MaArte 2015:: Home is where the art is

MANILA, Philippines - In ancient Greece, museums began as a space for the Muses, a holy ground for contemplation and dialogue. Today, there are different museums all over the world dedicated to all sorts of art. Art could be anything made by anyone. What makes it special are the value and meaning invested in it.

In the Philippines, organizations like the Museum Foundation of the Philippines (MFPI) protect and energize our local institutions by making what are considered privileged types of objects more accessible for both the makers and their audience. And sometimes, the pieces are accessible enough to take home!

From Aug. 28 to 30, the Rockwell Tent will be the venue for the seventh much-anticipated affair for those who live life “may Arte.” The MaArte Fair, MFPI’s annual fundraiser, will focus on creative interpretations of Philippine traditional techniques.

“As you know, we showcase only locally made products. There are arts and crafts we are trying to preserve by giving them a market in MaArte. It will encourage even the artisan’s children to do weaving and embroidery. Another feature that we have this year is our cooperation with Rimowa luggage. We asked artists like Max Balatbat, Xian Lim and Jason Montinola to make them into art pieces,” says MFPI president Maritess Pineda, who also co-chairs the MaArte committee with Mita Rufino and Cedie Vargas.

The exhibit of Rimowa luggage will be on display for the duration of the fair, after which each individual luggage art will be auctioned off to the public by Leon Gallery for the benefit of continuing the Museum Foundation’s efforts to preserve Filipino art.

From its inception, the MaArte Fair has been dedicated to promoting “the new,” and engaging artisans in dialogue. Pineda has even challenged them to revisit past designs and to come up with a fresh line of exclusive items.

“This year, we changed the name from MaArte Arts and Crafts to MaArte Design Fair because we decided to focus on design. The requirement we had for all our exhibitors was, ‘unless you have new designs, we’re sorry, we cannot include you in our roster.’ Not to be hard on them, but this will help them keep on leveling up.”

Expect over 70 artisans to bring their A-game, showcasing their talents in textiles, clay, basketry, glass and metal sculpture, mosaic tiles, precious metals, jewelry and fashion accessories. A must-see is a section of the fair, devoted to limited edition items from design ateliers and museum shops. This is called MaArte Finds. MFPI also continues its partnership with local food suppliers via MaArte Eats.

Artistic evolution

As MaArte continues to grow, it evolves into a platform for empowering Philippine design initiatives, non-profit community livelihoods and start-up entrepreneurs. For example, the MFPI organized a product development workshop with PJ Arañador, Filipino international consultant for craft and decorative merchandise, geared towards helping artisans refine their concepts and design applications.

The workshop was an opportunity for Filipino merchandisers, who work with local indigenous materials, to consult with PJ to help develop a product line.

“We were able to get a Metrobank Product Design Mentoring Program Grant that we used to get PJ — who used to be with CITEM (Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions). He has gone all over the world to do product development. So, he’s very experienced and knows what the market is looking for,” Pineda says.

PJ is a longtime consultant for Philippine trade institutions and international groups, working with communities and local craftsmen to cultivate local artistry, empower artisans to build a sustainable livelihood through design-led crafts. Twelve exhibitors in MaArte learned about current international design trends, techniques and ways to enhance their products.

“PJ has worked with indigenous groups. His goal is to preserve their technology, the old ways of doing things. When we saw some of the products our exhibitors were developing, they were really different. You will be surprised with the before and after. I believe the results will encourage the Metrobank Foundation to expand the program. Therefore, it will become sustainable,” Pineda continues.

The 12 exhibitors participating are: MARSSE Tropical Timber, Piesa, MCV Designs, Abre Linea, GKonomics, Silnag, Rurungan sa Tubod Foundation, Monteville, Gifts & Graces Fair Trade Foundation, Art of Gold, Happy Star Child, Gelano Glass Collections and Antukin.

Life is short, but what people create can endure and hopefully, make a difference. The workshop in particular has helped exhibitors promote the different ways of life in our country. What’s so special about MaArte is it brings back art to its most important purpose: dialogue.

What the MFPI and MaArte have achieved isn’t just a successful bazaar, but a time and space, where people can tell their stories as Filipinos. And we have learned to listen. Understanding art is like understanding a different language. Fluent or not, communication is possible. You may not grasp all of it, but you can still appreciate the form and where it’s coming from — the heart.

(MaArte 2015: Craft, Art, Food & Design Fair will be from Aug. 28, Friday, to Aug. 30, Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., at the Rockwell Tent.)