Special Features
By Women, For Women: The Gallery of Giving Gives Opportunities Through Scholarships
Proceeds from the online auction by Galeria Paloma will benefit U-Go, a scholarship grant that helps economically disadvantaged young women.
Women helping women. This is the battle cry of Mia Rocha Lauchengco, Georgia Rocha-Chu, and Kimi Rocha-Delgado, sisters and owners of the local art gallery Galeria Paloma. This Women’s Month, the three team up with an initiative of their own that seeks to help deserving but underprivileged younger women.
Dubbed “The Gallery of Giving,” the online auction will feature works of art, objets d’art, and jewelry from both renowned Filipino masters and up-and-coming contemporary artists and designers. Proceeds from the sales will then be used to benefit U-Go—a scholarship grant that provides scholarships for young women.
That way, they can pursue higher education and work their way toward purpose-filled employment.
“As a gallery run by three women directors, whose mother was once a gallery director herself but found her calling as a steadfast educator, U-Go was a cause that we knew we could champion from the start,” says Kimberly Rocha-Delgado. “We are very grateful to U-Go for giving us the opportunity to make a contribution to the cause by doing what we do.”
Supporting and showcasing artistic talent
Set to take place at ArtistSpace—located at the G/F Ayala Museum Annex, Makati Avenue corner De La Rosa Street, Greenbelt Park, Makati City—The Gallery of Giving includes works from:
- Julie Lluch
- Onib Olmedo
- National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab
- Soler Santos
- Bjorn Calleja
- CCP Thirteen Artists Awardee Ernest Concepcion
- Carina Santos
- Isabel Echevarria
- Lina Llaguno-Ciani
- Aba Dalena
- Martin and Barbie Honasan
- Basti Artadi
- Sarah de Veyra-Buyco and Hamill Buyco
- Carlos
Special sections will be dedicated to notable digital artists like Luis Buenaventura, Skye Nicolas, AJ Dimarucot, and Isaiah Cacnio.
Must-see pieces include the works of emerging artists like Julie Lluch—a sculptor who is known for her feminist themes and distinctive, powerful point-of-view on the female experience in her pieces. In her piece “Georgia Lily,” she pays homage to feminist artist and icon Georgia O’Keeffe through abstracted ‘flower paintings’ that meld the two styles together.
On the other hand, expressionist artist Onib Olmedo’s work “The Widow,” which portrays poignant and haunting longing, makes a return appearance in this exhibit. It was previously exhibited at the artist’s retrospective at the Ayala Museum.
Other notable works include a series of two artworks that depict Luis Buenaventura’s trademark engagement with technology in a piece called “Handmade.” As one of the artists of Curio Cards (the first work of NFT art minted on the Ethereum blockchain), his works are known to raise thought-provoking questions—like whether artificial intelligence (AI) can replace humans in the realm of art.
And yes, it shows the running joke that AI cannot draw hands.
![(L-R): Luis Buenaventura, Handmade 1 [Still], Digital Artwork (Animated) | Isabel Echevarria, Manobo, 48in x 36in, Mixed Media on Canvas | Joanna Duarte, Mona Lisa, Ikaw Ba Yan_, 20in x 16in, Oil on Canvas](https://modernparenting-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/The-Gallery-of-Giving-An-Art-Auction-by-Galeria-Paloma-2-scaled.jpg)
Women supporting other women
The Gallery of Giving will start with an onsite exhibition and viewing from March 13 to 26, with an online or silent auction continuing, up until April 10. Interested buyers and collectors may peruse and make their bids via www.galeriapaloma.com/auction.
As the implementing partner of U-Go in the Philippines, the Ayala Foundation will be working hand-in-hand with Galeria Paloma in providing scholarships to young women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. This will allow them to pursue their studies and seek employment after.
To break the cycle of poverty, U-Go aims to empower its women scholars to, in their words, “become agents of change in their families and communities.” And from its initial batch of 120 students, U-Go aims to grow its reach to 1,000 students in the medium term.
“I really believe—and am very much aligned with the Ayala Foundation’s vision—that access to education could be a meaningful equalizer for Filipinos,” explains Mariana Zobel de Ayala, the Senior Vice President for Leasing and Hospitality of Ayala Land, Inc. and Global Board Director of U-Go. “I’m excited by the possibilities of what quality education can bring, not just for women in the country, not just for their families and communities, but also in bringing the most empowered economy forward.”
“We are proud to be in the communities of 410 women that have been awarded U-Go scholarships so far,’ she continues. ‘Our aim is to more than double that in the next few years—and this is a very special opportunity by Galeria Paloma that will help us make that dream a reality,” she ends.
Read about more social initiatives here!
Save the Children: How to Show Your Support This International Day of Education
I Want To Share Gala: A Charity Ball To Fight Against Cancer
#RisePH: A call for donations to raise funds for the Typhoon Ulysses
For inquiries on the exhibit and auction, to assist interested bidders, or to donate directly to U-Go, please contact the gallery at +63 917 822 5673, or email [email protected].
