Art in the Park, held annually at the Jaime Velasquez Park in Makati, used to be a summer rite of passage for years. Every March or April on a Sunday, hundreds (thousands, recently!) would flock to the community park to view the dozens of galleries (most are known, some up-and-coming), find that affordable art gem, eat ice cream and paella with the kids, hear live music, and guzzle wine or beer into the humid night.
Sadly, for the first time in a decade, Art in the Park was cancelled because of the pandemic. But then the Museum Foundation of the Philippines and AITP organizers regrouped and put up an Art in the Park virtual fair, which will run from August 10 to 17, 2020.
When you go to the Art in the Park website, select the gallery you want to see, then click on the artwork you want to buy. Payment is made online. Hurry, a lot of the pieces are going really fast!
Aside from shopping, there are online activities like Robert Alejandro’s live drawing sessions on Tuesday, online musical performances, among others. It ain’t the same, but art must go on!
As with before, all pieces sold don’t go beyond P50,000. And sales will benefit the Museum Foundation of the Philippines. Here’s hoping to return to the real park next year.
Art in the Park online will run from August 10 to 17, visit their website to shop. (All photos here are by the author)
Rachelle Medina 