Watching The Wheels At Ayala Museum (Part 1)

What do you get when you combine music and arts and an important musical icon all in one event? A considerable effort to come together and keep the spirit alive of one of the greatest songwriter/musician of all time — John Lennon. In a birthday tribute that featured both a number of indie bands performing Lennon songs and visual artists  displaying works of art to simply acknowledge his relevance, talent and ideals that inspired millions. This took place at the ground floor lobby of Ayala Museum – Lilystars resident event partner for The POP shoppe! – last October 9 with a show entitled “Watching The Wheels”.

The Lennon Remastered Albums

As a 70th birthday retrospective, a huge release of remastered Lennon catalogue was made available in the market. It includes the following:

Power To The People: The Hits (CD/DVD) –  15 essential hits digitally remastered from John Lennon’s original mixes which you can pair with a DVD of corresponding music videos featuring digitally remastered audio.

Remastered Studio Albums – Original studio albums digitally remastered from John Lennon’s original mixes: John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, Imagine, Sometime In New York City, Mind Games, Walls & Bridges, Rock n’ Roll, Milk & Honey

Double Fantasy Stripped Down (2 CD) – The original Grammy Award™ winning album digitally remastered from John Lennon’s original mixes. Paired with a brand new “Stripped Down” version overseen by Yoko Ono and Jack Douglas, Lennon’s original co-producers for the album. Features “(Just Like) Starting Over”, “Woman”, “Watching The Wheels”, “Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)” with original drawings by Sean Lennon.

Gimme Some Truth – 72 tracks in a special 4CD themed collection with photos, drawings, handwritten lyrics and more.

John Lennon Signature Box Set – Deluxe 11 CD John Lennon Signature Box which includes: The digitally remastered studio albums plus 2CD bonus set featuring 13 previously unreleased home recordings and more; personal essays from Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon, and Julian Lennon; a 60 page hardbound book with rare photographs, drawings, never before seen collages, & handwritten lyrics; plus a 70th birthday Lennon art print.

“In this very special year, which would have seen my husband and life partner John reach the age of 70, I hope that this remastering / reissue programme will help bring his incredible music to a whole new audience. By remastering 121 tracks spanning his solo career, I hope also that those who are already familiar with John’s work will find renewed inspiration from his incredible gifts as a songwriter, musician and vocalist and from his power as a commentator on the human condition. His lyrics are as relevant today as they were when they were first written and I can think of no more apposite title for this campaign than those simple yet direct words ‘Gimme Some Truth’.” — Yoko Ono  (source: johnlennon.com)

Some of these releases were made available during the event courtesy of PolyEast Records.

Young Contemporary Artists

We had the pleasure of tying-up with 13 young artists to contribute their own visual interpretation of  the song “Watching The Wheels”. Early birds in Ayala Museum who availed of the free museum tour that comes with their  tickets would have likely caught a glimpse of the artists setting up canvases on easels at a section perpendicular to the 3 feet high stage system positioned against the glass wall of the venue.

Artist: Sigwada Knicolai
Title: I’m Just Sitting Here Doing Time
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 24in x 24in
Price: PHP15,000
Artist: Margo Rae Medina-Alesna
Title: Hearin’ From The Soul Within
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 24in x 24in
Price: PHP8,000
Artist: Lj Ablola
Title:Yesterday
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 24in x 24in
Price: PHP10,000
Artist: Dionysus Gonzales
Title:Yesterday
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 24in x 24in
Price: PHP10,000
Artist: Eduardangelo
Title:Changing Wheels
Medium: Mixed Media on Canvas
Size: 24in x 24in
Price: PHP15,000
Artist: Lhean Villanueva
Title:Simple, Peaceful
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Size: 24in x 24in
Price: PHP16,000
Artist: Jehan Manansala
Title:Last Word
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Size: 24in x 24in
Price: PHP15,000
Artist: Yvette Co
Title:Picked For A New Purpose
Medium: Mixed Media on Canvas
Size: 24in x 24in
Price: PHP35,000
Artist: Dexter Sy
Title:I Am Become Death
Medium: Ink on Canvas
Size: 24in x 24in
Price: PHP16,000


Artist: Jigger Cruz and Celene Grace Niguidula
Title: Just Had To Let It Go
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 24in x 24in
Price: PHP20,000

Not shown in the table above are works by Napoleon Guerrero and Carlos Ongchangco. Will update the section once photos becomes available. If interested in any of the paintings you can send your inquiries to antonette@lilystars-records.com

All photos in this blog entry taken by Nina Sandejas.

To be continued… The Bands plus more photos and videos.

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