Art & Function in Fusion

Manila FAME-bound

2012-03-01T22:18:00.000-08:00

Today I'm reading the latest Surface Asia magazine issue, which contains an in-depth feature on the Philippine design industry. So far, it is an interesting read, even to an insider like me. The online teaser of the feature says - "Today the island archipelago’s design personality might best be compared to Manila’s ubiquitous ‘jeepneys’ – colourful, a little chaotic, and making the best use of existing local resources." A statement like that and you know this isn't going to be a love fest. Which is fine. We know what we are.

Here a link to the teaser: http://www.surfaceasiamag.com/current-issue

Reading the magazine feature is also good prep for me before I finally get to visit the Manila FAME, the biggest design exhibition of the country. I hoped to visit it last October but it sort of conflicted with my RIA/CE residency in India. Anyway, it's all go this March! I'll be ready with super-speed visual processing, which would probably be aided by considerable amounts of caffeine. ;)

Art in the Park!

2012-02-20T09:53:00.001-08:00

I've been hearing about this event for a couple of years now. Finally, I was able to go and see it.

Art in the Park is an "affordable" 1-day art fair held every February at the Salcedo village park at the Makati Central Business District. The alfresco set up indeed made the art fair interesting. I visited in the late afternoon and encountered quite a crowd - a mix of celebrity, students, young professionals, and expats.

These are my picks from all the many booths of the afternoon fair:

This was the welcoming artwork of the fair. Very groovy.

This is the work of an artist from Baguio city.

For me, this booth was a stand-out, and the tile mosaics... well, I want one.

Another stand-out.

This is the booth of Amarela, which is a resort in Bohol.

But here, they are advertising their old wood art as well.

Paintings on a "banig" or Philippine woven mat.

Most of Manila's galleries participated in the fair.

These were from the booth of the Angono artist collective.

Models showing off wearable fanciful art also walked around the park,

adding flavor to the crowd.

The RIA/CE Village Banner project

2011-12-29T01:51:00.000-08:00

My last blog post for the year. And it will be on a happy note.

RIA/CE Village Banner 2011

This is the village banner I initiated during my brief stay at the Raghurajpur International Art/Craft Exchange (RIA/CE) last October. It's just such a happy banner. And the photos of its making are even happier...

These are folks who reside in the quiant village of the Raghurajpur heritage craft village in Orissa, India. We got a sundry of them to share their hand print on the banner.

At first, they were hesitant to approach us, not quite understanding what the fuzz was about. Soon enough, the kids approached us and led the way.

The house/temple, the leaf, and the bird were made with fabric scraps. And they got the attention of the some of the villagers.

Wonderful tentative moments captured by the lens...

It was thrilling when we got some of my fellow RIA/CE artist-residents to share their hand prints as well.

And there it is, in the happy company of the other art works produced during the exchange.

I like how the banner turned out, even how the hand prints are a bit disorganized. It's never exactly how you imagine it would turn out. For example, I originally intended only the kids of the village to put their hand prints on the banner. I also wish we got Indian women to participate. But they weren't in sight when we did the project. In the end though, the village chief walked up to me and, with a smile, told me he liked the project.

From the Tree of Life: A design collaboration with craft artists in India

2011-12-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

From the Tree of Life

Here in the Philippines, we grow up deeply appreciating the coconut. It is the tree of life...and even now, we keep finding new ways to use this resource. On my recent trip to Orissa, India, I found that they also utilize the coconut in many different ways. Especially in the craft sector. Just in our pata chitra class, the paint was mixed inside coconut shells. One thing that I like about India is that in that land, they mince no words in using natural materials for everyday use. They even make craft art out of cow dung! I imagine that when the world markets were making a big fuzz over recycling, Indians paused and said, "Oh, you mean that thing we've been doing for a long time now?"

During my stay at the Raghurajpur Heritage Village for the artist exchange (RIACE), I came in contact with the Dedicated to People NGO (www.dedicatedtopeople.in). The NGO represented craft artists/artisans who lived in the more remote areas, hence needed help getting access to market. They worked with many different materials. If funding weren't an issue, I would have really liked to make something with buffalo horns. But with the time constraint and all, we settled to work with coconut shells.

"From the Tree of Life" is a neckpiece of custom-designed beads made with coconut shells. Later on in my stay in Bhubaneswar, I worked a photo series around this piece entitled "Craft is Life" (that's for a separate blog post). I am proud of this neckpiece - it is my first design collaboration with any foreign artisan. A mem'rable experience.

ANA project grants for 2012 - application open

2011-12-16T09:46:00.000-08:00

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

FOR ARTS NETWORK ASIA (ANA)PROJECT GRANTS 2012

Arts Network Asia (ANA) would like to invite artists,cultural workers, arts activists, and arts communities in Asia to apply for theANA 2012 Grants scheme. 

