Galerie Joaquin and the UPSEAA

My appreciation of painting and other artworks can be compared to the appreciation of an average grade schooler of calculus or advance algebra. Nahh, just kidding. I appreciate music, classic rock music especially. But painting, not much. Not only that they are generally expensive for me, my interest of them is generally passing.

But last September 18, 2012, I joined a number of fellow UP School of Economics (UPSE) alumni in trooping to Galeria Joaquin to see lots of beautiful and rather expensive works of art. The galerie is owned by Jack Teotico, a kind hearted and former President of the UPSE Alumni Association (UPSEAA).

It was actually a fund-raising activity by the UPSEAA. Prices of each art work were as is, no discount. But whatever profit margin by the galerie for the sales that night will all go to the UPSEAA fund as the association is helping our alma mater have a great 50th year anniversary in 2015 or just three years from now. There are grand plans for the school such putting up a new school building, expanding the scholarship fund, creating more professorial chairs, and so on.

That is why I said that Jack is a kind hearted entrepreneur and alumni of the school. Every year, there is a general alumni homecoming, sponsored by graduates 25 years ago. And every year, Jack would donate some art pieces to the school for bidding. Whatever amount to be raised will all go to the SEAA fund. Jack is definitely among the most gallant alumni of the school.

There are other rich alumni too, who gave substantial amount to the school, mainly to modernize each classroom. If you see the classrooms there, you will be impressed, they are word-class lecture rooms with high tech facilities -- all from donations of alumni. The taxpayers subsidy alloted for the school only goes for the maintenance (electricity, water, books, office supplies, etc.) as well as salaries of faculty and staff.

Me, I went there just to eat as I knew that Jack would prepare really yummy food for all guests, buyers or plain kibitzers. I was not disappointed as the food was really nice. But I was disappointed also because I thought that there would be some medium or high octane drinks, say 17 percent alcohol content red wine or even 5 percent serbesa, there was none. Disappointing Jack! :-)

There were lots of juices, soda and water.

ArtEconomics, September 18, 2012

For lovers of the arts and painting, here is a good chance to pick really wonderful artworks from 20 different artists. Just look at the design below, really creative and artistic.

The event will actually run for a week, the 18th is only the opening of the exhibit. This is a fund raising activity  for my alma mater, the University of the Philippines School of Economics (UPSE), initiated by the UPSE Alumni Association. I finished my AB Economics and Diploma in Development Economics from this school.

Here are more details, released today:

Over 125 Artworks, 20 Artists Featured

UPSEAA LAUNCHES ARTECONOMICS: FUND RAISER FOR FACULTY DEVELOPMENT AND SCHOLARSHIPS

The UP School of Economics Alumni Association (UPSEAA) announced today the launching of ARTECONOMICS, a major fundraising effort for the benefit of the Jose P. Encarnacion Endowment Fund for Faculty Development and for the UPSEAA Scholarship Fund.  ARTECONOMICS, an art exhibit is slated to open on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 at Galerie Joaquin Main in P. Guevarra st., Addition Hills, San Juan and runs until September 25, 2012.

Over 125 paintings and sculptures from more than twenty top modern and contemporary artists will be featured in the project. The artworks are by renowned artists such as National Artist Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, National Artist Arturo Luz, National Artist Abdul Mari Imao, Presidential Medal of Merit awardee Juvenal Sanso, sculptors Ramon Orlina and Glenn Cagandahan, modern masters Angelito Antonio, Mario Parial, and senior artists Lydia Velasco, Carlo Magno and Dominic Rubio. Other artists are Jerry Morada, Vincent de Pio, Aileen Lanuza, Karina Baluyut, Aldrino Abes, Jovan Benito and many more.

UPSEAA hopes this will be a welcome opportunity for its alumni and friends of the alumni to acquire good quality art and at the same time be able to help their alma mater.

A website, http://galeriejoaquin.com/arteconomics will be available for this project by the first week of September.  Before that, the organizing committee of ARTECONOMICS will be sending images of the selected artworks as they become available via email and Facebook.

Various methods of payment are available to interested alumni and alumni friends. These can be via credit card, PAYPAL, check, telegraphic transfer or cash. Installment plans via accredited credit card companies can also be availed of.  Even foreign based alumni and alumni friends can participate in this project and avail of any of the artworks offered. Shipment arrangements can be done by UPSEAA and the cooperating gallery. Interested parties can reserve or acquire the artworks as soon as the images become available 

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As for me, I don't have sufficient wealth to purchase possibly any of the paintings there, but I will attend the opening of the exhibit on the 18th. Please pass the info to your friends, whether they are UP alumni or not.

Cheers.