April 1,2024 –This Dimasalang III International art exhibit dubbed “WALKING WITH SYM” is an unprecedented gathering of many artists under one roof. It will be at Anvil Centre Community Art Gallery, 3rd flr, 777 Columbia St, New Westminster, BC. from April 1 to May 31. It will showcase the artistic works ofa new generation ofartists, mentored and influenced by the late Maestro SYM Mendoza as well as veteran artists who learned art and techniques of art from him.
An opening reception to introduce the participating artists wil be on April 5, Saturday, from 6-8pm.
As an arts teacher, SYM showed a wide spectrum of knowledge to his students – from the basic fundamental principles of drawing and painting to art history and outside-the-box nuances and approaches to art not generally taught in art schools. His influence can be discerned in the works of his art students who will display their works:
Charlie Frenal (Representational/Portraits/Figures/Landscape)
Charlie was an architect and visual artist by profession in the Philippines and currently works as a mechanical and civil engineering designer in Vancouver, British Columbia, and continues to pursue his passion for the arts.
Mary Ann Manuel (Contemporary/Abstract/Realism/Stylistic)
Mary Ann creates art expressing her soul deep in emotions.
Norman Belen (Designer/Animator/Stylistic)
Norman was a professional animator, storyboard artist and 3D animator who sharpened his skills as a character designer who still dabbles on designing his own characters as well as the occasional sculpture and digital/oil/acrylic painting.
Melani Payumo (Stylistic/Spiritual)
Melani gravitates toward mystical, esoteric angelic themes and persuasions. She taps on a symphony of colors and sacred geometry- available when one has reached consciousness in a meditative, spiritual state.
Victor B. Villamera, Jr. (Portraiture/Figures in charcoal)
Victor B. Villamera, Jr. fondly called as IntingButikol finished his Bachelor of Arts degree major in Sociology and Anthropology from the University of San Carlos, Cebu City
Suzanna Lopez
Suzanna is a digital artist who loves drawing and painting animals and things that inspire her.
Vincent L. Chan (Photography)
Vincent developed his signature techniques through years of apprenticeship with leading photographers in still, fashion, portrait, editorial, and wedding photography.
Daniel Lacosse
Daniel recently found the passion of painting landscape and abstract. Interest in portraits are on the horizon.
Leo Recilla (Realism)
Leo Recilla is an artist and brand designer. Using traditional medium, focusing on graphite pencils, charcoal and ink, Leo creates portraits in black & white that accentuate form, emotion, and simplicity.
Agnes Kindrachuk (Representational/Impressionism)
Agnes’ father was a self-taught watercolour artist and was her initial inspiration. Agnes enjoys trying different media and styles, having been exposed to many varied artworks in her family's travels.
Displaying their works with these artists, are senior members of Dimasalang III and students of SYM who have studied art from Maestro SYM over 20 years ago.
Edgardo Lantin (Portraiture, landscape and other subjects)
Ed worked as a graphic artist upon migrating to Canada in 1981. He pursued his passion for portraiture by attending private art classes with an accomplished and renowned Filipino artist, Sym Mendoza. In 1986, he studied at the Art Student League in New York on a full year scholarship and also took a sculptural anatomy class at the New York Academy of Art.
His first important commission was a portrait of Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino in 1989 which is displayed at the Malacanang Palace Museum and later, her son former President Nonoy Aquino.
ROD PEDRALBA (Wildlife, Portraits/Figures, Abstract/Cubism)
Pedralba's subjects range from nature, nostalgic cityscapes, human interest and still life.
Noel Trinidad (Impressionist, Landscape, Still Life, Portaits and Figures)
Trinidad enjoys working with oil, pastel and watercolour. His impressionistic paintings echo his persona, characterized by his peaceful and lighthearted outlook in life. One feels the spiritual serenity and simplicity in the colourful landscapes expressed through his artwork.
Andy Naval (Graphic Design and Photography)
Formally educated in Fine Arts, major in Advertising, Andy is a graphic designer and a professional photographer.
