April 19, 2013

Just wanted to share a video in relation to my earlier post about Consuelo Foundation.

Consuelo Zobel Alger was born in the Philippines in 1914. She grew up in a prominent Manila family whose ancestry dates back some 400 years to the Spanish conquistador Ponce de Leon. Consuelo is the sister of Mercedes Zobel Mcmicking, the ancestors of the Zobels of Ayala Corp. She was a well-educated woman who spoke 6 different languages. She and her husband did not have children. When she died, she left her entire wealth to charity.

This art exhibit which runs up to April 18 at the Ayala Museum is a tribute to Consuelo Foundation, which for 25 years has quietly invested more than $75 million in child protection and social development programs in Hawaii and the Philippines.

“The beautiful art works are made by the hands of 500 of the Foundation’s beneficiaries from as far north as La Trinidad, Benguet to as far south as Pagalungan, Maguindanao. “These children and young adults have had wounds of misery and despair, borne out of their painful experience of abuse, neglect, exploitation or even incarceration. But through the love, care and healing poured out to them by you — our cherished partners and staff through Dona Consuelo’s act of grace, they leave us these genuine and tangible images of joy,” Carmela Andal–Castro, Managing Director

To know more about Consuelo Foundation, click here.

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April 12, 2013

When I was in university studying Fine Art History, I considered going the direction of  art therapy. But though my heart was in art, my mind really was in urban planning. So I stayed an extra year and got another major in urban studies. Well, you all know what happened after.

Now as a mom, I surround my children with art supplies and let them freely express themselves through art. They’ve never taken formal lessons. They just love to draw and paint what they see or imagine. There’s plenty of time to learn other people’s techniques later on. Whatever it is that I’ve shared in my blog and Instagram is just a micro portion of the art projects they churn out on a daily basis.

This is Lily’s drawing of an alien family when whe was 4 and a half. Once in a while, my brother in law (who has a PhD in Psychology) analyzes their drawings. Art therapy involving lots of princesses, fairies and occasional aliens with fancy eyelashes.

During my recent UNICEF trip to Davao Oriental after Typhoon Pablo hit and devastated the region, I visited schools with temporary classrooms. Children used art to express their fears and hopes. Art therapy. This was at Purok Sampaguita, Poblacion Daycare Center,Boston,Davao Oriental. Photo by UNICEF/2013/KatPalasi

I got an invite to “GIVING HOPE” – AN ART EXHIBIT, open to the public from April 6-10, 2013 extended to April 18. Though I couldn’t be there to attend, I’m telling their story because it is so fascinating in many levels. This exhibit highlights the child abuse prevention and treatment programs of Consuelo Foundation gathering artworks of children and young adults from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and Metro Manila – a fitting tribute to celebrate 25 years of Consuelo Foundation.

It is an exhibit created by children who are either survivors or at-risk of abuse, neglect and exploitation under the tutelage of art educator, Bambi Mañosa of Creative Kids Studio.

The children created their own interpretations of themes that resonate imageries and traditions of the different regions where the workshops were held like large-scale flowers, paper machie birds, huge lanterns using a variety of medium.

The artworks reflect the hope and aspirations of children ages 4 to 21 who have experienced a renewed sense of hope through the support of the Consuelo Foundation.

The Consuelo Zobel Alger Foundation has been quietly helping abused and neglected women and children in the Philippines for 25 years. I had first heard of it when I met US Ambassador Harry Thomas and Bambi Manosa on the same day. I had no idea about the enormity of this foundation’s portfolio — more than 400,000 children and women reached by Consuelo programs for the past 25 years, more than $75 Million USD invested by Consuelo Foundation for Philippine and Hawai‘i programs since 1993, and more than 125 Organizations in its network.

75 million dollars?!! Quietly helping people?! Who is Consuelo Zobel Alger?

Consuelo Zobel Alger was born in the Philippines in 1914. She grew up in a prominent Manila family whose ancestry dates back some 400 years to the Spanish conquistador Ponce de Leon.

