Victor Espinosa (Bong Espinosa)
Monday, April 07, 2008
Dabawenyo artist gets fellowship grant in US
By Emi Alexander Englis
HOMEGROWN visual artist Victor "Bong" Espinosa is geared up for a four-week, partially funded Asian Artist Fellowship and Residency Grant at the Vermont Studio Center (VSC) in Vermont, New York, USA, starting on March 30 until April 25.
This come close to Spring season when the Vermont art community bursts into a hustle and bustle of creative exchanges and endeavors by artists from all corners of the world.
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Espinosa is among over 600 painters, sculptors, and writers this year who will troop down Vermont to share their manifold experiences in a variety of expressions articulating the universality of their distinct art-making.
He will now be joining the prestigious roster of Dabawenyos who previously had their stint in Vermont and brought home productive experiences by working on their own creative areas and exchanging ideas with artists of similar high caliber.
The cream of the crop includes Bert Monterona, who is now a resident artist in Canada; Philip Somozo, who just returned home to foster further creative endeavors; surrealist Bien Bones Banez, who chose New York to be his home base and had since been reaping rave reviews; and modern symbolist Ega Carreon, also on arts and antiques expert, who successfully brought local Artisthood to exhibitions in various cities in the US.
The most recent of which was last year's group art show at the Philippine Center in Manhattan, New York, which Espinosa spearheaded and also participated in.
Espinosa's objective of promoting the dynamism and universality of the Dabawenyo soul further earned for him the support of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts' Committee on Visual Arts, who will also fund his travel to Vermont under its Program for Artistic Excellence-Support for Young Artists. This came worthy with Espinosa's extensive and professional portfolio.
Since 1988, his seven solo exhibitions and more than 40 group shows prominently expressed his Dabawenyo spirit which extended beyond the canvas to include involvements among local cultural communities by advocating a better understanding and respect for their culture, arts and life, in general.
This was again evident in his appropriated body of works from the Book Illustration project commissioned by Tricom in late 2006, which will soon be published relative to his studio and residency works in Vermont. Upon completion, it will be scheduled for a series of expositions here and abroad as part of its project implementation.
Bringing the traditional images and the rare stories of the tribal minorities in the outside world as approved by the VSC will be the expected results for social awareness so that generations may know their ancestral practices, existence, systems, culture and their knowledge.
Remarkably, the artist's body of ethnic-inspired works is no stranger to both local and international art scenes. His sterling performing as finalist in the International Symbolist Juried Art Show in Canada paved the way for him to break into the global arena in 2002.
His repeated inclusion in the Internet International Art and Photo Contests in Japan on 2003 and 2004, respectively, further poised him for more artistic accomplishments worldwide.
Among them are: Phases of Eve, where he was chosen from among 40 emerging international artists; Beyond the Barrelman Juried International Show, wherein two of his artworks were exhibited in Chicago, USA in 2005. The following year, his works were showcased in "Time Frames," a cross-culture exhibit in Washington, DC. Just last year, his artwork "Daba-daba" was published and circulated globally in Artwanted and Artslam table calendar.
His 2008 year-ender participation to the North America Small Works exhibition and ongoing online juried competition has ended late December, adding yet another feather in his cap. After his stint in Vermont, Espinosa is scheduled to stage his first US solo exhibition in New Jersey, upon the invitation of an education technocrat, Dr. Loretta Osakwe, former chairperson of the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
From March 30 to April 25, Espinosa will experience more than the blooms of spring when he joins over 600 artists in creative exchanges with such potent media in painting, sculpture, and writing.
He will put on map Davao's artistic fare as other artists, from all corners of the world, put their acts and newfound visions together.
Espinosa's brave visions have matured in time and have enriched with immersions and experiences in the real life setting among indigenous communities in Mindanao. It was further expressed in the global culture with his previous and recent exposure trips in USA, specifically New York, modern art capitol of North America
