#leon gallery

Lalique crystal, Hermés ashtrays, Tiffany chargers as well as Botong Francisco drawings and Fernando Zobel watercolors are just some of the brilliant finds at the upcoming two-day online auction of León Exchange on July 27 and 28.

“There are numerous gems in the current sale. For the budding collector, we have quite a few introductory pieces such as paper works by the masters and several contemporary pieces to feed one’s interest in art.  For the seasoned collector, on the other hand, there is just the right Art Deco armoire or Huanghuali piece to be discovered and cherished — not to mention Saprid sculptures that are just divine,” explains Jaime Ponce de Leon.

On the first day, July 27th, León Exchange has in focus “The Collectors’ Vault”, featuring many precious artworks, objects, as well as letters and stamps. Oil on mother-of-pearl paintings, possibly attributed to Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, silver-backed brushes and magnifying glasses with tortoise-shell handles are some of the many treasures from the Ramon N. Villegas collection. Villegas was a renowned antiquarian and scholar of all things Philippine.

Below are some of the epic art pieces to be found at the gallery.

“The Property of a Prima Ballerina”, the legendary Felicitas “Tita” Radaic, showcases the books and paintings accumulated over “a lifetime of dancing in the world’s capitals and a love of literature, wisdom and art.” Rare santoses, all with National Museum stamps and collected by her husband, art historian and intellectual Ante Radaic from across the islands are also featured. Several tomes of Rizaliana are also available.

The collection of an Old Malabon family, the Dionisios, consists of collectible furniture including an outstanding 3-drawer Sheraton.

León Exchange continues its celebration with  “L’Art de Vivre (The Art of Living Well)” on Day 2, July 28th. A range of furniture, chandeliers and lamps, silverware, crystal and china grace the “Heiresses’ Homes and Tables” section.  Names recognizable to top interior designers include Eames and Fortuny as well as Baker and Ralph Lauren. Exquisite lacquered accent pieces, tortoise-shall side tables, and Edo-period gold-leafed screens are also presented.

On both days, a section called “Found Objects” covers lithographs and prints, marvelous contemporary works and artist toys, mid-century modern finds as well as wardrobes, tables and chairs from all the eras.

One can indulge one’s tastes for the exquisite at all price points at the upcoming online auction, says Jaime Ponce de Leon, “and all that from one’s armchair or boudoir. The online auction gives clients the convenience of bidding through their mobiles or laptops, without having to trek all the way to where physical auctions happen.” This convenience makes online auctions for smaller-value — but no less enchanting — lots trending,” he said.

On its 5h year of partnership, the Asian Cultural Council Philippines Foundation and Leon Gallery mark another year with vibrant hopes for continued support in promoting the development of Filipino artists. Such unified vision is the core aim of this annual fundraising auction that benefits the ACC Philippine Fellowship Program.

On Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 2pm, all roads lead to Leon Gallery for the Asian Cultural Council Art Auction showcasing the best works of Filipino masters, icons and outstanding contemporary artists, including some of the foremost visual artists-ACC grantees.

ACC fellows Ambie Abaño, Anton det Castilo, Noel Soler Cuizon, Dexter Fem ez, Riel J. Hilario, Leeroy New, and Samuel Penaso present excepional works to form part of the impressive pieces up for auction in a show of solidarity to raise funds for the ACC grants program.

Since 1963, Filipino artists from all art fields are being supported in their pursuit of cultural research, studies, and residencies anywhere in the United States or any country across Asia through the ACC fellowship grant. Among the luminaries in the list are National Artists Lucresia Kasilag, Jose Maceda and Ramon Santos for Music; Jose Joya for Visual Arts, Alice Reyes for dance and recently proclaimed stalwart Kidlat Tahimik (project grantee for Film). They are joined by some of the notable scholars and leading contemporary and young emerging artists in theater, literature, architecture, and other allied arts.

Describing the impact of the ACC fellowship experience, 2006 grantee ANTON DEL CASTILLO shares, "Not only did the ACC grant take me to various places across the US, but it also took me to a whole other world of art that I wouldnt have known were it not for ACC. The opportunity to explore various museums across the country left me with knowledge that would prove useful to my practice throughout the years. I may have only stayed in New York for a short while, but the 6-month residency provided by the ACC changed my views on art, and hence my life, forever."

