Neo-Angono’s Public Art Conference set forth to Creative City Development

The Neo-Angono Artists Collective and Japan Foundation-Tokyo held a free three-day art seminar/conference entitled “A Multi-Lateral- Country Conference and Feasibility Workshop on Public Art as a Step Towards Creative City Development” in Angono, Rizal last November 18 to 20, 2009. This served as a preface to Neo-Angono’s 6th Public Art Festival held last November 20 to 22. (sponsor - It is also presented in part by University of Rizal System-Angono and the Office of the Municipal Mayor Hon. Aurora A. Villamayor.

Directed by Mr. Richard R. Gappi, the conference generally aimed to convey to the delegates worldwide how public art evolves as a step in creative city development. Eventually, delegates would then be expected to relay and render this knowledge once they got back to their respective countries.

Various speakers who attended the conference were:

- University of the Philippines Professor Alice Guillermo who addressed the “Role of Angono, Rizal in Contemporary Philippine Art” - National Artist for Literature Professor Bienvenido Lumbera on the “Literature as History, History as Literature” - UP Prof. Carmelo Vim Nadera on the “Tapping the Human Artistry and Creativity” - Palanca Hall of Famer poet and critic Roberto Anonuevo on the “Poetry as Reflection of Communal Psychology” - Poet and musician Jesus Manuel Santiago on the “Community Music as Language of the People” - Indonesian artist Ms. Arahmaiani on the “Methods of Production of Public Art in Yogyakarta” - Art Historian Thanavi Chotpradit of Thailand, “The Relationship and Tension between Public Art and the Public” - South Korean artist, curator, and scholar Jang Un Kim on “Community and Economy: The Case of Mae-in Market” - Mr. Shimoda Nobuhisa of Japan, “Conference on Arts and Art Projects” - Ms. Kaori Okado of Japan on the “Art Projects to Revive a City from Earthquakes and Art as a Safety Network” - U.P. Prof. Patrick Flores on the “Filipinos’ Views on Public Art” - Ms. Urbana Cadiz of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts on the “On Government and Private Bodies Awarding Grants to Artists” - Japanese scholar Dr. Mayasuki Sasaki on the “Creative City and the Quality of Life” - Playwright and lawyer Nicolas Pichay on the “On Censorship, Intellectual Property Rights, and the Artists’ Rights Under the Philippine Constitution”; and, - Angono artist Nemesio Miranda Jr. on the “Balancing Art and the Business of Art, Crafts and Tourism.”

The delegates were media personalities like Nyunt Win of Burma, Liew Kung Yu of Malaysia, and Engr. Emilnor Pasion, writers Mari-An Santos and Enrique Villasis, architect Anna Marie Gonzales and theater artist Michael Ian T. Lomongo of the Philippines.

This conference was also a follow up to the East Asia Leader Program entitled “Urban Community Development Inspired by Culture: The Potential of Creative Cities” from where one member of the Neo-Angono Artists Collective participated in.

Neo-Angono is non-profit, artist-centered, committed to experimentation organization that recognizes the need to contribute to art research and education, and welcomes support and advice from colleagues and critics. It has participated in art festivals and exhibits such the 2nd Tupada international Action Art Event in February 2005, 4th Philippine International Performance Art Festival in September 2005, the Philippine Art Festival by National Commission for Culture and the Arts in February 2008, among others.

The seminar entitled “A Multi-Lateral- Country Conference and Feasibility Workshop on Public Art as a Step Towards Creative City Development” was presented in part by University of Rizal System-Angono and the Office of the Municipal Mayor Hon. Aurora A. Villamayor.

For more information about the event, do visit the website at www.neo-angono.com.