SLYTHERIN NEWS

Janus: Breaking News! Contemporary artists feel free to experiment with materials and use
technology to explore possibilities. They salvage materials that can be recycled and made into
creative forms. First let’s define what materials is and its importance in art. Here is Cassandra
for the definition of terms.

Cassandra: The term 'art material' refers to the material used to create a work of art. A material
can be smooth, rough, hard, soft, heavy, fragile, or indestructible. A material's special qualities
are what artists look for when selecting it. Here is our first question of the day: How do
materials affect the way art is made?, Jed?

Jed: One of the most fundamental and practical aspects of art is the materials. Every material
brings something special to the creative process and the finished work. In many cases, the artist
uses a particular medium because it has an effect on the texture or color of their work. Other
times, the artist will choose a medium so that the audience can better understand the artwork.
Here is Mariella to discuss more about materials:

Mariella: That is very true Jed! In the creative process as well as the finished product, each
material has its own special qualities. So, think of old textile, used plastic bottles, recycled
materials, and things that may appear useless, what can you do with them? Well, plenty of
things actually, just look closer! Now for our second question of the day: What resources are
available in our locality and what art products can we make out of these available
materials?

Janus: The first material is:

Abaca - It belongs to the banana family. Its fibers have a natural luster with colors ranging from
pure white to ivory and dark brown. An example of abaca is the beautiful traditional costumes of
the T'boli people, decorated with embroidery, beading, woven patterns, and extraordinary
jewelry pieces.
Cassandra: Second is Capiz - The capiz shells come from the windowpane oyster (placuna
placenta) found in the coastal waters of the Philippines. They are translucent to allow light to
pass through, but still allow privacy. For Filipino artist Gregory Halili, the translucent shell serves
as a canvas for him to delicately illustrate stories.

Jed: Third is rattan- It is a member of the palm family. There are various rattan palm species,
such as high or low climbers, single stemmed or clustered rattan species. An example of rattan
artwork is the installation art called Raft by Cambodian contemporary artist, Sopheap Pich.

Mariella: Next is ‘Buri - Buri Is extracted from mature leaves of buri palm. The fiber is durable
and resistant to moisture. In Sampaloc, the people there celebrate the Bulihan Festival where
they showcase all things made of buri from costumes, accessories, to home decor.
Janus: Next are shells- They are the hard exoskeletons of marine mollusks that are commonly
found in seas. Examples are famous shell souvenirs that showcase Filipino creative
talents in building anything whether big or small.

Cassandra: Next is bamboo - Bamboo is a perennial evergreen that is part of the grass family. It
is used in creating many products from construction, textile, musical instruments and many
more. An example is Chime Halo, the hanging bamboo chimes that create sound when blown
by the wind done by Cavite artist, Impy Pilapil.
Jed: Next is Brass- In outdoor sculpture, there is a lot of use of brass welded together and
mounted on concrete. Filipino artist Michael Cacnio is a world-class brass sculptor, one of his
most famous artworks is the stainless-steel balloon, Hot Dog.

Mariella: Next is glass or Resin - Glass is typically used for indoor sculpture, and found objects
are combined or are covered with resin. Ramon orlina is considered the glass master of the
Philippines, these are among his famous artworks.

Janus: Next is Plastic- it is a form of art which involves physical manipulation of a plastic
medium by molding or modeling such as sculpture or ceramics. Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan
collected hundreds of rubber slippers used by inmates in Singapore Changi prison and made
these into artwork in the form of wings that stand on metal support.
Cassandra: Next is Paper - It is a material made in thin sheets from wood pulp or other fibrous
materials, used for writing, drawing, or printing on, or as wrapping material. Artists like Mona
Alcudia is known for her paper crafts, she makes paper mache decorative tableware and a
variety of cut-out designs.

Jed: Moreover, in performance art, artists use a variety of props such as rope, plastic, textile,
and found objects.

Mariella: Paint is also used for body art. An example is Cagayan de Oro artist Nicolas Aca who
paints his body to project an effect.

Janus: Furthermore, technology has also redefined art in many ways. Some example are: (a)
light structures and floor drawings using colored laser beans and smoke; (b) tubes hanging on
the ceiling that respond to the viewer’s movements, sound and touch; (c ) a wall climbing robot
holding a paint; and (d) a pen controlled by a software program to create certain patterns.

Cassandra: And for our third question, most if not all of the materials shown here are
local materials in the Philippines. Why is it important to use local materials in art?/What
is it’s significance?
-To answer that, Locality is important for creating a sense of belonging between our people and
our spaces. Local materials and products are used wherever possible to create this sense of
belonging and emotion.
-It is also advantageous to use local materials so we can reduce fossil fuel use and gas
emissions. This boosts the local economy by supporting local businesses.
That’s it for the latest news today! This is Slytherin News, signing off!

Performance Art -
Ropes:
Plastic props:

Textile: Paint for body art:

Technology Art:

Laser beams and smoke: Tubes hanging from the ceiling/kinetic sculpture:

Wall climbing robot: Pen controlled by a software to create patterns: