The UPLB Museum of Natural History will display various wood carvings featuring wildlife from different parts of the Philippines as its support to the International Wood Culture Celebration 2015 of the UP Open University this July 8-15, 2015.

Among the wood carvings to be exhibited at the Museum are birds and mammals made by artisans from Polillo Islands, Quezon; Paete, Laguna, Palawan, Benguet and Mindanao. Most of the items come from the private collections of MNH Director Dr. Juan Carlos T. Gonzalez and other Museum curators.

MNH recognizes the value of wood art in promoting the rich biological diversity of the Philippines. Aside from promoting various tourist destinations in the Philippines, these art forms are proof of the innate value of wildlife which has inspired artists such as wood carvers.

“We hope to increase holdings of these kind of artworks to promote both the beauty and diversity of Philippine wildlife and the art of wood carving,” said Director Gonzalez.

“It is a good way by which we can highlight the talents of our artists who have drawn their inspiration from our environment”, he added.

The International Wood Culture Celebration is part of the UPOU’s 20th anniversary celebration themed Wood and Humanity supported by the National Commission on Culture and the Arts and the International Wood Culture Society.

Different activities will be conducted such as the wood-carving workshop, woodcarving competition and exhibit, as well as the artists’ forum from July 8 to 15, 2015 at the UPOU Community Hub, Los Baños, Laguna.