ANA supports projects that are carried out by Asianartists, residing in Asia; projects that are to be initiated and implemented inAsia, engaging with Asian artists and arts communities; and projects thatmaintain a focus on Southeast Asia. ANA will consider projects that encourageprovocative exchanges and collaborations between and among various cultures andcommunities within Asia. ANA is interested in the contemporary experience ofAsia including its relationship with traditions. Hence, this includes urbanexpressions, contemporary arts, contemporary arts and its relationship totraditional arts as well as the encounters between traditional arts. ANApromotes collaborations and exchanges with diverse cultures across borders inAsia and would look into the potential of local-regional-globalcomplementation.

ANA includes the following as its criteria forselection: (1) Projects that focus on collaborations and exchange within Asia(2) Projects in multiple arts disciplines (e.g. performing arts, visual arts,film/video/new media, literature, critical discourse, arts management) (3)Independent and process-oriented arts projects, rather than product-orientatedprojects (4) Continuity and sustainability of projects (5) Artistic merit ofthe project and its positive impact on larger communities (6) Projects thatempower and capacity build the arts communities in Asia (7) Visibility of theproject e.g. physical events, project website, (8) Presence of other sources offunding and (9) Project implementation should be in April 2012 onwards.

ANA grants range from US$1,500 – 7,500 for eachproject, and is open to supporting existing or new projects.  Follow-up proposals on past projectssupported by ANA can also be accommodated. 

IMPORTANTPROCEDURE FOR SUBMISSION

One-A4 pageproject proposal PLUS a 200-word bio/profile, save in one single PDF file MUSTbe submitted via the ANA website (www.artsnetworkasia.org)from 30 November 2011 and no later than 31 December 2011.This can be written in English or a language of your choice (Chinese,Indonesian, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Lao, Sinhalese, Tamil, Thai, andVietnamese). The one-A4 page proposal shouldinclude information on the content, philosophy and intention of the project. Anapplicant is only allowed to submit ONE application.

IF THERE ARE ANYPROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN THE ONLINE APPLICATION OR IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO APPLYONLINE DUE TO THE SPECIFIC CONTEXTS OF YOUR CITY, PLEASE CONTACTana.directory@gmail.com OR FAX +65-6737-7013. 

ANA will advise and ask for the submission of a fullproposal to all those proponents who meet the networks’ objectives andcriteria. Full proposals including details of projects’ budget are expected tobe submitted on or before 29 February 2012 and subsequently successfulapplications will be informed by 31 March 2012.

Past projects supported by ANA can be found on itswebsite, these can be reviewed for reference.

To encourage networking within Asia, upon receipt ofapplication, ANA will include the proponent (Individual, Group/Organization)and contact information (Email Address, Website, Address, Telephone and FaxNumbers) as well as a brief profile on the website.

If there are ANA Peer Panel members residing in yourcountry, they can also be consulted for guidance and assistance.  Peer Panel names and contacts are availableon ANA website.

For further information, you may communicate with TayTong, ANA Director at taytong@theatreworks.org.sg or at fax number+65-6737-7013.

ABOUTARTS NETWORK ASIA (ANA)

Arts Network Asia (ANA), established in 1999 byfounder, Ong Keng Sen and TheatreWorks (Singapore), is a regional arts networkof independent group of artists, cultural workers and arts activists from Asiaand an enabling grant body, working across borders in multiple disciplines thatencourages and supports artistic collaboration, dialogue, exchange as well asdevelop managerial and administrative skills within Asia. ANA is motivated bythe philosophy of meaningful collaboration, distinguished by mutual respect,initiated in Asia and carried out together with Asian artists and artscommunities. It operates in 11 languages. 

ANAencourages and supports artistic collaboration and exchange within Asia throughits Annual Project Grants, decided by the 9-member Peer Panel working indifferent disciplines from around Asia. Besides, ANA offers Travel Grants thatenable collaboration, research, networking and dialogues across local andregional communities. The Grant is primarily for Asian artists and culturalworkers traveling within Asia. Applications for the Travel Grants open all yearround. 

ANAis supported by The Ford Foundation.

Formore information, please visit www.artsnetworkasia.org.

A multi-faceted India trip

2011-11-13T09:24:00.001-08:00

Back from my India trip. It was my second time there, and I enjoyed immensely. I got to go a little deeper, got to understand the culture better. My engagement definitely gave me a better appreciation of India. Having attended an art/craft exchange in Raghurajpur, having visited and met up with friends made from my first India trip, having seen more of the sights, having accomplished some art works, my visit was "multi-faceted", in my favorite sense of the word. So much so that I hope to get more of that kind of multi-faceted in my future engagements.

