Bucking Superstition and Lethargy Cultural Center Revives 'Thirteen Artists' Program
Bucking Superstition and Lethargy
Cultural Center Revives 'Thirteen Artists' Program
By Cesare A.X. Syjuco
Published in: The Manila Times, July 08, 1987
AGAIN in our mail is still another letter from CCP's newly-appointed Coordinator for the Visual Arts, Judy Freya Sibayan, addressed to this writer and postmarked June 26. The diminutive Ms. Sibayan, obviously a firm believer in mail-order diplomacy, explains in this most recent correspondence that CCP's Contemporary Art Museum of the Philippines (CAMP) is reviving its "13 Artists Program," begun in 1970 and shelved for no apparent reason a full decade later in 1980.
"This grant," explains Sibayan, "was given to artists young in their careers, but (who were) well on their way to being potentially committed as professional artists who (could) make positive contributions to their society through their art." She also mentions that some of the program's past beneficiaries have included Eduardo, Castrillo (1970), Danny Dalena and Johnny Manahan (1972), Rudy Samonte, Nonon Padilla and Nestor Vinluan (1974), Lao Lianben, Genara Banzon (1976), Lani Maestro (1978) and Nelfa Querubin (1980), among others.
Clearly intended to impress us with tangible proof of that program's exceptional harvest in only ten fruitful seasons, the list illustrates how quickly some of our "young" artists have aged in so short a time. It also serves to illustrate just how urgently the CCP needs a new bumper-crop of fresh young faces, lest it die from malnutrition and growing public disdain.
The grant for 1988 will carry a generous purse of P5,000 per recipient, whose new works will likewise be presented at the CCP as was the practice in past years.
Sibayan has rather solicitously requested our help in her search for these 13 artists. Asking us to suggest possible awardees, she points out that each of them "must have a body of works that speaks of (his/her) potential," adding that said nominees should not be "complete unknown(s)."
Now, this is a tall order to say the least, if not a little paradoxical at best. On the one hand, Sibayan insists that the choice be limited to young upstarts -- "potential professionals," or "serious artists in the making." On the other hand, she requires that nominees be armed with a significant body of works to prove their potential, and cautions further against "complete unknowns." This is an ominous set of requirements, and one that seems suspiciously tailor-made for a peculiar new breed of high-profile tyros who are served up by their teachers as instant darlings of the gallery and media circuits -- long before they are graduated from college.
Be that as it may, we will be publishing a list of our own nominees for the "13 Artists Program" in a forthcoming issue, not only to assist CAMP in this otherwise-commendable search, but also to give due recognition to these artists -- some of whom may not fare as well in CPP's final reckoning for reasons obviously beyond our control.
In the meantime, some thoughts come readily to mind. With Sibayan acting merely as a "coordinator" for this project by official designation, who is to serve as judge in the determination of the final outcome? Then, too, if an artist's "positive contribution to (his) society through (his) art" is indeed an important consideration in CAMP's selection, would it not be far more ennobling to choose at least a few disabled artists from the many who have come to our attention in recent months? And what of the creative talents among our cultural minorities? Or those tragically obscure "grassroots artists" too poor to make their presence felt? Can CCP defend its position in such matters when Anna Leah de Leon comes banging on its door?
Organizations or individuals who wish to submit their own nominations, comments or suggestions, are encouraged to write directly to Ms. Judy Sibayan, c/o CAMP, c/o Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Boulevard, Manila. A program of such far-reaching dimensions deserves everyone's concern and participation. (Next : Syjuco's nominees.)
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Cesare A.X. Syjuco, “Bucking Superstition and Lethargy Cultural Center Revives 'Thirteen Artists' Program” (page 1 of 1), The Manila Times, July 08, 1987
