A Close Call

A Close Call
August 16, 2009, 7:16 am
***January 24, 2003


Finding again one's first steps could be a bit disconcerting when faced by the enormity and pressure of an unfinished chapter.   It is for those who are trying to come back and fire up the died down embers of the assumed abandoned prestige that brought this musing into paper.   For most, there might never have been a career to come back to and for some, well, better know how to eat the tasteless humble pie.   The responsibilities of being an artist never really ends when one lays down one's paintbrush to face another task eg a blissful marriage or when one just realizes he is scrapping bottom and looks for the McDonald's monthly paying crew job or when one can't afford anymore the price of an aesthetic opium or when the cerebral masturbation fails even to raise the banner.   Whatever the reason once one is convinced that there will always be the insurmountable obstacles or when one has really no talent to convince even himself and no time to do the essentials to improve oneself in ideas then he could just as well have a change of career permanently .

One's responsibility falls beyond one's expectations and projections as we realize our purpose for ourselves, our audiences and our art.  It might be intangible at first but artists through ages sought these muses of ideas and concepts.   It is almost only at a richman's leisure that art prospers but what price it brings when history, cultures and traditions are built from them.  When other great art flourishes because of these great pasts.  It never really stops when one breathes in these aesthetic essentials.
Let me make my stand as an individual of interest yet guided by integrity to share my art.
When the Thursday talk at Kulay Diwa Galleries continued last January 23, 2003 it was then that we remembered the great artist Santiago Bose.   We were able to see the CNBC Asian Interview of this great artist as he bantered ideas and concepts with his host.   What is the purpose of an artist but to be what is truly himself, his humanity?   What is his goal but to awaken the sentiments of his people on the wrongs done to them?   What is the artist life but to share and live life to the fullest.   What are the symbols to remember in artist's but his own home address?

Noel Soler Cuizon was another interviewee and as humble to his accomplishments and to his verbal and aesthetic fluency as another great artist matured in himself and his artmaking.   With these artists as pathfinders to follow one could only marvel at the potentials of Philippine art.
We ended a long day with another promise to come back to relive these beautiful people and their art again on another day.

Amiel Gerald A. Roldan™

Mandaluyong City, Philippines

*** visit me at

ChatGPT Amiel Roldan

and my blogs:

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amiel_roldan@yahoo.com
amiel.roldan@gmail.com



PS A friend posted this disclosure.   I am willing to try it out.

Warning: Any person and/or institution and/or Agent and/or Agency of any governmental structure including but not limited to the United States Federal Government also using or monitoring/using this website or any of its associated websites, you do NOT have my permission to utilize any of my profile information nor any of the content contained herein including, but not limited to my photos, and/or... the comments made about my photos or any other "picture" art posted on my profile.   You are hereby notified that you are strictly prohibited from disclosing, copying, distributing, disseminating, or taking any other action against me with regard to this profile and the contents therein.   The foregoing prohibitions also apply to your employee, agent, student or any personnel under your direction or control the contents of this profile are private and legally privileged and confidential information, and the violation of my personal privacy is punishable by law.   UCC 1-103 1-308 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WITHOUT PREJUDICE





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After the Mourning
August 10, 2009, 8:30 pm
***08 10 2009

The day started clear as the blue sky.   It was time to go on the routine rounds and start writing again.   Everything seems to come out with a new lease in life.   I appreciate that I am alive, healthy and physically able.   It was something basic that I could hopefully share with others.
I just came from Erik Sausa's 2nd solo exhibit at Blanc Gallery Makati titled “Pretty Vacant.”   This was the first art exhibit I have been to after almost three weeks of resting – idleness is a state of mind and body that I am being adept at nowadays.   I enjoyed the respite and the new perspective from the eventful months of July and early August 2009. The last SONA of the President, the stable state of the Philippines despite the continuing recession in America, flooding and typhoon "Kiko affecting thousands," the death of President Corazon Aquino and another hint of conspiracy theory of "hidden wealth" were all in the headlines.   Sigh… Some are really predictable especially nearing the elections of 2010. I would not like to tackle the National Artists Award since I am of mind for the giving of the distinctions and not retracting it, hankering for and relegating it to the mundane politics of squabbles .

I still struggle to hope that some of these eventful images would again reflect in timely contemporary exhibits even in pun.   In tasteful, sincere and reflective observations but I was hoping for naught.   “Alas!” we will just have to wait some more.   Perhaps the Filipino artists are as captivated just watching news and acting it out on the streets just like everyone.
Let us get back to the opening exhibit of painter Erik Sausa.   We have been waiting for the right venue for this artist and Blanc Gallery Makati suits him to a “T.”   I found the exhibit a bit wanting but enjoyed the space, images and the crowd.   His works progressed early on to larger pieces and on a much playful tone.   I was looking for the exhibit notes but had to be content with only the titles to hint on the images presented by this artist like "The Riddle of the Sphinx" as a conceptual throwback from an earlier work and a portraiture in "Sid Viscous" – a play on iconic band culture.   This artist from Angono is just starting his solo shows and seems to be on the right track of retelling his version of the journey.   He has been very active with collaborating with young artists for the past few years.   The diversity and dynamism seems to have rubbed on as his works have matured enough with the current edge.   There is that guessing game of appropriations and of negating spaces that leaves the audience wanting to ask "why."   Seeing the bombardment of images in an unlikely perspective just leaves us more perplexed and caught up hoping the next answer to the riddle would be on the next painting.

The months of July and August seem to be the test for the Philippines.   They had marked changes hopefully for the better.   They had also signaled storms to contend with and the ever distractions of Philippine politicking.   The Zambales flooding has been overshadowed by propaganda and nit pickings.   The stable economy has been overlooked by pessimism.   The triumph of Philippine Democracy belittled by grandstanding.   The death and mourning was played for the ratings game.   It probably would continue with the hidden wealth speculation now.   The funny thing though is that everything seems to happen in the Philippines too.   Speculations would now fly as to why one could profit in times of recession that even other countries failed on.   If you're an economist then you would know how to profit, right?   Let hope the coming days would end up clear too.

Amiel Gerald A. Roldan™

Mandaluyong City, Philippines

*** visit me at

ChatGPT Amiel Roldan

and my blogs:

www.amielroldan.wordpress.com

www.amielroldan.blogspot.com

www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/ag-roldan.html

please comment and tag if you like my compilations.

amiel_roldan@yahoo.com
amiel.roldan@gmail.com



PS A friend posted this disclosure.   I am willing to try it out.

Warning: Any person and/or institution and/or Agent and/or Agency of any governmental structure including but not limited to the United States Federal Government also using or monitoring/using this website or any of its associated websites, you do NOT have my permission to utilize any of my profile information nor any of the content contained herein including, but not limited to my photos, and/or... the comments made about my photos or any other "picture" art posted on my profile.   You are hereby notified that you are strictly prohibited from disclosing, copying, distributing, disseminating, or taking any other action against me with regard to this profile and the contents therein.   The foregoing prohibitions also apply to your employee, agent, student or any personnel under your direction or control the contents of this profile are private and legally privileged and confidential information, and the violation of my personal privacy is punishable by law.   UCC 1-103 1-308 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WITHOUT PREJUDICE




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