Fred DeAsis : First Asian artist honored by Saks Fifth Avenue

Saks Fifth Avenue, a leading high-end department store in America, honored internationally renowned Fil-Am artist Fred DeAsis by offering an Artist Reception and Cocktail party Saturday, June 7, in Highland Park, Illinois. The party was in celebration of the annual Highland Park Art Walk being held during the month of June.

Fred DeAsis’ artwork titled “Koi” is currently on display at Saks Fifth front show window on Elm Place and Green Bay Road, Highland Park. The 36″ x 48″ brightly colored and texturized artwork was done using acrylic and impasto/encaustic technique on hard board.

“We are very pleased to have Mr. DeAsis’ artwork displayed in our front display window. Customers and window shoppers enjoy the colorful and unique technique rendered on the art. It is simple in form but very elegant which fits our store,” said sales manager Peggy McCarthy. ” We wish we have more of his artwork on display.”

“I really admire Fred for being a prolific Filipino artist, he continuously proven Filipino ability to excel and go head to head with other top artists here in America. Being on display at Saks’ show window for a month is an envy of any artist. You got to be really good to get there. I am proud of being a Filipino,” said fellow Pinoy artist Alvin Castro while commingling at the artist bash.

Last March, amongst hundreds of entries and rounds of elimination, DeAsis’ artwork titled “The Cellist” was chosen for the cover of Footlight magazine’s March issue. Marcus Production, publisher of Arts Scene and Footlight, serves the upscale performing arts community of Chicago, Milwaukee and Madison area. Footlight has maintained a performing arts presence since it’s first publication 20 years ago.

Fred DeAsis recently offered Philippine art workshops at the Welcome to the Philippines Night held at the Radmacher Gallery in Skokie and at the Asian Month Celebration at the Daley Plaza in Chicago. On June 15, he is scheduled to do a kut-kut workshop at the Chicago Children’s Museum during the Gateway to the Philippine program in Navy Pier, Chicago.

Mr. DeAsis is the executive director of the Asian American Arts and Cultural Foundation of America, an Arts Commissioner of suburban Arlington Heights and a director of the Philippine American Cultural Foundation.

Fred’s current project is the much acclaimed, “Kut-kut: Lost Art of the Philippines”, a traveling cultural exhibit of the lost art. He also offers lectures and demonstration of the exotic art. Visit his website, www.fdeasis.com, for more information.