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07/30/2007: "Art- and naturewalk Green Revolution" by Adri AC de Fluiter

The third annual edition of this international art in nature project brought together 4 Dutch artists, 2 from the USA, 1 from France, Germany, China and Corea. 10 all to gether.The theme of the symposium was Green Revolution because of the revolutionary change of the landscape in the early twenties of the twentieth century. The waste land was reforested in some decades. The peat bogs, drifting sands and heather fields changed into forest with different types of trees. The work was done by unemployed people which were forced to work here by the government in mostly bad circumstances.
From May 30 till June 13 the artists were working on location with mostly natural materials from the wood: trunks, sand, boulders, branches etc. But also with a lot of very small mirrors for the Dutch artists Femke van Dam for example. The 10 projects gives a very well impression on what is going on in the world of nature art.


The sturdy project from Marek Ranis (USA) with 200 poles op 6 mtrs. called ‘Glacier’ in contrast with the
poetic, floating objects of Bonggi PARK (Corea), or the hundreds of shining, glittering little mirrors ( Mirrored Wood – Femke van Dam) in contrast with a very figurative table called ‘The laborer’s Banquet’ made by Andrea Thompson (USA). The complete list of artists is: Arjen Boerstra, Femke van Dam, Jos Smink, Ine van Son (all Dutch), Stefan Ester (G), François Fréchet (F), Ruobing WANG (China), Andrea Thompson (USA), Bonggi PARK (Corea), Marek Ranis (USA).


To integrate also the community in the process there was a meeting with the people of the village. On a Monday evening we presented the artists and their work. Also some volunteers were working together with the artists and on the vernissage the local drumband played in between the piece of Marek Ranis.
A interesting part of the symposium is also the different trips together to show cultural events. So we went to a nice gallery in a small village where we had lunch and a meeting with the alderman of the city (Coevorden). Also we went to a special exhibition about Dutch painters from the 19th en 20th century. One special painting was interesting. Made by Louis Albert Roessingh (1873 – 1951) it showed the landscape we worked in. No forest at all. Only flat land with some sheep and two trees. Painted somewhere in 1920. After that we went also to the world famous Kröller-Muller Museum in the national parg Hoge Veluwe. This museum has a wonderful sculpture garden with work many famous artists, bur also a very beautiful collection of paintings. Van Gogh, Mondriaan, Impressionists etc. It was growing out of a private collection to the state museum like it is know. People from all over the world come to see this gorgeous place. In the park itself you can have bikes for free. Standing at the gates there are many ‘white’ bikes which you can take to ride where you want.


Anyhow the symposium was also this year a success. The vernissage was on a sunny day and about 160 guests did come and walked the trail. The exhibition is open till the 1th of January, 2008. Free entrance from sunrise till sundown.The full color catalogue is ready (€ 6,95 – excl. charges) and we make already a start for the next symposium in 2008.
‘Art- and naturewalk Arti Achaeology’. Inspiration is the interesting archaeological sites in the region. Visit the website www.natuurkunstdrenthe.nl to find details.
Artists which are interested to applicate are invited to send a proposal and documentation. Deadline is December 1, 2007

Replies: 5 Comments

on Tuesday, August 14th, Texas Gifts said

The project looks really cool, I like anything that brings together artists from different countries. I would really like to see the work.
Thanks for the post.

on Friday, August 3rd, ellen said

Adri-
Fabulous project! The art combined with nature is extraordinary in an age when so much art is produced in an electronic vacuum. One of the most exciting projects that I ever participated in was to design a sculpture for a natural environment. It was not only thought provoking, but deeply satisfying. I wish I could have seen your nature project in person, but the images you provide are beautiful in their own right.

on Thursday, August 2nd, Cecil Herring said

Your elegant project is poetry with its dichotomy of man's waste and destruction juxtaposed with fresh new growth giving hope to the idea that we might or could 'get it.' Adri, congratulations on your fine and fresh approach to art. It opens the way for so many new art forms.

on Thursday, August 2nd, jose said

I have always felt this project of yours to be very interesting Adri. I didn't find the time to visit Holand this time, even though my in-laws live close to the border, but I have the site details and will be on the watch for the next events. The works you show from this year and the previous years' events look stunning. Keep up the great work.

on Monday, July 30th, Brad Michael Moore said

Adri,
This project appeals to me even more this year – congratulations for your effort! The link to the landscape is very strong and/or transparent enough to allow the visual idea of a co-existence between art and nature... I hope artists, in the future, will learn to reverse time by restoring "Lost Nature," through creating new "Living," parcels that rejuvenate used, injured Earth - giving it a fresh opportunity, or prospect to regrow. This would, perhaps, continue on as a renewable legacy of reparation - one that begins the healing process that reverses the ill effects of “Scorched Earth” policies that government, man, and corporate greed have contrived upon this mighty world...