The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
To start the year on an artistic note, movie, television and theater celebrities are opening a once-in-a-blue-moon painting exhibit of their rare and special art pieces to the public.
Actor and visual artist Dranreb Belleza thought of gathering his colleagues who are into visual arts to participate in an art shpw titled “Screenscapes” to be inaugurated tomorrow, Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at 6 pm at the White Room Gallery of the International House, SEMEO INNOTECH in Commonwealth Avenue in Diliman, Quezon City.
According to Dranreb, “Screenscapes” is his collaboration with his fellow showbiz denizens to come across the message of the responsibilities of artists to present realities from their own interpretation but mostly for the enlightenment of the public.
“But my dear Maria Isabel Lopez is my partner in working on this project,” he stressed.
“Screenscapes” is an idea presented to Belleza by Prof. Ruben “Dodo” Defeo and later the actor adapted at title of the exhibit.
“‘Screenscapes’ because it’s like watching a movie onscreen where we suspend our disbelief for at least a moment to savor the images onscreen,” explained Reb, Dranreb’s pet name.
Prof. Defeo, curator of White Room Gallery, used to be the Assistant Dean of the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts.
“We are twenty one artists in the group,” recounted Dranreb.
The 21 artists, aside from Belleza and Looez, are John Lloyd Cruz; Richard Gomez who is now Congressman of the 4th District of Leyte Province; television, film, stage and advertising director Louie Ignacio; Elizabeth Oropesa, Jeanette Kamphuis, Jet Rai, Sandino Martin, Melissa Mendez, Evangeline Pascual, Jao Mapa, Cris Villanueva, John Paul Duray, Nina Ricci Alagao Flores, Leandro Baldemor, Shamaine Centenera Buencamino, Lotlot de Leon, Ernie Garcia, Baron Geisler and Epy Quizon.
“No. We don’t have beneficiaries but the paintings are for sale,” quipped Reb.
John Lloyd’s penchant for the arts aside from his innate talent in painting has been enhanced by his girlfriend Isabel Santos who comes from a family of artists.
Meanwhile, according to Belleza, his art works speak of his vision in life.
“I have always been fascinated with nature,” said Belleza in our past interviews.
He said that his influences are mostly his elder artists like his mentors when he was at the UP College of Fine Arts.
“But I have been painting since I was a kid at De La Salle Greenhills. My favorite subjects are arts-related courses,” recalled Dranreb.
“Screenscapes” at White Room Gallery is open from Tuesday to Friday, 10 am to 6 pm.