Going back in time: Daniel Gould’s 3D List, Art in Amsterdam #58

The second half of the Amsterdam Art Season 2011-2012 has had a slow start. Fewer new shows than in years past; more than a few galleries have gone inactive. But, from time-to-time, there have been exhibitions which had several red dots. Possibly, the sluggish Dutch economy hasn't had the most dire affect that might have been expected.

But that still doesn't mean that thing could not be better, much better. You got to do your part. 3D has noted that both galleries and artists are doing their part by slashing prices. Sure, you still see work for 8,000 to 15,000 euro, but, now, lots of work is priced at 250 to 750 euro. Affordable for most working people. 

INDEX:

Bits & Pieces:

Restaurant Review: Mashua: Peruvian Fusion

What You Have Missed: 

BITS & PIECES:

GREAT NEWS: The Stedelijk Museum has announced that the grand opening, for the new wing, will be on the 23rd of September, this year. YES!!! THIS YEAR! The inaugural exhibition is titled, "Beyond Imagination" which will feature the work of 20 artist who live and work in the Netherlands. A total of 657 artists submitted proposal for the competition; 3D was one but didn't make the cut. Damn! Life is hard. The museum has also introduced a new logo designed by Mevis and Van Deursen. https://bit.ly/2oTKhoK 
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The Rembrandthuis (Jodenbreestraat 4) is offering a special workshop that is on 17th century drawing techniques. It is part of the show "Drawing in Rembrandt's Day: Masterpieces from the Hamburger Kunsthalle. The next workshop is the 22nd April. More info and registration at: educatie@rembrandthuis.nl
https://www.rembrandthuis.nl/nl/ 
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De Ateliers (Stadhouderskade 86) has announced their spring program of lectures: Tatiana Touvé, 10th April; Falke Pisano, 17th April; and Rem Koolhaas, 24th April. Entree: 5 euro. In English at 17:00. RSVP required: office@de-ateliers.nl 
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"Learn how to compose visuals and control, manipulate and perform your media in real-time." This is the description for a STEIM workshop titled "Composing Live Visual with Isadora." It will be on the 21st and 22nd of April. It will be followed ion the 23rd with a related workshop. See www.steim.org for more info. 
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WGKUNST (Marius van Bouwdijk Bastiaansestraat 28) is once again offering children's art workshops during the month of April. The program is divided into three formats: 4 workshops @ 40 euro; six @ 60 euro; and eight @ 80 euro. More info at: https://bit.ly/2v9vxoX 
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...In addition, WGKUNST (same address as above) will present an opportunity for everyone to make themselves "immortal." Over the Easter weekend, from 12-17:00 hours, artists will be available to do a portrait for 25 euro and 50 euro. (7th, 8th and 9th April.) 
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The Dutch kitchen has made the BIG TIME. Kid you not! "Who doesn't Love Boerenjongens," by Mark Bittman, is an article in the New York Times, that profiles Jenneke Vreug-denhill who is a food writer. www.nytimes.com, 22nd March 20012.
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One of the nice things about living in Amsterdam is that Philip Glass, the avant-garde composer, loves the city and comes often to visit and perform. His next event is "An Evening of Film, Music and Dance" (29th April) at the Melkweg. Appearing with him will be Michael Riesman, Ellen Edinoff and Koert Stuyf. https://bit.ly/2wrhZ9L  
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And the battle between the philistines and cultural aesthetic appreciation continues. "In contrast with the USofA, Europe has embraced a model that views culture not as a commodity, on which the market forces determine which products survive, but as a common legacy to be natural protected, including art forms that may lack mass appeal...Culture is a basic need." So said A. Stadler, director of the Austrian Forum. From: "Euro crisis stings the art world globally," by L. Rohter. (www.iht.com, 26th March 2012.) 
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FRAME and MOOOI have announced the shortlist of 10 designers as finalist for their annual award. The Netherlands is well prepresented with three entrees: Lab 3; Bertjan Pot and Studio Makkink & Bey. The winner will be named on the 18th of April in Milan. https://bit.ly/2Pj95Su 
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More on the austerity front: "Industrial and construction output fell unexpectedly in January...raising the risk that the British economy would slide back into recession." Oooops! Hey, Mr Cameron, is this another example of the absurdity of your austerity program to put Britain back to work? It's time you found a new job...Well, granted, that may be difficult at this time. Maybe you and Mark-the-Shark can start a small business together call it "austerity made easy" in three steps: cut, cut and cut some more = recession.
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On second Easter day, Monday, 9th April, there is the INDOMANIA all day event at the Melkweg. It brings together a well rounded cultural heritage of Indonesia: music, performance, literature, film, theater and art. There is also an Indo-Asian after-party. More info at: https://bit.ly/2wrhZ9L 
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...And if you are in the mood for more about Indonesian art check this out: "New magnet for collectors: Indonesian art," by Sonia Kolesnikov-Jessup. "The art world---and its principal buyers---are turning their attention to Indonesian artists. Budi Tek, a Chinese-Indonesian collector was listed 8th on Art & Auction magazine's Top 10 most influential people in the art world." And one Amsterdam gallery is leading the way. Gallery Willem Kerseboom has shifted its attention from Chinese art to Indonesian; and it is a two fold commitment. The gallery, at the Hazenstraat 11, now specializes in Indonesian art and Kerseboom has opened a sister gallery on Bali. 
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The first of this year's Open Ateliers will take place at: Centrum Oost/ARCO with the central exhibition at Van Gendthallen, on the 8th and 9th of April (Easter weekend). More info at: https://bit.ly/2Nw7ecB 