Consuelo is the sister of Mercedes Zobel Mcmicking, the ancestors of the Zobels of Ayala Corp. She and her husband did not have children. When she died, she left her entire wealth for this foundation which operates programs on the prevention and treatment of abuse, neglect and exploitation of children, women and families. The foundation has quietly invested more than $75 million in child protection and social development programs for the past 25 years.

Consuelo with her husband James Dyce Alger, an American officer, stationed in the Philippines. Alger retired and resettled in Hawaii with Consuelo where he died in 1986.

This story of incredible philanthropy began in 1987 when wealthy heiress Dona Consuelo was approached by Child and Family Service Philippines (CFSPI) head Patti Lyons for funding, she became CFSPI’s main benefactor. They later opened a Consuelo Zobel Alger home, a residential center for street children in Baguio City. It was here where Dona Consuelo found her inspiration. In 1988, she created her own private foundation, the Consuelo Zobel Alger Foundation to improve the quality life of disadvantaged children, women and families in the Philippines and Hawaii. She had no children of her own.

When Consuelo passed away in 1992, her endowment was given to the foundation where it was invested. This is where her legacy lives on. Today, the earnings from the investments are sustaining the Consuelo Zobel Alger Foundation. Since its inception, the foundation has given over 75 million dollars or 3 billion pesos to help her cause. (Source: www.consuelo.org)

From her earliest days, Consuelo was inspired by the words of St. Therese who said what matters in life is not great deeds, but great love.

“St Therese did what I want to do in life…to let fall from heaven a shower of roses.” — Consuelo Zobel Alger

To know more about Consuelo Foundation and its programs visit www.consuelo.org.

And please visit the Ayala Museum and see the exhibit Giving Hope. Extended up to April 18.

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March 26, 2013

This is adorable. I had no idea that my little habit of writing thank you notes left an imprint on Isabel Gatuslao. She writes about it here. Funny, like Isabel, I’ve also kept all the notes that Lucy Torres-Gomez has sent me. She is a serial note sender and gift giver. Truly a lovely woman.

Part of my branding exercise with Isabel in 2011 was to come up with my own personal and brand stationery. The design has been created since day one of our project. But I haven’t gotten around to giving the go signal to print. Part of me is holding back because I love other designer’s stationery. And I don’t mind sending them out. But I know, I know… I must have my own. For now, I actually have post cards, also designed by Isabel.

Isabel just released her second collection of paper products. This one is called Dynasty and is inspired by all things China. In her usual Isabel way, nothing is cliche or over-done. Yes, you’ll see golds and metallics, but they are balanced off with pastel-coloured graphic patterns that have a whisper of chinoiserie.

The awesome part is, you can now buy Isabel Gatuslao Paper from anywhere in the world through her online shop. All photos by Terry Uy.

Dynasty

Harbor is a very strong Chinese icon – the junk. Isabel gives it a very fresh and modern feel by embossing the icon with copper and lining the back with a water pattern in pastel jade. Adorable. Photo by Isabel Gatuslao.

Foo is obviously so because of the foo dogs. Love the metallic blue tint and the latticework pattern in the back.

Yang shows a metallic embossed dragon peeking out of the edge of the paper. This is Yang in Ying and Yang. The pattern shows oriental clouds enclosed in geometric patterns.

Each set is still P475 each. It includes 10 Flat Note Cards, 10 Envelopes & 10 Sticker Seals. The online shop ships anywhere in the Philippines and globally through freight partner UPS. Also available in National Bookstore Rockwell, National Bookstore Shangri-La and PowerBooks Greenbelt 3.

Read about Isabel’s inspiration and design process here.

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February 25, 2013

I first met Mitch and Shelly Shivers when I featured their home in Urban Zone over a year ago. Mitch is an industrial designer by profession. He crafted a special mailbox out of a repurposed old iMac casing.

This is the backside of the iMac.

Their home was quite unique. It had a very wide frontage. But it was shaped like an obtuse triangle. Seriously. Look at the shallow entrance way in the corner of the triangle.

It opened up to this impressive space.

