The young and emerging artists of Bacolod take the center stage in the three-day MassKara Art Weekend last Oct. 5 to 7.
The nine emerging Bacolod artists who created this year’s MassKara Festival logo have opened an exhibit, dubbed “9D—A Visual Arts Exhibit by the MassKara 9,” last Saturday night (Oct. 6) at the Gallery Orange, Art District in Mandalagan.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia (3rd from left) with (from left) Councilor Caesar Distrito, Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, first lady Elsa Leonardia, and MassKara 9 artists Junjun Montelibano, Cindy Ballesteros, Gwen Decena, Doods Campos, Roderick Tijing, James Peter Fantinalgo, Susanito Sarnate, JR Delleva, and Daryl Jimenea at the opening of 9D Visual Arts Exhibit at Gallery Orange Saturday (Oct. 6).* AESON BALDEVIA PHOTO
The nine artists are Emilio “Jun-Jun” Montelibano, Susanito Sarnate, Claudine Joyce “Cindy” Ballesteros, JR Delleva, Guenievere “Gwen” Decena, Hilario “Doods” Campos III, Roderick Tijing, Peter James Fantinalgo, and Daryl Jimenea. They created the festival logo under the direction of three creative consultants—Rudy Reveche, Raymond Legaspi and Charlie Co.
Their artworks, depicting nine different takes on the festival, which are different from those in the logo, will be on exhibit at the Gallery Orange until Oct. 23.
Artist Charlie Co, festival director Eli F. J. Tajanlangit, and Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson at the opening of 9D Visual Arts Exhibit at Gallery Orange Saturday (Oct. 6).*DARYL JIMENEA PHOTO
On the other hand, doing this year’s Majica MassKara installation are eight emerging Bacolod artists namely Charlotte Rodriguez and Neil Benavente, with team members Karina Broce, Frelan Gonzaga, Willy Sarabia, Rez Galvez, and Joery Bais. The Majica MassKara 9 installation was conceptualized by acclaimed Negrense filmmaker Peque Gallaga, and under the direction of Charlie Co.
Dubbed the Majica 9 artists, their works consist of two lighted floats carrying figures of mountain and sea creatures, to showcase the point that Bacolod is where the mountains and the sea meet.
Now its 9th year, this year’s Majica MassKara, titled “Ang Bukid kag Baybay sa Bacolod (The Mountain and the Sea in Bacolod)” was unveiled at the Bacolod public plaza last Friday night (Oct. 5) with fireworks display.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia thank the MassKara 9 artists at the opening of 9D Visual Arts Exhibit at Gallery Orange Saturday (Oct. 6)
The two floats have been installed at Gaisano City mall and Panasiatic Solutions Call Center last night (Oct. 7), where they will stay as photo opportunity installations until Oct. 19.
On the night of Oct. 19, the two floats will join the other floats of schools and companies for the first night of the Electric MassKara, where they will converge at the Tourism Strip along Lacson St.
(L-R) Councilor Homer Bais, festival director Eli F. J. Tajanlangit, Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, first lady Elsa Leonardia, Mayor Evelio Leonardia, and Councilor Caesar Distrito at the opening of 9D Visual Arts Exhibit at Gallery Orange Saturday (Oct. 6).
The unveiling and installation of the Majica MassKara floats were part of the MassKara Art Weekend.
Also another highlight of MassKara Art Weekend was the opening of La Consolacion College (LCC) Giant MassKara Puppets Replica Exhibit at the school campus last Saturday (Oct. 6).
Mayor Evelio Leonardia and his wife Elsa listens to artist Susanito Sarnate as he describes his artworks during the opening of 9D Visual Arts Exhibit at Gallery Orange Saturday (Oct.6).
At least 73 giant MassKara puppets, each standing 12-foot to 14-foot tall, created by all 808 students of LCC School of Architecture, Fine Arts, and Interior Design (ARFIEN) will join the streetdance and Electric MassKara activities.
The LCC-ARFIEN students made miniature replicas of these giant puppets, which are now on exhibit at the school campus, until Oct. 21, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with free admission.
Some of the 73 miniature replicas of the LCC giant MassKara puppets now on exhibit at the LCC lobby.*
The opening of LCC puppets replica exhibit was attended by Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Councilors Mona Dia Jardin, Catalino Alisbo, and Caesar Distrito, and first lady Elsa Leonardia, while the opening of 9D Exhibit at Gallery Orange was attended by the mayor, Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, Councilor Homer Bais, Distrito, and Mrs. Leonardia.
The mayor thanked the local artists for being “largely responsible in accelerating the MassKara Festival” to success and global recognition.
“The involvement of artists has changed the MassKara Festival for the better, each year with better quality,” he added.
Leonardia said the LCC giant MassKara puppets have enriched the festival, and he hopes it will be a permanent highlight of the festival in the years to come.
He also thanked the MassKara 9 artists for depicting the festival thru their artworks the kind of MassKara the way he sees it.
For his part, festival director Eli F. J. Tajanlangit, said, “We are highlighting art works that are meant to be set up in public places as part of our commitment to infuse the MassKara Festival with works of public art, which, in turn, is meant to highlight Bacolod’s rich artistic heritage.”*
