Got a little money to waste and an old car that you have stored away after your latest car lease? Don't sell it just yet; you could probably transform it into a road-friendly piece of art. You definitely won't see this as any of the next car lease specials at the local dealership. What we are talking about is getting in on the craze that is car art.

There are many different ways that people can make an art car. There is the cautious use of temporary materials such as paper and a little tape; or one can simply come up with a radical design that can be painted on the car body. One of the most common things that people do is glue all sorts of stuff on the car body. This can include hundreds of bottle caps, figurines, hood ornaments from other cars, etc. And then there are others who change the body completely to look like something else, like a shark, or even a piece of giant furniture. Can you imagine these cars as the next car lease specials in your town?

For a list of normal cars you can lease and probably make into art cars, check out http://www.carleasingsecrets.com.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is in the process of updating its database for general membership of its 19 National Committees (NCs). They are as follows:

Architecture and Allied Arts
Archives
Art Galleries
Central Cultural Communities
Cinema
Communication
Cultural Education
Dance
Dramatic Arts
Historical Research
Language and Translation
Libraries and Information Services
Literary Arts
Monuments and Sites
Museums
Music
Northern Cultural Communities
Southern Cultural Communities
Visual Arts

The NCCA is accepting applications for those interested to be a part of the general membership of any of the aforementioned NCs. To qualify, there is specific criteria that have been set by the NCs to be able to apply. Possible nominees for the 13 Executive Council Members (ExeCon Members) who will compose the Executive Council of each of the NCs will be drawn from the qualified general members.

Specific guidelines can be found here.

Election for new members will be held from November 26 to December 14, 2007.

Schedule of elections can be found here.

A little less than three years ago, a band of wordsmiths, verse-fiends and storytellers found this nook of a place called Kahayag Café. They found it suitable conversation, the sharing of dribbles and oodles of words that poured forth from random musings and politically incorrect conjecture. Thus, was born “Bantawan sa Bathalad.”

“Bantawan” is monthly poetry-reading activity that features the oral form of the works of Cebuano writers and poets of the Bathalad, or Bathalad-ong Halad sa Dagang (Divine Gift of the Quill). It is a venue for the expression of the Cebuano language, and aims to usher renaissance of Cebuano literature and nurture appreciation of Cebuano language. Local writers and people in the audience are always invited to read their original poetry during the session. A few months earlier, “Bantawan” began featuring the “Poet of the Month.” This new feature added opportunities for audience members and other writers to discuss the poet’s works and voice their opinions about them. It broke ground beginning with Cebuano poets Bambi Beltran, Vince Cinches and Kaira Alburo.


Bathalad is helmed by notable Cebuano writers Michael Obenieta, January Yap, Jeremiah Bondoc, Greg Fernandez and Josua Cabrera. “Bantawan sa Bathalad” will be featured at the After Hours Tapas bar, at the Crossroads, in Banilad, this Wednesday, June 20, 2007. This will be a temporary arrangement as their home of many readings, Kahayag Café, closed down late last month. Josua Cabrera says the Bathalad is eyeing a few venues and hope one may be receptive to sponsoring a spot for this merry band of wordsmiths. ArtCebu is also sponsoring this month’s reading as Bathalad is in the thick of searching for a new home.

A little less than three years ago, a band of wordsmiths, verse-fiends and storytellers founded monthly event that celebrated the Cebuano language, and featured the works of local writers. Since then, the “Bantawan” has become part of local fare, entrancing audiences with the Cebuano-spoken word, inviting them to beguile and be beguiled by the sharing of verses written in a language that is both strange and alluring, as it is very much their birthright.

Digital Visions : Explorations in ICT4D
"Bringing Technology to the People"

CONTEST GUIDELINES AND MECHANICS

1. The competition is open to all Filipino artists, 18 years old and above.

2. Members of the Steering Committee, ICT4d Secretariat, and competition judges are disqualified from joining the competition.

3. Only one entry per contestant will be accepted.

4. Submission of entries:

o Artwork must be in GIF or JPEG file format, with maximum file size of 2.0 MB. Dimension is 10 x !5 inches.

o The artist should attach a short Narrative Curriculum Vitae with his accomplished Official Entry Form and artist’ s photo.
o Entries should be submitted via email to ict4dvirtualgallery @gmail.com cc to AAPict4D@gmail. com.
o Submission of entries begins on March 21 and ends May 19, 2007.

5. Entries should depict/illustrate how Information Communication Technology affects the transformation of the Philippine Society. As ICT4D art works, it should show the use of ICT in providing public service, empowering people and adressing the needs of the marginalized groups.

Participants are advised to visit the ict4d project website at www.ict4d.ph for more details.

6. Entries may utilize scanned imagery and digital paintings via available graphics software (e.g. Photoshop, Corel Draw, etc.).

However, all scanned photographs, symbols, or artworks from publications, or downloaded from the Internet, whose copyright belong to other artists or corporations/ entities are not acceptable and shall be subject to disqualification. Only images made by participating artists will be accepted.

7. Only original works will be accepted, and they should not have been entered in other art competitions. Awards given to works which are subsequently proven to be non-original will be revoked / reclaimed without prejudice to other legal actions.

8. The decision of the panel of judges shall be final and not subject to appeal.

9. Winning entries will be utilized for the ict4d publications. All other entries may be used by the DOST-ICT4d Project for purposes it may deem appropriate.

10. The virtual exhibit of all the winners will be posted in the ICT4D website, http://www.ict4d.ph

11. Awarding of Winners shall be held at the Renaissance Hotel on a later date, in line with the launching of the ICT4d Case Book.

12. Prizes:

First Prize 50,000.00 and trophy
Second Prize 30,000.00 and trophy
Third Prize 20,000.00 and trophy
Note: 20 Finalists will automatically be awarded of PhP 2,500.00.
All cash prizes will be subjected to 20% government tax.

For details, please contact AAP Office and Gallery at 3030907. You may also contact Michelle of DOST-ict4d project at 837 7537. You can also text 09165101337 or email your queries at ict4d.ph@gmail.com or AAPict4D@gmail.com.

Information on the ICT4D project

The Department of Science and technology (DOST) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada have established a joint program entitled "Learning from Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) Research to Enhance Policymaking ( Philippines)".

The general objective of this program is to examine past and current Information, Communication and Technology projects for their transformational impact on Philippine society; and to distill critical learning for ICT decision/policymaking, planning and programming. The ICT4D project is also particularly interested in looking at the effects on rural poor, women and indigenous people, and development s in the island of Mindanao. The program emphasizes documenting these learning in a series of research publications aimed at policymakers, program managers and researchers.

FALLEN ON DEAF EARS is the first solo exhibit of Arvin Darwin C Magbutay, a graduating student of College of Architecture and Fine Arts of the University of San Carlos Cebu.

"FALLEN ON DEAF EARS" is the interpretation of social realism on the perspective of the artist.Ideas and thoughts were magnified and presented in pure representational form.

According to Arvin; "It’s about the things I see and it’s just normal for some other people to recognize the serious matter that happened in our environment.  I want to magnify the event that has kept me awake to bring you to the state of my mind.  I want to communicate my thoughts thru the paintings that I made for this exhibit."

FALLEN ON DEAF EARS opens on March 16,2007, 8pm, Turtle's Nest, Lahug, Cebu City. The art exhibit will extend until March 30, 2007.For more details, please call Arvin at 0915 800 9236 or email him at bintot2@yahoo.com. (KM)