Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Introduction:
The Philippine folk artists who participated in the 1998 Festival shared a common involvement in elaborate systems of exchange, reciprocity, and gift-giving that characterize Filipino society - a theme that was chosen to structure the Festival program. Their lives could be read as essays on gift-giving: mentors of younger generations, diplomatic representatives to worlds outside their communities, custodians of artistic creation, performers and makers of the implements of celebrations. They represented the spirit of pahiyas, a word that collects notions of gem-like treasures and blessings. Pahiyas is a shower of gifts and blessings in the celebratory abundance of a harvest. Through these artists, the Philippines celebrated the centennial of its declaration of independence by asserting its freedom to construct the future with the culture of gift-giving.
At the start of work on the Philippine Festival program, the first order of business was to define an approach that engaged not only how intricately Filipinos articulate identity and reweave tradition with 20th-century passions, but also how they do so while simultaneously expressing delight and dignity, vivacity and solemnity. The demand for accuracy of representation was extraordinarily high. The project was negotiated by the Philippine Centennial Commission with the Smithsonian in the context of the Philippine Centennial celebrations in the Philippines and of the associated events planned in many cities in the United States.
It was clear to the project team from the outset that during these celebrations, Filipinos wished to signal their arrival at a juncture in history where they could enjoy a complex understanding of the deepest sources of cultural pride. The project's goal was to express a sophisticated sense of the dynamics of folklife in a national formation. Thus, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), the implementing agency for the project on the Philippine side, assembled a project team of independent cultural workers and worked with the Smithsonian to create a Festival concept - pahiyas - and corresponding presentation to communicate that sense of arrival and to register that refined understanding.
The 80 Philippine master artists honored by the Smithsonian Institution and their nation have in common - aside from their levels of achievement - a strength of character that has enabled them to meet the challenge of modernity by accepting and reworking certain aspects of it. Many of the artists were savvy about recordings and other forms of documentation, marketing techniques, alliances with other communities and countries, public presentations, discussions, and political action. Individually and as a group they laid to rest the weary stereotypes of the primitive or the abject rural peasant. Although many of them were poor by the standards of urban society, they all projected to Festival visitors a grace, a pride, and a sense of assurance that seemed to issue from the aesthetic pleasure and wisdom inherent in their chosen art forms.
Richard Kennedy and Marian Pastor Roces were Curators, with Ramon Obusan as Program Director and Eva Mari G. Salvador and Andrea Yangas as Program Coordinators. Flora Elena R. Mirano was Research Director and Ricardo Trimillos was Research Associate.
The Philippines program was produced in collaboration with the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Philippine Centennial Commission and was supported by the American International Group, Inc., The Starr Foundation, Bell Atlantic, the Asian Cultural Council, and the Philippine Centennial Foundation/USA.
Researchers:
Marialita Yraola (supervising researcher), Edna Marcil M. Martinez (senior researcher), Eduardo Borbon, Ricardo Cruz, Leonido Gines, Jr., Maria Patricia B. Silvestre, Dennis Julio Y. Tan
Presenters:
Paulo Alcazaren, Carmencita J. Bernardo, Eduardo Borbon, Joseph Cristobal, Ricardo Cruz, Frank I. Depakakibo, Leonido Gines, Jr., Pacita O. Ignacio, Amelio B. Manzano, Edna Marcil M. Martinez, Jojo Mata, Flora Elena Mirano, Oliver Patino, Maria Patricia B. Silvestre, Dennis Julio Y. Tan, Marialita Yraola, Consuelo Zapata
