A glass act

It was one of many shining moments for internationally renowned glass sculptor Ramon Orlina, together with his supportive wife Lay Ann, when he paid tribute to our National Hero Jose Rizal and our “heroes in art” in an exhibition named “Brilliance.” Adding more glamour to the event was the presence of six National artists F. Sionil Jose, Napoleon Abueva, Bienvenido Lumbrera, Arturo Luz, Abdulmari Asia Imao and Ben Cabrera — who showed their camaraderie and genuine support for each other and for Orlina, a national treasure himself for pioneering glass sculpting in the country. A sold-out exhibit, “Brilliance” marked the first time for Orlina’s works to be displayed in a mall — the Power Plant Mall, Rockwell in Makati. It is Orlina’s most colorful show to date as his famous green glass artworks stood alongside abstract creations in colored crystals that took almost seven months to present.