Leo Cunanan, Jr. (Portraiture, Still Life, Landscape, Abstract)
Leo is an artist/musician who works in pastel, charcoal, oil, watercolour; and also enjoys creating digital art. He is alsoa member of The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) having recorded two original albums.
Jess Hipolito (Illustrator, Architect)
The beauty of the wharves, harbours and canneries enamoured Hipolito and dedicated himself to recording the beauty in these places in his fabulous watercolour& acrylic paintings.
Jacqueline Loh (Representational)
Jacqueline Loh graduated with a degree in landscape architecture and has taken informal studios classes in the classical art style.
Juliana Loh (Virtual Reality artist)
Juliana’s style moves back and forth between traditional portrait and landscape scenes into more abstract and technically executed imaginative works.
Anton Dizon (Stylistic/Abstract/Semi Abstract)
Antonio’s stylized technique with bright palette and bold figurative lines is reminiscent of art from the Pre-Columbian era, and is quite influenced by Picasso, Matisse, Van Gogh and Filipino artists like Dela Rosa, Malang and Baldemor.
Rolly Tuliao (Representational/Abstract)
Rolly worked as an architectural model maker and enjoys creating works in acrylic
Francis Herradura (Representational/Portraits/Figures)
Francis Herradura learned her first art lesson from her grandfather and father who owned an art sign shop in the Philippines. She developed a deep passion in painting subjects that inspire her.
Bert Morelos (Representational /Illustrator/Architect)
Bert is a Registered Architect in the Philippines who has extensive experience in the field of design, planning, and project management. He was responsible for designing the Filipino Plaza in Vanness Ave. by Nanaimo Station in Vancouver.
Mayo Landicho (Tattoos/Stylistic/Tribal/Representational)
Mayo Landicho is a multi-disciplinary artist, a multi-awarded tattoo artist who is a singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, former school teacher, educator, poet, painter, sculptor, outdoorsman, and environmentalist.
SYM's philosophy on art was “To express with the whole force of my capacity, vitality and intensity of expressiveness... bold and dynamic technique with profound intention to create and produce a work of art that is strong yet gentle to the human senses. In the end, it’s always my profound intention to create beauty which will stimulate not only our feelings but also widen our imagination.”
EXHIBIT STATEMENT
SofronioYlanan Mendoza, better known by his initials SYM, was an internationally renowned artist who was also called “maestro” or master for mentoring and nurturing aspiring artists in the Philippines and in Canada. He shared everything he knew with his students to uplift and inspire them. So they could support and inspire each other, he formed them into a group of artists called Dimasalang, named after a street in Manila where his career started in a modest studio.
As an arts teacher, SYM showed a wide spectrum of knowledge to his students – from the basic fundamental principles of drawing and painting to art history and outside-the-box nuances and approaches to art not generally taught in art schools. In Vancouver, he shared his knowledge and techniques in art with Edgardo Lantin, Rod Pedralba, Noel Trinidad, Simeon Dee, Jess Hipolito, Andy Naval, Arlene George, Leo Cunanan Jr., and Maria Apelo Cruz.
SYM's philosophy on art was “To express with the whole force of my capacity, vitality and intensity of expressiveness... bold and dynamic technique with profound intention to create and produce a work of art that is strong yet gentle to the human senses. In the end, it’s always my profound intention to create beauty which will stimulate not only our feelings but also widen our imagination.” He passed away in Vancouver on September 21, 2021. He was 87.
Editor of Canadian Filipino Net
Eleanor R. Laquian has written four best-selling books, and co-authored four others with husband Prod Laquian. She has served in various capacities at the University of British Columbia’s Institute of Asian Research as manager of administration and programs; editor and chair, publications committee; and primary researcher of the Asian Immigration to Canada project. She has a degree in journalism from Maryknoll College in the Philippines, and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of the Philippines. She did postgraduate studies at the School of Public Communications, Boston University in the U.S.
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