BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

The “Anakbanwa” Arts Exhibit, which officially opened last December 10, is now accepting visitors to view the modern and contemporary masterworks of the artists chosen in the Anakbanwa Arts Residency Project.

Pangasinan Fourth District Representative Christopher de Venecia launched the Anakbanwa Arts Residency Project in October 2021, wherein chosen artists were allowed to research and immerse themselves in the provincial district’s creative communities. 

Luzon artists Razel Mari, Corinne de San Jose, and Marco Ortega also had the opportunity to experience the district’s cultural heritage and ecological landscape, learn from diverse artistic practices, and experience Pangasinan’s interior (alog) and coastal (baybay) municipalities.

According to Project Director Andrei Pamintuan, it was an excellent opportunity for him. “I thought it was the perfect time to give back to where I initially got exposed to arts and where I was born and raised.”

Pamintuan deemed the project to be good for the province. “It was a chance to highlight Pangasinan as a creative province and Dagupan as a creative city. It makes sense because we have to think of the community, and what better way to do that than through the arts,” he added.

The project’s name was also inspired by Dagupan. Pamintuan said that he wanted the program to have osmosis so that the chosen artists would also be giving back. He quipped, “The heart of it is the idea that the artists get to immerse themselves in the culture and heritage of Pangasinan and arts workshops that are not necessarily common here in the region to present something new to young artists.”

Pamintuan further added, “We’ve been cooped up during the pandemic, so it was a way to do things in real life. Hopefully we get to do it again and explore different mediums of art.”

Apart from the masterworks of the chosen artists from the arts residency program, the exhibit will also be showcasing artworks from other Pangasinan-based artists and K-12 learners who attended workshops at The SPOT, a renowned creative hub.

The art exhibit is situated at the historical site of the McArthur House in Dagupan City, where General Douglas McArthur used to stay during the Luzon liberation in 1945.

Guests are encouraged to schedule their visits from Wednesdays to Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Walk-ins may be accommodated on Saturdays and Sundays from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Only visitors who are fully vaccinated are allowed entry.

K-12 learners can view the exhibit for free provided they present a valid student ID. Meanwhile, adults will be charged Php50 as an entrance fee and Php40 for PWDs and senior citizens.

Part of the proceeds will go to the West Central Elementary School’s capital outlay and maintenance expenses.