SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, Feb.17 (PIA) -- The Artist Guild of La Union (AGLAUN), in collaboration with the Dalikan La Union Youth Artists Collective and the Local Government of Bauang, launched a mini arts festival at Ciano Umok Art Gallery in Bauang town on Feb. 17.

The mini art festival, dubbed “ebkas” or to express, seeks to bring out what every artist feels through arts to inspire others and themselves. 

The event was participated by around 30 local and young artists of the province. It featured art demonstrations on rubbercut printing, basic clay pot making, painting, and basic sketching. 

Sketchbook show, doodle scroll, and collaborative mural were also held simultaneously.

An art exhibit was also launched to feature paintings from the local artists of Dalikan that spoke about their deep-seated personal perception about environment and social issues.

The exhibit will run until March. 

In his message, John Philip Parmisano, President of AGLAUN, said the activity serves as a reminder of every artist’s capacity to heal and the capability of art to restore and reinspire their drive for progress and growth. 

“It is high time that they get out of the so-called artists’ cocoon. After how many years of living inside their comfort zone, they are creating good art in the process,” said Parmisano.

Meanwhile, the local government of Bauang, led by Mayor Eulogio Clarence Martin De Guzman III, vowed continued support to the arts festival and all the renowned and even up-and-coming local artists. 

“Our mayor is in full support of our local artist not just here in Bauang but in the whole province of La Union. He envisions our municipality to have an Art Haven under Municipal Tourism Office,” said Ricardo Navarro, Jr, municipal tourism officer of Bauang town.

Aside from the province’s vision to be the Heart of Agri-tourism in Northern Luzon by 2025, the group also plans to make La Union the Art Hub of the North. (JCR/MJTAB/KJCR, PIA La Union)