"Landelijk Atelier weekend" and Opening of SwanCeramics Art Gallery.

Tomorrow and Sunday, Nov 17 + 18, I will open my SwanCeramics Art Gallery officially and participate with the national open studio weekend: “Landelijk Atelier weekend” in which more than 400 galleries participate.
I will be open from 10:00am to 5pm each day and will give throwing demonstrations. Also, you could try yourself if you would like!
I hope you all come and will enjoy my artwork!

I announced the weekend in my village’s newspaper Ouder-Amstel Weekblad and in the neighboring town Amstelveens Nieuwsblad.

The Dutch National Studio weekend 2018.

My sign in my yard.

A good start with advertising! :)

In the Amstelveen Nieuwsblad.

Written article in Dutch about Horsehair decoration

Mels Booms the editor of the Duch clay magazine “De Kleine K” (The Small K) asked me to write about horsehair decoration for his “What and How” part in his magazine because of my long experience with this decoration technique.
Underneath you can read the Dutch version of the article. The English version is incorporated in my first biographical booklet of “My Japanese Adventures 1” about my horsehair work accomplishments in Japan.

First page.

Second page.

Third page.

October 4 Visiting tour day in Taipei

First , we did go to the National Palace Museum in Taipei. A huge museum with of course lots of ceramic art.

Yixing ware with painted enamels, 15th year of the Daoguang reign 1835.

Red dragons in “Wucai” polychrome enamels, Qing Dynasty 1662 - 1722.

Jade ewer with lotus-style handle, Ming Dynasty, 1463 - 1644 C.E.

We had a delicious lunch after which we went to the Beitou Hot Spring Museum. A beautiful Japanese bath house. It was built in 1911 during the Japanese rule of Taiwan. After the handover to China it had several uses. In 1998 it was totally renovated into a historical site.

Then we went to the Dalongdong Baoan Temple, a Taiwanese Folk religion temple. The site was built from 1805-1830 and is now a Cultural Heritage site.There are so many decorations!! Just incredible!

Decoration on top of the temple gate.

Holy watch dog.

Many holy stories.

Scene of holy story.

The inner temple.

The dragon signifies strength, power and good luck.

The holy tiger, the king of all beasts and represents powerful energy.

Day 3 + 4 IAC Conference in Taiwan

Day 3 was a day full of lectures.
The first one was from Ah Leon, who lives in Taiwan. I met him in California several times. He makes artworks like it all looks like wood: a whole very old looking bridge or teapots like wood branches. He also researches the function of the teapot and tea bowls: The functional aesthetics of Eastern Teaware. So interesting.

Taiwanese table setting for tea ceremony.

Also, very interesting to me was the lecture by Master Chow Yu about the Universe in a Tea Leaf. It included a small tea ceremony explained by his calligraphy works. Very beautiful.

There were many more talks and pannel discussions. All very interesting topics and discussions.

In the evening we did go to the exhibition of Ten Tack Alvin with a group of 22 participants. The exhibition was beautiful and Alvin’s pots looked great. They gave a small concert in the end.

The middle one is Tan Tack Heng Alvin.

Alvin made the Pit Fired pots.

Day 4 was a full morning with all interesting lectures.

In the afternoon was a general meeting and in the evening the closing party of the conference: delicious food and fun, laughter and dancing with people.

48th International Academy of Ceramics in Taiwan.

Today September 30, 2018 is the opening of the 48th International Academy of Ceramics in Taiwan.
I flew there yesterday straight from Amsterdam.

I met already some friends.
The conference was opened by the Mayor of Taipei City.
Then the Director of the National Museum of History Liao, Hsin-tien gave the keynote speech about that art can express better what is difficult to say in words: West wind blowing to the East: The “Re-Orientalization”.

Conference logo

Introduction by Mayor of Taipei City

Discussion about the topic of the conference with the president of the IAC Jaques Kaufmann.

Explanation of the conference.

