November 17, 2000
Section: Lifestyle
Page: 65A
Saturday artists aim to inspire others
Jojo Santo Tomas
Staff
By Jojo Santo Tomas |
Pacific Daily News
santotomas@guampdn.com
Guam's largest group of active artists is ready to show the island what they've done in the last year.
The Saturday Group, whose goal is to promote art appreciation, has met
weekly to sketch and discuss art every Saturday for the past five
years. Their exhibit today, "Freeform," is in its second year and the
group hopes to develop it into an annual show.
"I am excited, but mostly for the younger ones in the group," says
53-year-old Arman Germar, founder of the group. "The younger artists
are like sons to me. I've watched them grow and develop and I'm happy
to be a part of that growth."
Artwork in various media will be displayed at the exhibit, Germar says,
including work in charcoal, pastels, acrylic, oil, watercolor and
sculpture. Having such a variety will allow the viewing public to
realize the many outlets that artists can use in pursuing their
creative expressions, he says. It is especially important to bring
children to the exhibit, Germar says, because parents can discover
artistic desire early in their children and do what they can to nurture
it.
"We are the only active artist group on island that pursues art in a
serious way," says longtime member Paks Pineda. "Our exhibit is just
one way of inspiring other people, especially young children, to get
motivated into the arts."
Pineda is creating installation art for the exhibit, a combination of
sculpture and architecture that will use the space of the CAHA building
to portray his theme, "Returning ancestors to their original resting
homes."
"It will be finished on the day of the exhibit," he says.
Xtian Mahilum, another one of the founding members of the group, says
he will display six or eight oil portraits on canvas, although no one
work stands out among them.
"I am proud of each and every one," he says. "Mostly because they take
so long to complete. I have some that I started way before 1990. I
think art will always be a learning process and exhibits are good
because I get to see the works of artists that I wouldn't see
otherwise."
That includes art that has only come to the forefront in the last few years because of widespread new technology.
"It's amazing how a group of artists from so many different walks of
life can get together every week to create, share their art and
interests," says 24-year-old C.J. Urquico, a Web developer for
IT&E. "We have artists in almost all disciplines and media, from
traditional methods to contemporary digital imaging."
Leon Ryan is another artist who has been with the group for some time.
He says he has five pieces to show, including one that required quite a
bit of research and observation.
His oil portrait, "Steel Butterfly," is an impressionistic rendition of Lt. Gov. Madeleine Bordallo.
"I would study her from news clippings and photographs and, when I got
the chance, to observe her in person," Ryan says. "I painted what I
felt was the essence of Madeleine at a time when she was younger."
Janilyn Abalos, 18, says she's excited about displaying her work in her
second exhibition with the group. She juggles her art with a full-time
schedule at the University of Guam and her job as a waitress at the
Outrigger Guam Resort.
"Last year, I was scared to invite anyone to the exhibit," she says.
"This year, I can be proud of my work, so I'm inviting everyone. I'm
still very fascinated with this group that gets together and does art."
IF YOU GO
s The Saturday Group, a collection of 20 local artists, will display
more than 40 works at their four-week show "Freeform." The exhibit
opens at 6:30 p.m. today at the CAHA Art Gallery at Two Lovers' Point.
Refreshments served.
s Contact Arman Germar at 649-7102, Paks Pineda at 637-4128 or C.J. Urquico at 727-6347. Or visit their Web site at:
www.saturdaygroup.org
Graphic illustration by Cid Caser/ Pacific Daily News
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