Have you ever felt like all along you’ve been raging and suddenly you found something that calmed your heart as an artwork hit your eyes?
Art can harness the healing power within each and help bring them into community with one another.
When in front of a masterpiece, one is connected to the artist and to others who have experienced it.
And connection, to ourselves and others, is at the core of art and healing.
Healing is not a destination with a fixed timeline or end point but rather a path.
Like each visit with a favorite work of art is a new experience with new insights, healing is a journey with possibilities stretching out in all directions.
If you’re an art enthusiast who is searching for a smaller, more intimate, and less mainstream space in La Union, check out the Ciano Umok Gallery as it features a lesser number of artworks, but the beauty about this is that one can take your time to appreciate each piece of art.
Established in 2017 in a local home at Barangay Palugsi, Bauang, La Union, the Ciano Umok Art Gallery was founded by a visual artist named Cesar “Ciano” Dumo.
Near the gallery is his mini cafe which features local authentic Bauang cuisine that will surely be loved by those craving for native dishes.
The name of the art gallery in the town is in honor of his late grandfather.
“Umok” is an Ilocano term that means bird’s nest where paintings and works are beautifully nestled.
Cesar, the owner of the art gallery, said that when he was young he loved going to the mountains to look for “umok.”
This is the very reason why the art gallery is situated in his ancestral home where one can see a rustic and serene place, feel the fresh air, and listen to the chirping of birds as one sits comfortably on one of the antique chairs under the shady old kamarin.
The subject of his artworks focuses on the environment including landscapes and seascapes because he is an advocate for the preservation of nature.
As time passed by, he ventured into abstraction where he featured normal scenery, a mother and child, farm, among others.
Dumo also said Umok serves as a nest for local artists to bond together and promotes a wide range of art forms, including sculpture, painting, and more.
This free-of-charge gallery features some Ilokano artists every so often, so it feels like raising the flagship of the province -- #tatakLUcal.
“The whole intention naman namin is to develop more ‘yong arts dito, mapolish pa ‘yong talent namin then gusto naming makatulong sa community through ‘yong creativity and talent,” said Dumo.
“Walls are drawn with paintings promoting positivity, information, at mga painting na nakaka-heal,” the local artist said.
Dumo said over the years, he strived harder to come up with piles of masterpieces despite the lack of resources and support from the government.
According to him, he started from nothing and ended up collaborating with Ilocano artists, a mixture of young, neophyte, and seasoned artists who have a strong vision to keep improving their crafts and talents as great artists.
“Masasabi kong fullfiling ‘yong naiinspire ‘yong mga young artists at ‘yong mga pumupunta rito, napi-praise nila ‘yong places, arts at nakakatulong din sa community. Kasi para sa’kin, ‘pag nakainspire ka ng isang tao, malaking bagay na ‘yon kasi pwedeng magbago ‘yong buhay niya,” said Dumo.
In the next few years, the pioneer artist is planning to open his art studio and an overnight nook for Ilokano artists.
Truly, the first art gallery in La Union is a haven for artists and tourists looking for rustic scenery, fresh cool air, peaceful ambiance, and very spectacular scenery as one gazes at the eastern horizon overlooking the panoramic view of the Mt. Puraw of Bauang town. (JCR/AMB/KJCR, PIA La Union)
