Essence
- art celebrating the roles, struggles, and triumphs of all women

Responding to violence and harassment of women amid continuing gender discrimination in the work place, Essence will ask these important questions: What is the essence of a woman? What challenges stand in the way of their well-being? What can one do to support those who are so essential to the world’s well-being?

Essence will provide a creative dimension to the multifaceted character and spirit of women by highlighting in vivid colours and shapes their roles, struggles, and triumphs. The exhibition seeks to challenge you, the viewer, to examine how you treat and speak about the women in your lives.

Five artists of Filipino descent, who are creating award-winning works in their home away from their motherland, simultaneously living in at least two cultures, are making ripples that begin with a unique perspective in subject and mark-making. Lead artist, Esmie Gayo McLaren, asks, “What ripple effect are you creating? What can one human being do to make the world a kinder place for women and ultimately for everyone?” The artists aim to spark a conversation about personal solutions to women’s issues.

Essence will feature the works of three female visual artists Esmie Gayo McLaren (Vancouver, BC), Lenore RS Lim (Vancouver, New York, and Manila), and Pamela Gotangco (Switzerland). Recognizing that men are equal partners in shaping a world where everyone should be able to realize their dreams, Essence will also present male artists Chito Maravilla (Surrey, BC), and Danvic Briones (Richmond, BC).

Ambassador Petronila P. Garcia, the first woman ambassador to represent the Philippines in Canada, will be the guest speaker at the exhibition’s opening reception.

Essence will be presented at CityScape Community Art Space in cooperation with partners Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, UBC’s Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice (GRSJ), Filipino Music and Art Foundation in BC, and Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society (VAHMS).
The Essence exhibit travels to the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa later in September 2018, incorporating the works of two members of the city’s artistic community, Melanie Yugo and Kristina Corre.


Educational components of the exhibit:
Save the Dates:

• “A Printmaker’s Journey: Balancing Art, Family, and Community”
Lenore RS Lim, artist and founder of the Filipino Music and Art Foundation in BC, will be doing an art talk about her series on comfort women, her mother’s influence, and the process of printmaking.
Venue: CityScape Community Art Space
Date: May 12, 2018 (Saturday before Mother’s Day), 2:00-3:00pm

• “Essence of the Arts for Social Justice: Why the Critical-Creative Matter Now More Than Ever” Through Essence partnership with UBC’s GRSJ, Associate Professor Leonora Angeles of UBC’s School of Community and Regional Planning and The UBC Social Justice Institute will deliver a talk to immigrant youths and the community, about women’s issues, during the month-long exhibit.
Venue: CityScape Community Art Space
Date: May 19, 2018 (Saturday), 2:00-3:30pm