The Last Supper

i was comissioned to do this christian scene. he told me to make my version of the last supper in watercolor.

i googled the images right away. i didn't want to make too many changes or make it 'realistic' because this was comissioned work and i didn't want the guy who asked me to change his perception so i had to work in a conventional way. i even changed mary magdalene into a man just to follow the tradition.

one thing i changed though was that i made some apostles middle eastern looking instead of all white.



i thought of botong francisco, H.R. ocampo, manansala and francisco v. coching while doing this project. they were the ones close to what i can achieve. of cource pablo did the first cube-style art but i noticed the emergence and difference of the pinoy style cubism. it was more flowing and playful. i didn't exactly understand how this happened but i guess it was the muslim-art influence in us pinoys. the jeepney is a good example.

i specially love h. r. ocampo's work at the cultural center of the philippines but botong is my main man on this piece.

Thanksgiving Day

Veteran's Day - Feeding Time

Araw ng mga beterano
Kasama ba ang aking lolo
Kaibigan tayo yan ang sabi mo
Kayumanggi ba kaya mo niloko

T’yong sana ay ibigay mo
Ang utang mong lumolobo
Malasap man lang ang serbisyo
Bago yumao sa sementeryo

Bow

The Spider Fight In L.A.

we went to a friend's house near placentia in LA some time ago. i met with my brother who lives in san diego. we were drinking beer beside our friend's swimming pool when we noticed the bushes behind the pool. we went closer to look for what me and my brother loved to play with during our childhood in quezon province, philippines. and lo and behold. we were really surprised to find what we were looking for. two tiger spiders in their separate webs. we called this kind gagambang tigre back in P.I.

my brother grabbed a long broom to get the spiders. my brother was our 'expert' when it came to spider fights you know. some animal lovers might find this disturbing but hey, spider fights just like sabong are part of our culture not only in quezon province but throughout the philippines.

we immediately grabbed a small stick and did what we used to do back in P.I. what nostalgia. imagine having a spider fight in the middle of los angeles, usa?

here are the pictures.

Vallejo Times Herald

i got a call from vallejo times herald. i was interviewed regarding our exhibit at the fetterly gallery. i was sick at that time and i had to focus in that instant. i just drank 60 ml of extra strength robitussin (sisenta parekoy) and i was still high during the interview. i'm not saying that what i told him wasn't true because of my state of mind but i think i could have told him more deep-funny-shit if i wasn't sick and high. but then, they wouldn't have published it.

i hate interviews because i always thought of better things to say after. i have a slow thought process you know.

the exhibit is still on as of now. see details below.

i just want to add that none of my artworks were displayed at the main gallery. the reason i think was because i was too pinoy for them and people might get grossed out and walk away when they see my art first. but that's just my opinion and i don't really care plus they gave me the juror's choice award. was that to pacify me? hmmm.



the curator asked me why i did this piece and i told her that for me, it is okay to be a dog-eater than to be a human killer. you know vietnam, the philippines and now iraq and afghanistan. they get shocked when they hear the word 'dog-eater' and block you when you talk about dropping bombs. they'll say and do anything to justify their arrogance. you see how they glorify their WMDs in discovery channel?

that means they love dogs more than humans so we better be careful. worse because we are humans who eat dogs so imagine their hate toward humans of our kind. remember the sign 'no dogs and filipinos allowed?'

you see how programmed the american mind is? they have the knack of telling you what's wrong or right but they cannot see clearly. mass media plugged and installed this computer chip into their brains that they cannot comprehend when they hear a different point of view. it's like the blind leading the way. (no offense to blind people).

itinatayo ko lamang ang bandera kong ginula-gulanit. ayaw kong basta na lang maniwala. kahit anong dami ng degrees, awards at medalya mo, para sa akin, kung hindi mo ginagamit ang iyong puso sa pag-iisip. ignorante ka pa din.

madaming magaganda sa ilong na pango.

enough of this shit and here is the article...


