Rollo exhibit opens at Consulate Gallery

Rollo exhibit opens at Consulate Gallery

TORONTO–Jomedi Joey Rollo, a graduate of the PWU College of Fine Arts, opens the new gallery at the Philippine Consulate Generals office with his exhibit A Touch of Nature (lines and Strokes).

The inaugural show will run from April 16 to June 15, 2004. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The address is 161 Eglinton Avenue East Suite 800.

Thirty paintings will be displayed, most of them done in acrylic and oil and in the modern impressionist style. Among the pieces is “Bahay Kubo” (Nipa Hut). The painting is his recollection of the nipa hut in the backyard of the family home where Joey loved to stay. He remembers its coziness and the breeze it provided him during the summer time. His inspiration for Forest Path is the mountain where he usually goes camping in Canada. A very religious man, Joey likes to paint nature as a testament to the greatness of the Creator.

Joey started as a realist painter, as shown in his early works, but later on made a great transition and developed his own style and his own identity. His colours and style were greatly influenced by famous impressionist masters like Monet and Renoir.

Another influence on Joeys art was his father, Johnny M. Rollo who was an in-house graphic artist at PCI Bank. He exposed Joey to art early in life and encouraged the young boys creativity.

After graduating from college, Joey joined the Design Centre of the Philippines as a local counterpart export design consultant assisting several furniture and house ware manufacturing companies to enter the export markets. Joey headed the product research and development team and was assigned to conceptualize different collections or designs for each of the furniture and house ware companies using different materials ranging from steel, iron, metal, indigenous materials, to natural wood etc. He was able to create innovative designs that met export standards.

He eventually became a sought-after product developer/designer in the Philippines, motivating him and his wife to go into product design and development consultancy and export business on their own. With his wifes support and encouragement, Joey set up a painting studio in their home in Laguna and picked up his brushes again.

In Canada, Joey joined the Philippine Artists Group, a decision which made a great impact on his painting career. He was forced to put more hours into painting to build a collection and has joined three group exhibitions since he became a member in September 2002.

Joey was commissioned by Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Lindzon of Toronto to paint a safari mural in their sons room and a princess garden mural in their daughters room.

Wayne Tanenbaum, a philanthropist, also commissioned him to make portraits of several prominent Jewish icons like Ben Gurion, Einstein and several historic places in Israel.
Others who have bought paintings by Joey include Dr. Guillermo de Villa Jr., Huy Ha and Oriana Tarhlo.

For more information on the exhibit, contact Dexter Macaraeg, Cultural Officer of the Philippine Consulate Genera,l at 416 922-7181 extension 232.