe. There were also versions of this that hung from the trees, the same ones you see at the Greenbelt-Landmark elevated walkway.

Cute, aren't they?

Paintings

Several galleries participated at the fair, exhibiting and selling works from their respective stables of artists. Without a doubt, paintings still comprised the majority of the artworks there and were the easiest to sell. I made a quick tour, looking for stuff for the house, although I was slowed down by the huge turnout that afternoon. Good thing My Bibe and I share similar tastes in art. With regard to paintings, we either go for minimalist or colorful quirky.

Paintings galore at one of the booths.

"Candidates" that fit our taste. But of course we still had to think about where to hang them and how they'll look on the wall.

This was where I ended up getting something. Such vibrant colors!

Hung on the wall, stacked atop a table, or laid on the ground, paintings were everywhere from established galleries and art students alike. It was such a cool vibe at the park despite the humidity.

Pick me, please?

Here are but a couple of paintings that I did like, or at least found interesting.

The beauty of minimalism. But frame dimensions also had to be factored in my decision.

See that painting with the geometric shapes on the left? I thought about it, too. But our house would be filled with so much blue already if I still got it. That piece on the upper right-hand corner was likewise interesting, as was the one right below it.

Bravo for texture! Would you believe the one on the right was being sold for just Php 3,500?

Other artwork

There were, of course, lots of other stuff at the fair. There were prints, photographs, sculptures and figures, some furniture, mosaics, pottery work, woodworks, costume jewelry, and a host of other stuff I can't make of.

Above: Something I don't know how to call. There's a glass statuette in a depressed section of the frame and then a painting of that figurine. Bottom: The artist messed with a print by making cuts at the center and mounting it on the frame in a manner that allows the cut area to protrude.

A juxtaposition of contrasts. I love the intricate details of the artwork on the left in as much as I like that the other one is all about kitties. Meow.

Not all paintings were sold framed already. Good thing at least one booth sold frames.

Pure geometric cuteness these are not. They're also very functional with their cabinets and drawers.

Having learned pottery outside Hogwarts, Harry the Potter made these.

Something for the fashionistas in attendance.

Metal sculptures. Above: One of the pieces at Pete Jimenez's "Iron Will." Remember that iconic Richard Gomez TVC for Bench from way back? The artist calls it "Parang Bench" (Like Bench). Bottom: Some figures fashioned out of brass and copper.

Aww...doggies. On the right Mr Skeleton is busy with some paint job.

This booth featured nothing but mosaic works using tiles primarily. Such patience just one piece must have taken to complete.

Some lamps using cutouts from corrugated boxes.

Some lightboxes. Quite cute actually, especially when they're pooled together like this.

Woodworks were this gallery's main attraction.

I don't know that this is made of but it's cute.

Music you say? How about some spoons and tubing fixtures?

A spiderweb chair. And yes, it's functional (I even sat on it). Comes with a cushion actually.

True enough, artworks observed a Php 30,000 price ceiling. Most of the pieces I asked about didn't even reach Php 20,000. Heck, there was even one painting that the artist was selling for only Php 3,500! Art in the Park sure did not disappoint and stayed true to its promise of being a significant venue for affordable art.

Payments were centralized in two areas at the park and cards were accepted. At least for me, it didn't take long, what with the sheer number of counters available.

What else

Art in the Park wasn't exclusively about art, though. People get hungry and thirsty, so it was but right that they had a couple of food stalls and stations for water, coffee, and even beer and wine on site. There was also a band playing in the middle of the park to provide some entertainment.

One gallery offered free cotton candy in exchange for a donation. Not surprisingly, people lined up for it.

One of two payment centers. Felt like the elections or something.

I believe sales were quite robust. I saw paintings being carted away, paintings taken down from the wall for wrapping, and all that.

Just two of the food stalls at the venue. See the beer station on the far end? Oh yeah.

Entertainment courtesy of some string and percussion instruments.

Chill vibe here. The crowds peaked in the afternoon and gradually thinned out again as night fell.

I'm sure glad I made time for Art in the Park, which I hope to catch again next year, with My Bibe hopefully. And yes, I was able to bring home something, an acrylic on canvas piece by Kevin Balboa. If I'm not mistaken, dimensions are 3'x4'. Welcome to your new home, little blue creature of the forest!

And quirky won over minimalism in this round.

For more images, you can check out my Art in the Park 2014 set on Flickr. Till next year!

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Looking forward to my next Art in the Park experience on Sunday, March 22, 2015!

artinthepark.ph