Sheena Ira Tan’s wondrous stories
Whenever Sheena Ira Tan tells her Waldorf students a fairy tale, folk tale, fable or a myth, she would go to the blackboard and create these epic chalk illustrations. An angel confronting a two-headed dragon, the prophet Elijah riding a golden chariot on fire, a mighty beast of burden surveying a dreamlike field of blues and greens. With Ira’s hands bearing the orange or violet dust of chalk, her students sit with transfixed eyes.
After revealing the day’s lesson, the teacher would erase the drawing, entire worlds reduced to the voids of black. What a waste, you would say. But the impression upon those young minds is indelible.
Artist Sheena Ira Tan
“The chalkboard has become a somewhat divine medium for imagination, storytelling, wonder, light, pleasure — all things true, good and beautiful,” explains Tan, who has been a teacher for 15 years. She discovered the art of chalkboard drawings five years ago when she started teaching at Waldorf Homeschool (now Sisidlan Waldorf School).
“Everything written and drawn on the chalkboard has to be only things that are precisely true, good and beautiful.”
“Ang Tatlong Diyos ng Banting” by Sheena Ira Tan
She adds, “You’d see how children’s eyes would light up, how they could be instantly drawn to the images. That is when they begin to think and wonder. It is when feelings are spurred, that the will to act arises. It is magical how the colors of chalk bring so much light and life into something that was formerly empty.”
Tan recreates that very magic in her first exhibition, on view from Sept. 1 to 15 at the Level 3, Veranda of Robinsons Galleria.
“Little Miss”
For her exhibition titled “Pisara,” the artist revisits a few of the stories she has shared in class.
“My pieces tell of fairy tales, myths and legends. Stories that reflect age-old wisdom. Stories that carry universal archetypes that cut across all cultures. Stories that remain indelible — they are with us, in us, around us for all time.”
“The King’s Son and the Fox”
Visitors at the “Pisara” show can immerse themselves in a glorious cauldron of stories by way of Ira’s pieces in chalk and acrylic — from Norse gods to Filipino heroes, from princes riding a magical fox to cosmic elephants glittering with psychedelic skies. Characters that evoke myth-mixing sage Neil Gaiman by way of Philip Guston’s childlike meanderings. This time, the images for “Pisara” are un-erasable. But does she feel bad about wiping away all those drawings she created in the past at Waldorf?
“There is the charm of saying hello, being in awe and wonder, and then letting go,” Tan concludes. “The images may be easily erased, but the feeling that they have given us or the children, that is what will always be held on to. The feeling is immortal.”
“Brother Mouse and Brother Frog”
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The opening reception of Sheena Ira Tan’s “Pisara” is slated for Sept. 7, Saturday, 6 p.m. Parts of the proceeds will be donated to Sisidlan Institute Inc., a Waldorf Community. Call or SMS 0977-6337882. For information, follow the artist at The Fairy Godmother on Facebook and yrathefairygodmother on Instagram.
