Some of the paintings at Lolo Dad
I was surprised to have so much enjoyed the opening reception of my “Legendary” exhibit in Makati, Manila’s burgeoning financial district, which took place at Lolo Dad’s Brasserie last Friday. Following a 5 hour flight delay from our island of Samar to Manila, I was given ample airport terminal time to groggily worry that I would not be the most stellar star at my third Manila art exhibit.
I debated which would serve better to prop up a tired smile: toothpicks or duct tape? But when Esteban and I finally arrived a couple hours after the reception started, I found both familiar friends and new faces that buoyed my energy; and of course the paintings, looking so clever and fantabulous in Lolo Dad’s seductive art space, brought me back to my happier, energetic self.
Within moments of our arrival, the corners of my mouth lifted, freeing themselves from their toothpick and duct tape moorings. Apparently I’m easy to please; it just takes some canvas, paint and good company.
“You’re late,” said Friley, holding court while firmly settled in a plush club chair near the stairs by which we arrived 2 hours late. He’s a Franciscan friar that pulls no verbal punches, particularly when it comes to artists and their creative offspring. As an artist I’ve learned a cagey stance around the cutting wit of art experts like Friley, but felt energetic enough to spar with him this reception evening.
“Come show me the weakest links,” I said with bravado. “We’ll go around the paintings and you can ask, ‘What were you thinking?’” Surprisingly, he charmingly denied he’d asked such crushing questions and declined such sport, not wanting to break the magnetic adhesion between his pants and his chair.
Dante and his entourage appeared as well; I suspect his is the one person that reads this blog. Hearing of the location of the high end venue, Jing Jing arrived, a registered nurse in Manila and Pong, his pediatric husband. Or podiatrist? …the doctor that treats babies for whooping cough, not their feet.
Paulito, the owner of Ricco Renzo Gallery, as well as Kaye held court upstairs.
Here are some photos of the Lolo’s Dad Bistro reception:
Friley and Marty McCorkle at the opening art reception of
Marty McCorkle and the painting entitled
Marty McCorkle and his paintings at Lolo Dad
As we later walked to our Bel Air hotel that the Lolo Dad’s Brasserie and Ricco Renzo Gallery were nice enough to pay for, I mentioned to Esteban Friley’s unbreakable marriage to his chair, only moving when he left the reception.
“It’s the bamboo,” said Esteban, referring to the painting of the river landscape. From where Friley sat, he could meditate uon the atmospheric bamboo painting. “He wants to keep that painting ‘in the family’ as he puts it by getting someone to he knows to possibly purchase it locally,” said Esteban.
“The friar works in mysterious ways,” I mused aloud, realizing that these words had sounded better in my head.
Bamboo by the River, Oil Painting on Canvas, by Marty McCorkle.
This show continues at Lolo Dad’s Braserie through May 11, 2011.
