A Teaser: Upcoming Art Exhibit at Your Favorite Restaurant

Max's Restaurant presents “A Feast for the Senses” — A Group Exhibit

A select group of artists comes together to one of the most beloved family destinations for special occasions—Max’s Restaurant, Pag-asa Branch. Known for its rich Filipino cuisine and warm, celebratory atmosphere, the venue now opens its space to a different kind of indulgence—one that delights not only the palate, but also the eyes and the soul.

Here, art becomes part of the dining experience—a feast not only for your taste buds, but also for your eyes.

Just as food nourishes the body, art nourishes the soul.  For generations, meals at Max’s have brought families together to celebrate life’s meaningful moments.  From April 16 to May 12, this experience is elevated even further, offering guests a visual feast alongside every shared meal.

“A Feast for the Senses” invites you to immerse yourself in a vibrant showcase of colors, textures, and emotions through the works of the following artists:

Members of the SAG (Singdeo Art Group) 

AB Gonzales
Eunice Logro
Gem Yonzon Blanco
 Gretchen Villamor
Johanna Jacob
Lee Concepcion
Lot Demition
Rose Gob
Vangie Lim

&

Invited Artists: 

Joanne Susara

Lucila Gragera

Maricel Tapay

Mylene M. Pearce

Ron Mclin

Each piece reflects a story—some inspired by food, others by memory, culture, and celebration—creating a collection that feels both personal and deeply familiar.  If you pack foods to bring home, these art pieces can also be brought home. 

Expect to encounter vibrant compositions, food-inspired expressions, and emotion-rich paintings that echo the joy of gatherings, the warmth of shared tables, and the beauty of Filipino life.

Come, dine, and celebrate with us. Let this be more than just a meal—let it be an experience.

Lessons from the Canvas 2-- Art as Healing: Reflections on Art Therapy, Creativity, and Everyday Life

The Orbs: Learning from What Refuses to Settle

Unfinished Truths and Emotional Density in Art

The Orbs were created in January 2022, during the post-pandemic period. It was a time when restrictions had finally eased, and I could once again return to creating art. There was relief in that freedom—but also a heaviness that lingered.

The lessons of isolation, being on your own during the ECQ, and learning to truly value life were still very present in my heart and mind. I carried those experiences with me into the studio, whether I intended to or not.

The process itself was intuitive. I created the orbs by pushing a balloon onto wet paint—allowing chance, pressure, and movement to determine their form. I mixed gold paint with acrylic medium so it could flow more freely, then softened it with white paint so the gold would not feel too heavy.

Later, I painted a woman holding a golden apple and reaching toward a book—the Bible. For me, the golden apples represent the Word of God. They were what sustained me during those trying times. They were what helped me hold on to life when everything felt uncertain.

At the time, I did not overthink the composition. I painted from what was still unresolved.

A Gentle Reading of The Orbs

What immediately stands out to me now is movement. The central figure feels suspended—reaching forward, yet not fully grounded. There is a strong diagonal pull from left to right, suggesting longing, effort, and aspiration. Looking back, that reaching feels deeply personal. I was moving forward, but still carrying the weight of what had just passed.

What once felt “wrong” to me about this painting was not a technical error, but something harder to name. It was visual congestion.

The orbs, textures, splatters, and gold elements are all active. Individually, they are meaningful. Together, they compete for attention. The eye does not immediately know where to rest. And perhaps that is the point.

There was a time when too many intentions, emotions, and reflections existed all at once. Each one mattered. Each one had weight. But together, they became overwhelming. This painting holds that truth without apology.

Emotional Density and the Absence of Pause

The background of The Orbs is rich and expressive, but it offers very little breathing space. Everything feels important. Nothing is quiet.

For a long time, I thought this was a flaw. Now I understand it differently. It is not wrong—it is emotionally dense.

This painting was created before I fully learned the lesson of waiting. Before I learned that not everything needs to be said at once. The absence of pause mirrors a season when rest was still difficult, even after the world reopened.

In many ways, The Orbs echoes the lesson I later wrote about—patience. It shows what happens when life moves faster than our ability to process it.

The Figure at the Center

The woman in the painting is clear to me. Her gesture, her posture, her direction—they are intentional. She reaches while holding something precious. She does not abandon what sustains her as she moves forward.

What feels unresolved is not her, but the space around her. The orbs feel like thoughts, memories, prayers, and questions that have not yet settled. They hover. They remain present.

This is not a compositional failure. It is a psychological truth captured honestly.

