Jon Pettyjohn does not remember much of the childhood he spent in Okinawa but he distinctly recalls growing up with ceramics that his mother collected, which led to his early fascination with the medium. In the early 1970s he studied ceramics at the Escuela Massana in Barcelona, which was heavily influenced by the modernist works of Picasso, Miro and Tapies. However, Pettyjohn relates that it was not the experimental and expressive forms of modernist art that influenced many of his works but the simplicity and grace of Asian ceramics that he later came to know and admire.

Juvenal SansÓ is not oblivious that he is once again the focus of attention. “I feel naked,” said the painter, describing how he feels a few minutes before his exhibit opened.  His slight apprehension might be justified. The exhibit is his biggest yet.

Premier Sansó: A Show of Shows opened earlier this month at the Sapphire Ballroom of Mandarin Oriental Suites in Gateway Mall, Cubao, Quezon City. It is aptly dubbed, as Sansó’s body of work—cutting through various media and spanning six decades—is showcased comprehensively for the first time. According to the award-winning artist, some of the featured works were taken out of his bodega for the first time, while some have been graciously lent by faithful collectors of his works.

WHEN does furniture become art? That’s the question BoConcept answered when it unveiled simultaneously its 2010 collection with an art exhibit featuring 22 cutting-edge contemporary and emerging artists. By presenting the different artworks in a space usually devoted solely to furniture, the line between art and furniture is blurred, prompting one to ask, “What is art?” I say a thing of beauty is a work of art, and BoConcept is definitely furniture art.