There is much to blog. I choose to start with my swag - the damage from all that shopping! I am proud though, I didn't run wild. Well, I had a budget that pretty much limited that. My swag introduces the breadth of craft work that is India. Here are a few of my treasures...

My new Ganesh. I've seen a lot of Ganesh, in India and some in Kuala Lumpur. This one well, simply rocks. It's modern, it's vibrant. It's done with lac or wax.

I got this from the 2nd International Handicrafts and Handloom Fair (IHHF)

during one of our trips to Bhubaneswar.

Ehem, this small carved treasure I bought from an artists' studio at the Raghurajpur village. There were a lot more... erotic depictions; this stood out for me though because it still had a romantic feel to it.

I bought this mainly as a sample of the applique work done in Pipili, Orissa.

This creature is made out of raw straw or natural fiber material wound together with yarn. It is made by a cooperative of Indian women. They held a workshop at the village; I bought this there for 30 rupees.

Now these are made of coconut shells, painted with different motifs by the artisans.

These are believed to give protection.

These are really not generally used as neck pieces,

but the foreign artists who stayed at the village (and me) just couldn't help but wear these on their necks.

Oh, this one. This is made with dhokra -a metal casting process that uses an alloy of brass, nickel, or zinc.
I'm a fan of dhokra. I own a pair of dhokra earrings, too.
When I saw this product, I saw art. And so I decided to spend my last rupees on it.

Hahaha ... and finally, a souvenir. Inside this cocoon is a dead silkworm.

A lot of these were on display (as display only!) in a textile booth at the IHHF.

I asked my friend Khitish to ask the merchants if I could have one as a souvenir.

He and the merchants had a laugh about it... and then gave me one.

I have tried to open this actually. Already saw the dead creature inside.

But I've have yet to pry it open - very tough material this cocoon.

;)

Indigenous weaves, craft, and other loot from the One-Town One-Product Fair

2011-09-29T04:20:00.000-07:00

This is my most colorful post by far.

I visited the One-Town One-Product Fair at the SM Megamall last weekend, and had a grand time.

The One-Town One-Product concept encourages locals to patronize materials that are available in their locality, turn them into marketable products, which will then be associated with their locality. A branding strategy, if you will, that draws attention to the province, not only to the product.

Sure enough, going through the fair --- which had over 200 retailer booths, we made sure we saw each one -- felt like an adventure. You ask what town or province the product came from, what is it made of, and whether they could also be bought somewhere here in Manila.

There were a lot of food products for sale. There were some furniture, some beauty products, a lot of fashion items. The fair did not disappoint me, of course, because there were some textiles!

wall hanging. Yakan weave, Zamboanga Province

This was not, of course, the first time I shopped for textiles in a bazaar. During last weekend's fair, I confirmed that out of all the indigenous fabrics and weaves of the Philippines, the Yakan weave of Zamboanga Province (Southern Philippines) stands out for me.

woven coasters

These were actually sold as (glass) coasters, but I bought them to use as samples of the Yakan weave. Below are close-up shots --- to better appreciate the colors and the patterns.

They're just perfect tools to brag with about the Filipino weave (and colors) to, say, foreign artists, crafts specialists, and artisans.

dried and dyed rubber tree leaves

beads from mahogany wood and other wood from Bukidnon province

These are the rest of my loot -- some dried and dyed rubber tree leaves, attractive natural wood beads from Bukidnon Province (also from the South). The ones below --- some woven abaca fans, which may easily also double as colorful home accents. The vibrant touch is so Pinoy! ;)

Off to some good local craft shopping!

2011-09-20T03:49:00.000-07:00

Eeep! My wallet might just get a bleeding this week --- Just found out about the OTOP Fair, which will be at Megamall until Sunday.

Picture this: All the unique and good quality products and materials from all the 16 regions of the Philippines --- in one venue. Did I say Eeep! already?

OTOP stands for One Town One Product. This is definitely my kind of shopping. I'm positive I'll discover new materials, even textiles, from the provinces.

Details: September 21-25, 2011, Megamall Halls 1 and 2, 5th Level, Building B, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City. The Expo is open for retail selling of OTOP products from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is free.

Here's a link for more details: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/333795/otop-expo

;)

All-time faves

2011-09-16T09:40:00.000-07:00

Out of my constant hunt for inspiration are some all-time favorites. Here are two of them.

fusion of craft and fashion. Dice Kayek, Istanbul fashion

Donna Rhae Marder’s Snapshot Dress (2004), made from discarded photographs and Japanese and commercial papers

My 'Kain' napkins are traveling...