A special preview of the auction pieces starts February 20, 2019 at the Leon Gallery, G/F Eurovilla 1, Rufino Corner Legaspi Streets, Legaspi Village, Makati City: while the ACC-Leon Gallery Booth at The Link, await visitors and patrons during the Art Fair Philippines on February 21-24, 2019.

From the Leon Gallery Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/177889882289860/posts/2018303474915149/):

🎩The Don #AntonRoxas Collection reflects the gentleman's impeccable taste and love for elegance. ⁣⁣

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Anton Roxas, known as one of the iconic Filipino Dandys, lived a grand life in a house whose interiors were designed by the Prince of Chintz, Mario Buatta - who had also designed the Blair House in Washington DC, the official guest house of the United States government. ⁣⁣

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Together, they created a mansion with a refined old world way of living, following the guidelines of a French country-style idiom. ⁣⁣

Leon Gallery has set the date for its much-awaited, scintillating Spectacular Mid-Year Auction 2018 on Saturday, June 9, 2018 at its Eurovilla I showrooms on the corner of Rufino Street and Legaspi Street, Legaspi Village in Makati. Headlining the must-have masterpieces are an exquisite Lorenzo Guerrero of life along the Pasig River. 

Guerrero, who became most famous as the mentor of the brilliant and internationally-celebrated Juan Luna, was also a wonderful painter in his own right. He was educated by the foremost Spanish instructors at the Manila academia : Manuel de la Cortina, who was himself a graduate of the Madrid art academy and his successor Nicolas Valdez. Guerrero, in fact, was to become the teacher of Manila’s finest artists, from Simon de la Rosa Flores and his nephew Fabian de la Rosa, Felix Martinez and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, Telesforo Sucgang, Felix Pardo de Tavera, and Jorge Pineda to name a few stellar painters who passed through the portals of the legendary art school.

 A 1917 work by one of Guerrero’s star pupils, Fabian de la Rosa, of a charming pair of ponies in a stableyard, provides an interesting behind-the-scenes look of a Manila home, at a time when horses were more common than automobiles. Fernando Amorsolo — who happened to be Fabian de la Rosa’s nephew — is also in the spotlight with several riveting and early works : A post-war procession outside the ruins of the Antipolo church; works from the Thirties, Forties and Fifties, from an orange-streaked sunset scene by the water to glorious country scenes “Under the Mango Tree”  and by a waterfall. The works are all the collections of several distinguished Manila families. 

A rare urban scene of the massive Ynchausti Rope Factory is a unique view of Manila in the 1920s. Scintillating Jose Joyas, one ante-dating his historic participation in the Venice Biennale (the Philippines’ first in that august art fair); others from his halcyon years in the 1970s. Other mid-century moderns include Vicente Manansala with a superb work dated 1949 that speaks allegorical almost in a style more typical of Carlos “Botong” Francisco : a trio of women pound rice, in a variety of Filipino costumes, while men pile grain in tall mountains. In the background, a sunlit landscape which suggests the Benguet rice terraces and in the foreground, a large carabao. Another work, datelined Paris, portrays a grieving mother at a child’s bier. Arturo Luz, Ang Kiukok, and Romeo Tabuena are likewise represented, as are Juvenal Sanso, Oscar Zalameda, Lao Lianben, Malang, and Federico Aguilar Alcuaz. A finely-proportioned ‘comoda’ with original marquetry in a floral design, an imposing Sheraton sideboard, and a ‘Mariposa’ butterfly sofa are just some of the impressive furniture to be included in the June sale. 

 Among the collectible memorabilia, the country’s most iconic heroes are represented. There is a bread-and-butter note (dated 1891) from the Philippine National Hero Jose Rizal to the Scottish millionaire Don Alejandro S. Macleod who had thrived in Manila. Letters from various historical personalities to Teodora Alonso are also available in a single lot, including a Rizal family recipe, and more piquantly, the court documents of the suit brought against Rizal’s mother and her brother. Her unjust persecution greatly influenced Rizal’s nationalism. Most explosive is the narration of Gregoria de Jesus of the last days of Andres Bonifacio as well as a dagger bearing the markings of the Katipunan. 

