Local artists mount exhibit for blindness prevention
SOME of the country’s premiere visual artists are coming together for a cause that is significant to their art and close to their hearts— preventing blindness.
An exhibit titled Art for a Vision will put on sale valuable works from February 10 to 21 at the Crucible Art Gallery in SM Megamall, for the benefit of the Ophthalmological Foundation of the Philippines. Also known as OFPHIL, the foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention of blindness among the poor in the country.
Headlining the roster of gifted hands and minds is no less than National Artist for Visual Arts Arturo Luz. He donated one painting titled “Objects from the Past” (acrylic on canvass) that showcases what he is best known for—minimalism, lines and the abstract relationships of objects.
Luz is the first artist who said yes to the fundraising exhibit, and is also the one who suggested it to be held at the Crucible Gallery.
Completing the exhibit is an impressive selection of paintings and sculptures from Filipino artists Gus Albor, Virgillio “Pandy” Aviado, Igan D´bayan, Ramon Diaz, Ramon Orlina, Impy Pilapil, Cid Reyes and Jaime Zobel.
International artists Cesar Caballero, Valeria Cavestany, Juvenal Sanso, and Betsy Westendorp—all of whom in some way or another has spent and dedicated their lives to the Philippines—are also donating works to Art for a Vision.
A preview of the artworks was held on January 31 at the home of Westendorp in Tuscany Suites, Makati City.
Vision for the poor
Art for a Vision sprung from the friendship between Westendorp and Dr. Felipe Tolentino, a Filipino-american doctor based in Boston and the founder and president of OFPHIL.
It all started when Dr. Tolentino went to Spain to gather funds for an eye center, which OFPHIL and the local government of Ifugao Province planned to build, he recalled to The Manila Times.
He said that in the Ifugao province, many were becoming blind from curable eye diseases, especially cataract, because they were unable to afford expensive treatments in faraway hospitals.
“Cataract is the main reason why many are turning blind. But it can be treated and cured. Once a poor Filipino’s eyesight is restored, they become productive members of society again,” Dr. Tolentino stated.
In the Philippines alone, 3.4 million people are visually impaired and 62 percent of the cases are due to cataracts, with almost 500,000 blind in both eyes. And sadly, about 90 percent blind Filipinos belong to poor communities.
In his mission to Spain, Dr. Tolentino met Westendorp who at the time was diagnosed with macula degeneration, an agerelated eye disease that can cause blindness. Over dinner hosted by a common friend, Westendorp found the man who can cure him in Dr. Tolentino, and in turn, the doctor found a benefactor for his project.
Westendorp promised to contact her artist friends in the Philippines to put up the first art sale and exhibit in 2010. The result was a dream come true for Dr. Tolentino and the Ifugao communities as the Ifugao State University (IFSU)OFPHIL Eye Center was constructed from the art sale.
The center is now Philhealth-accredited with consultations and surgeries scheduled every Tuesday and Saturday. It is equipped with the Yag Laser, a technology which provides a more efficient treatment of cataract and glaucoma. To date, it has served almost 2,000 patients from Ifugao Province and other neighbouring municipalities.
This year’s Art for a Vision supports once again the IFSUOFPHIL Eye Center. Proceeds from the project will be completely devoted to acquiring the latest equipments in ophthalmology, such as the Argon Laser; as well as a generator for power failures in the rainy season, and the construction of comfortable waiting areas for patients and secure staff quarters for medical teams. It is also the center’s vision to become self- sustaining in the long run.
Addressing the artists who were present at the preview, Dr. Tolentino said, “At a young age my parents have always told me that if you have wealth share it. If you have power, use it to help people in need. Betsy has a big heart and along with the generous artists who have given us their works, we can save the eyesight of people who need it most so they can work and give their families better lives.
“To all the artists who donated their works for this cause, you are all my heroes.”