Music, Art and Friends!

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Naïve Art Cebu

In February, we had a very special visit from two of Paulina’s closest Japanese friends – Mizue Kikuchi- Hoshi and Masatomo “Tomo” Toyoda.

They all met in the 90’s in Battig (ancestral home of the Sala Family and headquarters of both the Salvador and Pilar Sala Foundation and the Cebu Youth Symphony Orchestra/CYSO). Paulina was a pioneering member of the orchestra playing the flute while Mizue and Tomo were Japanese volunteers teaching and playing the violin and cello respectively.

At the Lobby of West Gorordo Hotel – Mizue, Tomo, Pau and Lucas

At the Lobby of West Gorordo Hotel – Tomo, Mizue, Pau and Lucas

At WGH’s Journeys Cafe – Mizue enjoying some fried bananas, her favourite snack while a volunteer here in Cebu in the 90’s

Pau and Tomo in front of cello-themed art at MoNA

“I found it! This art belongs to me…I’ve been wondering all these years who stole it from me!” Tomo jokingly said to Paulina since this piece was hanging in his apartment the whole time he was a volunteer here in Cebu. Paulina had loaned it to him so his walls would not be so bare.

Three friends brought together by music and now reunited with art in the background..

Mizue, Pau and Tomo at the MoNA

You two are going to be angels, ok?! Pau said to Mizue and Tomo.

Paulina with Mizue and Tomo, the flying heart birds

So why were Tomo and Mizue in town? To participate in the reunion concert of the CYSO with our beloved mentor/founder concert pianist Madame Ingrid Sala-Santamaria. Check out concert poster below..

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Poster of Ingrid: Grand Finale Concert

During rehearsals: Quick photo with Madame Ingrid L-R: Dennis Sugarol, Tomo, Paulina and Lucas, Madame Ingrid and Mizue

Photo with another CYSO pioneer Hannah Magdadaro and her daughters

Rehearsals at USP Lahug

Ingrid: Grand Finale Afternoon concert.

Thank you Mizue and Tomo for dropping by the MoNA! Keep playing music and stay in touch with us- your friends in Cebu! See you again!

ABS-CBN Kapamilya Features the MoNA

Posted on March 2, 2017 by Naïve Art Cebu

Maayong Buntag Kapamilya Segment Producer Nichee Orocio recently interviewed Paulina Constancia for a special feature on the ABS-CBN morning program. The segment was televised on Friday, February 24th.

Kapamilya Segment Producer Nichee interviews Paulina at the MoNA

Nichee interviews Paulina about MoNA’s expressive arts workshop conducted for marginalized women and children.

There was special interest in MoNA’s on-going exhibition “Spontaneous Strokes” which was an output of an expressive arts workshop facilitated by artist Paulina Constancia for young survivors of violence and human trafficking.

Producer and cameraman pose with the birds at MoNA

Maayong Buntag Kapamilya aired the MONA feature on Friday, February 24th.
Click on this link to watch episode on ABS-CBN

Kindai Uni students MoNA workshops (4 of 4)

Posted on March 1, 2017 by Naïve Art Cebu

Thank you Professor Andrew Atkins and students of Kindai University for making MoNA a part of your sustainability tour of Cebu. Thank you for the opportunity to share a little bit of Cebuano arts and culture with you.

Here are our photos taken inside the MoNA.

Kindai University group led by Professor Andrew Atkins at the MoNA with artist Paulina and son Lucas

Photo at the MoNA with Paulina, Lucas and Edna Lee of the Psychology Volunteers (far left)

Another photo of the Kindai University group with Professor Atkins, artist Paulina and son Lucas

Daghang Salamat!
Thank you very much!
Arigatou gozaimasu!

Kindai Uni students MoNA workshops (3 of 4)

Posted on March 1, 2017 by Naïve Art Cebu

MoNA’s Paulina Constancia had the pleasure of providing welcome and closing workshops for a group of Kindai University students led by Professor Andrew Atkins during their Sustainability Tour of Cebu.

Below are some photos from the Closing workshop led by Paulina called “Lasting Impressions”:

Show & Tell- always the best part of a workshop! Here’s artist/facilitator Paulina with her co-teacher Lucas listening to one of the Kindai uni students

And here are their Lasting Impressions of Cebu:

Many shared that having seen how Cebuanos in difficult situations still manage to smile and be friendly, they feel that they too should pledge to smile often and be grateful for all their blessings. Another common reflection shared was how the experiences have opened their eyes to the harsh realities of the third world and that it is important for them to commit in their own ways to be an instrument or bridge for change and help to reach those in dire need in the Philippines.

