Footprints of an artist

The profoundness of one's impact is determined when one is gone but the legacy lives on. True to a pillar of art whose legacy can best be remembered by the present generation and beyond. Master abstractionist Jose Joya's legacy has lived on especially with the establishment of the Jose Joya Awards that started in 1976.

The contest was launched a year after the institutionalization of the UP Cebu Fine Arts Program. This award is a commitment by the late national artist to support the local Fine Arts.

It was in 1975 that the Fine Arts Program was established at the UP College Cebu, the only art school outside Manila at that time. The program was founded through the efforts of Cebuano artists and professors Martino Abellana and Julian Jumalon with the assistance and support of Professor Jose T. Joya who was then the dean of the College of Fine Arts in UP Diliman.

As an artist, "Joya did not only use traditional canvass; the multimedia artist in him also painted and sketched on plates and ceramic vessels, while simultaneously busying himself in graphic arts, notably in printmaking. He experimented with unusual and mundane materials, such as sketching using felt-tip pens. In 1967-1969, he studied at the Pratt Graphic Art Center in New York."

Last August 24, 2016, the University of the Philippines Cebu has officially unveiled the marker of the Jose T. Joya Gallery, formerly known as the Little Gallery since 2006. It went a major renovation in 2014 and completed a year after. It had its Inaugural Exhibit entitled "Sumad Kwarenta" then followed by UP Cebu Arts and Design Week, "Unthetered" and "Kadap Himungaya." And last August 24, 2016 at 6 p.m., attended by guests of  honor Mrs. Menchu Pascual, UP president's wife, Mrs. Josie Joya Baldovino, the sister of Dean Joya, SHU-TE University President Dr. Yuan Hsiang Chu, Acting Chancellor lawyer Liza D. Corro, the 40 GawadJoya awardees and exhibiting artists, colleagues and friends.

The gallery is renamed in honor of the national artist in recognition of  his contribution to the university. It has been 40 years since the late Dean Joya initiated the giving of the Joya Awards to the students of the university. Even after his death in 1995, the Joya Awards have continued through the support of his family.

For Dean Joya, it was his desire to discover and encourage art students to induce people to be appreciative of the fine arts, made him adapt an art program. He believed that paintings are meant to be seen, not read. For him, paintings should always be emphasized and that texts should never distract from the artwork.

He was the only one in the family that pursued arts so no one in his family whom he might have emulated or who might have served as his inspiration. He continued drawing just the same. He copied pictures of movie stars from magazine photographs, drawing these on bond paper using softer pencils.

He believed that talent to succeed in the fine arts is not sufficient. There must be self-discipline to have a regular routine of hours to hone the craft. He wanted to be remembered as a Master Colorist who has the impeccable command of colors, tones, and shadings.

With uncompromising generosity, started in 1961 until 1963 while president of the Art Association of the Philippines, he brought the association's annual show to Cebu City, marking the first of such exhibit outside Manila. He did workshops that supplemented art classes in many provincial universities and schools. Some workshops have brought about the formation of art associations in various parts of the country, including depressed urban areas. These undertakings truly brought consciousness and appreciation for art to the grassroots level and brought into the fold talented youngsters who, otherwise, may never even have discovered their potentials.

Joya's accomplishments and contributions to Philippine contemporary art continue to spark a flame for generations to come. The awareness of the masses is seeping through the crevices of the Filipino psyche and society. Long live the Master Colorist, the true servant of the art!