Earlier this year, we held the second of four talks as part of PURVEYR and San Mig Light’s 20 Light Years collaborative project: a #MahabaHabangUsapan on Creativity, in 856 G Gallery, Cebu.
Subtly placed along Fortuna Street, 856 G is a neatly-lit modular space with a lovely office. It’s an incredibly welcoming gallery, one that feels like an extension of founder Chris Fussner and his team: a group of intelligent, warm people that really bring the space to life. When I first stepped into the then-empty gallery, set up just beginning, it felt as if anything could be done with the space — and I knew it was the perfect place for this talk.
Words — Julio Del Prado, Images — Marvin Conanan
Please note that what you will hear here is only a part of the whole discussion.
Moderated by Chris Fussner of Tropical Futures Institute and 856 G, with a panel featuring Willow Hoods of The Good Neighborhood, Edel Tribiana of Strap Cebu, and Mark Deutsch of Happy Garaje, the talk covered finding new ways to communicate and tell stories, how to involve your community in the development of creativity, and the importance of being “less apart, and more together”, among other things.
Chris Fussner graduated from Parsons School of Design in 2015, and is currently heading Tropical Futures Institute: an interdisciplinary cultural research and production outfit. Chris bridges his experiences in retail and design with his passion for arts and culture, seamlessly integrating community and the creative arts to deepen the way community & culture is thought of and pushed forward.
Edel Tribiana started Strap in 2013, following his experience as a sponsored rider for other skate brands. Edel felt he could push for a homegrown skate brand that would champion his belief in the Cebu skate scene, and Strap has continued to grow since; gaining an international voice, collaborating with Asia-wide Wandering Magazine and Hong-Kong based skate brand Victoria.
Mark Deutsch founded Happy Garaje alongside Johanna Velasco in 2009. The studio’s work has appeared in many publications, and they’ve gained many accolades, such as the Gold Award from the Society of Illustrators in Los Angeles. For this talk, Mark discussed his focus on connecting artists and finding new methods of telling stories through art.
Willow Hoods opened The Good Neighborhood in 2017, to champion his dedication to local streetwear and offer another space where the community can interact and exchange ideas: He also talked about the scene’s evolution throughout the years as he witnessed it, and his growing Airbnb experience tour. He actually took us on this same tour, and showed us a small part of Cebu’s thriving community: definitely a warm and welcoming experience.
Edel Tribiana, Mark Deutsch, Willow Hoods, and Chris Fussner
While it’s easy to note the promising development of Cebu’s long-standing creative scene, I find it equally remarkable that the community is highly inclusive: there was a sense of togetherness that I don’t always see during my travels. Everyone is supportive of everyone else despite whatever differences they may have, and it seems to come from the common goal of instilling appreciation for the creative arts, as well as pushing the city towards more creative answers wherever they might be needed: being able to feel that in a city is a refreshing experience: one which makes you trust that Cebu’s future holds a lot of promise.
