BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

Art Portal Gallery soon presents “Free Range Chicks in Silent Bliss,” a solo exhibit by Rita Bustamante and the second in her CHICKS Series. 

CHICKS Series 2 turns to women rarity delivering a message where silence is considered a delight. In this exhibit, women are trapped in a time warp, with limited movement, and where silence is deafening. This collection showcases the women’s eyes expressing their position, not of intimidation or fear but of their will. 

It highlights what is expected of the so-called “Chicks,” dealing with their circumstances with grace. Such grace embodies determination, glam, softheartedness, confidence, reverie, charm, somber expression, allure, fierceness, exquisiteness, tribe, affection, tenderness, enthrallment, and uniqueness — one-eyed, giving them free-range characteristics. 18 free-range Chicks will be showcasing all these in the exhibition with Acrylic on Canvas as the medium.

Bustamante is also an artist working in and supporting development projects. She thinks of investing in her paintings and empowering women as popular, powerful, and universal.

As a woman in the arts, she cites a quote from Allison Kooser’s publication Empowered Women Change the World: “It is no surprise to us that the Sustainable Development Goals include not only gender-specific actions and statistics but also an entire goal dedicated to gender parity. The fifth Sustainable Development Goal is bold, broad and important. It challenges the world to Achieve Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girls.” Bustamante treats these words as a vision that she truly upholds.

It is important to note that the Art Portal in Davao is a platform used for artist exchanges and creative exhibitions open to artists and audiences. It was so named based on its vision to be a venue in setting off workshops, artist exchanges, and the like. The platform is open to artists and creators, art fans, and the general public. Art Portal brings about circulation of ideas, artworks, and artists that enrich and inspire its many audiences — an entry point in the world of art.

In an exclusive interview with Showbiz Beat, Rita shared why she was inspired to come up with this project. 

“Art has always been innate in me ever since I was a child; a gift I inherited from my father given by God. This exhibit is bearing the subject of Chicks during this pandemic [and] on how they are doing it in grace. The inspiration has always been on the empowerment of these Chicks having the will, but always having the characteristic willed to be transformative and innovative – thus Free Range Chicks in Silent Bliss. Free Range being empowered, and Silent Bliss because despite the pressure the will is steadfast in grace.” 

She also states, “The paintings are on canvas, having acrylic as my medium. These paintings are done before and during the pandemic; most of [them] during the pandemic as I was preparing for a scheduled show towards the end of 2020. But then the works were put to a halt.”

Bustamante also talks about fulfillment from an artist’s perspective. “The greatest satisfaction of an artist is when they visually articulate what it is they want to convey. It may not be understood by all but when one, even just one, has the smile of wonderment, then, it thus melts the heart of the artist.

She then briefly shares her story of how she paved her path for the arts. “I have been in the arts ever since I was a little girl. My father was my mentor. I would sit by his side as he [worked on] his human figures and I would do my stick drawing. I always liked being creative. The reason I [got] in the academe was that a former principal of mine saw me and asked me what I was doing. [Back then], I was in creatives for a graphic design studio. As the president of the College that time, she invited me to teach some subjects: Visual Arts Appreciation and Audio Arts Appreciation for the Communication Department, which made me stay in the college for over 20 years until I retired.

“Creativity runs through my veins that whether it be in my works and education, my constant has always been [to] creatively innovate towards working on the empowerment in the transforming of women. Thus, my painting does speak of the aim I want to show, in breaking [the] glass ceiling with utmost grace.”

Bustamante’s solo exhibit “Free Range Chicks in Silent Bliss” happens on July 28, 2021. The artworks will be displayed at Art Portal Gallery, Door 1-A Paseo de Legaspi Bldg., 115 Pelayo St., in Davao City. Physical viewing at the gallery is strictly by appointment. The catalogue will also be made available and published online.

For inquiries, you can reach Art Portal Gallery through their Facebook account or at 09154879761.

*Photo from Facebook (@artportalgalleryforcontemporaryart)