Art in Ayala Center Cebu
Ayala Center Cebu, in its efforts to support the development of visual arts activity outside traditional gallery spaces, launched Art in the Park in 2013 partnering with local talents through Cebu Artists, Inc. This laudable undertaking showcases a collection of sculptures that complement the environment where it is set. These unique and exceptional pieces can be seen in the garden areas of the mall.
To further expand their support for developing artists, Ayala Center Cebu has welcomed exhibits inside the mall where paintings and art pieces can be appreciated. The small gallery located at level 3 now serves as an artistic meeting place, attracting creators, collectors and art enthusiasts. It likewise provides a safe space where young aspiring artists can think and explore their identity, purpose, weaknesses and strengths.
To hone their skills while expressing their talent, promising artists gather at their Ayala gallery every Saturday and oftentimes invite Cebuano personalities and even passers by to pose and have their portraits done. At the end of approximately two hours, the individual models go home with at least six different portraits of themselves for free. Among the partici- pating artists are Arel Belda, Marlone Ylanan, Jess and John Dinglasa, Luther Galicano, Emar Lacorte , Mark Chavez and Paul Arenas.
Talented artist Guido Lubanga and his equally gifted wife Ann Lubanga have made painting their passion and continue to inspire and guide young, deserving artists to draw from life which is more challenging and time-consuming but ultimately provides the necessary skills to master the art. From there it is a matter of extensive practice and experimentation to see what will work best. Efren Enolva, a graduate of UP Fine Arts who delights in using oil as medium, captures the oil’s ability to create an accurate composition that vividly expresses his goals and emotions.
Another seasoned artist is Jojo Gubalane, a member of the Cebu Arts Association. He joined an online exhibit competition in Los Angeles, California and won the much coveted grand prize. This enabled him to start anew after losing over 50 pieces of his paintings during a fire that gutted his home on Nov. 5, 2005.