2011-09-16T09:24:00.000-07:00

My 'Kain' napkins and the rest of the napkin exhibition curated by Lisa Link and Io Palmer have traveled to another venue --- at the Washington State University Gallery 2.

Photos in this post:
http://serveandproject.blogspot.com/2011/09/cyberfeast-exhibition-two.html

My earlier post about the napkins:
http://wearmesa.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-kain-dinner-napkins.html

Sun Temple Konark

2011-09-06T04:14:00.000-07:00

I'm going back to India soon.

And it would be a great joy to come back to this place - The Sun Temple in Konark, Orissa, India

one of the "wheels" of the temple

The temple is actually famous for the erotic imagery in its stone carvings...

I hope to sit still in the temple premises. Breathe in the air, the history, and soak in the sun. When I was there, the place was bathed in sunlight. It was glorious, actually.

Scrap Lab

2011-08-20T03:25:00.000-07:00

I contributed my Water Lily Lei creation and my trusty eco shirt to this new venture by Scrap Lab. Here is the link to my contributions: http://www.scraplab-community.com/idea.php?id=600

And if you're feeling good today, insightful comments on the link above would help along the way... ;)

eco shirt by wearmesa

The Joy is in the Journey i.e. Marbling

2011-08-06T12:14:00.000-07:00

While going through my stash of creative material, I watched demo videos on the marbling process. They were, shall I say, a revelation! Watching them had this addictive quality to it. The process of marbling is fascinating... so much so that it can rival the actual output.

These videos could be good tools in championing the belief: "The joy is in the journey".

Here a youtube link to one of them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgg0GIfbszg

Word for the day...

2011-07-26T05:34:00.000-07:00

I have managed to build a series of design works that deals with the eco friendly or going green movement. That is why my Word for the day ... discovered for the first time during my online exploration ... is SCRAPTACULAR.

Hahaha, i just might get addicted to this word. ;)

Artist Opportunities in India

2011-07-24T07:38:00.000-07:00

Green World Art Festival 2011
http://greenworldartfestival.com/Opportunity.php

Raghurajpur International Art/Craft Exchange (RIACE)

http://riace.in/home.html

They've extended the call for artists for RIACE. Apply quick! ;)

100% Creative

2011-07-19T16:56:00.000-07:00

100% Creative - A complication of art microplaces where creativity rises.

"An unusual analysis that reveals the background of the artwork. Behind the building of a work lies a world sometimes chaotic, sometimes ordered, small or huge which tells an unknown side of each artist. An initiative that reveals the complexity of creating, beyond the individual work, and that shows us, concretely, the creative process."

Follow this link for the online catalog: http://microbonet.blogspot.com/2011_07_01_archive.html

The catalog of images were projected at the Association Circuiti Dinamici in Milan in May 2011.

http://www.microbo.net/100creative/album/slides/Ma.%20Estrellita%20Aguinaldo.html

My "in-progress"

2011-07-13T22:41:00.000-07:00

This jacket is the foundation of my latest project. The task is to jazz up this piece with some glitter and sparkle...
I'm already done with the buttons. It's fun so far. ;)

Handmade in India

2011-07-06T08:22:00.001-07:00

edited by Aditi Ranjan

Handmade in India: A Geographic Encyclopedia of India Handicrafts...is the most awesome book ever! Haha!

The breadth of materials they utilize to make handicrafts, the skill, the colors! This compilation is simply awe-inspiring.

Here's the link for more details on the book:
http://www.amazon.com/Handmade-India-Geographic-Encyclopedia-Handicrafts/dp/0789210479

Printed at The Big Book Cannesalso 2011...

2011-06-26T20:58:00.000-07:00

Just for the heck of it, I submitted 2 photos to the call for photography for Cannesalso.

Both my photos got in the shortlist. Now, they are part of The Big Book, which was on view at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity last June 19-25.

The Big Book was placed as an installation outside the Palais Des Festivals at Cannes, France.

Here's the link to some photos of The Big Book:

http://www.canneslions.com/lions/images.cfm?gallery_id=33

What were my photos? Well...

transience

This is one of them ... a snap my niece Elisha's precious curls.

;)

behind the scenes I

2011-06-12T22:07:00.000-07:00

Sharing "work in progress" stills from my work in the fields of fashion, craft, and visual arts. ;)

"caramelized"

from Yohji Yamamoto

2011-06-12T16:29:00.000-07:00

What motivates you to carry on designing?

"Let me say: beautiful things are disappearing everyday... I wanna say: don't, don't go too much, too far, too easy."