In the afternoon we went to the city Yingge where they have the Yingge Ceramics Museum. It showed the wonderful works of the member of the AIC. The museum’s permanent collection showed the history of ceramics in Taiwan. Then we walked through the ceramics park with many ceramic works to the building where they offer the residency program and saw the great studios and spaces where you can do your research work for about 2 months.

Member art work by Shamai Gibsh.

Artwork in Yingge Ceramic Park.

Explanation of the Member exhibition of the IAC at the Yingge Ceramics Art Museum and Center.

Opening ceremonie in the evening of the IAC Conference.

In the evening we had a great party and the IAC new member ceremony.

Day 2 started with 2 special lectures.
The 1st one was a discussion with 2 famous artist Yasuo Hayashi and Yang Yuan-tai during which there was a slide show from their works.
The 2nd lecture was by Nara Yoshitomo about his artworks: painting and clay.

Talk with Yasuo Hayashi and Nara Yoshitomo.

The exposition at the National Taiwan University of Arts.

Beautiful forest artwork.

A beautiful porcelain vessel.

Another beautiful artwork.

In the afternoon we did go to the National Taiwan University of Arts where they had a created a special exhibition from Taiwanese artist for our conference. It was beautiful.

After that we drove to the Farglory Museum with the Golden Teapot Exhibition. So many teapots: so interesting and beautiful.

Evelyne Schoenmann’s teapot! Congratulations!

Love this teapot.

Another nice teapot.

Opening of Exposition "Praise to Nature" in the National Treemuseum Von Gimborn Arboretum

An opening word by the chairman of the Dutch Ceramic Association.

Yesterday, was the opening of the exposition of "Praise to Nature" (Ode aan de Natuur) in the National Treemuseum Von Gimborn Arboretum in Doorn in the Netherlands.

I participate with my installation of "Rays of Light" Horsehair Raku GINGKO leaves.
It was a beautiful day!! And family and friends came to congratulate me.
Thank you.

Family.

To show how tall the leaves are.

Checking: how is it attached?

The Princessehof National Museum of Ceramics

Last Friday I went with 2 friends to the Princessehof National Museum of Ceramics in the city Leeuwarden, a 2-hour drive from Amsterdam. It is home to some of the world's most beautiful ceramics. From a world-renowned collection of Chinese porselain to the rich Art Nouveau ceramics collection, artists such as Karel Appel and Picasso and exciting exhibitions with contemporary art and design.

The museum is housed in the 18th-century palace of Marie Louise van Hessen-Kassel, Princess of Orange-Nassau.

Leeuwarden this year 2018 is the European Capital of Culture!

The museum is big and airy and beautiful!
Just look at the pictures!

A Dutch Friesian landscape painted with cobalt like the Delft Blue ware.

Some beautiful Japanese Satsuma Porcelain ware.

So many beautiful tiles and of course the Dutch ships are magnificent!

Some Friesian low fire red clay ware decorated with color slibs.

There was this special IN MOTION Exhibition. The HIGHLIGHT was the installation of Celeste Boursier-Mougenot. it was ASTOUNDING!! He plays on the senses with "Variations" installation, consisting of white porcelain bowls floating in a basin filled with intense blue water. It is a feast for the eyes and interplay of sounds like bells.
Just BEAUTIFUL!!! I forgot to take a picture, but please, watch and listen to this movie!!! https://youtu.be/KdIZDkuBey8

Exposition at the Von Gimborn Arboretum

Yesterday I put my installation of the Raku Horsehair "Rays of Light" GINGKO leaves in the National Treemuseum Von Gimborn Arboretum in Door in the Netherlands. Now, the weather is beautiful and the songs of the many birds around my art work sound so beautiful!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwWQ4VAEpFo&feature=youtu.be

"Rays of Light" Horsehair Raku Gingko Leaves.

"Ray of Light" Horsehair Raku Gingko Leaf

The exposition at the NKI from February 2 - June 2

Some pictures of the exposition.

Gingko Raku Horsehair Wall Art and Glazed Raku Horsehair Milky Way Wall Art

2D Wall Art Gingko Raku Horsehair.

