Weekend Hits: Art in the Park

First stop for my Go Biking Project was at an annual gathering of artists, craftsmen, art galleries, and aficionados none other than Art in the Park. First time to visit here last year and I was left in awe. Good thing Jordan and I both got ourselves bikes beforehand and some friends from Talahib Peoplesmusic invited us for a ride. Since they are also inclined in arts and crafts, I suggested to drop by the event that one fine Sunday afternoon. We rode from Paco, Manila to Salcedo Park, Makati.

art latagan

storage gone cute

I was busy snapping and rubbing elbows with acquaintances, I forgot to take note of the artists. Next time, yes!

Some of the locally renowned galleries who were present in the event were: Neo-Angono Artists Collective, Blanc Gallery, Resurrection Furniture and Found Objects Gallery, Secret Fresh, Vinyl on Vinyl, FEU and TUP Fine Arts, and many more.

I learned how to ride a bicycle when I was in grade school. I’m a self-taught and I had too many bruises and scratches before I finally made it. Though I took a break from it and I had to start all over again. This time on the open road. Considering limited bike lanes and some arrogant motorists in the metro, you can imagine how shaky I am. I’m trying to overcome being submissive on the road. My instinct, of course, tells me safety first but there are times you have think quick before situations get worse.

Back to this ride, I was not confident with my jap bike so I asked Jec to lend me her spare one. Therefore, I rode her mini velo with coaster brake and it’s new to me so we had to get along for a time. Though it didn’t let me down. I was too anxious I was checking the brake all the time. After Art in the Park, we headed for Mall of Asia for dinner then went back to Paco via Roxas Boulevard (there’s a bike lane along the bay, wee). I believed my mental awareness moved to the next level haha. It was a thrilling ride. I was with experienced bikers, they were good in maneuvering. I got inspired and decided to get myself at mini velo, too. You will see it on my next posts. My new buddy.

(Weekend Hits is a compilation of my biking adventures. I ride a bike on weekends and take snaps of fascinating things from my city (and hopefully other destinations, too). Follow my adventures here or on Instragram.)

xx

why do I get inked

I got my very first tattoo 2 years ago. It’s a charming daruma-inspired one that I stumbled upon on Google. I didn’t have the chance to reach out for the designer before having it but hopefully I could make a way someday.

Every now and then, a few tattoo ideas have been playing in my mind such as my bf’s illustration of Fertility Goddess (which was a cover photo of their indie comics) as a back piece, fertility ring by Fang-Od (the last mambabatok/traditional tattoo), and recently I got settled for something bigger than my daruma but bold (literally maybe) till I came across Stella Im Hultberg‘s works of art. I got to know her from reading Audrey Kawasaki‘s blog few years back. They make similar subject which is a girl in different poses, different emotions, both mystic. Though I have thought of getting a Kawasaki tattoo, I held back. Prolly due to scattered Kawasaki-inspired designs I see all over the web. Enter moment of clarity, I NEED A STELLA IM HULTBERG’S ON MY SKIN!

The truth is, I already asked permission to her a few days ago and she granted it right away. She said she didn’t really mind. In fact, there’s an album of tattoos of her art on her Facebook page. Can you imagine my reaction? Totally psyched now!

To recall my goals for the previous year, one of them was to reach Fang Od in the mountains of Cordillera and get a tattoo done by her. Sadly though, I only had a few days off before the year ended and it seemed unfavorable. Then I had a plan B. Yihaa! I’ll just update this blog when it’s done. I have high hopes because I know my artist can give a justice for my chosen artwork.

While pondering about getting another tattoo, this came up to me:

Why do I want another tattoo? Or more? Do I want to appear like a smorgasbord? Do I just want to look cool? Answer is a big NO, of course. People usually perceive this way. Tattoos are cool. You look cool with tattoos. Though we can never prove it wrong. As for me, I get inked because there’s a need to materialize all the pains I’ve been keeping inside me. Pains from all the heartaches, hits and misses, longing, struggling for a better future, and some more which I can never tell. I need this kind of pain which I try to overcome and after all the excruciating pain I know I get stronger than ever. Yep. I know it’s weird, too. I know emotional pain is more brutal so I need to stop it once in a while. I need to overcome it at the right time. Therefore, I don’t know how many more tattoos do I need in my life to feed this frenzy. I hope it’s not too much. I cannot simply hurt myself. I cannot simply ask somebody to hurt me. This is the only way I can get a legit pain. Yes, I’m pathetic. 

2013 has been fairly humble to me. It also marked my quarter life crisis and perhaps I am slowly figuring out the puzzle of my life. About what should I be. Where should I be. And to make it happen without any hassle, I need to end the two-year-old ache inside.

xx

joycee

UPDATE: Still on scaling phase