A small group of Filipino women is holding an art exhibit called Canvas and Kindness in Jakarta this weekend. It is a small yet meaningful art exhibit organized not with fanfare or grand ambitions, but with heart, creativity, and a shared dream taking its first steps.
I am glad to be part of this small group – 4 of us to be precise. We regularly meet for our painting sessions under the guidance of Pak Tipto, an Indonesian painter who has been sharing his skill and passion with amateur artists like us.
We are all expat wives living here in Jakarta because of our husbands’ work. Our husbands work in different industries. We have different personalities. So, what holds us together?
Well, we happen to love painting. We began pursuing painting at different times and stages of our lives but here we are meeting at a perfect time to make this very first step to make a shared dream a reality.
Who We Are
Lenny Alonzo has been painting the longest under the guidance of Pak Tipto. She has developed her style throughout the 16 years she has been painting. Her clean strokes and attention to detail are reflected in her painting.
Wilhelmina Erna started painting under Pak Tipto 14 years ago. How she ended up painting began with her desire for art lessons for her son, Philippe. She was looking for an art teacher for him, but she got hooked instead.
Donella Obordo has added painting to her art-filled life. She creates and surrounds herself with art – from visual, graphic, and interior design – she has eyes for details. And it shows in every corner of her cozy home.
I just love art. But I never thought I could make one. Then I started with crafts. I am also a trying-hard artist. Until I got to meet our group and Pak Tipto. Slowly, I started appreciating what I do. Now, I am exploring – and finding joy in – mixed media.
The Shared Dream
Holding an Art Exhibit of our work has been a lingering thought. Sometimes, we entertain it. Oftentimes, we dismiss it and the possibility seems far-fetched.
But Len’s and End’s collection of paintings over the years is inspiring. So the idea began to take shape with every stroke during our painting sessions. We began being bolder with the idea. We began to find our voice as we continued to support each other’s thoughts of hosting a small art exhibit.
Though modest in scale, “Canvas and Kindness” holds deep personal meaning and carries emotional weight. This is the first time we are showing our art publicly so it is exciting and terrifying — but mostly, it’s empowering. This Art Exhibit celebrates our journey.
The exhibit runs for 2 days (May 30 and May 31, 2025) at Don’s house in Pondok Indah. She opens her house to our humble initiative and we hope friends, family, and curious art lovers come and support us. We also hope this is the first of more to come. But we really don’t know. What matters most is that we’ve started.
Beneficiary
We chose to make our Art Exhibit even more meaningful by supporting Love in the Streets (LITS). LITS is a Jakarta-based initiative supporting marginalized communities across Indonesia. They have programs for refugee care, weekly meal distributions, disaster relief, and educational workshops for children in underserved areas.
A portion of the proceeds will be handed over to LITS.
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