Art is, indeed, ageless as three students of a senior recreation hub made it to the Top 25 and Top 50 of the prestigious 2018 GSIS Art Competition.
Out of 928 entries, Meliza Gonzales was named one of the Top 25 under the non-representational category; while Conchitina Bernardo and Minette de Joya made it to the Top 50 under the non-representational and the representational categories, respectively. They all attend the acrylic painting classes at Sunshine Place in Makati under the mentorship of Art Association of the Philippines president Fidel Sarmiento.
Sarmiento expressed his delight at the fact that with senior citizens joining the competition side by side art professionals, “art is fully alive in the country.”
“The fact that they were able to reach the final round is proof that art can come from anywhere, regardless of age or social status,” says Sarmiento.
He encourages Sunshine Place members and all artists to pursue developing their talent, and continue to sculpt the soul of the country.
Bernardo is thankful to Sarmiento for “squeezing” out her talent that enables her to reach the lengths of her journey as an artist. De Joya is likewise grateful to their art mentor for “being a part of her re-entry into the art scene” and to Sunshine Place for “providing the venue and the wonderful opportunity to exercise these God-given talents.”
Lastly, Gonzales says that through Sarmiento’s classes, she was able to “discover herself as she started from zero to a top finalist.”
Sunshine Place, a senior recreation center under the Felicidad Tan Sy Foundation, is a venue for adults to live actively, through engaging in recreational classes and age-appropriate physical training programs. It aims to be a venue to be entertained, to socialize and to reflect; a place of happiness and wellness for one’s mind, body, and soul.
Acrylic Painting Classes at Sunshine Place are held every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for beginners and from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. for intermediate/advanced students.
Sunshine Place is at #56 Jupiter St., Bel-Air, Makati City. Call (02) 856-4144 and (0917) 515-5656 or email seniorhubjupiter@gmail.com for more information.