PASIKING (KALINGA ENSEMBLE), KALINGA-APAYAO PROVINCE -- PASIKING (KALINGA ENSEMBLE), KALINGA-APAYAO PROVINCEBenicio D. Sokkong, leader, Kalinga-Apayao Province, PhilippinesDamaso L. Balway, Kalinga-Apayao Province, PhilippinesCalixto B. Cabannag, Kalinga-Apayao Province, PhilippinesInocencio L. Damagon, Kalinga-Apayao Province, PhilippinesJose Marie K. Felipe, Jr., Kalinga-Apayao Province, PhilippinesImelda S. Polittude, Kalinga-Apayao Province, PhilippinesBenedicto L. Damagon, dancer, Kalinga-Apayao Province, PhilippinesFidel P. Tayawa, dancer, Kalinga-Apayao Province, Philippines
TALAANDIG ENSEMBLE, BUKIDNON PROVINCE -- TALAANDIG ENSEMBLE, BUKIDNON PROVINCEVictorino Saway, leader, Bukidnon Province, PhilippinesJean S. Gangga, Bukidnon Province, PhilippinesMarlon P. Necosia, Bukidnon Province, PhilippinesAdolino L. Saway, Bukidnon Province, PhilippinesRodelio L. Saway, Bukidnon Province, PhilippinesLiza L. Saway, Bukidnon Province, PhilippinesOrlanda P. Saway, Bukidnon Province, PhilippinesNarita T. Sihagan, Bukidnon Province, Philippines
Chapel
CHORAL ENSEMBLE, BACONG, NEGROS ORIENTAL PROVINCE -- CHORAL ENSEMBLE, BACONG, NEGROS ORIENTAL PROVINCEExuferio V. Tinguha, choirmaster & parol maker, Bacong, Negros Oriental Province, PhilippinesGlenn S. Aurea, parol-makingassistant, Bacong, Negros Oriental Province, PhilippinesLeona R. Aurea, cantora, soprano, Bacong, Negros Oriental Province, PhilippinesSimplicia V. Baro, cantora, soprano, Bacong, Negros Oriental Province, PhilippinesCatalina T. Gajilomo, cantora, soprano, Bacong, Negros Oriental Province, PhilippinesAngel M. Honculada, parol-making assistant, Bacong, Negros Oriental Province, PhilippinesGenoveva T. Sagarino, cantora, alto, Bacong, Negros Oriental Province, PhilippinesSylvia T. Vendiola, cantora, soprano, Bacong, Negros Oriental Province, Philippines
MUSICONG BUMBONG, -- BULACAN PROVINCE -- MUSICONG BUMBONG, BULACAN PROVINCEAlfredo C. Anastacio, snare drum, Bulacan Province, PhilippinesAntonio A. Anastacio, harmonica, Bulacan Province, PhilippinesRodrigo C. Anastacio, bass drum, Bulacan Province, PhilippinesAntonio D. Bautista, trombone, Bulacan Province, PhilippinesRoberto C. Capiral, trumpet, Bulacan Province, PhilippinesEmesto B. de Dios, trombone, Bulacan Province, PhilippinesRoderic C. Garcia, cymbals, Bulacan Province, PhilippinesMelchor F. Gimenez, clarinet, Bulacan Province, PhilippinesBernabe A. Ignacio, bamboo bass, Bulacan Province, PhilippinesZosimo B. Miday, trumpet, Bulacan Province, PhilippinesRizalino A. Remigio, saxophone, Bulacan Province, PhilippinesDomingo M. Rosco, saxophone, Bulacan Province, PhilippinesRoman A. Santa Ana, bamboo bass, Bulacan Province, PhilippinesMaximo C. Santiago, harmonica, Bulacan Province, Philippines
RONDALLA MARIKINA, MARIKINA CITY, MANILA -- RONDALLA MARIKINA, MARIKINA CITY, MANILAMarcial R. de Jesus, Marikina City, Manila, PhilippinesArcadio R. dela Cruz, Marikina City, Manila, PhilippinesEdgardo G. Labrado, Marikina City, Manila, PhilippinesRodolfo T. Poblea, Marikina City, Manila, PhilippinesMontano M. Santos, Marikina City, Manila, PhilippinesTeofilo M. Santos, Marikina City, Manila, Philippines
SUBLI -- ENSEMBLE, BATANGAS PROVINCE -- SUBLI ENSEMBLE, BATANGAS PROVINCEAbdon O. Cruzat, leader, Batangas Province, PhilippinesRufina V. Boongaling, dancer, Batangas Province, PhilippinesBeda M. Dimayuga, dancer, Batangas Province, PhilippinesBibiana C. Escalona, dancer, Batangas Province, PhilippinesMiguela C. Maquimot, dancer, Batangas Province, PhilippinesSimeon C. Maquimot, dancer, Batangas Province, PhilippinesLeonardo E. Valdez, dancer, Batangas Province, PhilippinesFelix C. Cruzat, drummer, Batangas Province, PhilippinesSeverino D. Cruzat, drummer, Batangas Province, PhilippinesJose E. Manalo, drummer, Batangas Province, Philippines
Collection Restrictions:
Access by appointment only. Where a listening copy or viewing copy has been created, this is indicated in the respective inventory; additional materials may be accessible with sufficient advance notice and, in some cases, payment of a processing fee. Older papers are housed at a remote location and may require a minimum of three weeks' advance notice and payment of a retrieval fee. Certain formats such as multi-track audio recordings and EIAJ-1 videoreels (1/2 inch) may not be accessible. Contact the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections at 202-633-7322 or rinzlerarchives@si.edu for additional information.