Sotheby’s Institute of Art Presentation on Career Pathways

2011-06-02T01:50:00.000-07:00

This is organized by the British Council Philippines. Their office is just in Ortigas.
June 9, 5 pm... ;)

Here's the link for more details:
http://www.britishcouncil.org/philippines-common-about-us-our-events-sothebys-institute-of-art-presentation.htm

1st take of the UP Heritage Museum: Arkitektura + MODA

2011-03-21T07:08:00.000-07:00

I had time for museum side-trips last month and was glad to discover the UP Heritage Museum.

I am happy with this discovery because it is located at the University Main Library, in the university... a place I always like coming back to.

This discovery was also extra special because they had on view an exhibition on Philippine architecture and fashion. The exhibition was part of the National Arts Month celebration. It was really lucky that I got wind of it.

Another point that won me over: the museum allows the taking of photographs! Sweet!

the museum's spacious interiors

the exhibit

whimsical number by Wilfred Yee

Pepe Quitco interprets the interiors of the Manila Cathedral through fashion.

Oh yes, that is an actual bronze angel figurine on the skirt part of the gown!

Two of my favorites in the exhibit. At the left is an interpretation of the Maranao architecture. At right, an Emi Englis number that is just so clean and crisp. I forgot which building facade he interpreted though.

Here is another Emi Englis number... on the Ayala Museum and Greenbelt mall.

My 'Kain' dinner napkins

2011-02-26T22:43:00.000-08:00

I participated in a collaborative public art project curated by Lisa Link and Io Palmer. It was a call for dinner napkins! Dinner napkins conveying unique connections to food and culture.

My contribution is a set of four dinner napkins. Using native woven cotton cloth from Abra, each napkin bears a photo of a famous Philippine street food and the word "Kain!".

"Kain" means food in Filipino, my native language. We often say "kain!" to invite a visitor, or anybody really, to join us in eating.

Well, the napkins, the 1st I have ever made, have been shipped, and hopefully already in Io's PO box. Can't wait to see the entire exhibition. It will be sometime in April at the Hampden Gallery in Boston. ;)

the work in progress: woven cotton cloth from Abra, Philippines

photos of famous Philippine street food, to be printed on the napkins...

ice scramble, sago't gulaman, halo-halo, and taho

My newest trip: SFMOMA podcasts

2011-02-09T06:57:00.000-08:00

Yes, while doing the nitty gritty on my art works, it's nice to listen to podcasts... and my newest drug is SFMOMA's. SFMOMA being the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Developing podcasts for their collections is such a great idea.

Here's the link:

http://www.sfmoma.org/pages/podcasts

I hope they update soon! And I hope more museums do this. Or are they already doing it?
Hope to find those, too! ;)

memory lane: evening dress made with india silk

2011-01-28T22:33:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite commissions for a client. She gave me several swathes of silk she had bought years ago in India, and asked me to make an evening dress with these. I remember I was pleased when she picked this dress design among the many I sketched. This was also my first time working with the India silk. Good memories with this one. ;)

Later on, she asked me if I could make another dress with the same fabric, another one for her daughter, who was kind of jealous when she saw her mother's dress. The kid's dress turned out lookin' adorable.

inspiration you can depend on: Amir Sali

2011-01-18T07:26:00.000-08:00

I attended a talk on embellishment techniques last year at the National Museum, and that was when I first encountered the work of Amir Sali. I remember having a grand time that afternoon, just simply being blown away by the work samples he brought with him. It was a major plus that the artist we were getting to know was a fellow Filipino.

He established himself in the Middle East, that is where he built this network. Now he gets orders from everywhere.

Top design, top quality. See the work above? That's actually the backside of his work, which is where all the sewing knots and awkward stitches are usually found. But in his work, none!

Ooh, that one above is truly one of the more impressive ones. My favorite quote from his talk was something like "Don't waste time. Do something. Use your hands." He did and look what beauty he has produced! He has production in the Philippines too, and I particularly remember him sharing that he went to the provinces to search for beaders and workers and found a group of men recently laid off from their jobs (they made nets or something). He taught them his techniques and became thoroughly satisfied with their work. Now, they are pros. Imagine, grown men doing this work... Great work, I say!

And so now, when I need to get inspired, I have these photos of his works to depend on. Yes, part of the inspiration comes from the fact that he's a Filipino. Another big part comes from the fact that these works are just awesome!

Augmented reality art: hmmm...

2010-12-07T16:19:00.000-08:00

My RSS design stream has been showing lately a lot of stuff regarding augmented reality as a platform for art.

At first, I was skeptical about this. When I saw this very short feature about a virtual reality sculpture that you could view through an app in your smartphones, I began to get it.

Yea, it's a designer product. The art is expressed through a software application that can be enjoyed by any smartphone user who cares to have it.

I see this version right here though as the nintendo version of this particular technology. More colors, more complex patterns, more complicated interactions with the live environment. I bet all that's in the works already. And yea, it's exciting.

