Art in the Park Through the Years: Supporting Creatives and Creative Spaces in Baguio

The “art in the park” concept basically promotes bringing art in public spaces, where it can be appreciated by the general public. It helps generate awareness on the healing power of art, on how looking at and admiring a beautiful work of art can help calm the senses. Coupled with a beautiful outdoor space, art appreciation becomes an elevated experience. 

The Department of Tourism – Cordillera Administrative Region, even before the onset of the pandemic, has been organizing “Art in the Park” events in collaboration with local artist groups in Baguio City, such as the Pasa-Kalye Group of Artists. In the past years, the different public parks of the Summer Capital have been host to outdoor art exhibits, “en plein art” sessions, on-the-spot painting and sketching sessions. These include Burnham Park, Sunshine Park and Wright Park.

“Art in the Park” 2020 – Respite during the Pandemic

When the lockdowns were lifted by the second quarter of 2020, the creative sector in Baguio took steps to revive the much-affected creative industries. The artists themselves bore the brunt not only of the economic impact of the pandemic, but also its impact on their creative spirit and mental wellness. 

Thus in 2020, DOT-CAR organized two Art in the Park events: one on August 24 and another during the 2020 Ibagiw Creative City Festival in November 2020. Both events were held at the Sunshine Park, located near UP Baguio and the Baguio Museum. Participating artists from the Pasa-Kalye Group of Artists participated in on-the-spot painting sessions, which resulted in their artworks being sold off to guests and visitors. An art exhibit organized by UP Baguio called “There is Still Life,” was held in conjunction with the Art in the Park event. It celebrated the importance of flora (plants) in our lives through curated works of art.  

2021 Art in the Park – Celebrating Art in Outdoor Creative Spaces

As part of its contribution to the 2021 Ibagiw Creative City Festival, DOT-CAR once again helped bring unique creative expressions to one of the city’s public parks, Wright Park. During the weekend of November 19 to 21, it brought together 40 artists from the Pasa-Kalye Group of Artists, who created 20 large format murals. 

These murals were on exhibit on one side of the Reflecting Pool of Wright Park, found across the Mansion House. Each mural was conceptualized by a pair of artists: who are either friends, father-son, father-daughter, mother-daughter, or partners. Each pair had their own story to tell through their art, which of course was reflected in their final piece. 

Wright Park, during the event, came alive with amateur and professional artists setting up their easels, and painting or sketching their worries away, even for just a while. Creative entrepreneurs were also given a chance to showcase their crafts for sale at the Creative “latag” near the gazebo area. During the opening day, food trucks also served delicious food to guests and visitors. 

According to Pasa-Kalye Group of Artists founder Maricar Docyogen, the event generated around 40,000 pesos in gross sales from the Creative “latag” as well as the sales of art canvases that were used in the outdoor painting sessions. She also cited how important private sector support is in events like this. Like previous Art in the Park events, Davies Paints has been a consistent supporter of local artists. 

For DOT-CAR, it will continue its support for the local creative community through events like this. OIC-Regional Director Jovita Ganongan says: “Art in the Park is a welcome respite from this pandemic. It is good to have events like this where we are able to appreciate beautiful works of art and be one with nature at the same time. It is also our way of recognizing the important contributions of our creatives, the artists, to Baguio’s creative economy.”