Mitch’s workspace upstairs showed some of his creations as an industrial designer. You can read more about the Shivers house feature here.

Fast forward to today, Mitch Shivers just opened his show at the UP College of Fine Arts. Mitch studied Industrial Engineering at the University of San Diego in California. Then he did a second degree in Industrial Design at UP Fine Arts in Diliman.

This show features about 20 of his most recent works aptly called Gargbage (gar’baZH). Mitch redefines useless garbage by showcasing functional art made of salvaged items that have been up-cycled or repurposed. You’ll see furniture, lighting fixtures, speakers and accessories. They are all for sale. And I couldn’t resist sharing them with you so I practically posted most of the items here. Photos below from Mitch Shivers.

Mitch Shivers.

G-55, Lounge chair and side table (set) with QR pillow. Upcycled components:  55-gallon industrial container drum, salvaged SUV pistons, repurposed TV picture tube frame, lid of container drum.

Log In, hardwood stool. Made of reclaimed acacia stump, industrial casters, repurposed stainless steel conveyor belt parts.

White Noise, white pipe speakers (Altec Lansing). Made of repurposed PVC pipes.

Beat Box, carton speakers (Altec Lansing). Made of repurposed cardboard packaging boxes.

Spinoff, occasional table. Components: salvaged cable spool, round drum dolly, re-used glass.

J-Unit, storage shelf. Components: repurposed car plate numbers, junk fibreglass platforms, junk metal angle bars, repurposed 50 calibre ammo box. And Juiced, orange pipe speakers (Altec Lansing). Made of repurposed PVC pipes.

Maschine, coffee table. Components: reclaimed hardwood planks, re-used industrial metal casters, assorted salvaged gears and cogs.

Extra Baggage, storage table/storage bench. Components: old Samsonite suitcase, repurposed stainless steel core sample tubes.

Head Banger, blue head speaker, Altec Lansing. Made of salvaged mannequin head.

Night-Night Tenite, LED Table Lamp. Made of re-used iMac monitor stand, assorted salvaged metal parts, Tenite pendant.

Reconstruct, track light. Made of salvaged I-beam and repurposed G.I. pipes.

HARD (ware) & SOFT (ware), lounge chair with QR pillow. Upcycled, re-used and repurposed components: floppy discs, keyboard keys, re-used extruded aluminum bars, salvaged automotive metal panels, upcycled polycarbonate TV projector panel.

Rebooted, occasional table. Made of upcycled iMac and salvaged metal plate.

Exposed, floor lamp. Made of repurposed CCTV camera casing and standing mount for tarp.

Halo, chandelier. Made of repurposed projection TV lens and casing.

GARBAGE/gar’baZH
works by Mitch Shivers
Fine Arts Gallery
UP College of Fine ARts
Bartlett Hall, E. Jacinto St
UP Diliman QC

Show runs til March 8, 2013
For inquiries: shivers.urban.dna@gmail.com

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February 21, 2013

When I first saw the invitation to Elmer Borlongan’s first art toy collaboration with Secret Fresh Gallery, I was so thrilled I texted the gallery’s Bigboy Cheng right away. Of course most if not all the 45 pieces they made were sold or spoken for. Elmer Borlongan is who he is. And the toy genre has become a very strong player in the art scene.

Hari Sonik is freaky looking. So freaky that both Patrick and I think it’s cool. Hari Sonik represents what most Pinoys love and celebrate – music. And I love the name. Sounds so like a Pinoy joke. And no, the speakers don’t work. It’s art. Smile.

When I asked Bigboy how big it was (thinking it was good enough for a console table or niche), he said it was 3 ft tall. OMG. The size of Stella.

We had to see for ourselves.

There they are.

I finally met the man! Our very generous donor in UNICEF’s Auction for Action.

And another artist I admire – Plet Bolipata, Elmer’s wife. Here we are in front of a life sized Hari Sonik. There were six of these big ones produced.

Caught this one by chance. Elmer and his nieces and nephews.

So, yeah. Hari Sonik is a bit big.

Now everyone at home is freaked out. Haha.

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