I first met Samantha Kaspar last October, during a fundraiser by the Autism Hearts Foundation. Through their collaboration with Enderun College, I learned of the wonderful work that world renowned designers like Patis Tesoro and Anthony Cruz Legarda do to contribute to the special needs community through the Fashion, Arts, Autism Benefit.
During the fundraiser, I got to know Samantha’s lovely parents Mitzi and Martin. They are a wonderful couple who not only support Sam in her creativity, but also nurture all of her talents she showcased in the Miss Possibilities Pageant last year as well.
Well, Sam is a force to reckon with.
At the end of this month, she will be opening her first ONE WOMAN exhibit debuting herself as a solo artist.
She will launch her exhibit in conjunction with Soundtracks and Symphonies.
Samantha uses a wide variety of media into her artwork. Primarily, she enjoys painting in acrylic on canvas, or silk paints on piña fabric from Aklan. She seeks inspiration from her surroundings and has a variety of themes consistent with a lot of edges and lines that is can be cartoonish. She also enjoys Filipino-themed pieces to showcase her Filipino culture.
She will auction 40 piece of art to help fund her trip to New York, where she was chosen to participate in the upcoming Fashion Arts Autism Benefit (FAAB) this April.
Eight artists were chosen for FAAB, and they will be gracing the fashion show which is organized by the Autism Hearts Foundation. The 2017 Fashion Arts Autism Benefit will take place on April 7, 2017 at Philippine Center in New York City. It will feature paintings of eight special artists on piña silk who were taught by Anna India Legaspi during their yearlong workshop with the artist/designer.
These paintings on piña silk, will be transformed into wearable art by the featured fashion designers for the fashion show.
I have posted quite a bit about The Center for Possibilities on my social media accounts.
The Center for Possibilities helps children with special needs in far flung areas like Bulacan and Sagada. By providing for the evaluation, education, and therapy of children in areas where assessment is not available, they continue to support parents and children with special needs where they need it most.
This foundation, with Dolores Cheng leading the cause, also produced and premiered Yakap late last year.
Yakap is a documentary highlighting the lives of three individuals with special needs as a “day in the life.”
Our family was so honored to be amongst the three families who were able to open our home up to potential viewers by sharing what our lives are like with Gelli as our blessing.
For those of you who would like to have a private showing of Yakap, please message me here on the blog, or even on social media. We are always willing to help bring awareness to children of all abilities and showing this film produced by The Center for Possibilities is one way we can do that together.
Every year, in addition to work in the SPED centers that the fully fund and operate, The Center for Possibilities also collaborates with The Manila Symphony Orchestra for an evening of culture.
Concert – Soundtracks and Symphonies, Center for Possibilities
The concert will be conducted by Prof. Arturo Molina and annotated by Jeffrey Solano. The Manila Symphony Orchestra will play several pieces such as a John Williams tribute and pieces from Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach which will the Sagada and Norzagaray SPED Centers.
SPED Centers are free centers for people with special needs that have learning materials that can stimulate and help teach children and parents, especially in the isolated part of the country. There is an assigned teacher trained in the SPED division of Reach International School that operates each SPED Center.
You can reach Center for Possibilities on their website, centerforpossibilities.asia or through their numbers (02) 723-1242 or (0918) 888-1759 and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thecenterforpossibilities/