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This article, "Chinese Cultural rebirth rooted in classics" by Evin Holden Platt profiles "experimental sculptors [who] create art work inspired by ancient beliefs and art." (www.iht.com, 1th March 2012.) 
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In the same issue of the International Herald Tribune is the review "Finding truth in a portrait" by Hilarie M. Sheets. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art has mounted a retrospective show for the Dutch photographer Rineke Dijkstra. (www.iht.com, 16th March 2012.)
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A poster for the film Paradiso quotes Johnny Rotten of The Sex Pistols fame, "Always wear loose underwear on stage. But with anything restricting you might achieve higher notes." There's that!
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An interesting art initiative took place, on Sunday, the 18th of March. Called "EAST-SIDE/ART for BREAKFAST" it was sponsored by the CBK Amsterdam, Frankendael Foundation, Lloyd Hotel, De Service Garage, "outLINE," P/////AKT and PS Project Space. Some of the shows are reviewed below. The breakfast part was nice. At Frankendael we were offered warm sweet rolls. I also saw that someone was counting people and I was impressed with how many had already visited one and one half hour after the 11:00 a.m. beginning. The CBK was also busy. So much so that by 13:00 their muffins were gone. The egg and caviar offering at P/////AKT was half gone too, but they were boiling more eggs when I arrived. Eventually, I was served a warm hard boiled egg topped with caviar and a small glass of Vodka to wash it down. At "outLINE" the serving was English sconces with a delicious jam and curdled sweet cream...Oh, what you miss when you don't go....
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OT301 (Overtoom 301) has a new weekly program that sounds as interesting as it is unusual. "GOGO 24h Residency present Slovak Goodies." Each Monday, an artist is given a key to a gallery space. They have 24 hours to deal with the empty room. ON Tuesday, at 19:00, the space is unveiled. FREE. See https://bit.ly/2MDte95
In addition, there is a two weeks residency for artist at the address. Check out terms and conditions at the web-site.
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Not sure what this is all about, but...3D picked up a card, from his travels, which read, in part, "I Can Sense It: The main character in this series has some strange observations: he feels time, hears light, taste primal soup, smells explosions of dark matter and sees words being absorbed by a black hole." Cool! The artist? Jeroen Hoenselaar who says, "My inspiration comes from science and philosophy...Art is a great field to conduct metaphysical research." More info at: https://www.jeroenhoenselaar.nl/ 
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For those of you that have an interest in Africa, ZAM Magazine, which covers the continent from several angles, is now available in English. See: https://bit.ly/2wt2I7u
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Laser 3.14 says: "Listen to dead honest pessimism than happy lies," at: Keizergracht 438. Well, 3D has to think about that. Not so sure I agree but, well, I am still thinking about it.
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3D's has gone through life adhering---or trying to---to several philosophies. One that's at the top of the list is: I don't eat to live; I live to eat. So, during a recent visit to de Balie, at Leidseplain, I noticed and took interest in their menu card. On each was a quotation. There were three different ones in all and all concerning gastronomy. #1. "Conversation is the enemy of good food and wine." Alfred Hitchcock. And he should know. I read a biography on him and it mentioned that he would eat two T-Bone steaks each weighing nearly a kilo + side dishes at ONE sitting. He had a walk in closet which contained two wardrobes: One for when he was "stout" and the other for after one of his reoccurring diets. #2. "Ask not what you can do for your country...Ask what is for lunch." Orson Welles. He's another favorite of 3Ds. It is amazing to watch The Third Man and see this very handsome and thin man then to view Touch of Evil in which he was a scruffy and a fat red neck. #3. "Why can't I just east my waffle?" Barak Obama. Hey, man, you're the president. There ain't time for waffles or waffling. You must be concerned with just waddling through the bowel droppings. The latter excrement provided by the American congress.
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...And more austerity...Cuts in the cultural subsidy to museums nearly meant the cancellation of an exhibition for Jan van Eyck scheduled for Rotterdam. It had been budgeted at 1.3 million euros. Fortunately, a public outcry got the attention of a corporate sponsor that saw PR value in supporting it. But, remember, we can't always depend on corporate sponsors. Of course, it is reaching the point that we may not be able to rely on the government either. 
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Laser 3,14 penned this goodie at Bloemgracht 65: "These Vulgar Voices that Gladly Violate Serenity." Is he going political? This sounds like an attack on Pretty Boy Wilders...Go get him Laser...
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3D enjoys unusual book titles. Two of my favorites are Kiss, Kiss, Bang Bang and I Lost It at the Movies. Both about film and by Pauline Kael. So this title caught my eye, iHo: the Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures, by Tony Kushner who gained notoriety with his play Angels in America that chronicled the AIDS epidemic. 
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Ever wonder who's in charge of the world? NEWSWEEK, the American weekly news magazine, just published their list of the "150 women who shake the world." Along with Angela Merkel and Oprah Winfrey is Renny Ramakers, the co-founder and director of Droog Design (Staalstraat 7). 
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If you have any interest in writing about art this could be the place to start. There is a three day work shop being offered on the 14th, 15th and 16th of April at Utrecht. The cost is 100 euro and that includes a daily lunch and dinner. Also, the organization can put you into contact with hostels offering attractive rates. See: www.DutchArtInstitute.eu for more info. 
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RESTAURANT REVIEW: Mashua: Peruvian Fusion (Prinsengracht 703) 

