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SITE
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INSIDE
THE GALLERY |
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WHAT'S
HOT? |
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History
of AAP
Right
after the war, Purita Kalaw Ledesma,
a businesswoman, art collector and visionary together
with the graduates of the UP School of Fine Arts
used to get together and talk about the need to
organize an alumni association. Alfredo
Pestano and Antonio Dumlao were
two gentlemen Purita would discuss this topic with.
But it just one of those things. All talk and no
action, finally in 1947 she paid a visit to the
UP school of Fine Arts where she met her old professor,
and brought up the idea organizing an alumni association.
They suggested several
names of people who she would met. These professors
were not very enthusiastic and they discouraged
her, saying that it was another “ningas
cogon” project one of the names
that came up was Emilio Aguilar Cruz.
She never met him before, so she has introduced
herself to him. Another name was Virginia
Flor Agbayani, Purita was able to gather
enough people; 13 in all and they decided to get
together, met on a Sunday, February 15, 1948 at
the school of fine arts which was still on Taft
Avenue where the Supreme Court is now located.
Besides Cruz, ther were
Ramon Peralta Jr. the son of a
former professor; Severino Fabie,
a talented sculptor and Nemesio Faustino
who was teaching art education at the School of
Fine Arts and Trade. Candido Alcantara
was there recording secretary and Purita
Kalaw Ledesma was chosen President, Peralta
was appointed executive secretary. More artist came
to that meeting because word had gotten around.
Some who came were not even graduates or student
of UP they came to listen, discuss and suggest ideas,
there was this need to communicate with fellow artist.
In the secondary meeting, Hernando Ocampo
and Cezar Legaspi were present.
Since many of those joined were not graduates of
UP the group simply could no longer be an alumni
association. It became Art Association of the Philippines.
Remembering
Purita Kalaw Ledesma
Mother
of Art Association of the Philippines
PURITA KALAW LEDESMA Founder,
Art Association of The Philippines
Recipient, 1st AAP Lifetime
Achievement Award (2002) |
Purita Kalaw Ledesma, Businesswoman,
art collector visionary. In 1948, she help organized
the Art Association of the Philippines after me
student of the U.P. School of Fine Arts, she became
the AAP ’s fervid leader and prime mover for
the awareness and promotion of art and culture in
the local community.
Under her guidance and aspiration, the AAP provided
a “support system”
for painters, printmakers and sculptor. With the
ideal’s she set, the AAP would soon develop
into the biggest art group in the country.
The AAP ’s well publicized annual and semi-annual
exhibition were continue to be main events in the
Philippine culture calendar, names like Botong
Francisco, Cezar Legaspi H.R. Ocampo
and Vicente Manansala arouse from
such contests Thanks to her, the meaning of arts
found its rich in a society that is now more sensitive
and responsive to the needs of Filipino artist.
Which is why the National Commission for Culture
and Arts has bestowed recently the “Dangal
ng Haraya” to Purita
Kalaw Ledesma for her major contribution
to cultural promotion.
Long Live the AAP!
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AAP
PRESIDENT |
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Fidel Sarmiento
PROFILE
| GALLERY |
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FEATURED
ARTWORK |
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“Light of Hope”
(24x42 inch. oil)
by: Dems
Dela Cruz |
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