BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
A fund-raising group art exhibit is now ongoing at the Orange Project Gallery at the Art District, Brgy. Mandalagan, Bacolod City, until February 28 to fund conservation efforts in Odette-hit Danjugan Island in Cauayan, Negros Occidental.
Titled “The Island is Calling”, the show was organized by the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PRRCFI) in collaboration with the Orange Project and is participated by 39 local visual artists.
Dave Albao, PRRCFI executive director, said they offered an artist retreat for the participants of the exhibit at the island where they held a brainstorming activity on what an artist can do to tell a story about climate change.
Albao said Charlie Co of the Orange Gallery helped them process their experience and that they have agreed to paint that experience on a circular canvas.
The exhibit became more relevant after Odette because they needed funds to rehabilitate the island which was badly affected by the typhoon. The 90 feet tall Dungon tree, which was the oldest and a nesting tree for sea eagles in Danjugan, was uprooted, he said.
Albao said the typhoon served as a reminder that climate change is one of the challenges being faced by the communities and small islands, fisherfolk and other people living in coastal communities.
The 43-hecatare island is a marine and wildlife reserve.*