3D had never eaten Peruvian food before and wasn't sure what to expect. To boot, this was "fusion" and not the true form of that country's cuisine. The restaurant's design, itself, is avant garde chic. Clean lines in a simple setting. 

There were six starters listed and each is described and the description reads like a dream dish; your mouth waters! With everything sounding great the choice should be Piqueo Criollo (for two) which is a combination of five starters and priced at 22.50 euro. I skipped them all---save it for another time---and checked out the entrees. I selected Canilla de corderio laqueade en salsa de cliantro (21.00 euro). It is a lamb knuckle and the secrets to cooking it is long and easy. This was not only cooked that way, but twice cooked which meant that it rested at least 24 hours between cooking stages. It had the delicate flavor of young lamb resting in a wine sauce and dried yellow peppers and a dressing of fresh cilantro. I can only describe it as succulent. On the side of the plate was a compote of rice and red beans which had been cooked and molded into as patty. It was topped with yucca which has a puree of sweet potatoes as its base. I passed on wine and ordered beer: Cuspuena (Peruvian, 4.00 euro).. it had a distinctive flavor with elements that brought to mind some of the outstanding Mexican beer like Bohemia and Dos X. 

Other entrees included a fish dish, breast of duck and stir-friend strips of fillet of beef. (17 to 21:00 euro.) One that caught my eye was Pollow a laoola con raviolis de queso rice which is chicken in a puree of red panka peppers prepared in casserole with fresh cheese ravioli in dressing of cream yellow peppers and cashew nuts. Gosh, that sounds good!. 

Dessert was a problem. The choices ranged from a soaked cake decorated with passion fruit and covered with a reduced juice to a creamy mousse of lucama (a delicate tropical fruit) to a moist chocolate cake covered with a creamy chocolate dressing and vanilla ice cream. I passed on all of them in favor of Pie de limon (a three layer lemon pie with a crunchy cookie crust, cream with reduced lemon juice topped with meringue). The pie de limon had a sharp lemon tartness that almost made you sweat and enough sweetness that said it was okay. All desserts are priced at 9 euro. 

At one point, during my meal, I saw a waiter carrying a tray of cocktails through the room. While 3D is not a connoisseur of the bartender's art of making alcohol concoctions but they did look tasty as well as elaborate. 

The total bill was 34.00 euro. I had no complaints. Open daily. http://www.mashua.nl/main.html 

This is a sister restaurant to Casa Peru (Prinsengracht 669 @ Leidsegracht). the menu is traditional Peruvian. 

WHAT YOU HAVE MISSED: 

Clemens Hollerer (Austria) is fascinated by construction sites. So much so that he had embedded aspects found at them into his at work. His show at PS Project Space (Madurastraat 72) consists of elements that you will find at a construction-site. But both the form and configurations are conceptual. He had taken 13 four-meter long black and orange striped lengths of wood to create the perimeter for a short labyrinth. The wood lengths are held in place by cross sections of wood which creates a geometric/abstract design. Four paintings on wood are in stock from the same artist. (307x30.7 cms., enamel on wood @ 900 euro.) Until 1st April. https://bit.ly/2uiHcCb 
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Jantje Fleischut shows a series of necklaces that are sort of kitschy, but not because of the color or any garishness but because of the odd materials she uses. Instead of trying to describe some of the bizarre combinations 3D encourages you to go see them for yourself. She also displays simple rings and unusual brooches. (Rings @ 210 euro; Brooch @ 325 to 925 euro; Necklace @ 2,100 to 3,200 euro.) ..In addition is the work of Nellie Tanner which follows an almost standard pattern that varies little from one piece to the other. But for each example there is a different material: metal, wood and stone. None of the material has been enhanced with paint, varnish or whatever. All are in their natural and pure state. FOUR RED DOTS, (850, 950, 1,400 to 3,800 euro.) Until 7th April. https://bit.ly/2LtDmQm 
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Wakling into the present show at BRANDT (Prinsengracht 799) is like walking into a factory warehouse. You meander through the space moving between wooden shelves. On the shelves are the new sculptures of Kim de Ruysscher. Her work is surprising because it always looks like something it isn't. This show is NO exception. She cuts from stone and marble to sculpt what looks like paint tubes or a "simple" cardboard box. You feel the need to touch the pieces because they look so "real." Other forms are also common-like objects from a block of "wood" to a "burlap bag." Marvelous work! (16x4x7 cms., onyx and acrylic @ 1,350 euro; 21x3x8 cms., stone and acrylic @ 1,750 euro; 27x12x15 cms., limestone and acrylic @ 4,400 euro.) Until 1st April. http://brandtgallery.com/ 
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"witzenhausen GALLERY" (Hazenstraat 60) exhibits Pedro Bakker who draws over sized figurative/representational works in pencil, color pencil and w/c. There is a street scene with 30+ people which captures the moment very well. Another composition shows a man and woman at the dinner table. A simple domestic scene. But there is also drama like the man with a rifle pointed at his head. The style favors that of the comic strip. (285x153 cms., color pencil, w/c @ 4,500 euro.) Until 12th April. https://bit.ly/2zCqZwM 
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Terry O'Neill (UK) was at the right place at the right time. That's the way he described the results of his photograph now showing at Eduard Planting Gallery Fine Art Photography (1e Bloemdwarsstraat 2). This is a comprehensive retrospective of "50 years at the Top." One of the earlier photos captures Frank Sinatra walking with his entourage along the boardwalk in Miami Beech (1968). And the latest, is a poignant photo of Amy Wineshouse (2008). Nearly all the work is b/w and his sometimes staged the scene or sometimes captured it spontaneously. In either case, they all have an "edge" or a defining moment. You will see the Rolling Stones---still with Brian Jones in the picture---in shots from 1963 and a brooding Mick Jagger (1964). The Beatles (1963); Romy Schneider (1982) a few weeks before her suicide; David Bowie an Liz Taylor sharing a cigarette. Did I mention Muhammad Ali and Marlene Dietrich? (45x45 cms., Ed 50 Digital C-print, signed @ 2,350 euro.) Until 21st April. https://bit.ly/2lZLxFJ 
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Huis Marseille Museum for Photography hangs the work of Guy Tillim. His photos capture both the beauty and the nature of the sea---angry or otherwise. Tahiti, the South Pacific paradise island is seen almost informally; its beaches littered with detritus. Another series is of Sau Paulo (Brazil). A city of which it is said :"That its total absence of personality has become its personality." He focuses on the architectural elements, the avenues with their hustling masses to its quiet neighborhoods. Until 3rd June. https://www.huismarseille.nl/ 
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Jeanin Hofland Contemproary Art (De Clercqstraat 62) is showing Rebecca Digne (France) who presents film and video work. According to the press release, her work is all about the "different aspects of the human condition of loss, fear, expectation, belief, identity,, confinement and nudism." Hey, that's a lot to read into this simple work. An example of "nomadism" is the film "Matelas" (2008) which captures a person struggling with a mattress "balancing her lone act between rejection and separation anxiety, whilst being confined within an image without and nor beginning." She was at the Rijksakademie 2010-2011; she has shown in the USofA and France (Centre Georges Pompidou) and Italy. (76.5x100 single slide projections, Ed. 3 @ 1,400 euro; 16mm film/silent black and white; 1:30 minutes, Ed 3 @ 5,000 euro.) Until 21sr April. 
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At Galerie D. Stigter (Elandstraat 90) is Thomas Helbig. He is a conceptual painter and most of his work is monochromatic though, from from to time, he may interject a touch of color. The works have structure which varies from a blob to a straight line. The price list had NO prices. Go figure!...Robin Waart shows in the small back gallery and is a conceptualist.The press release said that his work has to do "with questions of repetition, collecting. memory and nostalgia." Until 7th April. https://bit.ly/2LcyITk 
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Wil Kroon is at Art A Casa (Kerkstraat 411) with his contemporary impressionistic still life's. He paints flowers and there is a series that features what looks like silk flower patterned robes. (70x60 cms., oil on canvas @ 1,450 euro.) Until 10th April. https://bit.ly/2JL0Mff 
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KochxBos is in their new space at the 1e Anjeliersdwarsstraat 36. The first show features their stable of artists; and there are ten exhibiting. The work includes oils, drawings, photography and ceramic pieces. The styles range from "Lo-brow" to elaborately posed photographs to the whimsical work of Ciou (France). And there is the provocative from Sarah Maple (UK) who pens on her photographs such observations as: "The opposite of feminist is an arsehole." Actually, 3D refrains from commenting on the work itself because the space was packed and seeing the work was very difficult. No matter, a good show to go back to. Until ___?___. https://bit.ly/2LTG7LN 
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Stephen Wilks presents new sculpture work and drawings at Galerie Paul Andriesse (Westerstraat 187). His work can be described as unusual. Some pieces are representational while others lean towards the conceptual. On the other hand, the ceramic work is pretty straight forward; you get what you see. He has fashioned from clay a head of cabbage resting in its covering leaves which are "decorated" with a reproduction of newspaper stock exchange prices. Another series is a reproduction in ceramic of plastic water bottle containers. There is a series of drawings of a rolled up tape measure. Each drawing is progressive in that the tape measure is disturbed from its original configuration. (30x9x9 cms., ceramic @ 2,400 euro; 40x40x30 cms., ceramic @ 7,250 euro.) Until 21st April. http://www.paulandriesse.nl/ 
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Theo Wesselo, of Rembo & Rembo, is back at Gallery Vriend van Bavink. He makes drawings which are heavy on typography. Sometimes it looks like a type setter's type face tray has been over ended. However, it aptly reflects the work itself. The emphasis is on typography with illustrations included almost as an after thought. The letters spell out words and the words make for phrases---sometimes---but that doesn't seem to be the point. As an example: "I mean...what is the heart of an asshole? Asshole?!" You got me guy. Maybe you should talk to Sarah Maple; she has something going with "arseholes." Until 31st March. http://www.vriendvanbavink.nl/ 
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At Galerie Wies Willemsen (Ruysdaelkade 25) is work by a sister and brother. Unfortunately, for the Maarten Brinkgreve, the bother, it is a posthumous exhibition. He died in 2010. He was a photographer who put emphasis on still life's based around a vase.That is, the vase may hold a beautiful bouquet of tulips, a sad collection of wilted flowers or weathered small tree branches. Good composition and sharp prints. (500 to 800 euro.)...His sister, Calar Brinkgreve makes simple line drawings using ink and wash. The imagery is generally flowers. A series of prints are more conceptual and often include typography as a defining element. (26x21 cms., etching, Ed. 5 @ 275 euro; 37x45 cms., Etching, Ed 5 @ 375 euro.) Until 21st April. www.wieswillemsen.nl.
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Martin Westwood (UK), Galerie Fons Welters (Bloemstraat 140) is a conceptual artist that works with various materials. There is "photography" that he turns into a style of conceptual redundancy where the photo imagery becomes irrelevant. Then there is his sculpture work? Or are the pieces better described as objects? Or is it design? Probably each term defines the pieces in some way. What you see are "tables" of unique design with clay objects sitting on them,. (40x60x4 cms., framed C-type on Fuji Flex @ 1,700 euro; 33x50x35 cms., fired-clay extrusion @ 10,000 euro; 113x112x60 cms., fired-clay extrusion and press-cast of donation boxes and stone, toughened bronze glass, perforated steal, walnut box-section @ 18.500 euro.) Until 14th April. https://bit.ly/2LZAAPK 
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Vera Pouw is showing at Galerie RudolfV (Kerkstraat 427) with four other artist. Pouw's work is figurative paintings and the style resembles Neanderthal cave paintings with elements of Jean DuBuffett from the late 50s. There is a rawness to the work that captures its essence. The colors are b/w and shades of ochre. (1,600 to 6,00 euro.)...Eddie Symkens does figurative ceramic pieces that have a down to earth quality. Maybe it has to do with the rough ceramic torsos which have an abstract feel due to the ceramic cracking during the firing process. The imagery is that of people in search of something. He conveys motion convincingly. (125 to 1,200 euro)...Marjanne Beeuwkes has come up with a cute idea. She has taken match-boxes and used them as her "canvas." She draws a "portrait" on each and then groups 30 into one framed piece. All in b/w. There is a large piece which uses the same theme, but differently. (575 to 2,650 euro)...Grzegorz Rogala does photographs of groups and couples in 3D. It works beautiful with the street scenes giving the crowd both depth and perspective that you would expect to see if you were there. All photos are back-lit. (450 to 1,350 euro.)...Patricia Derks paints portraits in an unique style. There is a vagueness in the imagery, but the colors are both beautiful and unusual and the sense of the person is obvious. She doesn't worry about dripping paint and just lets it add to the composition. (1,000 to 1,400 euro.) Until 7th April. https://bit.ly/2mdb7ay 
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Dutch Design Hotel Artemis (John M. Keynesplein 2) presented it spring edition of art, design and good food just in time for the turn of the season. Let's start with the food. Amsterdam's airport, Schipol, has an ongoing problem with geese that threaten being sucked up by the jets engines. So, from time to time they is a culling. Guess who buys them? The chef at Artemis. He made a croquet with a goose ragout base. It was sitting atop a houtspot mixed with a slowly cook goose and celery mousse. Yummy!...We were served a cream drink. The glass was filled with cream and you then selected one of four liquors that you added to it. There goes my waistline...Well, maybeit was the bon-bons that helped tip the scales. "Pons 1066. JB" was a chocolate covered mousse served with paper thin slices of fresh pineapple. Sublime! A small tin-can was used to dispense a delicious fig with blue cheese mousse atop a fig jelly. Life doesn't get any better. 