Here's the link to the short feature:

http://www.designtaxi.com/news/33574/World-s-Biggest-Sculpture-Grows-Bigger-Every-Day

body&soul: photo work series during the Green World Art Festival

2010-12-02T05:25:00.000-08:00

Eco-statement shirt at the Dhauli Stupa.

Material: tarpaulin, plastic twine, scrap fabrics, yarn.

Blue gown at the Mukteswar Temple.
Material: yarn and ordinary lace.

Inabel skirt at the Mukteswar Temple.
Material: handmade Inabel cotton weave, abaca polyester textile.

Eco-friendly clothing by Ma. Estrellita Aguinaldo. Photography assisted by Khitish Dash.

Ma. Estrellita Aguinaldo's participation in the Prerana Green World Art Festival 2010 in Bhubaneswar, India is supported by the ANA - Arts Network Asia (www.artsnetworkasia.org), an enabling grant body, working across borders in multiple disciplines, that encourages collaboration initiated and implemented in Asia by Asian artists and engaging with Asian arts communities.

WearMESA Eco Statement Shirt in TypoShirt One Compendium

2010-11-26T02:36:00.000-08:00

TypoShirt One, a compendium of t-shirt typography designs, was just released this month, and my eco-statement shirt is part of it. The book is a project of Magma Brand Design and Index Book, a publisher in Barcelona, Spain.

http://www.indexbook.com/libro.php?1121

My free copy was just delivered a few days ago. Here are the snaps! ;)

Mine is red one in the middle. It also came in handy when we held a rally during the Green World Art Festival in Bhubaneswar, India. But that's for another blog entry. ;)

Women of India

2010-11-14T02:23:00.000-08:00

On the first week of November, I set foot for the first time on the land of Incredible India. It was one of those trips, the ones that are hard to get over, if you ever do.

I spent a week there, and as my time to leave neared, I thought of the things I would miss.

Like what my friends at home thought, when you say India, you think culture. Culture everywhere you looked. And I noticed how the women, in their native wear, defined in a major way the sights of India.

I will miss seeing women going about their daily routine, draped in their colorful sarees.

Sometimes, they just pop out of the landscape. Which is to the delight of photographers.

Seeing their dress is only one of the things that made me realize how much westernized Filipinos are. Here, going around town in long skirts and beaded tops is sure to be an affair.

This little girl is my favorite. I love what she's wearing, plus her short hair. We got to meet her during Colm Clarke's and Markus Shimizu's performance when we entered their little village, which was just near our dormitory.

The drape of the Indian dress is very feminine. It evokes feelings of warmth, which could be motherly or romantic or both.

It's a different sort of eye-candy. And I will miss it.

Teaser - MESA at Prerana Green World Art Festival

2010-10-29T19:40:00.000-07:00

Little Black Eco Dress during "Destination: Fashion Nation"

2010-10-21T02:02:00.000-07:00

Last September, SM City (part of the biggest chain of malls in the Philippines) celebrated its 25th anniversary and partnered with the Fashion Institute to stage a 2-night fashion event for the occasion. Dubbed "Destination: Fashion Nation", the classy event gathered fashion designers and enthusiasts; I got to see old familiar faces and friends again.

I showed my "eco" version of the little black dress or LBD. This number is mostly made from leftover fabrics. Turns out I've had enough black scraps to pull it off.

The weird part of the night, that got most of us sort of nervous, was going through a runway sequence with our muses. We're more used to the "quick step-up to the stage to make an awkward bow" thing. But look, I managed a smile!

My model Aiza looked real pretty in this photo. I decided to go with an LBD because: 1) I've never made one before and the challenge was to make my version of this classic ensemble; and 2) Well, I'm participating in a Green Art Festival in a couple of days and making an eco-friendly LBD kinda hits 2 birds in 1 stone. What can I say? You gotta have a plan these days. ;)

Latest shameless plug ;)

2010-10-13T21:16:00.000-07:00

Another shameless plug! A page from the 2nd edition of Electrolyte, from the many projects of Butch Mapa. ;)

applications for ANA 2011 grants now open - deadline October 1

2010-09-22T20:02:00.000-07:00

Call for Applications for Arts Network Asia (ANA) Grants 2011

Artists, cultural workers and arts activists interested in collaboration, networking, dialogue and exchange in Asia are now welcome to apply for the Arts Network Asia (ANA) Grants 2011 scheme.

ANA supports projects that are carried out by Asian artists, residing in Asia and projects that are to be initiated and implemented in Asia, engaging with Asian artists and arts communities. Projects that encourage provocative exchanges and collaborations between and among various cultures and communities within Asia will be considered. ANA pays attention to the contemporary experience of Asia including its relationship with traditions. This includes urban expressions, contemporary arts, contemporary arts and its relationship to traditional arts. These collaborations and exchanges with diverse cultures can be within the same country or the same city. ANA would look into the potential of local-regional-global complementation.

