Time to be getting Philippine paintings

Title

Language

English

Source

The American Chamber of Commerce Journal Volume 9 (No. 5) May 1929

Year

1929

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

4 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL May, 1929 company, and the truth disclosed. The Spanish ships of war do not bear the mark of one American shell near or below their water lines. . . For several years after the American occupation no attempt was made to raise the sunken Spanish vessels, although they impeded the free navigation of Cavite bay. Finally, however, the government advertised for bids for raising the vessels. Four companies in all undertook the work and failed.” One of these was a Chinese company, another a Hongkong company. Captain C. F. Garry, oldtimer in such work, and Captain Couden of the navy are the men who succeeded. “According to the official reports of Admiral Montojo the vessels were set on fire by the shells of the American squadron, and were afterwards scuttled by his orders when resistance was impossible.” The company which raised the ships was the Philippine Salvage As sociation, John Macleod, president, Captain Garry, manager. Admiral Montojo’s watch was found on his flagship, the Maria Cristina, salvaged to be converted into a collier. Time to be Getting Philippine Paintings The art which finds expression with brush and canvas underwent a long eclipse with the end of the old regime and the advent of the new in the Rivera y Mir ¡ Lighting Up Philippines: there is a vacuity, almost, of thirty years between Luna of the Spanish period and Amorsolo of the American. There is also, between the subjects these men choose, the natural contrast to be expected. But that is a theme apart, to be gone into a little more before comment is ventured. It is enough to say here that Fernando Amorsolo chooses typical Philip pine subjects, those of the commonest observa tion of everyone: a peasant girl, a rural scene, a cochero. Admirers are commencing to ac quire Amor solos, and it is time they did so. He does more than depict the likeness, he imbues his subjects with that pleasant dreamy soul which is their heritage. At leisure, look his work over. It is well worth having. Fernando Amorsolo was graduated from the Philippine School of Fine Arts in 1914 and is now an instructor there. He first exhibited in 1908 and has been drudging away eve^ since, lately finding customers, chiefly Americans, for his product. He probably has not attained his utmost height in expression: he fancies the individualism of Chinese and Japanese pictorial art and thinks Philippine art may eventually acquire a racial distinction. His effort in con junction with his better known colleagues in Manila to establish a society of artists failed for lack of funds and public interest. It was too early. But he is yet in his prime, hope lies Fernando Amorsolo The Ferry ahead. He produces prodigiously. There are enough of these youngsters doing occasional really good pieces to support the Art Store on Rizal avenue, which is quite worth a visit any time. Another ambitious artist is a connecting link between old times and new, Vicente Rivera y Mir, who plans introducing action study in the fine arts school next year, a course which re quires observation of people in everyday life; so you see the creative desire actually exists. Rivera was about to be pensioned to Europe when the Americans came, which ended the plan. His Fisherman of Tondo received second honors at St. Louis; he has enjoyed first honors in local exhibitions, including portrait painting in the Carnival competition of last year. He advocates pensioning only mature artists to go abroad, and thinks the youthful ones too much inclined to enjoyment and wasting opportunities. He believes artists could be advantageously employed in the beautifying of Manila. And pray why not the provinces, where youth might well receive other esthetic inspirations than unkempt plazas and glaring tin roofs? Jorge Pineda does lithograph subjects to keep rice in the pot and fish in the ulam, but hankers for landscapes and plans some day to give all his time to them. They are nowhere more abundant and inviting than in these islands, he will find studies on every hand. Thus a number of artists are beginning, and no one may predict how far one and another of them will go, now that the government displays intermittent symptoms of interest and the painters who have proved worthwhile are commencing to have customers. The movement is timely. Some thing is taking hold on the people with a tonic effect, and it ought to be recorded. CAPTAIN CALVO Premier Filipino aviator used— SDCONY MOTOR OILS AND MOTOR GASOLINE ON HIS MANILA — APARRI — MANILA FLIGHT I i IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL

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