Exhibit covers Filipino history in United States
By RICH FREEDMAN/Times-Herald staff writer
Article Launched:10/15/2006 09:49:31 AM PDT

Mel C. Vera Cruz can't understand some of his peers. "Some artists, they don't like to be associated with being 'Filipino artists,' " he said. "They don't like the label. They just wanted to be called 'artists' without the 'Filipino.' " Not Vera Cruz. He'll stand by his heritage any day. "For me, I don't see anything bad about it," he said. "That's me. That's my identity. I'm proud of being Filipino." And Vera Cruz is also proud of his inclusion in "Filipinos: One Hundred Years in America," the latest exhibit at the Fetterly Gallery in Vallejo that runs Saturday, beginning with a reception, through Nov. 30.

"I'm proud of being included," Vera Cruz said. "It's an honor for me." Vera Cruz joins Carl Angel, Crisante DeGuzman, John Yogogi Fortes, Ben Lagasca, Rick Mariani, Pearl Jones Tranter and Ro.

The exhibit is the latest pin on an extensive artistic map for Fortes, a Vallejoan whose paintings are up at the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno, Triton Museum in Santa Clara, and the Asian-American Art Center n New York City. "Exhibits that deal with different ethnic groups are important," Fortes said, adding that it's more than "here's a bunch of Filipinos and here's what they do.' It's not just pretty palm trees and outriggers." Whatever culture the exhibit visitor is, "people will see some good work," Fortes said.

Angel, a San Leandro resident, said he's been "a huge fan" of Fortes' work "for a very long time. So it's quite a bonus to be an exhibit with him. I'm lucky to be in such great company." Angel said he's most impressed, again, "with the diversity of the work, as well as the sheer presence of Filipino artists 'doing their thing.'" The exhibit, Angel noted, is not strictly for Filipinos.
"I think everyone should see the exhibit regardless of whether they're Filipino or not, simply because it's a good work from everyone involved," Angel said. "But Filipinos can get a different perspective on their own story from looking at the work, and non-Filipinos can get an introduction to the Filipino-American story. Art, added Angel, "is very vital to the spirit of the culture. Whether it be in painting, music, dance or film. It's the document of culture. It's the expression of our spirit as creative human beings. It allows us to examine aesthetic, and concepts, and question ideas. It's everything." Most of Angel's work, he said, "is editorial in nature and is cultural as well. Someone called it 'social surrealism' and I think that's as good as description as any."

Vera Cruz, a 42-year-old Union City resident, remembered drawing as a 5 year old but didn't officially become "an artist" until he was 30. "I think art, for me, is a main language," Vera Cruz said. "It's my way of communicating. My art tries to project the truth."_

If you go:
What: "Filipinos: One Hundred Years in America" art exhibit_When: Saturday through Nov. 30_Where: Fetterly Gallery, 3467 Sonoma Blvd., Suite 10_Contact: Vallejo Community Arts Foundation, 648-4035.

Filipino Head Hunter

here are 2 posters i did. the head hunter was inspired by the book 'the last filipino head hunter' and ofcourse by the cordillera head hunters. these are actually tattoo designs that i converted into posters. i drew the outline in pencil then colored it in photoshop.

the colors i used in 'sabong' are candy colors. i intentionally did this. pinoy colors are candy colors. i didn't want to suppress myself and ride with that european monochrome.

i'm still working on more.

Three Caricatures

here are 3 recent caricatures that i did. i admit i'm still developing my skills in the art of caricatures. for me caricature art is one of the hardest. some people have the knack but for me it wasn't natural. it took time for me to learn it. i can say i'm very good in portraiture but distorting a face is different. you have to find the prominent feature, distort it and make the person still recognizable. there is no secret or formula for this art. every face is different. the surest way to do caricatures is a lot of patience and practice. i'm happy with my caricatures now but i still would like to push it further.

hey, i can do yours for $50.00 printed on a 11x17 paper in full color (minus shipping). email me: melveracruz@sbcglobal.net

nancy plew of cruz creations tattoo, my brother kuya ted and dino my nephew.

