Asian Fortune Your source for all things Asian American
By Jennie L. Ilustre
Photos: JLI
BALTIMORE, Maryland–Two years after the project began, Towson University formally launched “Art Filipino: Works by Master Artists,” on September 14.
This is the university’s first exhibit showcasing works of Filipino American artists in the area, as well as treasures by Filipino National Artists and masters like Amorsolo, Joya and Rodriguez.
The project was the idea of Suewhei Shieh, who retired in August after serving as director of the university’s Asian Arts & Culture Center (AACC) for 27 years.
“This is such a wonderful day, thanks to so many people who collaborated to make it a reality,” she said in an interview. “I really wanted to mount this exhibit before my retirement, because it has never been done before.”
She said she collaborated with several people, beginning with Philippine Deputy Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega in New York. In November last year, she travelled to Manhattan “to see their art collection, and I was very impressed.”
Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia Jr. (in Philippine Barong Tagalog) formally opens the first Filipino art exhibit in Towson University’s Asian Arts and Cultural Center in Baltimore. From left: Deputy Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega in New York; Susan Piccinich, Dean of College of Fine Arts and Communication; Cuisia; Tony Montcalmo, AACC Advisory Board president; and Narissa Paglinauan Daniels, AACC Program Manager.
Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia Jr. acknowledged the historic exhibit and thanked Towson University and AACC officials, the artists and collectors, as well as community support in the success of the project.
Deputy Consul General Dizon-De Vega acknowledged the exhibit was “a joint effort” of many dedicated people.
She also invited those present “to visit us in New York –we also have exhibits at the Center’s lobby every fortnight.” She also said a book on the works of National Artists was available at the Philippine Center’s website.
Art’s role
In her remarks, AACC Program Manager Narissa Paglinauan Daniels, who is of Philippine ancestry, quoted Picasso who said, “Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
The exhibit runs until October 26 at the Asian Arts Gallery, Center for the Arts. The Philippine Center in New York could not lend its entire collection.
Some paintings are courtesy of Filipino American artists, such as artist and “Brown Strokes on White Canvas” annual exhibit leader Julian Oteyza, whose works were featured in the Washington Post.
Art collectors included Mel Odilao of Washington, D.C., who made his Amorsolo painting available for the exhibit, and Luis Florendo of Baltimore, who was one of the big supporters of the project.
Former AACC Director Shieh remarked, “It’s amazing to see this region become a place where appreciation of the art and culture of Asia has roots and a home.”
The Asian Arts & Culture Center at Towson University promotes the art and cultures of Asia through outstanding programming designed to benefit students, faculty, artists, and the local and regional community.
The Asian Arts & Culture Center began in 1971 in the College of Fine Arts and Communication, thanks to a bequest by local business owner Frank Roberts of his collection of Chinese and Japanese ivory carvings to the university.