As to the art and design...Well, this show is a real group effort. The title is "Route 10/66" and is meant to both reflect the legendary Route 66 that winds all the way from Chicago to LA and 66 artists that have directly and indirectly contributed. However, not all 66 artists are showing at the hotel; 56 are exhibiting in other sections of Amsterdam's NewWest. This is a group effort by individual locations in the NewWest. There is a wall of photographs which pictured their work and indicate where you can see it. Here are a few of those you will see at Artemis.

Frederike Top creates avant garde lighting design from inspiration derived from industrial designed hanging lamps. The form, and even the construction, looks much like the simple utilitarian design of a hanging lamp found in a warehouse. Her selection of materials is what differentiates the lamps from its industrial equivalent...There is something fishy about the work of Elly Baltus and it probably has something to do with the fact that she uses fish as her subject matter. But these are not heavy bronzes, but meticulously "weaved" wires that fashion the imagery. Very nice! ...Rens Bouma fills a narrow niche in art style and technique and it's called: Inflatable architecture. On display, hanging over the lobby of the hotel, is a large cloud which measures about five or more meters in length and nearly as many in width. It is all white but is divided into sections much like the real thing. Nice!...Gësine Hackenberg is a new jewelry artist (she also shows at Galerie RA) who does something completely differently. She will take a decorated serving plate or an old Dutch tile and cuts from it---without breaking anything---rings, ear rings, a necklace. You can wear each piece and hang the rest of the plate on the wall. Cool!...Leoniek Bontje "draws" with thread. All the imagery is portrait work and all are females. But her magic is to create representational portrait art from no more than a spool of thread. Until 6th June. https://bit.ly/2BGBNFK 
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Georg Kuettinger (Germany) is at Galerie Roger Katwijk (Lange Leidsedwarsstraat 198) with landscape photography with a difference. He does beach scenes, mountains and even wooded areas. And they are exhibited panoramically and with vibrant colors accept for the two that are winter scenes and only b/w comes through. The difference in these photos is that they are "collages." He calls himself a "remixer composing a completely new image for each new photo work of the landscape, and as a juggler creating dozens of possibilities within a single photo work." (25x200 cms., photo, Ed 5 @ 2,500 euro; 75x180 cms., photo, Ed 5 @ 4,500 euro; 75x270 cms., photo, EAP rtist Proof @ 8,600 euro.) Until 21st APril. https://bit.ly/2Kr1deQ 
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A very interesting show is at De-Expeditie (Leliegracht 47). It is a retrospective of the work of P. Struycken profiling the years 1973-1993. It defines two independent creative periods for Struycken; 1972-1978 and 1982-1993. The former period consist of early computer compositions which are b/w geometric/abstractions line drawings. Simple in form, but complex in composition. He used, with the aid of algorithms, a computer-operated drawing machine. There is a series of 16 pieces each with remarkable similarities but each is completely different. His later period he concerned himself with "dot-drawings" which introduced color into his work. He says, "I was convinced that no shape is visible without color, and no color without form." He has created both b/w and color dot drawings which range from the very simple to the elaborate. Some have a sense of chaos while others are well composed geometric/abstractions. (22x25 cms., ink on paper @ 1,800 euro; Series of 16,19.5x19.5 cms., ink on paper @12,000 euro; 108.5x111 cms., ink on paper @ 8,00 euro; 77x77 cms., ink on paper @ 12,000 euro.) Until 12th May. https://bit.ly/2MaB2y0 
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At " stichting outLINE" (Oetewalerstraat 73) is really cool video work by Sharon Houkema titled "what the white had to say." And, indeed, it is all about "white." The Sandberg Institute, a little over 10 years ago, initiated the "One Minute Video." An early crowd pleaser was a video showing a football game, but the artist had airbrushed out the ball. It was like watching a ballet. Houkema uses the same concept but in a different way. We see a large crowd of people at what is probably an art exhibition. But we never see what they are looking at. It is both mysterious and disconcerting. Except for the viewers, everything is white; as white as new fallen snow. Another video has a man removing boxes---one-by-one---however, since each box is all in white and against a white background, it looks like an exercise in pantomime. Nice work! Until 28th April. https://bit.ly/2LzEjXq 
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P/////AKT (Zeeburgerpad 53) has a group show of conceptual artists that express themselves with installations, photography, objects and a series of monochromatic black paintings? Ink drawings? Prints? Whatever. They do get your attention and as a group they are appealing. The show is described as: "The Spaces in Between, find their common ground on the border of things: moving back and forth between the reality and artificiality, object and image, space and surface, substance and absence." So, sorry. the show closed the 25th March. https://bit.ly/2LTHPwH 
