CORTEZ, Jan Armand N.

Philippine Arts 1 Section B

THE JOYA ART GALLERY II : Pagbinayloay

I. Introduction
At the start of December, The Joya Gallery proudly presented "Pagbinayloay:
Reviving the Spirit of Cebuano Creativity”, with the vision to challenge artists in creating
works influenced by local traditions.
I believe that this is an extension of the annual Jose T. Joya Gallery, which is a
celebration conducted in memory of the late national artist. At his capacity as Dean of the
UP College of Fine Arts in Diliman, he was instrumental in raising Cebuano students'
knowledge of art and culture. The annual awards give UP Cebu Fine Arts students a
platform to display their creative works, and the winning student-artists are recognized with
cash awards and medals.
It offers young artists a platform to use art as a means of bringing attention to societal
concerns and to continue the promotion of art creating for a variety of reasons through the
prestigious competition. The exhibition is also free to the public, and many of the paintings
are offered for sale.

II. My personal top 3 choices

In 3rd place, we have:

Artist: Arlene Villaver

Title: DOLE OUT
Media: Acrylic
Message: Poverty, and the increase in the prices of goods with respect to the buying power
of the marginalized. Government agencies should do their part now more than ever.
How the artwork affects me: When I looked at this piece I noticed the dark red background
which for me indicated that this had a political message behind it. Moreover, as I took notice
of the title, it was about DOLE. This piece signifies poverty, a call to help those with limited
buying power amidst of tough times.

In 2nd place we have:

Artist: CM Arquio
Title: TUGWAY
Media: Oil on Canvas
Message: Realism blends with child art. Simple meets simpler.
Another interpretation of the painting could be that the realism bit of the painting is what
remained today, the reality that we see today. The simple background must be symbolical to
the past state of nature, the state wherein it was free from the “alterations” of humankind.
The red paint that is observed in the background may symbolize the damages to the
environment which were brought by the disturbances to nature caused by humans.
How the artwork affects me: It’s fun to look at, simple. The artwork excels in garnering a
viewer’s attention that’s for sure. It’s as if the skilled artist ran out of time to finish the other
part of the painting so he/she had to make it look like he intended to paint it like how a kid in
kindergarten would.
In first place, we have:

Artist: Sophia Pierce

Title: Bayanihan
Media: Print and acrylic on textile
Message: Characterization of Filipino culture. Effort-induced painting about effort.
How the artwork affects me: Among all the paintings in the gallery, I appreciated this piece
the most. The amount effort it must have taken for the artist to paint such a beautiful piece
on a such large scale is amazing. It’s impossible not to put this in top 3 in anyone’s list.

III. Significance/Impact of the whole Joya Art Exhibits to our lessons

Art exhibits provide an opportunity for people to experience different cultures and art
forms from around the world. They can help to broaden people's perspectives and deepen
their understanding of different cultures. Art exhibits can be a valuable learning resource, as
they provide an opportunity for people to learn about different art styles, techniques, and
historical periods. They can also can bring people together and provide a space for social
interaction and connection. They can be a place for people to discuss and share their
thoughts and ideas about the artwork on display. Moreover, art exhibits can also have a
positive economic impact on the local community. They can attract visitors to the area and
contribute to the local economy through ticket sales and related spending. Finally, art
exhibits can simply be a source of enjoyment for people. They provide an opportunity for
people to appreciate and enjoy beautiful works of art in a curated setting.
 A shining example of how Philippine arts, both national and local, are honored is the
Joya Art Exhibit. We learn to appreciate art in a school atmosphere through our lessons. We
are able to directly encounter the original artworks through tangible displays of recently
created art. In addition to learning to appreciate art, we are also taught to value the artwork
created by our fellow school mates. This is related to having a deeper knowledge of the
ideas behind culture and art. As a result of such an encounter, students are also more
participative in class.
IV. Recommendations/Suggestions
The idea of reopening the Joya art exhibit was like a breath of fresh air for people
who are new to UP (like myself). I personally like strolling down an art exhibit, I like the
calmness it brings, and spending time in such exhibits will always be a cool experience. In
addition, the fact that these artworks are made by UP’s own makes it THAT more special.
In terms of suggestions, I would like to see it being promoted better. I personally think
that through the right methods of promotion, the exhibit could’ve garnered a much larger
audience. Given that some artworks, if not all, are for sale, the student artists could’ve
benefitted more if a larger audience were to be gathered through promotional efforts on
social media etc. But then again, I didn’t notice the people traffic the exhibit was gathering
throughout the week so I could be wrong. The artworks were beautiful. I hope some students
sold their artworks as much as they were appreciated.