2D Wall Art HEART Raku Horsehair and Gingko in the waiting room.

2D Wall Art "Feeling Centered" in the waiting room of nuclear medicine.

As White as Snow Plates in the waiting room.

During 4 months an exposition aT the NKI Dutch Cancer Center Hospital in Amsterdam

On Saturday February the 3rd my exposition of new work of Horsehair 2D Wall-Art will open at the Dutch Cancer Institute in Amsterdam. The exposition will be on for 4 month until June the 2nd. In the meantime, I have 3D work in 2 cabinets in the entrance hallway of the hospital.
Please come by and visit and walk the hallways where possible. I like the colors of my work to lift up the spirit of the people who are ill and who are visiting.
The Gingko Tree is a unique tree, a living fossil, unchanged since the time of dinosaurs, 250 million years ago. The symmetric fan-shaped “biloba” leaf is a symbol of love, unity and longevity. “Biloba” means two-lobed and symbolizes the unity of 2 opposites: day/night, laugh/cry, male/female.
The heart of course is in symbolic sense the center of emotion, affection and love.

Raku Horsehair Fumed "Gingko"

Raku Horsehair Fumed "Gingko 6"

Raku Horsehair Fumed "Together"

Raku Horsehair Fmed "Family"

Raku Horsehair Fumed "Breath Love"

Raku Horsehair Fumed "Gingko 9"

Raku Horsehair Fumed "Gingko 3"

Raku Horsehair Fumed "Embrace Love"

Raku Horsehair Fumed "Gingko 2"

2 Artworks at the Good-bye ceremony of the mayor of Ouderkerk on Dec. 12, 2017.

The city organized a farewell party for the mayor who governed the city of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel for 10 years. Artists who had exhibited in the town hall were asked to bring some works for the festivities.

"Star Galaxy" Raku Glazed Horsehair

My works in the second entrance to the party.

The Mayor saying good bye.

"The Birth of a Star" Raku Glazed Horsehair

The Mayor singing with the Sailors Choir.

Opening of exposition at Galerie de Pomp, Warmond, Netherlands December 7, 2017 to January 7, 2018.

Tomorrow will be the opening of my exposition at Galerie de Pomp, Dorpsstraat 38, 2361BE Warmond, Netherlands from December 7, 2017 till January 7, 2018. 
 

We are four artists sharing the space in the beautiful house.

The gallery is in the old part of the village of Warmond in a very cozy neighborhood. It is attached to the old school house, which is now a great cafe restaurant and next to the old Town Hall, which is also an art gallery.

The Galerie de Pomp and the old school house.

The entrance by night.

My artworks in the gallery.

CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO THE RIGHT: it is a carousel of pictures!!!!

Two dear friends at the opening: Joke Mol and Marian Hoffer.

Marian van Tol-Vink playing during the reception! Thank you.

Clara Sikking the gallery owner and paintress Ingrid van Polen.
Thank you so much Clara!

Opening of the International Ceramics Tea Ware Expo on November 5, 2017

Last Sunday was the opening of "the International Ceramic Tea Ware Expo" in Utrecht in the "Keramisch Atelier" of Brigitte Reuter in Utrecht. The Expo was curated by Lou Smedts and Brigitte had done a wonderful job with the creation of a wonderful exposition in her gallery.
 

Brigitte Reuter opened the exposition.

Lou Smedts opening the exposition.

Gilbert Ishin playing the lute at the opening of the exposition.

Some of the beautiful art works!    Please, click on this carousel for more images!

The Last Day of the Exposition of Bottles and Boxes in Vichte Belgium Sept 10

Still quite some people came to the exposition. We had some good conversations and last exchanges. 
It was wonderful to get to know so many artists from all over the world!!!
 

With Petra Lindenbauer from Austria.

One of my bottles.

The organizers of the exposition and conference: Lou Smedts, Gerda Genijn, Els Janssens, Chris Prinsen and Alvin Tan Teck Heng.

In the evening we had a farewell dinner. We had a wonderful time with some good food, music and songs!!

