Taking art to the street

In their dedication to inspire every individual to become the best version of themselves, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s community for creative self-expression and personal development, Brew Your Best Year, kicked off 2016 with the launch of a three-part series of events, the latest of which is was in Davao City.
 Themed Create: Brew Your Best Masterpiece, community members got to unleash their inner creativity and exercise their imagination by learning about Street Art – a booming platform for individuality and self-expression- and then applying what they’ve learned by being a part of the team who will create The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s very first public mural in Davao.
 “We believe that life is one big canvas and through this activity, we are encouraging our community members to make their lives their best masterpiece by using their gifts in the best ways they can,” shares Nella Lomotan, Engagement Marketing of The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Philippines. “This event will just be one of the many avenues we are providing that will, hopefully, help them brew their best 2016.”
 The event was held at the Matina Town Square where some of Davao City’s most talented, well-known street artists showcased their talents and shared personal stories behind the pursuit of their passion for street art.
 Participants who were chosen through their own artistic posts while tagging CBTL participated in the half-day long event and got to meet Davao street artists Troy Bascon – one of the pioneering graffiti artists in Davao with his iconic style of using cans and intricate graffiti letters, Kim Vale – a fine arts graduate with a background of painting that eventually led him to his love of using stencils in his creations, Ghamar Kanda – knowledgeable in spray cans and industrial paints for his street art and is popular for his works using imagery such as fish with a lobster claw, and finally, Franco – one of the local street artists whose work you can find in every corner of the city and an expert in using wheat paste as his main medium.
 After the short street art seminar, the participants eventually made their way to the designated wall and in no time, the wall was a colourful mural filled with positive and inspiring images and quotes, changing the landscape along McArthur Highway instantly and drawing a crowd of curious onlookers.
 I could say that the Brew Your Best Masterpiece experience I got was not just fun but it allowed me to stretch my creative muscles and appreciate how street art is created.