Why I Could Not Let This Painting Go

I kept The Orbs because it holds a moment when judgment, emotion, and intuition collided. It documents a time when clarity had not yet arrived—but movement continued anyway.

The painting has never been sold. Perhaps others sense what I sense—that it is unresolved, imperfect, even uncomfortable. And yet, it remains with me.

It is less an error and more a witness.

Why The Orbs Belongs in This Series

In the context of Lessons from the Canvas, The Orbs quietly support everything I have come to believe:

It shows what happens when we act before everything has thoroughly dried.

It embodies the discomfort of sitting with imperfect outcomes.
It reminds us that not all works are meant to be resolved—some are meant to teach.

In art therapy language, this painting is not asking to be corrected.
"It is asking to be observed without judgment."

And perhaps that is the hardest lesson of all—not just in art, but in life.

Author’s Note

I write this reflection at a season when I am learning to slow down—to listen more carefully to both my art and my life. Returning to the canvas has reminded me that not everything needs to be resolved immediately, and that some lessons arrive only when we allow ourselves to pause. Through these writings, I hope to share not answers, but honest moments—where art becomes a quiet companion in understanding patience, imperfection, and grace.

ARTipolo's Participation in SILANGAN: The Rizal Art Fair 2022

 Calling all Art Enthusiasts and Collectors.  On 12 October 2022, Wednesday, the ARTipolo Group once again showcased the works of their members as they participated in an art fair entitled "Silangan - The Rizal Art Fair 2022", along with other groups based in the province of Rizal.  

ARTipolo called upon their active members to submit two (2) pieces of size 12" X 12" paintings depicting their impressions of the town of Antipolo.  There were 40 participating artists whose names are as follows:

1. Alexandra Monserrat                            21. Jessica Casaljay 2. Amador Inlayo                                      22. JM Guzik 3. Aminah C. Sioson                                 23. John Mark Navarro 4. Aris Ventures                                        24. Krister Isip 5. Ber Nardo                                             25. Liana Mariz P. Mesina 6. Celes 'Onit ' Untalan                           26. Marge DC Gomez 7. Cha M. Baladjay                                 27. Maria Len len Moriones 8. Charmaine Marie De Chavez               28. Marie Claire 9. Chrisellie C. Guzik                               29. Marj Sula - Aquino 10. Corazon Gaufo Patarata                       30. Mark Joseph Beloria 11. Crishaira Peliño - Bode                        31. Mary Rose Gob 12. Daphne Lagunay                                  32. Mathilda Sula Sun 13. Dea Solis                                              33. Michelle Diwa 14. Diane Cabas                                         34. Nelson Dela Cruz 15. Dyna Quizon Ondoy                            35. Nelson Medina 16. Eleanor Habal Robleza                        36. Pol A. Mesina , Jr 17. Jae Zyril Contridas                              37. Rodgie Gapayao 18. Jayson Z. Borlon                                 38. Rymer Gengoni 19. Jenella L. Medina                                39. Vivian Nocum Limpin 20. Jerry Y. Contridas                                40. Yurika Palmones

Despite the massive number of entries, ARTipolo was able to piece together the works and created a larger collage of colors. The collection looked like a mural and these pieces may be bought as a bundle or one can even choose among those on display to design their residences with sights and images depicting Antipolo City.

Each artist closely looked at subjects that best fits the theme of the group. You will see Antipolo's native delicacies and food like kasoy and suman; endemic plant like the Tipolo leaves where the group's logo is patterned; as well as beautiful maidens garbed in the locale costume. To give you a peek, we have attached photos of the exhibit below. But it is still best to see it in person.

The exhibit "Silangan" will run from October 12 to 30 at SM Angono. Viewing is free and all paintings are available for sale. You may immediately bring home the bought masterpieces. Run now before it gets taken away!

Preview of the ARTiPARC upcoming Exhibit at Artablado, Robinsons Galleria in July

     The PARC Foundation started sharing the works of the 75 participating artists from ARTipolo Group, Inc.  Posters are shared in their FB page.  As a continuing updates for the said event, we shared here the actual photos.  You can simply click on the posters and you'll be led to their page, where they added the profile of the artists.  

Look forward to the completion of this online exhibit.  But please, do join and visit Artablado at Robinsons Galleria from July 1 to 15, 2022.  Seeing it face-to-face is much more fascinating and awesome!  You'll get to see textures, actual colors and feel the message of each artists as expressed on their works.

   

For the following added photos, click on its thumbnail and you will be brought to The Parc Foundation's page for the information on the following artists: