Introspection

Haha, a challenge to do some self-reflection! I tell myself (big smile)

 - Verbeter de wereld, begin bij jezelf -

 An old Dutch saying, something like:

Improve the world, start with yourself  /  Changing the world starts with you

- All ehr ghy een ander wilt schandael up welven,

Keert den spiegel eens umb, end besiet u selven -

by graphic artist Nicolaas Braeu 1608-1666

link: Rijksmuseum collectie

- Be the change you want to see in the world -

Arleen Lorrance in 1974

- All the tendencies present in the outer world are found in the world of our body.

If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change.

As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him -

Mahatma Ghandi / Mohandas Kramchand Ghandi in 1913

Golden Roof

The thatched roof was in a bad state and beyond repair.

Although we do like a worn look, something had to be done.

Years of moss growth and reed plundering by birds has had an effect

and the danger of leakage was lurking.

It's hard to believe a thatched roof is fully waterproof without some kind of underlayment.

We like thatched roofs, a traditional build of the area we live in.

In the early days a roof covering with hay, branches and heather sods.

Then much cheaper than roof tiles. Nowadays it's the other way around.

First of all ..... demolition of the old roof.

And then, finally, the craftwork could start...

The traditional craftmanship is outstanding!

Some sheeting at the end of the day... just in case...

A reed delivery in the evening.... it seems like a lot...

What a beautiful sight! I could have watched this all day....

It's obvious I didn't. You don't want to 'breathe down someones neck'.

I like the crest of reed stems...

It reminds me of traditional Flemish, Japanese or Scandinavian roof tops.

Check out artists like: Dirk Baksteen and Tanaka Ryohei

Earlier post: Dirk Baksteen exhibition

But let's not get distracted ☺︎

The work is done and we're good for 30 years to come... hopefully. 

If only you could see and smell it!

We have a brand new 'golden' roof and the smell inside is delicious.

Now the roof is watertight, we could use some rain.

It hasn't been raining for quite some time now...

Walk

Walking is relaxing and healing.

Sometimes we forget we need nature.... we are nature.

(photo credits to DS)

Usually I walk alone, sometimes with a nature association and guide...

(photo credits to DS)

The community feeling it brings, adds another layer.

It strengthens my feeling of hope.

We're not alone, many of us love nature.

More and more people are joining for walks!

Some 'theme' music tips for the weekend:

I'm Gonna Be (500 miles) - The Proclaimers

Walk on the Wild Side - Lou Reed

Walk - Foo Fighters

★

Masters of the Sky

For me the best time of year has arrived... 

The common swifts are returning.

Their arrival brings summer to me. 

Little lifts me as much as this mysterious bird ♥︎

My heart jumps when I hear their sound.

Their speed is phenomanal.

It reminds me of a poem by Robert Frost:

The Master Speed

No speed of wind or water rushing by

But you have speed far greater.

You can climb back up a stream of radiance to the sky,

and back through history the stream of time.

And you were given this swiftness, not for haste

nor chiefly that you may go where you will,

but in the rush of everything to waste,

that you may have the power of standing still--

off any still or moving thing you say.

Two such as you with such a master speed

From one another once you agreed

that life is only life forevermore

together wing to wing and oar to oar.

PAN 2024 - Kenderfrau Picks

We visited PAN Amsterdam again.

Traditionally I start with Frides Lameris' antiques tiles.

Next is the 'wonderkamer', 'wunderkammer' with a collection of curiosities

a wall mounted console made from a 'tonderzwam' (tree fungus)

And my favourite object: an extremely rare Kiribati warrior's armour.

Central Pacific Ocean, Micronesia, Kiribati (Gilbert Islands)

Dating from the 19th century or earlier.

Provenance: Collection Jean Roudillon (1924-2020),

a Frech expert in the tribal arts from Africa, Oceania and the Americas

made from materials like porcupinefish skin, shark teeth and coconut fibers

 ..... the craftmanship and quality is excellent

This object should go to a museum collection, not to a private collection.