Clown Car

Chris Gingrich of gingalley productions commissioned me to do this illustration. It's a Scion car wrap design for a company that provides clowns to any kind of parties. it was a challenge drawing this but i had fun doing it. i had to draw a bunch of clowns (like a clown car) in four different views. here it is...

Kalabasa Ni Jose

maari nating sabihin na ang mga pumpkins o kalabasang sinasayang natin sa kaarawan ng halloween ay makakapagpakain ng mga batang naulila sa mga bansang ginegera natin. ang mga tsokolate at mga candies ay nakakasira ng mga ngipin at ang gagastusin sa pagpapaayos ng ngipin nila ay pwede ring gastusin sa biktima ng mga sakuna gaya ng bagyo.

okey lang sa pinoy ang manggaya. wag lang nating kalilimutan ang compassion natin. ito ay natural sa atin dahil tayo ay third world. kita at sanay tayo sa paghihirap. kung gagayahin natin ang kultura ng kanong ito ay wag lang nating iwanan ang ating pagkamaunawain. ito ang laman ng ating kaluluwa at sana'y wag tuluyang maglaho ng dahil sa ating bulag na panggagaya. alalahanin natin na ang kalabasa po ay gulay at hindi laruan ng mababaw na pananakot upang tayo'y wag mangamoy gaya ng sinabi ni ka jose.

TIRIK OR TIRIT!!!

Luna, Amorsolo at Zobel

galing ako sa press opening ng exhibit ng nasabi ko sa titolo sa asian art museum sf. na inspire ako for maybe about 2 days. matapos nyan ay unti-unti syang nawawala. marahil po ay dahil na din sa matagal ko na pong idolo sina juan luna at amorsolo. Na-exhaust ko na ang impluwensya nila sa akin. ilang beses na nilang inapuyan ang aking diwa at madami na akong paintings na sila ang inspirasyon. madaming panahon na ang buong katauhan ko ay nag-aapoy ng dahil kina amorsolo at luna. sa ngayon ay ama ko pa din sila ngunit hindi na katulad ng dati. i have moved on kumbaga. sa ngayong sinusulat ko ito ay nakaplano sa isip kong mag produce ng isa hanggang tatlong piyesa ukol sa nadama ko nang makita ko ang show.

ang unang dahilan at pumunta ako sa exhibit ay syempre upang masilayan muli ang kanilang mga gawa. pangalawa ay upang magkita kami ni ms. zen lopez, glendale cultural comissioner at fellow bangger kung sino ang nagbigay ng tiket sa akin upang makapasok sa exclusive event na ito. salamat ng madami sa yo zen! pero bago ko ituloy ang kwento ay gusto ko munang linawin na diyos pa din ang tingin ko kay amorsolo.

kita ko ang hagod ni luna at sa totoo lamang ay kaya ko ding gawin ang mga hagod nya. hindi po kagaya ni amorsolo na hindi ko pa din maintindihan kung paano nya ginagawa. magpasa-hanggang ngayon ay wala pa akong nakitang kasing galing ni amorsolo. napaka natural nya. walang effort kung titingnan mo ngunit WOW... langit ang kanyang mga piyesa. isa pa po ay consistent si amorsolo. kahit titatamad sya ay makikita mo pa din ang kanyang pagka henyo. si luna ay halata ang kanyang mga mali kung tinatamad at kita ang kakulangan ng pasensya nya. pero alam ko he could have done it if he wanted to. madaming gumagaya kay amorsolo ngunit ikinalulungkot kong sabihin na wala pa ding nakakatumbas sa kanyang virtuosity. syempre pag dating sa personalidad ay malayo ang agwat nila at yang personalidad na yan ang nagpa angat kay juan luna. at yan din ang dahilan kung bakit mas mataas na diyos si luna keysa kay amorsolo para sa akin.