Kindai Uni students MoNA workshops (2 of 4)

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Naïve Art Cebu

Here’s Paulina with her co-teacher Lucas (her son) during the Welcome Workshop with the Kindai University students.

Below are the creations of the Kindai uni students during the Welcome Workshop facilitated by Paulina Constancia. Simply amazing !!!

Paulina teaches the group a special song she wrote to wish them all a Fruitful Stay in Cebu!

Kindai Uni students MoNA workshops (1 of 4)

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Naïve Art Cebu

A group of Kindai University students led by their professor Andrew Atkins is in town for a sustainability tour in Cebu. The Psychology Volunteers on Bikes, The Cebu trio of permaculture hotels: West Gorordo Hotel, Elicon House and Mayflower Inn and the MoNA are teaming up to give these students meaningful experiences during their visit to Cebu.

Here are some photos of the welcome workshop facilitated by MoNA’s Paulina Constancia. The workshop was intended to give the Japanese uni students tidbits of the local culture by means of an ntroduction to fruits and expressions. Paulina aptly called the session “Finger Fruits: (pun on Finger Food)…not too much, not too little, just a teaser…

Paulina with Kindai group distributing FINGER FRUIT worksheets

Here’s the group learning about Cebuano expressions…

Learning about local fruits…

Doing the FRUIT SALAD Dance: Watermelon (2x) Papaya(2x)Banana(2x)FRUIT SALAD (2x)!!!

Now combining local fruit and expressions…

Busy, busy students..the enthusiasm and hard work is incredible considering most of them just slept 2 to 3 hours..

Let’s see the work.. Paulina’s son Lucas wanted to take part in the activity so here he is getting his turn for SHOW & TELL (like all the other participants)

Check out next post for the workshop output…

More STC HS students visit the MoNA

Posted on February 24, 2017 by Naïve Art Cebu

This month we had the pleasure of welcoming a few more groups from St. Theresa’s College(STC) High School Department . They came to West Gorordo Hotel and the MoNA for a green hotel and museum tour.

The MoNA was filled with warm, vibrant energy!

Comfy pose at a cozy corner at the MoNA.

Warm young spirit adding colour to an already colourful museum.

A birthday serenade for Lucas (Paulina’s son) That just made his day! Thanks girls!

Expressive Fingerprinting with MRH

Posted on January 30, 2017 by Naïve Art Cebu

It was a lovely afternoon of art making at the MoNA with My Refuge House girls. Resident artist Paulina Constancia showed the girls how they can make art just using their fingers.

First, they were made to explore emotions through fingerprinting…

Then there were more exercises in creating fingerprinting design, but the main output of the session was the creation of a peacock using fingerprints..

Check out the MRH girls’ masterpieces – simply amazing!

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Thank you girls for inspiring us at the MoNA with your rainbow renditions of the majestic peacock.

We had a special guest dropping by during the workshop – retired Professor Thelma Lee- Mendoza, She was formerly professor and chairperson of social work in the College of Social Work and Community Development of the University of the Philippines, from which she retired in 1999 after 37 years of service. One of the girls who’s a Social Work student happened to recognize her–“you are the author of my textbook!”
FYI- Thelma Lee-Mendoza is Paulina Constancia’s auntie.

Spontaneous Strokes exhibition now open

Posted on January 11, 2017 by Naïve Art Cebu

MONA is happy to announce a new exhibition -SPONTANEOUS STROKES- on display at the lobby of West Gorordo Hotel starting January 10th. Scroll down for more information about this special display.

Spontaneous Strokes
January 10- March 31, 2017
West Gorordo Hotel Lobby
Cebu, Philippines

Art created by 13 young girls rescued from difficult situations
Expressive Arts Workshop Facilitated by Paulina Constancia

This exhibition is made possible by the Paulina Constancia Museum of Naive Art [MoNA], West Gorordo Hotel, the Psychology Volunteers on Bikes and My Refuge House (MRH)

About the Collection

The works on display here are outputs from a recent expressive arts workshop facilitated by Paulina Constancia for 13 girls who have been rescued from difficult situations. The girls were tasked to make random brush strokes on paper using watercolor. At first, they were confused with what they were doing and where their art was going. However, when they were done painting in the colors and were asked to look at their work from different angles, they were able to figure out the hidden message amid the layers of colors. The girls were quite surprised how a simple activity afforded them a window to their inner world.

