Bloom Arts Festival gears up for its second year

The Bloom Arts Festival is only on its second year, but it has already made a name for itself in Manila as the event where one can easily get hold of and discover some of today’s best local artists.

Over 100 artists will participate in this year’s event, including:

Manix Abrera (comics), Kay Aranzanso (digital painting), Zeus Bascon (mixed media), Pat Cabral (calligraphy), Kristine Caguiat (collage), Rob Cham (comics), Nicole Coson (painting), Kiko Escora (painting), Mai Evangelista (motion), Daryl Feril (illustration), Egg Fiasco (graffiti), Lala Gallardo (mixed media), Soleil Ignacio (painting/illustration), Wiji Lacsamana (illustration), Paolo Lim (serigraphy), Quiccs Maiquez (toys), Epjey Pacheco (mixed media), Tokwa Penaflorida (painting/illustration), Apol Sta. Maria (comics), and Gab Tiongson (graffiti).

There will be music to keep you company while you look and mull over which pieces you’ll want to take home. This year’s performers are Chocolate Grass, Bent Lynchpin, Wilderness, Nouvul, and Tarsius. There will also be DJ sets by Caliph8, Major Chi, Kiki Machine, and Ayon Sanchez.

The event will be held in different galleries in The Collective, so it will be very convenient to hop from one exhibit to the next. “We’re representing both established and budding artists and placing them all in one venue,” said Bloom co-founder Samantha Samonte.

This year's event also includes open submissions. There will be a space dedicated to emerging artists who want to showcase their work.

“Since the main goal of Bloom is to help out the ‘blooming’ artists by a shared-exposure environment with the established artists, we came up with the open submission area to further that goal, to also target talent which we may not even be aware of, as we don't have eyes all over the Philippines to watch out for emerging artists everywhere,” said co-founder Tof Zapanta.

Zapanta added that this is in line with a concept they call “KWDRDO,” where 6x6-inch tiles will cover the walls of gallery Vinyl on Vinyl. “The presentation of the artworks, with the same sizes, in a tiled fashion will give each artist the same level of exposure as everyone else, almost presenting it as one whole work,” he explained.

The event co-founders said that there will also be live art by artists like Ang Gerilya and Anjo Bolarda; an outdoor market by vendors like Bookay Ukay. Avalon.ph, and Punchdrunk Panda; and artist talks. Food and drinks will also not be a problem—there are be restaurants, bars, and cafés inside and near the venue.
 
It would already be a sensory feast just being there, but you may want to bring extra cash, as you may find something that you’d want to hang on your wall.

If the last year’s event is any indication of what’s in store, Bloom 2013 should be a massive success, with hundreds, possibly thousands of attendees. Come early. Works will be up starting at 4 p.m. — BM, GMA News

The Bloom Arts Festival will be held on Nov. 15 at The Collective, 7274 Malugay Street, Makati City. Entrance is free.