• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
An all-male art exhibition featuring the works of four visual artists from Isabela, Negros Occidental, opened at Gallerie G in Bacolod City Saturday, and will run for a month.
Titled “Facets of Life”, the exhibit showcases the works of Isabela folk singer/artist Ram Martinez, and fellow artists Jimmy Ferraris, Alfred Esparcia and Seb Reyes.
The guest of honor at the opening was Svetlana Sevilleno, an active member of the Art Association Bacolod-Negros (AAB-N).
Martinez said the show is a form of tribute to their mentor, the late Isabela visual artist Oscar Garrido Moises, who designed the AAB logo. They want to continue what he started, and at the same time, inspire other artists from Isabela, who have hidden talents but have not been given the opportunity to showcase it, to also hold exhibits in Bacolod.
Their exhibition materialized after a meeting with Revo Yanson, AABN director and co-manager of Gallerie G, who was trying to scout or reach out to other artists from other towns, to hold exhibits at their gallery, he said.
Martinez recalled having an art group called Isabela Art Guild during the time of Moises, which no longer exists due to lack of support. It was Moises who mentored him and kept on pushing them to pursue their artistic careers.
Aside from Moises, AAB past president Nunelucio Alvarado has also mentored him, and his works have been inspired by both artists, he said.*
