Arte en Madera: The woodcrafts of Tim Jumayao
Timoteo J. Jumayao, 75, is a Fine Arts graduate of the University of Sto. Tomas. Tim, as he is popularly called, is a resident of Pavia Iloilo and is married to Jovita Sacramento with whom he has two children, namely Michelle Marie and Timoteo III. He was a founding member of the annual Carabao-Caroza Festival of Pavia held in honor of the farmer and the beast of burden – the carabao.
After his graduation from the University of Sto. Tomas in 1959, he took several special studies by corresponding in art institutions in the United States while working for various advertising agencies in Manila. He returned to Iloilo in 1966 and served as curator of Museo Iloilo. He was also designated as Cultural Deputy of the Province of Iloilo, and member of the Board of Travel and Tourism Industry and of Cultural Research Foundation. He held his first solo exhibit in Kahirup Hotel in 1968 followed by those at the University of the Philippines Visayas, Museo Iloilo, Gawahan Show at Roxas City and Robinsons Galleria in Manila.
Tim Jumayao won awards during the prime of his artist life. To name some of these, he bagged the First Prize in the USIS Art Competition, Bahandi Award for Sculpture in 1986 and Iloilo Heritage Award.
Many of his works were published in national newspaper and magazines like Times Journal, Bulletin Today, Philippine Panorama, Daily Express, Women’s Journal and also in books like Art of Southeast Asia, Art Museum of Southeast Asia and Sugar is Sweet.
Jumayao was the sculptor of Oton Saga – a 9 by 54 feet historical mural in full relief sculpture in uniform concrete at Oton Plaza and the Iloilo Heritage , a 3 by 15 feet mural relief sculpture depicting various epochs in Iloilo cultural evolution at the old Mandurriao Airport Iloilo City.
Jumayao’s exhibit this October in the UPV Art Gallery entitled Arte en Madera, speaks highly of his creativity in playing with his hammer, chisel, wood rasp, wood drill, carving knife, sand paper and varnish to sculpt the abstract wooden figures of mother and child, men, women and animals. The abundance of wood in his town, plus the malleability of these woods, made him very much interested to sculpt according to the shape of woods. His favorite and treasured wood work is Pieta which he finished working for four months. Normally, he would work for three weeks to a year to finish a masterpiece. He also paints and has a series of stone sculptures.
This retrospective exhibit of Tim Jumayao’s wood crafts from 1969 to 2001 showcases 30 of his works which were salvaged after his home/art shop was damaged by typhoon Frank last year. The flood caused Tim Jumayao humbly settling for retirement last year as an artist, yet his works will always remain a treasure and an art to behold and appreciate.