Art during pandemic
ONE OF THE FRUITS of the pandemic – learning and honing up new skill. Or even better the craftsmanship.
The lockdown periods from two years ago and henceforth brought out the best in humankind – giving, sharing, caring. To some artists, it was a time to be good to one’s self once again as they took care of themselves – talent wise.
Artists like Leonardo Tulabut, a recipient of Most Outstanding Kapampangan Awards, learned and created pointillism with such class. A big leap from his cubism he was always known for. Another painter Dodjie Aguinaldo also learned sculpture made of dried multi-layer paint.
Heidy Macabenta, started to paint in May 2020, hurdling the challenges thrown her way – a mild cerebral stroke, covid and pneumonia. Add in there asthma episodes and other medical conditions too.
Facing life’s crises, including the pandemic, this single mom was pushed to accomplish more – learning how to paint and eventually becoming a self-made artist. Heidy has now created and sold about 50 paintings.
She is one of the participating artists in the ongoing Pamiaduangan (Cooperation) Visual Arts Exhibit in Mabalacat City in observance pf the National Arts Month. The turnaround from being a mere dreamer into a real painter took only less than two years.
She started doing abstract forms sans details until she got her own distinct style where her contemporary arts got more elaborate if not intricate. Thanks to work-fromhome schedule that their office imposed, she found the time to start the craft and vastly improve it even before she and her coworkers got called to back-to-desk office hours.
Her kind of work
They are described as “highly immersive works characterized mostly by her culturally and emotionally charged abstracted portraits imbued with a stunningly original steampunk-cum-art nouveau contemporary vibe.”
Some of her works are currently on display also at Limitless Art Exhibit at Clark Museum, the Pamamunla Art Exhibit of Angeles City at SM Clark.
In Mabalacat City, she sold her very first painting in an art exhibit when Mayor Crisostomo Garbo spotted her “Beauty in The Chaos” right at the opening day of the Pamiaduangan Art Exhibit at Mabalacat Elementary School.
Fulfillment
“Just to be able to paint is already an accomplishment for me,” says the woman painter who made an executive career in the BPO world.
“I never thought that I will be in this (art) industry,” says this relatively budding artist but is now on her fourth participation in an art exhibit.
“I visited some galleries and have admired art pieces in the past. In those visits, I remember wishing that I could do the same (create paintings). But who would have thought that I will be able to do that during a pandemic?” she mused.
While she admits and hopes to be able to stage her solo exhibit, she states: “It feels good when people appreciate your work,” says Heidy, stating that the fulfillment resides in people recognizing one’s artistry.
“Even if the paintings are not bought, the mere fact that they got noticed, especially by other artists, is already enough for me,” she adds.
Being raised (and schooled too) in the US, Heidy is the typical independent woman. Strongwilled at that. No pandemic, stroke, pneumonia and covid caused her to loose bearings. In fact, her paintings are also seen on shirts and face masks she also sells online. She can only be thankful for learning a new skill, deal in a new trade, excel in craftsmanship.
“I thought life is too short. We should enjoy it and do what makes us happy. That is why I’m more encouraged to paint. To paint more” she beams. (NGT/SunStar Pam pan ga)