The Pasakalye Group of Artist and the Artist Guild of Itogon (AGI) in partnership with SM City Baguio opens the “Art in Bloom: Maki Arts Tayo Ngarud” to the public from February 1 to April 11, located at the Lower Basement Level Gallery and at the Upper Ground Level between Uniqlo and H&M in celebration of National Arts Month.
To celebrate National Arts Month, The Art in Bloom: Maki Arts Tayo Ngarud is a project that hopes to help uplift the local art community by displaying over 180 art pieces and 3D sculptures of established and emerging artists from Baguio City, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay (BLISTT). This is to give an opportunity to expand their reach and a larger platform for budding and blooming artists.
Maki-Arts Tayo Ngarud is translated “Let us join the arts” with the Ilocano expression “ngarud”. This is a call to the people to join the bandwagon to the arts.
Pasakalye Group of Artist representative Maricar Docyogen said, “Interestingly, these lockdowns gave some people the epiphany to arts. Other than sitting through browsing online, some discovered art appreciation and began their art collections. But most of all, more and more people have discovered their hands to visual arts. As people continue to struggle with this pandemic, art became the outlet for dreams and aspirations, of beauty beyond the difficulty, and of hope.”
“When we were asked to join Art in bloom with Pasakalye Group, I was happy to join my team to have their first exposure since most of our members are first timers specially in painting on a canvas, it was a thrilling scene, I’m very proud of the output and some of them accomplished an unexpected master of works. This is the first time AGI held an exhibit since we are a fresh group and we are thankful for this invitation. As the president of the guild and in behalf of my participating artists and members of AGI, we thank you for giving us this opportunity and hope it will not be the first and last but many more opportunities to come.” Artist Guild of Itogon president, Joey Simsim said.
Through the years, SM City Baguio has continuously helped in supporting the local art community as they recognize their importance to uphold and express creativity and culture. Just recently, the mall welcomes local performers and musicians to freely busk within different areas to widen their audience.
For more information, visit or message SM City Baguio’s official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/smcitybaguio. By Jessica Joy Fernando