The Crusade for the Rights of Women and Children

West Gorordo Hotel (WGH), through the Museum of Naïve Art [MoNA] Outreach Program, is a shining example of how a private institution can crusade for the rights of women and children.

MONA partners with the Psychology Volunteers on Bikes to facilitate expressive and experiential therapy for different women’s rights groups and their community partners.

Art is a constant agent of transformation and is indeed the soul’s drive to health.
– Cathy Malchiodi
The Soul’s Palette: Drawing on Art’s Transformative Powers for Health and Well-Being”

Paulina’s Art in Greece Exhibition

Posted on December 23, 2016 by Naïve Art Cebu

Paulina Constancia has shared with us the great news that today, the 23rd, until the 3oth of December, her art, alongside the works of a few selected fiber artists, will be exhibited at the Textile Arts Factory in Thessaloniki, Greece.

The exhibition is called MESSING WITH YARN. The artists are presenting various themes but the unifying part is the use of knitting, crocheting and lace.

Paulina used yarn for her work “Heartfelt”, and this is how it looks:

About the Art:

HEARTFELT
Yarn stitching on canvas
12 x 12 inches
Art by Paulina Constancia
Singapore, 2016

“HEARTFELT shows heads, hearts and hands fused together because this symbolises the commitment that my husband and I have to love and nurture our child. I have often told him that I still cannot believe that I could ever love someone as much as I love our child. He would often respond..”I feel exactly the same way.” Most parents can relate to this love and would agree that it burns like the flaming red in this painting. It’s a love that warms and inspires and also keeps you centred and grounded on what matters most in life…” – P.Constancia

“Heartfelt”– detail 1

“Heartfelt”– detail 2

Here are the selected international artists participating in the “MESSING with YARN” exhibition at the Textile Arts Factory in Thessaloniki, Greece:

Ali Holloway

Αli Pate

Anahita Younesi

Anna Astapova

Anna Matejcek

Ayanna Proctor

Brooke Marks-Swanson

Canan Erdönmez

Ceyda (Jeyda) Oskay

Eero Tiittula

Heather Schulte

Jeannette von Itter

Laurin Guthrie

Leslie Robison

Lily Lee

Liz Ensz

Mujgan Emre Eroglu

Mustafa Kula

Nesem Ertan Ayata

Paulina Constancia

Pelin Demirtas Dikmen

Piotr Pandyra

Sam Lane

Tenee’ Hart

Trey Gehring

Wendy Kawabata

Exhibition Curator: Vasiliki Asaroglou

Learn about the curious history of the gallery TEXTILE ARTS FACTORY

Waves of Hope Workshop in Moalboal- Part 3

Posted on December 23, 2016 by Naïve Art Cebu

We come to last feature of the Waves of Hope/Mga Balud sa Paglaum expressive arts workshop recently facilitated by Paulina Constancia on the beach in Moalboal for the Cebu Technological University World Literature students of Miss Robbie.

The last activity was “STAR of HOPE”. Paulina taught the group PAGLAUM, a song she composed en route to Moalboal, and it goes this way: (ukulele chords provided)

Paglaum, paglaum sa atong kasingkasing
Isibya, isidlak ngadto sa uban
Kalipay, kadasig sa atong kahimtang (sung as kahimta-ang)
Paglaum, paglaum sa kalibutan

—–

Lovingly translated for you, Miss Robbie…
Hope, hope in our hearts
Spread and shine onto others
Joy and cheer to our existence
Hope, hope onto the world.

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Now let’s form a star…

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A star in the making…

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Paulina’s brother Joel Lee accompanies the group singing of PAGLAUM

The group forms a star and sings PAGLAUM

Sunset at Club Serena Resort, Moalboal with Robbie’s World Literature Class (Cebu Technological University- Moalboal Campus)

Paulina’s son Lucas joins in the group photo shoot…

HOPE it all starts in our hearts…

A heartfelt gratitude to Robbie and her CTU students for the wonderful enthusiasm and cooperation. May your lives be your message of hope within your home, circle of friends and wherever your life journey takes you…

Waves of Hope Workshop in Moalboal- Part 2

Posted on December 23, 2016 by Naïve Art Cebu

We continue with the Waves of Hope/Mga Balud sa Paglaum expressive arts workshop recently facilitated by Paulina on the beach in Moalboal for the Cebu Technological University World Literature students of Miss Robbie.

