Art Talk

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

POST ROB AND SHARON

Well it is a different life without our best buds, Rob and Sharon but we are soldiering on! We hung at home and slept for the first two days after they left as we all had been having too much fun and needed to have a rest. Our days consist of lots of bike riding and exploring Amsterdam...getting to know different parts of the city that we did not know before...Jordan, Docklands, Albert Cuyp and our own Oud West. We also go to the different markets that are happening for food, art supplies and just cool stuff! We have quite a few projects on the go at the home studio as well. I am making some collages, sculptures and a blanket as well as working on my journal/drawing book and of course this blog. Arnt is working on writing, painting, making a sailboat model as well as drawings and maquettes of new furniture design. So we are using our time well. We went to one museum called the Kromhout at which I spent the afternoon listening to ancient engines, turbines and generators and was absolutely entertained! Go figure! I have also included some photos from the artist centre on the island that Sharon and I went to. This whole area is full of creative people...MTV, art school, studios in old warehouses, skateboard park in the ceiling of the old warehouse above the studios, bar made out of shipping containers with a beach in front, another restaurant/bar in a large quonset hut and public art everywhere. The only residences seem to be these three old tram cars. The weather was sunny and hot and everyone was just kicking back. There is an area where the graffiti artists work and we got to meet one of the locals and ask questions. Sharon took quite a few photos so look for new work at this years Crawl! I too have been taking lots of photos but not sure when or where they will appear. At least I have now narrowed it down to a few subject matters! Below are some photos that relate to the above stories but also some just because they are quirky!

Museum Tired

Small Electric Car....So Cute!

shopping cart full of legs...hmmmm!

Local pickup truck

not sure what it does but it is darn cute

local Dutch Boyer on the Amstel River

Delivering gyprock and reno supplies

Amsterdam Squat

Arnt at the Playground

Art Project at the artist centre

Sharon listening

Artist studios inside warehouse

Graffiti area

Local street artist Joost

Tram residence

Tram Residence

Public sculpture made of plastic cups

Public sculpture made of found glass

Cardboard desk at the Library

They read Romeo and Juliet while at the Library

Workers outside our place...note his shoes (klompen)

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

TRAIN TRAVEL

DISCLAIMER....A LOT OF PHOTOS BUT I COULD NOT HELP IT...SO BEAUTIFUL!
We decided to take a little train trip with Rob and Sharon and went off to Haarlem which is the sweetest town with the oldest and best museum. The museum is dedicated to scientific equipment and all of the pieces are wood, brass and metal...beautiful. They also have lots of bones, skulls and fossils. Arnt also got to eat his beloved poffertjges which are basically pancakes in little balls...see pics below...with strawberries and whipped cream.
Then off to Rotterdam where we hooked up with an artist that I had been introduced to over the internet and we went to his studio. Maritime museum, Modern Museum with a Chuck Close show and World museum with a textile show. Also went to the Architecture Museum which also included a visit to a completely restored art deco house. Lots of cafe's for food and drink.
Next was Antwerp which has the most amazing church ever...there was a special show of Ruebens paintings and his contemporaries. They had been painted for this church and finally brought back after being thrown out for a while as too provocative. Huge paintings! Also the wood carving in that church is out of hand...almost lifesize statures of saints, pulpits and naves. There were also other silver sculptures and hand done brocaded banners. Gravestones in the floor throughout. The modern museum on the water is brand new with classical to modern art and a fantastic building. Great restaurants around the square surrounding the church. Also went out to see some local jazz which was in another great building with a good band.
Finally Brugge which is a very old city with canals, bridges, fab buildings, horse drawn carriages and wonderful churches. The place we stayed was an old estate house with only 8 rooms and a wonderful garden to rest in after walking around all day. It is right beside a park which has a small castle and wonderful trees. We saw this city by boat on a short canal cruise and also rented bikes. Of course we loaded up on chocolate and headed off to the train for the ride back to Amsterdam.
The day after we got back the boys flew to Ireland for 10 days of fly fishing....that is a story in itself and Sharon and I got to know more of Amsterdam and a few more art galleries (Flemish classical, contemporary and art students) and museums (tattoo and photography). Also a bit of shopping...well they did leave us alone after all...what is a girl to do!