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By Rome Jorge
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“His”
by Beth Parocha-Doctolero |
We all love artists. We all want a piece of
them, even if it is only painting, a photograph, a sculpture or even
a few moments of their time. For fellow artists, they are mentors
and colleagues whose precious words serve as insight and whose works
serve as inspiration and influence.
So imagine what it is like to spend the rest of
your life with one, for one artist to be married to another. Does
marital union lead to creative synergy or does domestic discord
poison artistic passion? What is the sum of love and art?
The answer is the number eight.
Avellana Art Gallery, for the Valentine’s
month, showcased the art of eight married couples: Allan and Ivi
Avellana Cosio, Lao Lianben and Lilia Lao, Jon and Tessy Pettyjohn,
Ferdinand Doctolero and Beth Parrocha-Doctolero, Dan Raralio and
Edna Chan, Jojo Lofranco and Clairlynn Uy, Dei Jardiniano and
Rosario Sanchez, Aaron Palileo and Joanne Catral-Palileo. The
exhibit offered an intriguing insight on how art and love collide.
Chatting with a few of them on the exhibit’s opening night on
February 8 revealed even more.
Allan and Ivi Cosio’s artworks could not be
more different. Allan’s current collection quickly veers towards
non-representational abstract expressionism where wet paints of
different colors and swirled, blended and bled together before a
white background within compact canvases to produce a highly
textural works.
His wife Ivi on the other hand delves further
into our pre-colonial past with mixed media works of handmade paper,
reproductions of illustrations of Filipinos from the Boxer Codex of
the Chinese and the indigenous Filipino script commonly known as
alibata or, as Ivi more accurately prefers to call it, baybayin.
With such divergent styles, the happy couple
agrees: “I don’t think we influence each other. But I do think
we are each other’s greatest critic,” reveals Ivi Avellana-Cosio.
Her husband Allan concurs. “We never fight about art. We ask each
other what we think. Whatever the other one says, we take it,” she
explains.
Art of a different sort led them together. They
met in a theater production, as Allan was then involved in theater
design. “He started painting after we got married,” recalls Ivi,
a Fine Arts graduate who was already painting then. “We’ve been
living together for 35 years,” attests Allan. “Longer,
actually,” Ivi corrects.
Ivi reveals the secret to marital harmony for
artists: “We would never look over each others shoulders and say,
‘I don’t think that’s right.’ When one of us decides to ask,
‘What do you think of this?’ Then we say what we really
think.” “I think we respect each other’s artistic space. We
understand the workings of the artistic mind. That makes it
easier.”
For their part, fellow potters and terra cotta
sculptors Jon and Tessy Pettyjohn merrily confide what it’s like
to live with a fellow artist for the rest of your life: “Hard,”
they answer with a laugh. “We’re together 24 hours,” explains
Jon.
So who’s influencing and teaching who? “It
goes both ways,” the couple says in unison. “You can see from
our works that we different styles,” Jon says. “We try to do go
our own way. Sometimes we meet together,” Tessy adds. Jon reveals
the secret of the longevity of their partnership: “When we were
younger we were careful not to step into each other’s
footsteps.” But he adds, “Now, we are finding that there is some
blending. I think it’s good. In the last five years, we’ve even
signed the same piece.”
“I’m just experimenting with textures. I’m
also trying different colors,” Tessy reveals as she explains her
collection of sublime plates and pots with touches of glaze the
bright hues of copper oxide and hints of cobalt blue. John’s works
are even more organic and sculptural. Referring to his wife’s
work, John says, “I also do that kind of work. Its not like
there’s some strict division.”
“We both feel that functional works pose the
greatest challenge for ceramic artists. It’s where you bring
something intimate into people’s lives. You can make a coffee cup
that one person will take time to touch it, use it. But also, as we
get older, we find ourselves dabbling in sculpture.”
Being astute potters, Pettyjohns will have
nothing but handmade ware for their own home use. “We no longer
tolerate factory made works,” confides John. For these artists
home life and art are one.
Gazing at the works of Lao Lianben and Lilia
Lao, that face one another at Avellana Gallery’s second floor
hallway, one can imagine a conversation between two artworks, both
showing a diffused and washed treatment of colors that achieve an
atmospheric feel. But talk to the couple and one gets another
perspective.
“We are each other’s critics, in a way. Most
of the time, if I may say, because I’ve been under him as a
student in my college days. Most of the time I would get by without
talking, just by looking at his works in the studio. I get some
points, some ideas. Unfortunately, I really haven’t been
influenced by his works because I have my own theme. My forte, if I
may say so, is abstract still life painting. I do get inspired by
his works,” admits Lillia.
Ask Lianben what it is like to live with a
fellow artist and he replies curtly: “Difficult.” He adds,
“It’s better to have a lot of things unsaid.”
Aaron Palileo and Joanne Catral-Palileo are a
young couple and it shows in their art. Aaron delivers photographic
images digitally manipulated to produce film noir images of urban
life with much narrative content, reminiscent of Edward Hopper’s
“Night Hawks.” Joanne Catral works are highly decorative
illustrations with New Age allusions. “It’s a conscious
influence. I really love the sensibility,” says Aaron of his film
noir influence. The young pair feels honored to exhibit with the art
world’s luminaries. With their works, they prove their potential.
Dan Raralio and Edna Chan are a happy couple
whose works are both vibrant and timeless.
Dan, a highly respected member of the arts
community who among his many accomplishments won the prestigious 13
Artists Award in 1988, continues to explore mixed media with his
works, entitled “Metal Hoard” and “Gateway,” both of which
feature shiny galvanized steel plates prominently on a white gesso
and canvas backdrop that bear the red ochre marks and pencil
sketches and masking tape of work in progress. His art comments on
the very creative process itself.
Edna, with her sublime lamp designs, masterfully
explores the interaction reflective materials with backlit lighting,
contrasts organic designs with precisely cut industrial components
and deconstructs cast-iron rococo flourishes with contemporary
aesthetic sensibilities.
Though the works of the two are study in
contrast, post-modern abstract expressionism versus neo-baroque
utilitarian design, their joy and candor as a couple is absolutely
infectious and heartwarming. Edna confesses drawing both inspiration
and strength from her husband. Dan and Edna all smiles and laughter,
prove that love and art do make a happy couple.
Avellana Art Gallery is at House A-19, 2680 F.B.
Harrison Street, Pasay City. Gallery hours are from Monday to
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For details, call 833-8357.
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