gaya po ng sinabi ko, i have moved on kasi hindi lang sa kanila ang pilosopiya ng art at pinili kong tahakin din ang ibang landas. hindi ko na ninais ma-achieve ang kanilang kakayanan technically dahil alam kong hindi ko magagawa ito ng biglaan. alam ko this will come in time. sa kaso po ni amorsolo ay baka sa next life ko pa bago ako ma satisfy.

laking gulat ko nang habang naghihintay ako sa labas ng museum, nahandon si don jaime zobel at dalawa pang ayalas. na istar struck ang lolo nyo. nakadama ako ng nerbyos ngunit pinilit kong magkaroon ng composure. agad sa isip ko na sila nga pala ang may pakana ng lahat ng ito. hindi ko agad na realize ito dahil hindi ko akalaing maga-attend sila sa opening.

so ngayong na mention ko na ang zobel ay dumako na tayo sa mga piyesa ni fernando zobel. marahil po at isa na ako dito ay magtataka kayo kung bakit napasama si zobel sa show na ito. syempre mare-realize agad nating lahat na ahhhh... ayala kasi ang nag sponsor ng show kaya syempre natural lang ang self promotion. wala tayong idea kung sino si fernando zobel as an artist. hindi sya kasing sikat nila juan at amorsolo. agad papasok sa isip natin na nepotism ang nangyari. maaari nga pong unfair kay botong francisco at iba pa ang nangyari. ngunit salamat sa banggaan. miyembro ako ng banggaan kung saan miyembro din ang ilang mga prominenteng artists ng ating bayan. hindi ko na sila ine-name drop kasi baka may makaligtaan akong i-mention. sa madaling salita ay inenlighten nila ako kung bakit karapat-dapat si fernando zobel sa show na ito.

according sa kanila, si zobel ay artist ng mga artist. alam nila yan dahil kilala nila si fernando zobel personally. para sa akin ay napaka laking honor na purihin ka ng mga kapwa artists. hindi kayang tumbasan ang pugay ng mga kapwa artist kaysa sa pugay ng manunulat dahil iba ang relasyon namin sa isa't-isa. mas alam ng kapwa artist ang karanasan ng kagaya nya dahil iisa ang aming landas.

tireless ang behind the scene contributions ni fernando zobel at sya ang nagpasikat sa ilang national artists natin sa paraan ng mga collaborations at promotions. ayala museum, ateneo art gallery at luz gallery ang ilan sa mga tinatag at na impluwensya ni zobel. malaking impluwensya yan dahil mula dyan ay madaming umusbong na mga prominenteng artists natin sa ngayon.

sa kabila ng lahat ng yan, kung ang pag-uusapan natin ay ang tungkol sa 'painting' lamang. masasabi ko din sa aking sarili na hindi kasing tindi ng output nina amorsolo at luna ang output ni zobel. para sa paningin ko ay hindi ganon katibay ang mga paintings nya in terms of virtuosity. hindi pa ganon ka-expert ang kanyang hagod. halata ko yan dahil alam ko ang tinutukoy nya. sa tingin ko, nagawa ni jose joya ang gusto nyang palabasin. hawak ni zobel ang idea o konsepto ngunit sa execution ay bitin.

maaring merong danger sa ginawa ng ayala dahil nagpo-promote sila ng hindi accurate na information. masasabi kong mas inuna dapat si botong francisco. para sa akin mas importante si botong francisco keysa kay zobel in terms of achievements in painting.

aktuwali po ay tinanong ko yan sa curator kung bakit di nila sinama si botong. sagot sa akin ay wala daw silang koleksyon ng botong francisco at sa kolesyon lang daw ng ayala ang karamihang nakasabit.