So the first activity was Stories from the Sea, followed by Message in a Bottle. The third activity was Self-Portrait on the Beach. The instruction was -Reflect on your best trait as a person. And then answer and portray this…How can your life be a message of hope to others?

Here are the participants with their portraits in progress…

Paulina checking out the portraits in progress…

Miss Robbie happily working on her own portrait on the beach…

Busy bees on the beach…

And here are their PORTRAITS on the BEACH: Click on individual image to see large picture.

These are 18-19 year old college students and it is nice to hear they believe their happy and courageous spirits will be their message of hope to the world. Bravo to you Robbie and your World Lit class at CTU-Moalboal!!!

Waves of Hope Workshop in Moalboal- Part 1

Posted on December 23, 2016 by Naïve Art Cebu

The last of the holiday workshops that Paulina Constancia conducted was “Waves of Hope/Mga Balud sa Paglaum“. It was an expressive arts workshop held on the beach in Moalboal in front of Club Serena Resort. This was facilitated by Paulina for the Cebu Technological University (Molaboal Campus) World Literature students of US Peace Corps Volunteer ROBBIE. Being Hawaiian, a workshop on the beach surely made Robbie super excited.

The first activity was “Stories from the Sea” . The participants were tasked to find an object on the beach and come back to the group to tell its story.

Everybody gets a turn to show their found beach object and tell its story

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The assortment of found objects in one of the blue trays is Miss Robbie’s and she calls it “The Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side”, and it goes with an environmental message. Apparently this is a sampler of the Little Mermaid’s whosits and whatsits galore.
She says “remember, pick up every piece of plastic you can find on the beach to save the mermaids!”

The group proudly showing their beach discoveries…

Another photo of course, with the beautiful ocean in the back…

The second activity was “Message in a Bottle”. The participants were made to pretend they’re sending a message in a bottle. And it had to be a message of hope for somebody in despair across the sea. When they were done writing, the message went into a jar (since there were lots of messages to accommodate). Then they pick a message to read and respond out loud. The identity of sender is then revealed to the receiver and they shake hands or hug.(sorry no pictures to show here).

More activities and photos in the next post…

FUNtastic Fingerprints Workshop for IJM

Posted on December 22, 2016 by Naïve Art Cebu

Nothing could be more fun than learning and enjoying something new together. And when you do that around the holiday season it’s double the fun. The wonderful folks of the International Justice Mission (IJM – Cebu Chapter) requested for a workshop that would help with stress release and bring fun and relaxation to their group. Here’s what Paulina facilitated for them last Dec 21st- FUNtastic Fingerprints.

First part was getting to know the different fingers and the different prints one can make with them.

They were then asked to make prints of their thumb and draw their responses to the different expressions…

Now how about animals..hmmm let’s see what the group made with just a little guidance from Paulina…

Here is the grand finale..fingerpainting with the aid of stencils and enhanced with some watercolor brush strokes—check out the group’s incredible creations…

Everybody loved Miss Cathy’s mermaid. She says it’s really like a self-portrait. Apparently, at the office they call her SIRENA (mermaid).

How interesting that Barrett and Mark chose exactly the same animal stencil but one saw a bear, the other a carabao…

After the hardwork comes admiration and gratitude for the gift of color, friends and the luxury of time to just relax and create together!!!

Our IJM artists proud of their creations. Well done, creative spirits!!!

Thank you for the opportunity to create together, enjoy the rest of your holidays and till our next creative arts workshop! – Paulina Constancia

Dynamic Dots Workshop with Paglaum Training International – Part 3

Posted on December 21, 2016 by Naïve Art Cebu

You can tell with the way this group behaved during the workshop that they had a great working relationship at the office. They knew how to cooperate and interact with each other. And best of all, they were all very focused and enthused by the various expressive ARTivities.

