By Vanessa B. Hidalgo
Featuring Kristine de Jesus, Anita del Rosario, Jane Ebarle, Mia Go, Katrina Raimann, Anina Rubio, and Maria Salvador, the all-female collective headlines the 37th edition of the “Of Art and Wine” exhibition at Gallery C, Conrad Hotel, in collaboration with Space_Alt Contemporary.
Entitled “Her hands: A Loom of Stories,” the exhibition —open to the public until Nov. 15 —presents 34 works that highlight both ingenuity and the rich cultural tapestry of weaving. Through textiles, paintings, and sculptures, the all-female collective weaves narratives of women’s triumphs and tragedies in the modern era.
“'Her hands: A Loom of Stories is a demonstration of how women naturally thrive in art and community. Like the particular and intricate art of weaving, women always portray the responsibilities of connecting the lives of everyone we encounter,” says Kaye Tinga, president of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
“Carrying faith, history, and nostalgia, these artists magnificently merge their personal stories with the universal experience of womanhood. As we say at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, ‘Ang kultura ng lahat ay para sa lahat.’ Women play a vital role in achieving and sustaining this promise of inclusion,” she adds.
Kristine “Kutz” de Jesus shares that the exhibit unite artists with distinct practices, all bound by a common thread—the belief that art connects memory, emotion, and experience.
Pursuing her passion
Before devoting herself to full-time artistic work, Kutz was a certified public accountant who spent two decades in the corporate world, handling finance, project management and operations management roles at firms such as Punongbayan and Araullo and other institutions. During the pandemic, she began sharing her artwork on Instagram under the digital alias @whilemykidsaresleeping.
It was around this time when a friend took notice of her work and encouraged her to pursue her real passion: intuitive art. In January 2024, she made her gallery debut at Art Anton’s Fractals group show.
The 42-year-old wife and mother calls her current series “A siren’s cosmic dream.” The acrylic and ink on canvas depicts cool tones of blue, gray and embellished with gold strokes. The abstract paintings depict the sensation of swimming underwater.
Cosmic siren’s call
“This series honors women whose dreams are often deferred, not due to lack of passion, but because of life’s sacred responsibilities: motherhood, caregiving and duty,” Kutz says.
Part of the series is “Celestia,” where a noticeable empty space is seen in the canvas. Kutz says that Celestia is where she practiced the “art of restraint.”
“If you see my other artworks, I like to fill everything with details. But with this one there’s a breathing space and every woman needs that,” she explains.
Tradition reimagined boldly
Anita del Rosario describes her entry into jewelry design as “unexpected.” Exploring the unexpected led to a passion for creating iconic conceptual crosses.
Celebrated for her achievements in both jewelry design and sculpture, she often fuses her Catholic faith with modern artistry.
Working with materials such as mother-of-pearl, brass, wood, and resin, she bridges traditional and contemporary styles. A former comics illustrator, her innovation and craftsmanship have established her as a trailblazer in the Filipino art community.
‘Escape’ outlet
Maria Salvador, 33, creates immersive pieces that transport audiences into imaginative landscapes. Diagnosed with dyslexia in elementary school, she discovered art and drawing an “escape” that opened the door to her creative journey.
Her art is primarily textile-based, combining techniques such as crocheting, knitting, and weaving. By incorporating anomalies and unconventional materials, she challenges viewers to confront existential questions and even consider the possibility of extraterrestrial life.
Maria has developed several solo art series, each reflecting a different phase of her life. To date, she has completed more than 50 works and staged two solo exhibitions at Art Underground.
Her upcoming series, which is scheduled for release in February 2026, delves into the themes of pain and healing. She says the collection will include red threads to represent passion and love, linking her past experiences to her current journey of becoming a better person.
Heritage on canvas
Jane Ebarle is a storyteller who weaves narratives of tradition and history. She is best known for her “Hibla” abstract style, in which her paintings mimic real fabric.
Her works have been featured in solo exhibitions at the National Museum, the Asian Civilizations Museum in Singapore, and the Philippine Center in New York. Her “Kagayakan” series serves as a tribute to the Filipiniana dress.
A milestone in her career came during her exhibition at Museo de La Salle, where she was commissioned to create 25 paintings that were later presented to heads of state during the 31st ASEAN Summit in Manila in 2017.
Connected with cultureMia Go harnesses storytelling as a means to grow connections and stimulate meaningful discussions. She picked up a myriad of experiences throughout her career, spanning various sectors in the creative industry, including film production, photography, branding, advertising and event management.
Mia wanted to enrich her children’s cultural roots, which led her to the exploration of fiber arts. It was through weaving and other artistic endeavors that led her down the path of self-discovery.
Her handwoven cotton and wool yarns showcase her talent for combining her artistic endeavors with a unique blend of memory and community.
Intimacy in abstraction
Katrina Leigh Mendoza Raimann explores themes of intimacy, relationships and the human body.
Based in Hong Kong and holding a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art from Goldsmiths, University of London, she draws on memory and emotion to create abstract representations of spaces.
With an uncanny ability to transform locations into sites of memory or visions of the future. Katrina loves to play around with the interplay between the tangible and intangible.
Art meets sustainability
Visual artist and creative wellness coach Anina Rubio has created more than 300 murals across the Philippines and has collaborated with global brands like Spotify and Adobe, often highlighting the intersection of art and sustainability.
She breathes new life into discarded fabric by transforming them into vibrant works of art. Her playful hues and use of recycled materials serve as a call to action—an invitation to integrate creativity and sustainability for a healthier world.
The exhibit opening was led by Elizabeth Sy, president of SM Hotels and Conventions Corp.; Cathy Nepomuceno, senior vice president for operations of SM Hotels and Conventions Corp.; Mia Villanueva, president of the Philippine Textile Council; Adelaida Lim, president emeritus of the Philippine Textile Council; Kaye Tinga, president of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Lucky Ou, Conrad Manila’s general manager.