ang tingin kong flaw nyan ay dapat at least ay nilinaw at at least ay minention nila si botong francisco. kung idadaan sa batas ay talo ako dahil malinaw sa titolo ng exhibit... "PIONEERS OF PHILIPPINE ART" and definitely zobel was a pioneer of philippine art kaya hanggang dyan lang ako. tama nga ang sinabi ng kapwa bangger na natural lamang ang self promotion at hindi na ito kahiya-hiya sa panahon ngayon. ginawa na itong tama ni andy warhol.

inspite of everything ay dapat pasalamatan natin ang mga ayalas for bringing this exhibit here. salamat mga ser!

narito ang mga retrato. sinadya kong i-lowres ang mga ito para i-protect ang copyrights.

Filipinos: 100 Years In America

napasali ako dito sa exhibit na ito sa fetterly gallery. sina miro salazar at julina ng dating togonon gallery ang mga jurors. medjo nagtaka lang ako dahil walo lamang ang nag submit. siguro hindi 'prestigious' ang exhibit na ito kaya ganon. o baka ayaw lang nilang ma associate as 'pinoy artist.' isa pa siguro ay dahil sa $20.00 fee. o baka wala lang silang time. pero hindi. dahil kung sa chelsea, new york ginanap ang exhibit na ito ay tiyak ako na magkakaroon sila ng oras at pipila pa. vallejo kasi. para bang slow town ang vallejo at walang exposure.

sinalihan ko kasi malakas ang kutob ko na mapipili ang mga gawa ko. gusto ko din mapasali sa laban ng mga noypits dito sa amerika. ito lang kasi ang alam ko at di ko kayang magpanggap. ito ang kinalakihan ko at proud ako.

madami akong gustong sabihin tungkol sa mga struggles ng mga noypits kasi madalas din akong masagasaan. madaming labels na nakadikit sa akin gaya ng probinsyano, FOB, third world, outsider, dog-eater, colored, at madami pa. lahat yan ay totoo pero kung papayag ako na mababang uri nga ako dahil sa mga labels na yan ay walang mangyayari. tuloy-tuloy ang yurak na madadanasan ko.

kailangan kong itayo ang sarili kong bandila kahit gula-gulanit. dog eater nga ako pero hindi ako bulag na robot kagaya ng nakararami. alam kong ako ay madumi at di ko ito itinatago hindi kagaya nila na mga banal kuno. di nila binibilang ang pinapatay nila sa iraq pero pag nakadinig ng dog eater ay para bang nakakita ng cannibal. kasuklam-suklam ka. di nyo alam kayo yun. ang babantot n'yo! sige sambahin n'yo ang mga aso at bale walain ang mga pinagpapatay n'yong tao sa iraq. bugok din kayo kala n'yo ba? di nila kasi nakikita kung papaano katayin ang mga manok, baboy at baka na kinakain nila. akala e dumadating na lamang sa safeway na naka pakete na galing kay lord. wahaha. pare-pareho lamang tayong lahat.

ang mga piyesa ko ay galing sa point of view ng isang demonized dog-eater-adik na pinoy artist na napabarkada sa mga tambay.

mga kasama kong pinoy artists:

Carl Angel, Cristina DeGuzman, John Yoyogi Fortes, Ben Lagasca, Rick Mariani, Pearl Jones Tranter, at Ro

salamat nga pala mel orpilla for organizing this exhibit pati na din sa fetterly gallery at sa mga tauhan nito for hosting.

Christopher Columbus

my version of mr. christopher columbus...

NEVER FORGET

THE REASON WHY.

a visual comment about 9/11

Papan

We were walking from the WIC office in Union City when I saw this family of wild ducks (papan) resting beside a fountain. When I was in the Philippines, it was very rare for me to see this kind of creature. We hunted them to near extinction and here they are just sitting near the BART station. Kung sa atin ito, may paglalagyan yan. Adobong papan?