Art 2 Art episodes this month

MANILA, Philippines - Art 2 Art continues to bring “usapang sining at kultura para sa lahat” this month as host-prima ballerina Lisa Macuja interviews personalities from various art disciplines.

Aired nationwide every Sunday, 3:30 to 4 p.m., on dzRH, Art 2 Art can be viewed simultaneously on Cablelink cable television’s Channel 9 and accessed on the Internet through http://dzrh.tripod.com.

Produced by the Manila Broadcasting Company, Art 2 Art features the following episodes:

Today, poet, translator and editor Marne Kilates kicks off the month with an interesting discussion on language, including how his skills were honed with the help of three key people—the librarian in the municipal library in his hometown of Daraga, Albay, his high school adviser who was a strict grammarian and his literature teacher who opened new worlds for him through stories and books he was required to read in class. Kilates considers himself lucky to have also later had as teachers and collaborators National Artists Virgilio Almario and Edith Tiempo. Today, the poet edits his own on-line poetry journal called Poet’s Picturebook.

On July 11, visual artist and art educator Alma Quinto shares how art can be an important tool in raising awareness about social issues. A feminist activist, Quinto has also been conducting arts for healing workshops all over the country with the assistance of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Starting with victims of child abuse in 1995 as participants, she has since reached out to those caught in armed conflict or survivors of calamities — helping them cope with what they have experienced using art as a medium. Quinto is president of the Kababaihan sa Sining at Bagong Sibol na Kamalayan or KASIBULAN which aims to strengthen women through art.

On July 18, Mike Austria, artist and actor, tackles how he has been able to straddle the worlds of art and show business. While he has taken on acting assignments for both movies and television, Mike has also made a name for himself as a figurative painter with 12 solo exhibitions and eight group exhibitions to his name. His favorite themes are family, culture and nature, in the belief that giving these matters importance is the key to a strong community. Austria is helping out with RAVE Art Gallery in Quezon City, which is owned by talent manager Manny Valera where the painter will hold a joint, environment-themed exhibit with Chin-Chin Gutierrez starting July 31.

On July 25, Art 2 Art caps the month with a tribute to National Artist for Fashion Design Ramon Valera, with his nieces, Paching Valera-de la Fuente and Aton Valera-Pellicer, as resource speakers. The two women remember the thrill of seeing celebrities, including First Ladies and showbiz stars like Gloria Romero and Nora Aunor, who came to their Tito Ramon’s shop for fittings. They also recall how their late uncle was such a meticulous designer who pioneered the terno, the one-piece Philippine dress, that at first stirred controversy but which gradually gained public acceptance. The pair shares as well how Valera was a stickler for table etiquette and social manners.

For details, e-mail at [email protected]. On Facebook, check out the account Ballerina ng Bayan for updates on Art 2 Art episodes and Ballet Manila performances.