SF2
cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - March 11, 2016
Jose Johann Bitancor and making art with the barest of means Solo exhibition runs until May 2, 2016 at Jack London Square, Oakland by Malou liwanag-Bledsoe /AJPress
ARTIST James Whistler wrote, “An artist is not paid for his labor but for his vision.” This holds true for many talented but struggling artists. With technology taking over traditional artists with computer manipulated, Internet downloaded pieces only a few can survive with just doing art. Filipino artist Jose Johann Bitancor knows the challenge of being an artist in the United States. Although he continues to join art exhibitions, he understands that it takes awhile before he and his art gets the recognition he/it deserves. Also, he realizes that he still needs to support his family by being a freelance graphic designer and a managing member of an in-home care services in San Jose. Born in Baler, Aurora in the Philippines, Bitancor is the youngest among four siblings and the son of parents Gregorio Bitancor (of Naga City) and Peladia Leander (of Baler, Aurora). He migrated to the US in 2003 with his wife and son (they have two other children). Young at art and the improvement of skills Bitancor shares that it was his brother Jeho, who is a social realist painter, who influenced him in doing art when he was young. “There was an event that he saw and I showed him my first drawing at the age of seven, and with his uplifting response, I was encouraged to continue practicing to hone my skill,” he said. “ Since then, I
managed to compete and win some awards in several art competitions. I pursued my interest in art further and I finished my Fine Arts degree from the Far Eastern University in the Philippines.” There was no denying that his talent was there waiting to bloom, so to hone his skills, he participated in group workshops (which his brother conducted) and later on joined art competitions. “I took pleasure as a child in hand-crafting my toys from scrap. That led me to pursue Fine Arts and I worked as a Graphic designer in several firms after my degree. My creative outputs were devoted entirely to the Applied Arts, particularly Exhibition Design and Collateral Design. I pursued a short stint at the University of Memphis-Tennessee in 2004,” he said. Apart from participating in local art groups’ events, Bitancor also managed to receive a Portfolio Merit Scholarship from the Memphis College of ArtTennessee in 2006. In 2009, he made my first ouvre entitled ‘Playing Lego.’ His brother encouraged him to continue
“22Alki Point 10,” 22 mixed media on canvas, 2016
his style, as well as to explore, cultivate and labor to further increase his knowledge. “Since then, he became my teacher and my mentor. I likewise must admit owing allegiance to the concerns of Picasso and Braque in treating reality as a springboard towards abstraction,” he added. To date, his works had been featured in a number of group exhibitions in the Philippines and in the US, notably at the Jose Johann Bitancor Rochester Contemporary Arts Center, Bliss on Bliss Art means, Bitancor added that his Projects in New York, Gallery present work does show traces in Seattle, San Francisco the of the everyday life with the Germantown Performing Arts use of materials and graphic Center in Tennessee and the devices. These devices give University of the Philippines hints at what is real. Vargas Museum and Bencab Bitancor brings this style Museum. and work at his third solo exHis past solo exhibits inhibit, “Istruktura,” currently runclude “Istruktura” (2014) at the ning at the Jack London Square Burien Community Center and Realty (annex) in Oakland. “Timeline” (2015) at the LynHis present ouvre consists of nwood Library Art Gallery, both two-dimensional exploration in Washington State. of linear, planar and textural “Istruktura” and the poscompositions in a non-represibilities of transforming objects sentational manner. Concerned to art of not only unifying chaotic eleDescribing his fascination ments in abstract compositions, with the possibilities of transhe injected them with symbolic forming a given object or mate- references to social realities. rial to art with the barest of “’Istruktura’ is derived
from the modern structure,” he explained and then added, “Almost a decade ago, we lived in the Mid-Southern part of the country and later moved to the evergreen state of Washington. I was utterly mesmerized by the modern structure and the vista in city of Seattle, especially a place called Alki Point in Alki Beach. In 2012, with my long time passion in sculpture and graphic design experiences, I made my first Alki Point series—a combination of mountain trees and a modern houses, through the manipulation of a chaotic graphical movements, figures and shapes. Later on, the series of
“22Istruktura 10,” mixed media on canvas, 2016
“22Belvu 5,” 22 mixed media on canvas, 2016
The artist with a guest during his Seattle art show in 2014.
Des Moines, Belvu (Bellevue) and Dash Point evolved with the same concept, and I titled them ‘Istruktura.’” Bitancor believes that being an artist—whether here or in the Philippines—is indeed a laborious and long process. “My utmost challenge [however] is myself,” he said and added, “The respect of my peers and in the art field itself.” “Istruktura” is presented by Paolo Mejia Fine Arts and Design and will run until May 2, 2016 (with a reception on Saturday, March 12) at the Jack London Square Realty (annex), 311 Oak Street, Suite 116, Oakland. For more information, log on to www.paolomejia.com.
