Art Space

By Wein P. Gadian

Some Alternative artworks during the opening

Let's admit that beauty in any aspect is a real magnet. We love to see (sometimes imagine) colors inside an empty room. We love making our abode as striking as possible. Thus, we buy things that would help us create what we have in mind. Often we shop for furniture that suit our motif or the theme we want to convey. Paintings of landscape, still life, abstract and others are a favorite embellishment. For decades, this love for visual designs have influenced us to the deepest part of our being. In Iloilo City, a place called The Space Between was realized on February 28, 2002 to cater to artists needing a place for their work of art. It is a two-storey private residence, of which the whole ground floor was converted into a space for this advocacy.

February 28, 2002, during their opening

The Space Between is an alternative, artist-run space for artists' works (limited for visual arts only). It promotes the best works of budding young artists and it is where creative and artistic activities are done like art happenings, art exhibits or art workshops. The place also encourages artists to be more experimental and daring in their work. They should not limit themselves on what they know but discover what they should know.

Some of the artist at Art Space: L-R Carlo Juntado, Joseph Firmeza and Vic Fario

For the past years, The Space Between had been and still continues to promote the best works of young emerging artists. It also serves as a setting for analytical and critical conversations. The Space Between is where their artworks are not only hanged but also subjected for analysis and criticisms that are helpful for the development of the artist and his/her work. And different from any hang-out place, it's where artists meet and talk to other artists (especially those who've been in the field for years) and discuss art-related concerns. Through these, it further eradicated mediocrity and other forms of idiocy in art.

2002 Summer Workshop for kids

The Space Between is at Demaisip Compound Laguda Subdivision, Lapaz, Iloilo City. It was also included in an international art guidebook by the Japan Foundation entitled Alternatives 2005 Contemporary Art Spaces in Asia. For inquiries contact Joseph Firmeza at (033) 3205803 or email at spacebetweenph@yahoo.com . For this year, its projects and activities include: exhibitions for young and emerging Filipino artists, art exchange project by alternative spaces in the Visayas and around the Philippines and community-base art workshops.