An island-hopping showcase of art
Amixed showcase is on offer at Taylor Jensen Fine Arts as the gallery moves into its 19th year in Palmerston North. Folk quilts that have been hand-made by artisans from Caohagan Island in the Philippines will hang beside artist Jayson Rollon’s oil paintings.
The Caohagan Island in the Philippines is about 50,000 square metres in size and is owned by Japanese businessman Katsuhiko Sakiyama and his wife Junko Sakiyama. Junko, a quilting tutor in Japan, started to teach the basic techniques of quilt-making to islanders who then took up the craft.
‘‘Caohagan Island is still covered by beautiful, untouched natural environment. The life of the people is intertwined with nature, from which they receive many gifts such as fish, shells, warm sunlight, comfortable wind, clean air and rain. The islanders readily share these blessings with each other and with the world through their quilts. The people of the island very rarely leave their home, which they know very well and love all the aspects of the island, including fish, shells, trees, birds, flowers, dogs, cats, buildings and one another. That is why a Caohagan quilt has a lot of love and happiness to give.’’
The gallery’s managing director Stuart Schwartz said Rollon’s paintings also showed a real passion for his art. Born in Dolores Quezon, Philippines, Rollon now lives in Palmerston North and while he has been an exhibiting artist at the gallery, Samplings is his first solo show. He said he had been inspired by his father-in-law, Mardonio Cempron, who is a prominent Filipino artist.
Warming Body & Soul: Caohagan Island quilts and Sampling: Paintings by Jayson Rollon both run until August 10.