Bringing art closer to the people

METROPOLITAN Museum of Manila on Roxas Boulevard

Cultural and historical properties all over the metro have taken a step back over shopping malls and movie theaters. The younger generation has opted to capture instant arts and culture through movies or mall exhibits.

Filling the need for contemporary artworks to flood the cultural scene, Metropolitan Museum of Manila (www.metmuseum.ph) brings art to all levels of the local and international community. It is the premier museum of modern and contemporary art in the country that specializes in visual arts.

MET Museum president Tina Colayco, Tessie Luz, Tessa Prieto-Valdes and Arturo Luz. PHOTO BY Christopher Juan and Ron Mabana

Situating art within the context of Philippine history and society, the Met Museum not only seeks cultural upliftment, but also embraces art as a discipline in teaching nonart concepts such as cultural values, civic responsibilities, environmental awareness and a belief in the need for excellence.

The Met has local and foreign art exhibitions that bring art closer to the people. Philippine art exhibitions are curated from cultural institutions, private collections and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Art Collection. Foreign art exhibitions are possible with the sponsorship of different cultural offices.

The Met has acquired paintings, sculpture and prints, generous donations from Philippine artists, artists’ heirs and private collectors. They form the nucleus of the first-ever Met permanent collection of Philippine contemporary art, and are exhibited on a changing basis, in thematic shows with varying responsive and education messages.

The museum’s collection consists mainly of artworks made by Filipino contemporary artists. The collection grew in the 1990s when the museum took an active role in collecting some of the more important artists of the period such as Ben Cabrera and Pacita Abad. It also has prints produced by celebrated 20th century international artists like Jasper Johns and Henry Moore.

Ongoing this weekend until Oct. 4 is the Met Open 2014, a benefit exhibition of over 200 works, gathered and screened from an open call. In various art forms, the pieces are wonderfully displayed in the sprawling museum where the public could admire and buy them. Paintings, sculptures, ceramics, art installations, video and photography works give a great opportunity to own a beautiful artwork while supporting the Met Museum.

MET Open artwork of Jingjing Turalba

The benefit exhibition is curated by art scholars: Dr. Patrick Flores, curator of UP Vargas Museum; Dannie Alvarez, curator of the Yuchengco Museum; Yael Buencamino, managing curator of the Ateneo Art Gallery; Joselina Cruz, curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design of the College of Saint Benilde; and Cid Reyes, renowned author of art books, scholar and art critic.

Proceeds of the selling exhibition will go to the exhibition and educational programs of the Met Museum.

Another way to support the arts is the MET FETE 2014. The Metropolitan Museum’s fund-raising dinner is for the benefit of the museum’s exhibitions, education and outreach programs.

The benefit dinner on Oct. 14 will be a celebration of vibrant artistic and cultural ties between France and the Philippines. The affair will give the attendees a chance to preview artworks of Filipino painters who have lived and worked in France from the 1940s up to present day, as well as French artists living in the Philippines.

The Semaine Gastronomique being organized by the French Embassy will also be formally launched that evening. Madame Isabelle Garachond, the French Ambassador’s wife is honorary chair of the MET FETE. Chairs are Louis Paul Heussaf, Doris Magsaysay Ho, Irene Francisco, Nedy Tantoco and Mercedes Zobel and co-chairs are Zelda Kienle, Ging Montinola, Tina Ocampo, Rose Anne de Pampelonne and Fe Rodriguez.

For inquiries of Met Open 2014 benefit/sale and for information on sponsorships and tables for the MET FETE, please call Nelda at 7087828 or e-mail [email protected].