ANA supports projects in multiple disciplines such as performing arts, visual arts, film/video/new media, literature, critical discourse, arts management and technical arts as well as hybrid interdisciplinary projects. In considering proposals, ANA will include the following as its criteria for selection: (1) Independent and process-oriented arts projects, (2) Sustainable, long-term development programme (3) Artistic merit of the project and its positive impact on the arts communities (4) Visibility of the project e.g. physical events, project website/blog, (5) Presence of other sources of funding and (6) Proposed project should be implemented from February 2011 onwards. The ANA grants range from US$1,500 – 7,500 for each project.

Applicants are required to submit one-A4 page project proposal plus a 200-word bio/profile in PDF format via the ANA website (www.artsnetworkasia.org). The proposal should include information on the content, philosophy and intention of the project. The deadline for the submission is 1 October 2010.

Past projects supported by ANA can be found on ANA website, these can be reviewed for reference. If there are ANA Peer Panel members residing in your country, they can also be consulted for guidance and assistance. Peer Panel names and contacts are available on ANA website.

For further information or inquiries, please contact Manuporn Luengaram, Manager airmanuporn@artsnetworkasia.org or fax on +65-6737-7013 or contact Tay Tong, Director: taytong@theatreworks.org.sg

About Arts Network Asia (ANA)

Arts Network Asia (ANA) is a regional and independent network of artists, cultural workers and arts activists from Asia and an enabling grant body, working across borders in multiple disciplines that encourages and supports artistic collaboration, dialogue, exchange as well as develop managerial and administrative skills within Asia. ANA is motivated by the philosophy of meaningful collaboration, distinguished by mutual respect, initiated in Asia and carried out together with Asian artists and arts communities.

ANA was found in 1999 by Ong Keng Sen, Artistic Director of TheatreWorks (Singapore).

It was hosted and managed by TheatreWorks (Singapore) from 1999 to 2003. Five Arts Centre (Malaysia) hosted the network from 2004 to 2006. Since 2007, ANA has been hosted and managed by TheatreWorks at 72-13, Singapore.

The ANA is supported by The Ford Foundation.

For more information, please visit www.artsnetworkasia.org

Official WearMESA site

2010-08-09T13:51:00.000-07:00

The newest addition... Drop by anytime! ;)

shoe sport

2010-08-06T08:13:00.000-07:00

I came upon this pair of shoes browsing through lookbook.nu. I am convinced that unless you are pro, sporting this pair is sort of an accident waiting to happen.

Wearing these types of shoes should be elevated to sport! Haha, these definitely take skill, balance, and poise (for when you fall). ;P

want...

2010-07-22T01:29:00.000-07:00

During a cursory research on feltmaking, I saw this photo ... and paused.
Wow. Look at all that space. Sigh...
I want!

I'm sort of a pack rat ... so for me to actually have that space free for a work area means I should have about 3 times that area in the photo! Well, that's the dream. Ha! ;)

The Adobe Museum of Digital Media

2010-07-04T10:13:00.000-07:00

Daily News - Adobe Launches Virtual Museum Featuring “Groundbreaking” Digital Design - TAXI: The Global Creative Network

kids react to MESA

2010-06-30T23:26:00.000-07:00

Fancy, yes! I'm a one-year old delight :D

What you lookin' at?!

Good, this is how I like it!

Okay, can we ditch this place now?!

:D

VPL and Annie Hall

2010-06-30T01:25:00.000-07:00

Watching great romantic comedies is one of my favorite ways to unwind. When Woody Allen's Annie Hall came up in my google search as one of the 'best romantic comedies of all time', I decided to give it a whirl... I've been hearing some buzz about for years anyway.

... And it was pleasant ... considering it's a Woody Allen film -- haha! :)

VPL or visible panty line was still something sort of smutty in those days (the film came out in 1977). Another surprise of the movie was a young, gwaping Christopher Walken, who played Diane Keaton's brooding younger brother.

Most of all, I found the fashion refreshing. This film was something like Diane Keaton's key fashion moment, and made her THE fashion icon for a time.

... And here is the celebrated Annie Hall look.

the retrosexual

2010-06-17T21:35:00.000-07:00

...from merriam-webster online

Retrosexual:

Definition: a man who adopts a traditional masculine style in dress and manners

Example:

"Think of him as the anti-metrosexual, the opposite of that guy who emerged in the 1990s in all his pedicured, moussed-up, skinny-jeans glory. That man-boy was searching for his inner girl, it was argued. The retrosexual, however, wants to put the man back into manhood." — Lini S. Kadaba, Philadelphia Inquirer, Apr. 7, 2010

Submitted by: West4th, NY

Editor's Note:

Retrosexual is a word that has been used in two very different ways.

