The artist participated for the visual arts community revolving on the theme of chairs: Ciron Señeres and Marc Aran Reyes.
Where arts and heart collide, there’ll be one great charity event as a result.
Plain Bo Concept and Casa Bella chairs served as canvases to several contemporary artists in the country to come up with designer chairs that are about to sold to collect funds for a good cause. This stint is from the collaboration of the Visual Arts Helping Hands Foundation, Inc (VAHHFI) and the Metropolitan Museum of Manila through the art event called Chapter 2: The Empty Chair Project.
The biennial gathering of creative minds and generous individuals lists the museum as beneficiary and selects mental health advocacy groups like Anxiety and Depression Support Philippines, Silakbo, Buhay Movement, and #MentalHealthPh. More than that, it also seeks to support VAHHFI’s healthcare initiative for practicing visual artists and artist support practitioners like art critics, art professors, curators, and established gallery workers.
Photo shows from left: Exhibit curator Mr. Ricky Francisco, MET team head Ms. Tina Colayco, VAHHF’s Mr. Daniel Dela Cruz, Atty. Tonico Manahan, Ms. Trickie Lopa and Mr. Mike Tomacruz
This year’s gathering serves as the VAHHFI’s inaugural launch and coming out event, which follows the initial charity event in 2017. The previous exhibition aimed to raise funds primarily for visual artists’ welfare and hospitalization assistance, which resulted in the eventual creation of the foundation. Sculptor and main founding member Daniel Dela Cruz shared:
“Creating and registering the foundation took two years.
…it is the artists in service of other artists and those in the community.”
Chapter 2: The Empty Chair Project tackles the timely subject of Mental Health, and the idea that art can be a part of the healing process. It also aims to expand VAHHFI’s reach in generating awareness not only among the visual arts community but also among the general public. Furthermore, the organization hopes to provide collectors the chance to purchase unique artworks through collectible chairs and also give them the opportunity to help not just the artists but the professionals who support the artists in the visual art ecosystem.
To make this year’s event a reality, VAHHFI challenged some of the best artists in the visual arts scene to interpret, translate, and realize what an empty chair means. Additionally, the art concepts embody the message of “hope, kindness, and positivity to all.” Artists are also eager to encourage mental fitness as a part of one’s own overall well-being interpreted through their works.
Mr. Dela Cruz says about this goal:
“In as much as our foundation focuses on physical fitness, mental fitness should also be part of our regimen to protect and safeguard our overall well-being.
We spend time and energy exercising and going to the gym, but we also need to remember to take time to relax, de-stress, and rest our minds and our soul. Art, and all creative endeavors, soothes the soul and nourishes it.”
Priced tag with a hefty price of a hundred thousand pesos, every one-of-a-kind masterpiece will generate funds for VAHH’s medical endowment funds. This embodies VAHHFI’s raison d’etre and philosophy: To give back to the visual arts community by providing funds to institutional partners and medical assistance to members of the visual arts community.
Some of the artists who contributed their time and talent for this charity event include Leo Abaya, Fruitjuice Factory Studio with Isabel and Alfredo Aquilizan, Annie Cabigting, Valeria Cavestany, Charlie Co, Louie Cordero, Jayson Cortez, Marina Cruz, Kawayan de Guia, Antipas “Biboy” Delotavo, Dexter Fernandez, Dino Gabito, Nona Garcia, Guerrero “RG” Habulan, Gregory Halili, Riel Hilario, NiloIlarde, Pete Jimenez, Erwin Leaño, Raul Lebajo, Luis Lorenzana, Gene Paul Martin, Jason Montinola, Leeroy New, Rando Onia, Jim Orencio, Bernie Pacquing, LynyrdParas, Richard Quebral, Marc Aran Reyes, Jose Tence “Bogie” Ruiz, Stanley Ruiz, Luis Santos, Ciron Señeres, Rodel Tapaya, and MM Yu.
Since April 2018, the charity program has been providing assistance to artists and other art workers, like art writers, a museum director and a gallery owner who suffer ailments like thyroid cancer, recurrence of tumor, and kidney disease.
Chapter 2: The Empty Chair Project will run from November 12, 2019, Tuesday, to January 31, 2020, Friday. An opening reception on November 12 will happen at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Complex along Roxas Boulevard, Manila. So for those who want to own a unique art piece and extend help to those who need it, you can check details on how you can participate at metmuseum.ph. You can also call +632 708 7828 or email [email protected] for other information. Check out, too, VAHHFI’s website www.visualartshelpinghands.org for updates, news, and application information.
This charity project is supported by Meralco, PLDT, AXA, Casa Bella and Bo Concept.
