Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

I’VE always seen artists as people with strange moods. So when I was able to set up an interview with Don Amorsolo at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, I had some hesitations, especially when I found out that he is the grandson of one of the most important artists in the history of painting in the Philippines, National Artist Fernando Amorsolo.

But talking with Don Amorsolo changed my perception about art and artists as he himself is one—vibrant, interesting and living in full color. Recently chosen as a visiting J. William Fulbright scholar-in-residence at the university for the 2008-2009 academic year, Don brings more than his artistic skills and background to the students. For one, he is also an educator, being a professor and chair of the Fine Arts and Interior Design Department at Manila’s St. Scholastica’s College, and a person whose ideas about life are as colorful as the paintings on his canvas.

At his studio at the university in the Jeannette Powell Art Center, we were met with paintings he has done, as part of the 10-piece abstract collection that depicts his perceptions of San Joaquin County and California. "I was trying to reflect on California, it’s about the gold rush, some fields, and diversity," he said. He also spoke about the different races and cultures, and how people’s lives are intricately connected, and could still be different from each other.

His interest in the diversity also is why he chose to do abstract. "Baka lumabas kalabaw, as we are mostly identified, kaya puro abstract, (It might come out as the carabao, as we are mostly identified, that is why it is all abstract.)" he said.

But he isn’t all against the carabao theme; in fact, he has made paper machés of the animal while he was still waiting for the canvases to work on (five of these are already on display at the university) Amorsolo is simply making a point about how Philippine art and artists have evolved. "Kasi ako, hindi naman ako pintor, na porke’t related kay Amorsolo eh makakakuha ng advantages. Hindi. (It’s not that because I’m a painter and related to [Fernando] Amorsolo, I have advantages. No.)," he said and continued, "Marami, maraming pintor ngayon na talo pa nga kami. Kasi mas open sya. Marami tayong pintor – mga young artists ha—na na-auction ang mga paintings nila sa Singapore. Kasi we make sense—we are part of a global community. Wala na tayo sa kalabaw eh. (There are a lot of painters who are even better than us. This is because they are more open. There are young artists who now auction their paintings in Singapore. It is because we make sense—we are part of a global community. We are no longer in the carabao phase)."

Amorsolo credits the Filipino American Educators Association of California (FAEAC), Little Manila Foundation, the officers of the Iloilo City-Stockton Sister Cities and Kilusang Pilipino as stakeholders in bringing him at the university as a scholar-in-residence. Pacific’s proposal to bring Amorsolo to Stockton was submitted in 2006 and approved in May by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

Amorsolo’s studio also has an open door policy—it means that students are welcome anytime to observe him at work or to ask him to critique their pieces. Being an educator, this is not new for him. "Normally I have one or two commissions a year, tama na yon." Kasi most of my life is in teaching," he said. He is more than happy to share his skills, talents and most importantly, the Filipino culture to students. "Na-realize ko na kahit me mga Filipinos dito, wala masyadong knowledge ang mga younger generation, (I realized that even there are Filipinos in the area, there is not enough knowledge among the younger generation)," he said. That is why he collaborated with the university’s student group, Kilusang Pilipino on educational events that gear towards the Philippine culture. Last December, they held a holiday parol (lantern) festival, with students making the start-shaped lanterns by hand. Come the Spring semester, he will also teach a studio art course. His collection will go on display at the university’s Reynold’s Gallery on April 30.

After spring, Amorsolo will have to return to the Philippines, to his teaching and, of course, wife and four children. As to whether he wants to stay permanently and live in the United States, he was quite sure that he’d rather stay back home. "I don’t think so," he said and explained, "Why? Because our country needs help. We still have three square meals a day, with merienda in between (laughs). Ang Pilipinas di mo pwedeng alisin sa akin. (You can’t take the Philippines away from me.)."

( www.asianjournal.com )

( Published on January 29, 2009 in SF Magazine )