Renowned Fil-Am Artist Nilo Santiago Exhibits Paintings of PH Historic Churches, Women’s Fashion
From left: Public Diplomacy Officer of the Philippine Embassy and Sentro Rizal Washington DC Administrator Darell Ann R. Artates; artist Nilo M. Santiago; PALM Steering Committee member and President of the Philippine National History Society Dr. Bernardita Churchill; community leader, artist, and founder of Mabuhay, Inc Mencie Hairston; PALM Steering Committee member Rosalinda Yangas; and community leader and one of PALM’s founders Jon Melegrito. (Washington PE photo)
WASHINGTON, D.C. 27 June 2018 – Sentro Rizal Washington D.C. and the Philippine Arts, Letters and Media Council, Inc. (PALM) collaborated to mount an exhibition of the recent artworks of renowned Filipino-American artist Nilo M. Santiago at the Philippine Chancery Building, in commemoration of the 157th birth anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal. The exhibit was inaugurated on 20 June 2018.
A graduate of the University of Santo Tomas Fine Arts School, Santiago has been working for the past twenty years as an artist in the metropolitan Washington area: as a creative designer, a commercial printer, and a painter in various media. He is a winner of numerous awards in national competitions in the United States, and served as the official illustrator of the U.S. Air Force for many years.
For this exhibition, Santiago is showcasing his works on “Philippine Historic Churches and Women’s Fashion at the Turn of the Century.”
“I wanted to preserve the look of those old churches in my mind and in my paintings which led to my Series on Historic Churches,” Santiago explained during his presentation.
“I am also glad to show the progression of women’s fashion through the ages in the Philippines. I am amazed by the materials like piña cloth and the incredible weaving and embroideries which took hours, days, or even weeks to accomplish,” he further said.
The experience of appreciating Santiago’s drawings of women’s fashion at the turn of the century is enhanced by the “Hibla ng Lahing Filipino” (Textiles of the Filipino People) exhibition featuring piña-seda cloths, which debuted in the United States on 10 June 2018.
The launch of Santiago’s exhibition is a result of the tireless efforts of PALM’s Steering Committee, which is composed of: history professor and culture enthusiast Dr. Bernardita Churchill; Ms. Lyta Sese; Ms. Arabella Harmon Horwitz, who turned over books to the Sentro Rizal Library; and Ms. Rosalinda Yangas, who introduced the artist at the exhibit launch.
In her remarks, Philippine Embassy Public Diplomacy Officer and Sentro Rizal Washington D.C. Administrator Darell Ann R. Artates outlined the upcoming activities of the center, including a possible film-showing in August, and the launch of the book “The New Filipino Kitchen: Stories and Recipes from Around the Globe” on 27 September 2018 at Kramerbooks and Afterwords in Washington, D.C.
On behalf of Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez, Artates also thanked the individuals and groups who continue to support Sentro Rizal Washington D.C. She cited Manila-based painter Celeste Lecaroz, and the youth-led advocacy group Project Saysay whose contributions of a portrait of Dr. Jose Rizal and ten portraits of great Filipinos, respectively, have considerably enriched the cultural resources of the center.
The exhibition of Santiago’s recent works and the “Hibla ng Lahing Filipino” piña-seda displays are open for viewing at the Philippine Embassy Chancery Annex until 16 July 2018, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, except on weekends and holidays. END
For more information, visit www.washingtonpe.dfa.gov.ph/ www.philippineembassy-usa.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHinUSA @philippinesusa on Twitter
Guests view and admire the works of Filipino-American artist Nilo M. Santiago. Nilo Santiago has said that he prefers subjects that are “interesting, colorful and at times, thought-provoking.” (Washington PE photo)
PALM Steering Committee member Arabella Harmon Horwitz turns over books to the Sentro Rizal Washington D.C. Library. (Washington PE photo)
A portrait of Dr. Jose Rizal by Manila-based artist Celeste Lecaroz is now displayed at Sentro Rizal Washington D.C. (Washington PE photo)
Sentro Rizal Washington D.C. gratefully receives ten portraits of great Filipinos from Project Saysay, a youth-led advocacy with a mission to spread the ideas and values of great Filipino forebears by generating relevant, useful, and inspiring quotes and other information sourced from Philippine history. (Washington PE photo)