One of the senior students at Rongorongo training college, Beru, wearing Kiribati armor, before 1925

(Photo: George Hubert Eastman, © Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge)

Historically, the I-Kiribati (the people of the Republic of Kiribati) produced extraordinary objects such as suits of armor made from coconut fiber. The armor provided protection from the dangerous shark’s-teeth-edged swords, spears, and daggers carried by island warriors. Each suit is made up of a set of overalls and sleeves made from coconut fiber, with a coconut fiber cuirass  (arbor that covers the front and back of the torso) worn over the top. The distinctive cuirasses have high backboards to protect from attack from behind, and were often worn with thick belts made from woven coconut fiber or dried ray skin to protect the vital organs. The cuirasses are usually decorated, either with human hair, feathers or shells.

Warriors sometimes wore hand armour also made from coconut fiber, inlaid with shark's teeth along the knuckles. The warriors would also wear fearsome-looking helmets made of porcupine fish skin, which dried hard in the sun and provided another layer of protection for the head.

These helmets would usually have been worn over an coconut fiber or woven

pandanus (palm-like plant with ling frond-like leaves used for weaving) leaf cap.

It is not known where and when this type of armor was developed in the island, but is has come to stand as uniquely Kiribati, with its influence also spreading to the nearby islands of Nauru and Tuvalu.

(check out the information source: khanacademy for more examples)

The composition and colourful works inspire me

Two paintings by Jan Ros

Two paintings by Gustav Sundin

two paintings by Henk Helmantel

A very rare oak wooden Bow chair (1963) by Grete Jalk

'Albatros' chair (1951) by Gerrit Rietveld, designed for the holiday houses 'Hessenheem' in Markelo

'ziek aapje' by Johan Coenraad Altorf ca. 1935

Wooden Marten sculpture by Fernand Vago Weiss (1896 Budapest - 1942, deported by the Nazi's)

Bronze sculpture of a faun by Eugène-Désiré Piron ca. 1900

Glass mask with lighting and wooden foot.

The most important work by Cornélie Caroline van Asch van Wijck,

designed in 1929 for Glasfabriek Leerdam,

awarded with a golden medal at the World exhibition 1930 in Antwerpen. 

 

Art deco lamp with forged iron foot by Edgar Brandt

Very old engraving by Cornelis Visscher 

A Roof in Cold Wintry Wind by, one of my favourite artists, Tanaka Ryohei

A minimalist ceramic work by Geert Lap

Art Nouveau glas 'Paon' (Peacock) by Daum Nancy in 1905

I really enjoyed this edition of the PAN.

Seeing lots of amazing, intriguing, inspiring or just beautiful objects

accompanied by my former colleague and good friend Antoon.

Links to some earlier blog posts:

PAN 2015 , PAN 2017 , PAN 2019 , PAN 2021 , PAN 2023 ,

Exhibition Beautiful Holland 2015 ,

Eurantica 2016 , Piet Hein Eek 2017 , Art Breda 2017 , 

Art nouveau exhibition Den Haag 2018

Mucha exhibition Paris 2019 , antique tiles 

2024 Vlieland

 On our way to Vlieland again! To me one of the best places to be.... 

A remote beach, dunes, wind and the sound of the sea...

(Vlieland is a municipality of the Dutch province Friesland

In the Frisian language, not only a dialect but a language on it's own,

the word 'Heit' is father and the word 'Mem' is mother)

Space and time to relax and enjoy the company of some good friends.

One morning we spotted this little small newt on the beach, close to the surf.

Although the species Kleine watersalamander is protected, we took it to the cabin

where we spotted a similar newt at the terrace the day before...

From the back of the cabin you're overlooking protected nature reserve.

It looks like a much more suitable habitat for the newt. We released it there.

It's not all about observing nature...

One has to eat and you can't eat pasta or pizza everyday of the week.

 here's something else, a plate looking and tasting delicious...

In the early morning I visit the beach, often just by myself.

Each morning the same route, into wide open space... but always very different.

The weather, the light, the sounds, the texture of the beach, the finds...

I couldn't just believe my eyes.... a big vertebrae... waiting for me (big smile)

Some of my beach finds.

According to the ObsIdentify app the 14 cm vertebrae is from an Elk (Moose).

and the black bone, the first fossil find on Vlieland for me, in 21 year, 

from a European otter. I think it's a shoulder blade...

Beach combing is my kind of thing!

Or, for a change, a bike ride with good friends in gloomy weather. 

On the southside of the island is the terminal. The Wadden Sea, mostly very quiet.

 

All good things come to an end and so it's time to leave the island again...

Music tip: The Chemical Brother ft. Beck - Wide Open 

Link to my earlier Vlieland posts: Vlieland