​ArtSpeak Online: Why Agriculture?

ArtSpeak Online: Why Agriculture? is a panel in celebration of Earth Day: Invest in Our Planet and a public program for 'Leeroy New: Mebuyan's Colony' organized through the Ignacio B Gimenez Outdoor Installation Grant at the Areté.

In this session, Mebuyan's Colony agricultural partners - Farm Ready, Ramgo Seeds, and Oh Crop! - will discuss their advocacies about sustainable agriculture, the effects of climate change on farming, and their respective efforts to make agriculture more accessible to the public.

Speakers:

- John Songco, Kalye Luntian and Today's Harvest

- Josephine Ramos, Farm Ready

- Jovie Jill Gacoscosim, Ramgo Seeds

-Diane Gundaya, Oh Crop!

Admission to the talk is free and open to the public.

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ABOUT THE INSTALLATION:

“Mebuyan’s Colony” is a work that marries Leeroy New’s continuing fascination with Philippine mythology and science fiction through an installation of giant spheres on bamboo stilts. The work refers to Mebuyan who is described in Bagobo mythology as a goddess of death and fertility. Along with his use of material discards to develop the work, New collaborates with environmental scientist Jose Felix to transform “Mebuyan’s Colony” into a work that would showcase different agricultural systems integrated into different pods. Diverse flora will be grown on the interior and exterior of the pods, allowing fruit-bearing vines to thrive until it resembles a form of a bio-architecture.

Leeroy New: Mebuyan's Colony is on view until March 2023 at the Wong Chu King Foundation Cove, Ateneo Alumni Association Cove, Ateneo College Batch 1980 Cove, and the Eli and Elizabeth Hubahib Cove located at the Areté Amphitheater.

ABOUT THE SPONSORS:

Established in 2008, FarmReady aims to help improve horticultural practices by providing year-round availability of safe, high-quality vegetable and flowering plants. FarmReady has since become one of the leaders in the agricultural industry, creating ready-to-grow products and other innovative services that would make farming and home gardening easy and convenient for everyone.

Ramgo Seeds is recognized as one of the largest seed and seedling distributors because of its reputation among farm dealers and crop financiers in the Philippine market. As a supplier of packed seeds, fertilizers, and garden supplies, Ramgo constantly works to serve Filipino farmers, professional growers, and urban gardeners by providing them with the tools needed to help them grow and yield better crops.

Oh Crop! is a proudly Filipino brand. It was founded in 2020 by young entrepreneurs whose vision was to help the country’s agricultural industry, from soil enrichment to the farmers’ higher wages, through retail production and distribution nationwide and eventually, globally.