The last part was making doing a collage and painting mandala. Afterwhich, the mandala was cut into 12 sections to give to each of the participants of the workshop, including the facilitator Paulina Constancia.

Everybody was so focused on and enthused by the various ARTivities. But the Mandala required the most attention. And they wanted it to be special since everybody goes home with a little souvenir from each one.

Here are the 12 Mandalas (the black and white one is Paulina’s):

Here’s how they looked after the cutting, sharing and gluing…

Gluing the mandala sections shared by fellow participants

Our gratitude to the PTI for choosing MoNA to create and facilitate an expressive arts workshop for their human services care providers. We hope that the ARTivities will inspire you to continue with your noble task of helping under-resourced people in Cebu gain skills and independence.

Dynamic Dots Workshop with Paglaum Training International – Part 2

Posted on December 21, 2016 by Naïve Art Cebu

The PTI Group started the afternoon session with some drumming. Yes, music is made of dots, too!

After the drumming the group proceeded with their dot figure ARTivity. If you were a dot, what would you look like and what’s your greatest trait?

Look at all the happy faces!!! The PTI folks were pretty proud of their DOT figures.

After the short break…some juggling! Yes, that ARTivity requires dots too!

What a lively group indeed… they just never say NO to anything. Bravo PTI!
Check out next post for our last ARTivity…

Dynamic Dots Workshop with Paglaum Training International – Part 1

Posted on December 20, 2016 by Naïve Art Cebu

It was a most fun and productive all-day workshop with human services care providers of the Paglaum Training International. The workshop was called DYNAMIC DOTS and Paulina Constancia used the dot as a start-off point for various expressive ARTivities.

Poster-invite for the Dynamic Dots Workshop

The workshop started with the story THE DOT by Peter Reynolds.

Then there were several ARTivities relating to the story. Here’s one of them- Paint a dot by not painting a dot

Then the participants were asked to divide a page in their sketchbook to 6 parts and they made 6 unique concentric watercolor paintings (À la Kandinsky)

Here are their lovely works:

See next feature for other artivities and photos of the Dynamic Dots workshop.

Spontaneous Strokes Workshop with MRH

Posted on December 20, 2016 by Naïve Art Cebu

Monday, December 19th, Paulina Constancia conducted an expressive arts workshop for 13 young girls from My Refuge House. The participants were asked to do some spontaneous strokes using watercolor on paper without any specific images/details in mind, just to give the subconscious the opportunity to speak up and let itself be known. Afterwhich, participants were made to look at their painting from different angles and try to figure out what it’s about and what it means to them.

Poster-invite for Spontaneous Strokes workshop

Here are the girls working on their Spontaneous Strokes:
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Here is a sample output of the workshop.

Spontaneous strokes by Mandy, 22

Title : Wild Life of Elephant

Artist’s Name : Mandy

Age : 22

A Little About My Work

I drew this painting because of my experience before and after MRH. I felt tense while I was drawing this painting because I remembered my struggle, and how I have accomplished things that make me proud of myself. I’m getting nearer to the future.

Mandy, 22 sees an elephant in her painting

The output of the Spontaneous Strokes workshop will be on display at the lobby of West Gorordo Hotel. Exhibition details will be posted very soon…

US Peace Corps Volunteers Visit MoNA

Posted on December 9, 2016 by Naïve Art Cebu

Early December MoNA welcomed US Peace Corps volunteers Rachel, Nettie and Robbie. They were given a special tour by West Gorordo Hotel Stewarding Officer Edna Lee. Robbie who is teaching World Literature at Cebu Technological University in Moalboal asked if MoNA could facilitate an expressive arts workshop for her students. Edna was able to contact Miss Paulina Constancia about a potential seaside art workshop in Moalboal during her upcoming Christmas holiday visit.

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Robbie, US Peace Corps Volunteer, Cebu Technological University- Moalboal

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L-R: US Peace Corps Volunteers Robbie, Rachel and Nettie with West Gorordo Hotel Stewarding Officer Edna Lee

Pandoo Foundation visits MoNA

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Naïve Art Cebu

On December 3rd MoNA had the pleasure of welcoming teenage visitors from Pandoo Foundation. With them was their mentor who is also the foundation’s country head -Geneviève Bisson.

Pandoo Foundation is an NGO that funds and leads outreach efforts in Southeast Asia. It is tied to Pandoo Nation, an innovative online game world for kids.