Association of Negros Artists: Instagrammable Bacolod One Wall at a Time

More and more cities around the world are promoting Instagrammable walls as part of their tourism initiatives. Here in Bacolod City, the Association of Negros Artists (ANA) have made it their mission to make an Instagrammable Bacolod. And they are doing so one wall at a time. Have you had photos with any of their works?

Association of Negros Artists – One Wall at a Time

The Association of Negros Artists (ANA) is a group of passionate artists based in Bacolod who keep on indulging their art through personal works and community collaborations.

Among the more active founding members is Ms. Joan Honoridez, more popularly known as Joan of Art.

One of their notable works is their series of peace murals along many public walls around Bacolod City.

They are also mentoring and nurturing young artists to better hone their talents through art workshops.

Murals for Peace

A couple of years ago, the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has tapped the Association of Negros Artists in their drive against vandalism in the city.

Police city director Jack Wanky met with the Bacolod artists about what could be done because the city walls looked so dirty with vandalism.

Together we stand against vandalism! Let’s continue make our city an
ART DESTINATION.

Joan Honoridez, Joan of Art

So in June 17, 2017, police operatives from Stations 1, 2, and 3 painted the vandalized walls in their respective areas. The following day, ANA artists then painted a mural on the wall of Station 1’s Bacolod City Public Library façade with a mural featuring Jose Rizal.

Subsequently, the artists then painted the newly cleaned walls along Lacson Street under the Station 2. Their last area was the Sta. Clara wall, which is the area of Station 3.

Vandalism

The following day, two portraits of the murals belonging to Station 2 were vandalized by two prominent names appearing in various parts of the city. This incident sparked a lively online discussion about street art as a whole.

Bacolod artists want to beautify the city but vandals who claim their graffiti as art per se, do not agree. So what is art and what is vandalism?

Meanwhile, let’s define some terms:

• Graffiti – “writing or drawings made on a wall or other surface, usually without permission and within public view. “
• Vandalism – “is the action involving deliberate destruction of or damage to public or private property.”

Mache Belangel-dela Torre, one of the ANA founders, admonished vandals, “While art has no limits, the law puts a limit to what art can do especially if it involves the defacement of someone else’s property.” It is already vandalism and not art, she added.

The perpetrators of that vandalism incident was caught but to this day, vandals still continue to destroy the murals with their graffiti.

Private Commissions

The murals that have stayed are those that were commissioned privately by schools, companies, stores, and restaurants.

ANA is open to collaborations with any private group. You may contact them through their FB page: Association of Negros Artists

Government Support

The Bacolod City government should look into this situation, as these private individuals are passionately helping beautify the city. They need protection as well as a safe sanctuary to showcase their art.

It will really be big boost to Bacolod tourism, as Instagrammable walls are now part of promoting a city as well as its art scene.

Have you see any of the works of these Bacolod artists?

The members of ANA have painted so many walls already, most of which are commissioned by private individuals and corporations. They also have so many pending walls scheduled to be painted. Meanwhile, check out what they have already done in the list below.

• Ang Tamburong, Sugar Beach, Sipalay City A Girl’s Dream
• The Librarian’s Nightmare, The District Northpoint, Ayala, Talisay City
• Woodrack Cafe, The District Northpoint, Ayala, Talisay City
• Billie, Katie and Friends, Brightkids Pre-schools, Lacson St., and Villa Lucasan Bacolod
• Evangelical Church Learning Center, Brgy. 14, Bacolod City
• Tippy’s Bistro, 10th Street, Bacolod City
• Weego Bistro, GoHotels and Granada, Bacolod City
• Spice Kitchen, Lacson St. And Riverside College cafeteria, Bacolod City
• Viber Cafe, Villamonte, Bacolod City
• Balay Bintana, Villamonte, Bacolod City
• Coffee Culture, Alijis, Bacolod City
• SM City Bacolod, Bacolod City
• Negrense Resorts, Punta-taytay, Bacolod City
• A Bug’s Life, Talisay City
• Wala Usik Stores in Banago, Cauayan, Bayawan, Basay, Sta. Catalina, Sipalay, Siaton, Hinobaan
• Wala Usik Concept Cafe, Bangga. Pepsi near flyover, Lacson Street
• Tristar Shipping Lines M/V Our Lady of the Philippines, M/V St. Isidore 2, M/V Sto. Niño Navistar
• Easy Speech Facility, Lacson Street
• Kawzy Korner Air BnB, Wilrose Bldg., Burgos St., Bacolod City
• Window to the Secret Garden, Molave Highlands, Liloan, Cebu City
• Bulak Diri Basura, Punta Prinsesa, Cebu City
• Nature Wall, STI, Bacolod City
• Celebrate Everyday! Spanishtown Cafe, Kabankalan City
• Ria G Cakes and Pastries by Pokchap Group
• Live Art SmartMasskara 2018 at Homegrown, Lacson St., Bacolod City
• Chalk Art SmartMasskara 2018 booth, Lacson St., Bacolod City
• Rapha Valley murals, Brgy. Kumaliskis, Don Salvador Benedicto
• Tug-an Mural, Sum-ag Gym, Bacolod City Giant Sunflowers, Brgy. 16, Bacolod City
• The Recycling Plant, Wala Usik Tyangge and Kapehan, Bgga. Pepsi, Bacolod City
• Tanduay Basketball Court, Toboso, Negros Occidental
• Knytz Billiard Hall, Libertad, Bacolod City
• Fiesta Negrense, Ayala Malls Capitol Central Food Court
• Diving Deep, Bulata, Cauayan
• Balay ni Debbie, Saravia, Negros Occidental
• Four Corners of Saravia Plaza, E.B. Magalona Sicogon Airport, Sicogon Island, Carles, Iloilo
• Jose Rizal, Bacolod City Library, Rizal Elementary
• School Peace Portraits, Street art at Sta. Clara Subd.
• Mandalas, in front of Starbucks, Peña House, Lacson St., Bacolod City
• Portraits near Homegrown, Lacson St., Bacolod City
• The Gingerbread House, Caridad, Bago City
• The 7-Storey Stairwell Doodle Wall, ARB Call Facilities, Bacolod City

How ANA Was Formed

Joan Honoridez founded the Association of Negros Artists with fellow Bacolod artist, Mache dela Torre in May 20, 2013. They opened their first art exhibition at The District North Point with a few other artists.

Along with a few artist-friends, they have come to be collectively known as ANA. Joan designed the logo and the rest was history. But she explains why they don’t have a set of officers.

“In my Peace subject in the Masters of Conflict and Resolution Studies at the University of St. La Salle, we learned what is called ‘structural violence’ in organizations. The higher the organizational pyramid, the greater the structural violence, and therefore the greater the escalation of conflict,” Joan starts.

Instead, ANA recognizes that each member has his or her importance in the group. They acknowledge that each one has something to say and contribute. So they don’t hold elections like other organizations.

ANA Core Group

For 2019, the active members that make up the core committee and the main movers of the group are the follow:

• Wen Quilisadio
• Armilina Patoc
• Julius Añasca
• Wara Ichi
• Tibor Show
• Sherwynn Cadianza
• Debbie de Leon
• Olive Torres
• Ronan delos Santos

Active Contributors

• Mae Basa, IC Dingcong
• JM Aguarte
• Jorgie Serfino
• Tiffany Untal
• Francis Bibar
• Kris Tirante
• Emman Martelino
• Hill Benitez

And many many more.