A Closure to a Little Painter's Dream

Untitled Landscape (1), one of Mae's early paintings, a view somewhere in Caliraya.

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One of my mentors in graduate studies, learning about my sister Mae's work and her tragic end, suggested that I arrange with De La Salle Univerity - Manila's Main Library Museum to have her paintings exhibited. I was then working at that university while writing my thesis. She averred that it is the logical course that an artist take. For my sister, it would have served as a closure to fulfill her dreams.

At the onset of negotiations with the museum's curator, however, I left my work in a huff to concentrate on writing my thesis. At least, that was what I told my director. In truth, I was reeling from shock at my sister's brutal death. Actually, everyone in the family was going through a harrowing experience, most specially my parents. Feeling an overpowering emptiness, we were drawn together seeking strength from God and each other. I resigned from work, went home to Laguna and left this business of exhibiting Mae's work hanging in the air. That was in 1994.

Moving on, I got preoccupied with many concerns, started getting odd jobs and forgot the whole thing. And now twelve years after, as I posted my tribute to her in the very first article in this blog site, I thought, "Why not have her virtual exhibit here instead?" So, here are a batch of her earliest paintings... landscapes near home.

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Untitled Landscape (2), a view somewhere in Caliraya

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Untitled Landscape (3), a view somewhere in Caliraya

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Untitled Landscape (4), a view somewhere in Laguna from SLEX

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Untitled Landscape (5), a view somewhere in Laguna from SLEX

I don't really know whether these works are untitled. I have to dig into her things and see if she left any notes on these paintings. Or perhaps, I have to look under the frames to see if she scribbled any clues. I shall do that when I get the time to visit Laguna and take pictures of her other works as well.