Collection Rights:
Copyright and other restrictions may apply. Generally, materials created during a Festival are covered by a release signed by each participant permitting their use for personal and educational purposes; materials created as part of the fieldwork leading to a Festival may be more restricted. We permit and encourage such personal and educational use of those materials provided digitally here, without special permissions. Use of any materials for publication, commercial use, or distribution requires a license from the Archives. Licensing fees may apply in addition to any processing fees.
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1998 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
This archive includes interesting documents related to Trude Guermonprez's life and work as a weaver. The archives are especially related to the designer's work for her major clients, like Holland America Line and Owens Corning Fiberglass; other pieces in this archive are related to Guermonprez's work for custom curtains made for major synagogues and her designs, interior fabrics, screens and rugs realized in conjunction with J.P. Oud, Architects Associated, New York; Eric Mendelsohn, Warren Callister, etc. The correspondence and the photographs in this collection provide insight into the designer's private life. Included in this collection are press articles, brochures, correspondence, postcards, photographs, color slides, notebooks, textiles, and textile wood patterns.
Arrangement note:
Unprocessed; Included in this collection are press articles, brochures, correspondence, postcards, photographs, color slides, notebooks, textiles, and textile wood patterns.
Biographical/Historical note:
Trude Guermonprez is an experienced weaver as well as a designer, artist, craftsman and teacher. She has executed architectural commissions and has done interior design for industry. Her work is of great variety in character and form. Guermonprez started weaving in Halle, Germany at the Municipal School of Arts and Crafts. Six years of weaving in a Dutch rug shop preceded her coming to America, at the invitation of Anni Albers, to teach at Black Mountain College, and later to northern California to join her friend Marguerite Wildenhain, at Pond Farm Workshops in a producing-teaching cooperative. She served as Chairman of the Craft Department at The California College of Arts and Crafts. Though she designed fabrics for New York textile manufacturers, her works were mainly custom produced for architects and individuals. In 1970 she was honored the Craftsmanship Medal from the American Institute of Architects.
Guermonprez published works in Art and Architecture, 1949; Shuttlecraft Weaving Magazine, 1957; and Research in Crafts, 1961.
She also participated in the following exhibitions: de Young Museum; American Wallhangings, London; Oakland Art Museum; Pasadena Art Museum; U.S. Information Agency State Department Show, traveling Europe exhibition; "Craftsmen of the West", "Fabrics International" and "10 American Weavers" at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. In 2000 at Staatliche Galerie Moritzburg Halle Landeskunstmuseum, Halle (Salle), Germany: "From Bauhaus to the Pacific: The Impact of Emigration on Marguerite Wildenhain and Trude Guermonprez".
Location of Other Archival Materials Note:
The North Carolina State Archives web site has material in its collection related to Guermonprez as a teacher and artist-in-residence at Black Mountain College.
The Archives of American Art hasoral history interviews of Merry Renk conducted 2001 Jan. 18-19 by Arline M. Fisch for Nanette L. Laitman's, Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America. Guermonprez is only mentioned.
Provenance:
All materials were donated to the museum by Mr. Eric and Mrs. Sylvia Elsesser in 1993.
Restrictions:
Unprocessed; access is limited. Permission of Library Director required. Policy.
National Museum of African Art, National Museum of Natural History, purchased with funds provided by the Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, 1983-85, EJ10149
National Museum of African Art, National Museum of Natural History, purchased with funds provided by the Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, 1983-85, EJ10158
National Museum of African Art, National Museum of Natural History, purchased with funds provided by the Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, 1983-85, EJ10391
National Museum of African Art, National Museum of Natural History, purchased with funds provided by the Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, 1983-85, EJ10408
National Museum of African Art, National Museum of Natural History, purchased with funds provided by the Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, 1983-85, EJ10409