Goodbye for now: Kris Aquino leaves Heart Evangelista, Dennis Trillo to ABS-CBN to pursue a stress-free life star in ‘naughty’ love story
KRIS Aquino says she will be stepping away from the limelight. In a series of Instagram posts on Tuesday, March 8, the TV host-actress said she is leaving ABS-CBN, her home network for almost 20 years, to focus on her health, her family and her businesses. The announcement comes days after she hinted on social media about making “important life choices in the next days” following recent issues with her health. “Thank you, Kapamilya,” Kris began. “Our relationship as a family started October 28, 1996 and it will soon end this March 23, 2016.” “A total of 10,354 days working for ABS-CBN, my life’s most fulfilling professional journey because of your love, acceptance and loyalty,” she told her more than two million followers on Instagram. She also said the taping days for her morning show “Kris
TV” is set on Wednesday and Thursday. She continued: “Just like all of you, I love my FAMILY. My most valuable life destiny is to be Mama to KUYA JOSH and BIMBY; and to be a loving, selfless sister to ATE, PINKY, NOY and VIEL: a BUNSO who doesn’t give them constant worry because of my health and safety.” “I’m not putting a time frame, but with my type of work, it’s realistic to accept by leaving ABSCBN I’ll be replaced and soon forgotten,” Kris added. “My sons and I will travel, we’ll move to our new home, and I’ll eat healthy, sleep early, exercise regularly, and live quietly--everything to make sure Kuya Josh and Bimb have a healthy mother.” Kris thanked her endorsements for “sticking it out with me while I work on my longterm health and wellness.” Kris added that for her
by Tess Mauricio-arriola ManilaTimes.net
FIVE years since co-starring in GMA Network’s fantasy series Dwarfina, Heart Evangelista and Dennis Trillo are up for a reunion project in a new prime time offering titled “Juan Happy Love Story.” Described by its creative team as a “sexy, and naughty romantic comedy,” the plot of the show has yet to be divulged, although its cast was already presented in a story conference. Chosen as a strong support cast for two of the network’s prized talents, Heart and Dennis will be joined by Gloria Romero, Lotlot de Leon, Gardo Versoza, Erika Padilla, Dominic Roco, Vincent Magbanua, Kim Domingo, Rob Moya, and Leanne Bautista, under the direction of LA Madridejos. In an interview, Dennis, who was once vocal about intentions to woo Heart after first working with her in 2009’s “Mano Po Kris Aquino “next chapter,” she will focus on 6” from Regal Films, expressed excitement over tackling a charher businesses. acter that will give him a break “I need to continue being from drama. The two celebrities WORKING MOM since I’m the never really had the chance to SOLE PROVIDER for my sons, date, but ended up as friendly but for now I’ll do it away from colleagues. the stress of the limelight.” “My last show was a serious She also said “this isn’t drama so I’m excited to do goodbye” but a “I think you’ll something that’s very differmiss me and I hope to see you ent—yung medyo pilyo naman, again, soon.” light at nakakatawa,” Dennis This isn’t the first time Kris explained. said she will stay away from Heart shared the same showbiz. In 2013, after a spat sentiments, and said she is also with ex-husband James Yap, looking forward to tackle a Kris said she will resign from totally different character that show business to focus on her will make viewers laugh rather children. than cry. In 2010, she also resigned “I’ve been crying way from her showbiz talk shows after too long on TV,” the actress her brother Benigno Aquino III laughed. “It’s time I do somewas elected as president of the Philippines, only to return as a TV thing like this kasi masyado host a year after via the morning nang seryoso ang buhay.” Heart, who celebrated her talk “Kris TV.” (Philstar.com)
Dennis Trillo and Heart Evangelista
18th anniversary in show business on February 26, admitted she still has some jitters over her role though. “Like they said, it’s a naughty and sexy love story, so I’m sure there will also be a lot of adjustments I have to make.” Heart, who is of course married to senator and vice presidential candidate Chiz Escudero, will be guided by the other side of her public life in terms of just how “naughty” she can get on TV. Incidentally, while busy with an April 4 target airing for “Juan Happy Love Story,” Heart is also juggling her time joining her husband on the campaign trail. She first joined him in Nueva Ecija, which marked her first ever campaign sortie. Of course, the crowds were excited to see Escudero’s famously beautiful wife. They cheered
ManilaTimes.net photo
when Heart said, “Hindi lang siya gwapo, matalino at magaling, may puso pa. Importante at yan sa akin na may puso ka at mahal mo ang bayan. Sumama ako dito kasi kailangan makita ninyo kung gaano kalaki ang puso niya para sa inyo.” As if her plate isn’t full with a prime time series, campaign schedules, not to mention her prolific career as painter Love Marie, Heart also announced that she will soon have a culinary show, which will be shown in the region via cable channel Star World Asia. Dennis, on the other hand, is also enjoying his defending his title as “Lip Sync Battle Philippines’” first weekly winner, imitating local artist Andrew E. in “Andrew Ford Medina,” and bringing the house down with his “rendition” of Sia’s “Chandelier.”