'Artipolo' celebrates decade of artistry in special exhibit

MANILA, Philippines — Artipolo, a group of artists from Antipolo, Rizal, is now 10 years old. It has been a decade since its inception in 2014 and the art group is still at the forefront of the art and culture scene in Antipolo City.

More than just a social group, it is an advocacy, and its goals — to hone its members’ creative talents and, at the same time, promote Antipolo’s tourism program — still hold true today.

To celebrate this milestone, the art group, led by its president Pol Mesina, has put together a special exhibit, "Isang Dekada: Makulay na Paglalakbay sa Sining," which is being hosted by Robinsons Land Artablado as part of its Arts Month celebration.

Artablado is located at the Upper Ground Floor, Main Mall, of Robinsons Antipolo, where masterpieces of Artipolo member-artists are on view until February 29.

Participating artists in the exhibit are Amado Ongtauco, Ariel Purca, Bernardo Matias, Cha Mapaye Baladjay, Dolores van Duijvenbode, Edward Sato, Elizabeth Esguerra Castillo, Feng Eustaquio Villanueva, Fernando Regencia, Gem Yonzon Blanco, Genevieve V. Guevarra, Grace Gerona Evangelista, Isagani Cruz, Jayson Tejada, Jojo Figueroa Javier, Mac Baladjay, Mae Dy De Veyra, Maiya Balboa, Mark Anthony Navida, Maxi Cajayon Tungol, Nelson Francisco, Ninskidoodles, Rod Talde, Romel M. Reyes, Roland Tulay, Sonny Perida, Vivian Nocum Limpin and Yam Tamayo.

At the opening of the exhibit, Mesina could not help but look back on a decade of dazzlement, disruptions, as well as determination of this group of artists from Antipolo to keep creating art. He said that many key moments have taken place for Artipolo. For one, the group has exhibited in prestigious galleries, such as Pinto Art Museum, Artablado in Robinsons Galleria and Robinsons Antipolo, Summit Ridge Tagaytay, and many others.

Some of their members also emerged victorious in various art contests. What used to be just an organization focused on recruiting practitioners from the region has now expanded and taken in members from Tuguegarao, Cagayan, Baguio, Pangasinan, Bohol, Manila, as well as Pinoy artists based in Japan, China, Canada, Saudi Arabia and the United States.

“At ang Artipolo ngayon ay ’di