It sometimes describes an old-fashioned "manly man" – e.g. a beer and football-loving guy who cares little for his appearance.

But it has also been used, as in the example above, to describe someone who self-consciously adopts traditional masculine styles – e.g. old-fashioned manners and clothes typical of the early 1960s (think Mad Men).

tiger print

2010-05-31T01:31:00.000-07:00

Saw this in Butch's pile of cards that were still works in progress. The Purple Tigress could be a fashion icon for the African desert! Seriously, at first glance, it seemed like a fashion editorial photo.

Haha, a dangerous one at that...

A shoe-in for the mood board for a tiger print collection. ;)

The Separates Story

2010-05-25T19:05:00.000-07:00

For her early morning wedding ceremony, the bride opted for soft, "flowy" frocks for her entourage. Clothes that her friends could actually still wear after her wedding day. Hence, this story of separates for her entourage...

The owner of this frock is a young, tall, active lady, sort of the no-frills type. The customary sash and the skirt length was required by the bride. Instead of a dress though, we made her a sleeveless top and skirt instead. The top is a shoe-in for any night-out. And with the sash detachable, the skirt is for that day when she feels like being feminine... and girly! haha! ;)

Kudos to the bride... her color theme worked! ;)

The owner of this frock already had a design in mind. We just tweaked it a bit... like making the dress separate from the one-shoulder overlay. Just a matter of accessorizing (which she's great at), she could mix-and-match these pieces to make an entirely new look ;)

Naturally Bodacious!

2010-05-25T18:50:00.000-07:00

The output of the MESA shoot with Jose Bachoco, with model Angela Danila, stylist Alex Lapa, make up artist Rae Venturanza, also featuring Cintura belts and Sinta shoes, is almost done. The complete set coming soon! ;)

try this analogy...

2010-05-11T04:03:00.000-07:00

A short story should be like a miniskirt: low enough to cover the essentials, but high enough to keep us interested. ;)

Old romantic

2010-05-09T20:22:00.000-07:00

For this May, we're doing a wedding gown revival project.

A mom's wedding gown handed over to her daughter, who decided to reuse the gown for her wedding this month, but have it spruced and upgraded for the day.

That's the photo of the vintage gown. The lower (skirt) portion of the gown fitted our bride, but the upper bodice did not. We decided to reuse the skirt part (it also has a lovely short train at the back that falls just right), and make a new, more sophisticated upper bodice. We used the same elements, similar fabrics to keep the gown's romantic look.

...and we'll be done soon. ;)

another designer talk

2010-03-25T01:57:00.000-07:00

Another 'designer talk' that will inspire and inform.
The Manila museum scene is givin' (me) much love. ;)

On a high

2010-03-23T03:28:00.000-07:00

I had scheduled the past week as "research week", sort of. The time to hit museums and artsy events again to stay inspired. The 1st 3 events I went to, or attempted to go to, were fails. The 4th one - the SLIMS exhibit at the Nat'l Museum, which I knew for sure wouldn't be a fail - wasn't a fail, it was ... the BOMB! HA!

It hit the spot, I might really not have to go to the 2 remaining events I had lined up.

taken from rajo laurel's blog

Highly recommended for any serious fashion enthusiast (and designers, of course!). This exhibition will teach you a thing or two about haute couture and the (enchanting) Philippine fashion scene before.

Oh, those times, those times! The women may have attended every special event in Filipiniana attire! And oh, such attires! None of the Filipiniana gowns in that exhibition could (honestly) figure to less than P10K if produced today.

I envy the detailing they did in those days - the man-hours they dedicated to these creations. Some are just way too costly to reproduce now - in labor and in materials. I wish time travel were possible.

Salvacion Lim-Higgins or SLIMS was real fond of peplums, I noticed. Her brand of avant-garde was classy avant-garde (yes, that is possible). And when I looked at those creations and read stories about the women who wore them, I was quite astounded with the risks they made with their clothing... and wished more of that were present today. These were women who would opt for something else than a tube cut gown with a fluffy balloon skirt for their wedding gowns.

Because beyond the fancy detailing and the pricey fabrics, those pieces were bold. They were kinda celebratory. And I love that notion.

And so SLIMS got me back to reading my fashion books, among other things. A feat, in itself.

Cheers to creating fashion!!!

Robin's fashion statement

2010-03-23T00:43:00.000-07:00

Robin Padilla, leading a family planning march in the daytime...
and wearing a salakot!
On second look, he kinda makes it work.

(Also a fan of the campaign, it's kinda brilliant)