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[av_heading heading=’MY LIFE AS ART | The 10k Peter’s Prize for Visual Arts ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY PETER SOLIS NERY
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Monday, June 19, 2017
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FOR THE first time since the first edition of the Peter’s Prize of The Peter Solis Nery Foundation for Hiligaynon Literature and the Arts, Inc. in 2013, we are opening a competitive category for Excellence in the Visual Arts (Painting) this year.
Instead of the usual first, second and third prizes, I have decided to just give one P10,000 prize to the winner, in addition to the specially crafted Peter’s Prize medallion, and the honor of being the Foundation’s first ambassador for visual arts.
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The competition is open to all nationalities, Filipinos and non-Filipinos. I’m not racist. Although I’m really just banking on Panayanons and people of the neighboring islands.
But, but, but… participants need not be domiciled in the Visayan islands only either. They may come from Mindanao or Luzon. Hey, they may even be from abroad!
We just need to receive their submissions on, but preferably before, the deadline of Aug. 20.
Open to all ages. I’m not ageist. If a seven-year-old paints a better picture than a 70-year-old, what’s stopping us from honoring the young Picasso? If a 107-year-old wants to win the prize, what reason do we have to stop Methuselah?
Open to all levels. I do not distinguish between amateurs and professionals, mid-career artists, or first-timers, formally schooled, or self-taught. Let’s have a healthy competition. Can the masters beat the newbies in the Peter’s Prize painting contest?
If a painting is great, a painting is great. I don’t care who painted it. I don’t care if he has a Fine Arts degree. Or if he used his foot to paint.
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In fact, I don’t care much for abstract painting at this time. That’s why, I have chosen a theme.
But the rationale for the theme is also to marry literature and visual arts.
Ah, take a second look at the name of my foundation again— …Foundation for Hiligaynon Literature and the Arts, Inc. See?
How does that marriage work?
Well, first, we look at one of the greatest, if not the greatest, magic realism story in contemporary Hiligaynon literature. Then, we ask the participating artists to paint a picture based on the story.
They can paint a scene from the story.
They can paint the whole story in one canvas. If they think they can.
They can even paint just a portrait of a character from the story. If that’s their choice.
My only requirement is that when we look at the painting, we remember, or see something of, the story.
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What story? Oh, of course, it has to be my first Palanca gold medalist. The magic realist story of Lirio, the deaf-mute girl who turned into a lily.
“Lirio”, in original Hiligaynon, can be found on my website. Look for it under the tab “Hiligaynon.”
Go visit, www.petersolisnery.com
It is also available in the brilliant English translation by UP Prof. Celia F. Parcon. See recent posts on my website.
Some younger artists have complained that they cannot understand the whole gamut of my literary and sophisticated Hiligaynon. Growing up with slang, they think my Hiligaynon vocab is “too deep.” So, I’m posting the English translation for their benefit.
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I chose “Lirio” for theme and source of inspiration because I think the story lends itself very easily to the visual medium of painting.
Consider:
The birth of Lirio surrounded by a large swarm of butterflies.
Lirio in her dreamlike baptismal rites.
Lirio and the albino bestfriend.
Lirio in her flower garden.
Lirio and Noli kissing in the garden.
Lirio being chased by her drunk husband.
Lirio being raped by Itik Lugay.
Butterflies coming out of Lirio’s mouth.
Lirio transforming into a lily.
The possibilities are not only endless. They are amazing!
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Open medium. Acrylic, oil, watercolor, pastel, charcoal, ink, mixed media, whatever. On canvas, paper, wood, cloth, whatever rocks your world.
Some say they can paint with mud. Go ahead.
Crayons? Colored pencils? I don’t really care for them, but my advisers say they are okay. They just have to “fix” these things. Like when you fix charcoal drawings and portraits. Maybe frame them?
Relief sculptures? Go ahead. But let’s limit the thickness to 4 inches, is that clear?
Open medium boosts creativity. Open size, too? 3 feet by 2 feet, minimum size. Artists can better play in a bigger canvas/paper. And I’m telling you, “Lirio” subjects and scenes or themes would feel better in a bigger frame. Trust me.
You plan to make a 6 feet by 9 feet painting? I won’t stop you. Just remember that the contest prize remains at P10,000.
But, if you think like me, you would want to be around 3 feet by 3 feet.
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Here’s the thing. You can paint a P50,000 worth of art work. If you win the prize, you get P10,000. But, your art remains yours. So, you can also sell it at P50,000. Or P150,000, if there are takers.
I only ask that you give me the first option to buy your winning work at your calling price.
And all artworks accepted or shortlisted in the contest, top winner included, must give me the right to a print. I think this is usually just a photograph of the art work.
Your art remains your property, you just have to give me the publication right to a print. Like, if we publish a catalogue or coffeetable book of the entries. Or, if I want to use it as cover photo for a book.
For merchandise like postcards, postersize prints, t-shirts, we can discuss that later. Who knows the possibilities of a Peter’s Prize-winning painting?
Rest assured, I’m not going to make money out of your work. I mean, I won’t steal from you. I just want to promote your art. I want you to get money for your work.
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The contest starts June 20.
You submit on or before the Aug. 20 deadline. Two months should be enough to paint a picture from a story, right?
We award the winner on Sept. 5.
You submit, we receive. We screen. Like shortlisting. We decide on which will be “accepted” to the contest. We have to maintain some level of standard, you know. This is THE Peter’s Prize for Visual Arts, after all!
All accepted/shortlisted entries will be displayed in a gallery. How else will the public see your work? How will the buyers know what to buy if they can’t see it?
Yes, there will be a gallery opening, and you can bring your friends. We will make that the event to be in in September.
I’m not sure yet. But we might have the awarding at the opening of the exhibition, too.
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I will announce where to submit your work soon enough. And in which gallery they will be displayed.
For now, just read the “Lirio” story, start planning your work, may be even start painting already!
You know the mechanics, you know the prize. Let’s do this!/PN
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