Art in the Park 2016

Posted on April 14, 2016

I think my friend Hazel and I are getting into the habit of creating traditions, one out of two thus far is making a date of Art in the Park. Art in the Park is an annual spread of relatively affordable creations scattered around Jaime Velasquez Park in Makati, from paintings to sculptures and various knickknacks, to books, clothes and shoes. There’s music blaring out of speakers, swapped with live performances once the sun goes down. There’s wine and beer, fish balls and dirty ice cream, and of course there’s the steady stream of people, all willing to endure the summer heat for a day of art appreciation and acquisition.

I’ve forgotten the origin story of why we went there last year for the first time. I think Hazel was on a mission to spruce up the bare walls of her office and her bedroom. Unlike her I didn’t have blank, decorate-able space, but I like staring at strange, beautiful things created by people. So I came along. This year, we were driven by the same motivations, and we came out of it with the same sentiments (well, at least I did)—the sun wasn’t any kinder, but it’s always a great high being surrounded by these wonderful and wonderfully weird, manmade things. Half a day spent there is never going to be enough. Let’s make it a whole day affair next year? I want to be there when the fairy lights mark the perimeter of the tents and burst through the low canopies of trees.

“When I’m drivin’ in my car
And that man comes on the radio
And he’s tellin’ me more and more
About some useless information
Supposed to fire my imagination
I can’t get no, oh no no no.”
Rolling Stones feels. Art in the Park 2016

Ilustrados. Art in the Park 2016

No vinyl though. Art in the Park 2016

Marry who? Art in the Park 2016

The Life. Art in the Park 2016

Rakista. Art in the Park 2016

Drum o’clock na. Art in the Park 2016

Girl group. Art in the Park 2016

Aimless portrait. Art in the Park 2016

Ulaaaaaan. Art in the Park 2016

Coffee paintings. Art in the Park 2016

Maineeet. Art in the Park 2016

Lunch. Art in the Park 2016

Overheard: the crowd becomes younger and younger each year!
Thought bubble: because Instagram. Art in the Park 2016

Somebody’s muse. Art in the Park 2016

Morning balloons. Art in the Park 2016

Art in the Park 2016

Candle man. Art in the Park 2016

Minsan ay tila kandilang nauupos
Sa pagod. Art in the Park 2016

Metal fishda. Art in the Park 2016

Purple cross. Art in the Park 2016

“He continued, accepting the invitation to draw out shared memories, old waking dreams. They could have been sitting on a curb outside a bar, watching a Beetle drive away into the purple night.” Songs to Get Over You. Art in the Park 2016

“I’m in the market for birds.” Art in the Park 2016

Bloom. Art in the Park 2016

Ambahan Poetry – Courtship. Art in the Park 2016

Kicks. Art in the Park 2016

“May taong nagagalas na parang luko-luko
Kung saan ka man abutin, cr mo ang buong mundo
Alkohol, alkohol, utak mo’y buhol-buhol”
‘Heads feelings. Art in the Park 2016