ShareThisThe Philippine Consulate General in Chicago hosted the successful unveiling of the art exhibit by 7 Filipino American artists, entitled “The Filipino As An Artist in Chicago”, at 30 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60602. The art exhibit, which runs for the entire month of October, is one of the highlights of the celebration of “Filipino American History Month” and the 15th “Chicago Artists Month”.
Consul General Herrera-Lim with British Consul General Robert Dickson
In his welcome remarks, Consul General Leo M. Herrera-Lim said: “I am certain that the Filipino-Americans of today continue to make genuine contributions towards making the cities they reside in, borrowing the words of Mayor Daley, ‘a better place to live, work and raise families.’ All of you (Filipino-Americans) add great color to Chicago.”
More than a hundred guests attended the opening and cocktail reception at the Consulate, including the Consul General of the United Kingdom and the representative of the Consulate General of Thailand, Mr. Jason Thomas (Store Manager of Walgreens), Deputy Director Khaled El-Khatib of Chicago Mayor’s Office of International Relations, Fil-Am community leaders, and American guests.
Together with the Philippine Consulate General in Chicago, the Philippine CPAs (Certified Public Accountants) of Greater Chicago and the Wallgreens (i.e. the largest drugstore chain in the United States) sponsored the art exhibit. Most of the artists’ artworks are displayed at the Kalayaan (Independence) Hall of the Consulate and showcased at the Wallgreens store. The participating Filipino American artists are Susan Alforque Silvano, Bueno Silva, Fabie De Silva, Cesar Conde, Jun-Jun Sta. Ana, Willi Buhay, and Wivinne Eve Red Buhay (“ERBU”).
Consul General Leo M. Herrera-Lim, Deputy Director Khaled El-Khatib of Chicago Mayor’s Office, DCG Orontes V. Castro, Tourism Director Vernie Morales, Cultural Officer Berth D. Salvador, Fil-Am Artists, PCPAs President Adelina Vergara and Walgreens Store Manager Jason Thomas during the unveiling of the exhibit.
The art exhibit, which is intended to showcase the artistry and ingenuity of the Filipino American visual artists, is part of Chicago Artists Month 2010, the fifteenth annual celebration of Chicago’s vibrant visual art community coordinated by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs. Consul General Herrera-Lim invited the guests to “discern for yourselves the wondrously complex message sought to be communicated by the artists. Experience the synthesis and distillation of two cultures expressed by the unrestricted creativity of these artists.”
The venue of the art exhibit – 30 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60602, is strategically located in the City as across it is the historical Chicago Cultural Center (formerly the Chicago Public Library) and immediately in front of the iconic Millenium Park. It is estimated that about 150,000 people pass by daily at the venue of the art exhibit.