John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University (JBLFMU), one of the top maritime schools in the country, has opened an Art Deck gallery in their Molo campus on Thursday, August 13.
Art Deck is a multi-functional John B. Lacson Foundation Museum of Maritime Culture and Craft, a way of affirming the schools position as “The Maritime Vanguard.”
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| Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog congratulated John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University (JBLFMU) on the opening of their gallery called Art Deck in Molo Campus. |
A brainchild of JBLFMU chairman of the board and president emeritus, Dr. Mary Lou Lacson, who is an art enthusiast herself, it will be a space for changing exhibitions, workshops and art talks.
It will put special emphasis on maritime art with themes that draw inspiration from the sea and marine ecology.
Its goal is to feature seafarers and maritime industry professionals who are also visual artists, or writers and who have produced works inspired by their ocean voyages or by interactions with marine life.
It is also open to display works by artists who have a special affinity to maritime art, culture and craft.
Art Deck features Engr. Joar Songcuya Unabia, a 2011 graduate of JBLFMU-Molo, in his first solo exhibit of 27 paintings.
A self-taught artist, his interest in art was rekindled while his ship traversed the “pirate zone” that is the African continent.
Unabia said paintbrushes and canvasses became his solace and refuge to calm frayed nerves while onboard.
His favorite themes are maritime life and marine ecology, preferring to capture the beauty and solitude of longings at sea, sentiments shared by every seafarer.
Unabia’s sailing career spans four years, gaining experience onboard a chemical tanker, an oil tanker, bulk and container ships.