Song by Jan, Marta, Alvin and Miguel for Lou.                                                            

Marta Mugardes sings a song from Any Weinhaus.

https://www.facebook.com/yeungyl/videos/10213905148520054/

Applauding for the performance.

All watching Jan play.

Jan singing and playing on the guitar.

I stayed in a Bed and Breakfast "De Dulle Koe". It was a wonderful new clean place and a very nice young couple Sybren and Celine taking care. Some animals roamed around on the farm and the mooing of the cow was my alarm clock in the morning! 

The hen and her chicks just some hours old.

De Dulle Koe

Another relaxed day of exposition lectures and connecting on Sept. 9.

Lectures from several artist from Austria: Petra Lindenbauer, South Africa: Blayne Knox and Taiwan: Ming-Wen Lin and Shu Ling Wu.

CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO THE RIGHT: it is a carousel of pictures!!!!

With Nora Van Driessche from Belgium.

Dinner with Yvetti van den Berg from Netherlands, Martina Dielen from Netherlands, Yocelyne Blanchard from Canada, Karen Loader from South Africa and Monique Braune from Canada.

With Lou Smedts the organizer of the whole exhibition, congress and International Ceramic Art Project.

With Alvin Tan Teck Heng during Taiwanese tea ceremony presented by Kun-Chen Tsai

A nice Expo day in Vichte in the "Old Church" and tea ceremony by Kun-Chen Tsai of Taiwan on Sept 8.

Yesterday, the exposition was open again. It was a relaxed day with visitors, lectures and movies.
And the tea ceremony of Kun-Chen Tsai of Taiwan.


CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO THE RIGHT: it is a carousel of pictures!!!!

Presentation by Karen Loader

The lecture of Karen Loader. She is from the UK but lives at the moment in South Africa. Her art work is inspired by nature which is her profession as botanist.

To a Brickyard Museum and a Beer Brewery on Sept 7

We left early in the morning to go to the Boom Brickyard Museum in the Rupelstreek.
The Romans introduced the ceramics for making roof tiles and bricks in Belgium but it got lost when the Roman Empire perished. Only in the 13th century, with the start of the monasteries the firing of bricks and roof tiles revived until this day. There is a huge clay deposit because of the big river de Schelde. Clay is gathered and processed, formed, dried and fired. There are different kind of clays: for the flower pots it is quite course; for the roof tiles less course and for the floor tiles clay with high plasticity and hardly no pores is used. There were many, many factories!

CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO THE RIGHT: it is a carousel of pictures!!!!

During midday we drove to Brewery "The Anker" in the city Mechelen. There are many beer breweries in Belgium for which they are well-known.

CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO THE RIGHT: it is a carousel of pictures!!!!

To Oostende on the beach on Sept 6

Some artists had left because of other commitments in life. With still a big group left we went with a tour bus to Oostende, a city near the beach. Fortunately, it did rain during the lunch what we enjoyed in a beautiful old hotel palace! Then we went out and enjoyed the beach, sea and walking around. 

CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO THE RIGHT: it is a caroussel of pictures!!!!

Visiting Brugge on Sept 5 with the congress C.A.P. group

Yesterday we did go on a bus to Brugge, a beautiful town with lots of Medieval houses from 1200-1500. It was an bustling international city with around 45.000 people living in it. Now there are about 20.000 people living in the city. And a very nice way to get to know each other better.

Gerda Genijn made a beautiful video of the day!

https://www.facebook.com/gerda.genijn/videos/1124598104307150/

Visiting Ghent on September 3

The program of the Ceramic Art Project with the start of lectures would start at 1 pm.
With a little group (Denise Braune from Brasil; Christine Bruckner from France; Moniques Brown and sister Jocelyne Blanchard from Canada) we went to the city Ghent only a 1/2 hour from here. The weather was beautiful and the city still quite silenced on the Sunday morning!!

We had a beautiful walk through the inner city and of course some coffee on the Plaza with some band music!!!

CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO THE RIGHT: it is a caroussel of pictures!!!!