This document, while having been featured in works on the Philippine Revolution has never been revealed in full previously and is certainly one of a kind. A rare autographed photograph of the Lakambini of the KKK (dedicated to the journalist Jose P. Santos) and a letter to Emilio Jacinto complete the historical offerings that will fascinate the collector and every patriot. Apropos, a BenCab of Rizal’s last days in Fort Santiago — and featuring excerpts of his “Ultimo Adios” is also a highlight, alongside an appealing work from his “Larawan” series, inspired by turn-of-the-century Philippine photographs. From the contemporary artists, exciting works by Ronald Ventura, Marcel Antonio, Jon Jaylo, Danilo Dalena, Emmanuel Garibay, Edwin Wilwayco, Manuel Ocampo (with a grim Christmas work) and Jose John Santos III are also featured. 

Happy Wednesday! Why yes, I am wearing my pajamas. What's that? You sleep in ass-less chaps? Aaah, yes, that actually makes sense. I hate those late night quick-trips to the bathroom too. Oddly, that attire does seem easier to deal with at 3 AM. Certainly beats sleeping in overalls.

Today I bring you some shots of the awesome Bud Bronson & The Good Timers, a brand identity for a killer festival this weekend, and a video I just did for my good friend Eric Dallimore! 

Bud Bronson & The Good Timers kick ass. I mean serious ass. Remember how much The Ramones kicked ass the first time you heard them? That much ass. J Roddy Walston & The Business ass. Ok..we get it. Ass. 

We headed out to the bowling alley a few months ago armed with a couple cameras, some change for pinball, and a loose idea of what we should do. After a few beers and bowling a few games, the photos kind of presented themselves. No 911 calls, no massive leg-breaking hikes, no heavy discussions, just a great night. That's what those guys conquer at. Great nights. I hope you enjoy!

BUD BRONSON & THE GOOD TIMERS

FaceMan has these incredible ideas. Like, all the time. He's a hurricane of ideas. And sometimes, he makes the ideas happen. This is one of those times. A few months ago, he wanted to make a rocket ship to go to the sun. So, he is. Obviously, he's not actually on a mission to the sun. However, just as ridiculously, he has gotten over 40 Denver bands to perform at a festival to celebrate a ride into the sun. Literally, over 40 bands. I'm in one of them: Lee Avenue. He's paired up with the incredible Incite Productions and the (super cool) Denver Tool Library to make a Volkswagen sized rocket ship. I'm pumped to play this festival. It's two straight days of music from some of the top talent in the state. Make sure to check it out. Oh, I also did all the posters and brand identity and blah blah blah for it. So, here's some drawings for it. Also, look up the story of Wan Hu if you get a chance (links at the bottom of this post).

FACEMAN'S JOURNEY TO THE SUN

This past week I was approached by my buddy, Eric Robert Dallimore. I've mentioned him in passing a few times in the past regarding his awesome gallery, Leon. He was doing a performance art piece for the (also) awesome Point Gallery this past weekend. He divulged that he'd never done a performance art piece and was stoked to get it on tape. So, I brought my camera! However, I thought it'd be a bit more fun to do a little documentary around the piece...so, I shot a bit more than just the performance. I also recorded a bunch of fun music-type stuff on rhodes, accordion, and guitar. All of it was recorded on the ol' iPhone and edited down in Adobe Audition. Boy, sound engineering? Turns out it's not my thing. Now, usually I don't take video gigs – mostly because I suck at video. But, this one was a lot of fun to make!

Immediately after leaving Point Gallery, my digital camera broke...and remains broken. Thank god it didn't crap out during the performance, eh?! Looks like it's time to start giving out massive deals to try to buy a new camera again. Hrumph.

ERIC ROBERT DALLIMORE

Remember to sign up for the newsletter on the Blog page of my site! It's the only place to find out about upcoming awesome deals (that can help me get that new camera. Hrumph twice.)!

Thanks so much for looking at my stuff!!

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Links:

Bud Bronson & The Goodtimers: Bandcamp

FaceMan's Journey To The Sun: Website

Eric Dallimore: Leon Gallery

Incite Productions: Tumblr

Denver Tool Library: Website

Wan Hu: NASA