Meet a Filipina Painter - Marissa Q. Gonzáles

Welcome to the art world of a painter who has  developed a distinct, recognizable style, which is all her own. 

Marissa Quirino Gonzáles, is a Filipina artist who resides in Switzerland. She began painting in 1994 after taking private painting lessons in Switzerland and France. She has been exhibiting her works for almost two decades now, in different parts of the world. She has uniquely developed her own style with the use of jusi (Philippine silk) as one of her canvasses for her artworks, in her creative expression of the places she has visited - of the scenes and images that have appealed to her in several European cities and Africa.

Jusi, a term that originated from the Chinese word for silk, was first fabricated during the Spanish period in Philippine history, from silk, banana and piña leaf fibers, used, mainly, for formal wear. In the 1960s, the production of this fabric was mechanized, producing a fabric with a silky shin and smooth surface.

As Marissa began to blend influences from her country of origin to the art influences she had imbibed from her European exposure, she has created exquisite works of art.

On Thursday, January 29, she opened her show at the ArtistSpace, at the Ayala Museum, Makati, Philippines. Entitled "Under the Mediterranean Skies," her solo exhibition will run from January 30 to February 11. Viewing her paintings is like a travelogue,  making one dream of traveling to the faraway places that have been captured in her works.

 Garland cutting with her special guest, Mr. Cuanang 
(of Pinto Gallery)

Here is a sampling of the artist's works:

These are wall hangings, with wood scrolls at the top and bottom, making them easy to transport and display in homes and offices.

 "Albarracin"

93 x 73 cm

 "The Rose Window"

93 x 74 cm

 "Azulejos and Two Chairs"

93 x 86 cm

 "Tunisian Blue Door #18"

93 x 120 cm

 "Catania Old Town Building"

 93 by 120 cm

 "Palacio de Musica, Barcelona"

93 x 127 cm

 "Wrought Iron and Columns"

93 x 114 cm

 "Flamenco Dancer"

93 x 116 cm

 "Cinque Terre"

93 x 77 cm

 "Florentine Square"

93 x 106 cm

 "Tuscan Villa"

93 x 105 cm

 "Lisboa"

93 x134 cm

 "El Faro"

93 x 123 cm

 "Florentine Facade"

93 x 106 cm

 "Tunisian Blue Door"

93 x 131 cm

 "Tunisian Yellow Door"

93 x 130 cm

Using jusi as a canvass can be quite challenging. Instead of painting with an easel, Marissa sets her jusi canvass on the floor, for better control of the paint, in her atelier.

On opening night, art connoisseurs and collectors came to admire, love, and reserve their favorite pieces. Congratulations to Marissa Gonzáles! It was almost a sell-out at opening night. 

You, too, can have one of her works. For more information, contact the artist at -

http://www.silk-atelier.com 

Tel. +41 79 281 56 67 

Fax: +41 22 369 36 37 

e-mail: silk-atelier@bluewin.ch

New Year's Eve, 2014, on the Champs Élysées

The word was out that there was going to be a countdown on the the main French avenue, Champs Élysées. By 11:00 p.m., the people had come to populate the wide avenue, which had been closed to traffic, to celebrate the coming of the new year, 2015. This was going to be a first. In previous years people gathered here just to hang out and drink their champagne to celebrate the new year with their friends. This year, there was a production to look forward to.

While in New York - at Times Square, the glitter ball is always much awaited; over the Thames River in London and the Sydney Opera House, spectacular firework displays provide  the countdown festivities for the coming new year. This year, Paris has landed to be counted among the best places in the world to celebrate the new year's eve countdown in a grand way.

The trek towards the Arc de Triomphe - to get there as close as possible.

 As soon as the arc disappeared from sight, a round of applause signaled the start of the show.

 Cameras and smartphones were held up high to catch the changing scenes on the arc, which was used as the screen.

A fifteen-minute video show started, showing the highlights of Paris' iconic places and symbols, reflecting the Parisian "art of living." There was also a focus on the environment, as France is scheduled to host the International Climate Change Summit in 2015.

 The pyramid on the Louvre grounds

 Centre Pompidou

Metro map

 When the fireworks came on, there was a cheer from the crowd - 2015 had arrived!

 Fireworks displays, normally, are expected during the annual celebration of Bastille Day. 

 It was time to uncork the champagne bottles - cheers to the new year!

 With this, the countdown was over.

As the strove lights went on, the people began to disperse.

To continue with the new year's day celebration, a parade - with a circus theme - with fanfare bands and floats, will be held at the Champs Élysées, at 2:00 p.m. This will be something, especially, for families to enjoy. The parade will commence from Place de la Concord.

Here's wishing you all a joyeux nouvelle année!

The Eiffel Tower - Holiday Season 2014

No one ever seems to tire of looking at the Eiffel Tower, especially, at night. Come winter, spring, summer, or fall, it is always visited by tourists.

 

During the holiday season, it even becomes more attractive, as some decorative structures are added to keep in theme with holiday Paris.

 A globe is situated at the center, on the ground level of the 

Eiffel Tower...

...housing a white Christmas scene made from flocked, fresh pine trees, and lit up with an animated light projection.

During daytime hours, the globe reflects the rafters (the tower's legs), looking like a canopy that has been designed to house the greenery.

Across the street, the merry-go-round is joined by another attraction. The Eiffel Tower Christmas Market, which opened yesterday.

 The entrance - welcome to the Eiffel Tower Christmas market.

 Though it is much smaller in scale than the Christmas market at the Champs Élysées, it carries the same food and holiday-gift-idea offerings.

What a treat and convenient stop this is for the tourists who visit the Eiffel Tower - there is somewhere they can go to after, to sit, rest, drink and eat, and even have a place to entertain the young kids in - they are the captive audience for this market.

 This snow globe, right at the entrance, is a perfect for a photo op. Once inside, snow-like particles are blown to create snow, falling and swirling around, as your picture is being taken.

For those still shopping for holiday presents, there are artisanal and manufactured products - leather goods, winter clothing accessories and apparel, trinkets and jewelry, wine dispensers and decanters, decorations and other useful items. But, here is one storefront that attracts a lot of attention.

 Anything you buy from this store can be personalized.

From one of the adept machine-embroiderers who said he had a gift for me, I got my name embroidered.

As for the food, there are as many sweet as there are as many savory food stalls.

 Warm wine, sausages, pomme frites (French fries)

Paella

 Crepes, waffles, and beignets (doughnuts)

 There is quite a large selection of warm food to order here.

A sweet treat after a meal

One needs to be mindful, though, of all the processed carbs in the sweets and fast-food items, as well as the food additives that are in some of these delicious-looking foods, that are easily consumed in a place like this.

 For those who want to eat well, there are options for a more restaurant-type set-up...

 There are several floating restaurants to get to through the stairs leading to the Seine, and this is just one of them.

 

When the Christmas season is over, all will be back to normal. And the Eiffel Tower will always be a place to visit and a sight to behold.