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Damn, you're too late for this exhibition...Sijn Bastianen closed his show at Frankendael (Middenweg 72) on Sunday the 18th of March. Pity, because his work is interesting. He creates fantasy on canvas that fits into the category of also being philosophical and leaning towards the whimsical. Perhaps this is a world that people envision when they are tripping on LSD (No, he never tried it, 3D asked). None of the imagery really makes sense but it is all perfectly logical. His early influences were cartoons from every nation in the world. (20x20 cms., mixed media @ 450 euro; 100x120 cms., mixed media @ 1,100 euro) https://bit.ly/2ATpjPQ 
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Galerie 23/Hedendaagse Afrikaanse Kunst (KNSM-laan) diviates from that continent to focus on an artist from Aruba. Ray Zijlstra is showing textile objects, assemblages and mixed media work. He is a conceptual artist that works in several styles and with different techniques and materials to express himself. Many pieces are constructed with materials and fabrics. One work is a floor/wall installation. On the wall is a "tapestry-like" collage that mixes a cow hide with silk and synthetic materials. Another wall hanging might best be described as an object; it is unusual in form and is both in 2D and 3D. Another floor piece consist of newspaper articles which have been stitched together---after the paper has been treated for nine months---with colored yarn. Then there is the mixed media video work. A colorful tapestry/blanket is laid out on a bed/platform. There is a pillow as well and on the pillow there is a projected image of a person. A hanging series of mixed media pieces have all undergone a nine month metamorphose. Each is a newspaper photograph but each is also transparent. The result is mystifying imagery. The photos are nearly transparent. Cool! (11x12 cms., mixed media @ 250 euro; 88x12 cms., mixed media @ 850 euro; 91x66.5 assemblage @ 1,250 euro; 110x43x34 cms., mixed media @ 2,800 euro.) Until 19th April https://bit.ly/2ndlxav
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Ingrid Baars is at Galerie Pien Rademakers (Prinsengracht 570). She does both commercial and artistic photography. On exhibit here is her artistic renderings. She focuses on work she has done with African models. But that doesn't begin to describe what you swill see. While there are elements of reality in these "figurative" studies there is a great deal that isn't real. It is sometimes seen in the costuming, sometimes the make-up and sometimes through the distortion of imagery. One photo stands-out because of both the perceived imagery and its sheer size, 267x175 cms. No price list available. Until 6th May. https://bit.ly/2JvtSz2 
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Expect to see something different at VERVERS ART GALLERY (Hazenstraat 54) exhibiting the work of Erik de Bree a recent graduate of the Rietveld Akademie. De Bree paints an expressionistic canvas and then tears it nearly to shreds. He takes the pieces and makes abstract collages from them---often chaotic in composition----on still another canvas. Sometimes, he cuts holes into the canvas and through the holes we see another work. Smaller works are photographs that are no longer realistic photos but vague imagery which assumes new identity and creates a mysterious aspect. ("Damaged photographs," mixed media @ 475 euro; 52.5x44 cms., oil on canvas @ 1,200 euro; 133x177, acrylic and oil on canvas @ 3,300 euro.) Until 27th April. https://bit.ly/2mkqkqc 
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"foam" (Keizesgract 609) opened two new exhibition one which is a "group show," sort of speak, and the other by a photographer that first came to 3D's attention 35 years ago. Bertien van Manen began her professional photographic career as a fashion photographer, but early on she had other ideas concerning the direction to take her talent. I met her in New York; an Amsterdam friend had given her my name and phone number to contact. She was shooting Manhattan. And all in black and white. I went through her work an was impressed on several levels from choice of subject matter to composition. But there was more to her work in that you could see a social element---she wanted to see Harlem as well as 42nd Street. I mention all this because this solo exhibition is more about people than it is about photography. Gone is the meticulous focusing and forced posing to a rawness in her technique that is sometimes seen with out of focus shots or the weird lighting. What comes through is the humanity of the people. She captures the essence of the citizens of Russia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Tatasstand and Georgia at work, at play and at home. She reinforces the imagery with photos that nuance their environment like a well stacked fruit/sweet plate on a table. Simple. Revealing. These photos are a result of her close intercourse with the population. She lived amongst them and learned their language. She has come a long way from doing shots of runway models. Until 24th June. 

The other show is "The New York Times Magazine Photographs." Once a week, the New York Times newspaper publishes a magazine that focuses on everything from entertainment, culture, social to political subjects. Of course, being the New York Times means doing something that rises above all the rest of publications. As I result, the articles are illustrated by top photographers. They not only take portraits but often create "art" photography to convey the point of an article. The exhibit is comprises eleven individual parts such as reportage/journalistic, celebrities, fine art photography, et al. It is a big show divided between several galleries; don't miss the two rooms that overlook the Keizersgracht. Also included are actually pages from the magazine and greatly enlarged reproductions. There are a couple of videos too. One has 14 actors----many well known, Matt Damon, Michael Douglas, and a nearly unrecognizable Natalie Portman as a vamp undressing---acting out, silently, a 60 second scene. The show was curated by Kathy Ryan, Photo Editor of the magazine, and Lesley A. Martin, Publisher of Aperture Books. Until 30th May. https://bit.ly/2Lavlwl 
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At "smith-vissers GALERIE" (Noorderdwarstraat 7) are man and wife showing their individual work. Jook de Jong does ceramic bowls and containers, She ornaments the work with leaves, butterflies and three dimensional frogs (4 cms., high 34 cms., wide @ 85 euro; 27x20 cms., 560 euro.)...Paul de Jong is a representational painter with abstract tendencies. He emphasizes the abstraction that he sees whether it is a crumbling building or an electrical outlet. There is even a surreal nuance that comes trough from time to time. (60x50 cms., oil on linen @ 1,400 euro; 70x60 cms., oil on linen @ 2,500 euro.) Until 21st April. https://bit.ly/2OVDLt0 
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Meiro Koizumi (Japan) presents a video and an installation at "annet gelink gallery" (Laurierstraat 187). The video is shown, on a two way screen, in the main gallery space. We see a traditional Japanese room with a low level table for eating at. A man and woman are sitting at the table. The lady is serving dinner to the man. He is reading a newspaper and because of the news he is talking about going off to fight in the war (WW II). The scene comes to an end and almost immediately a new one begins with the couple assuming different positions. The dialog---under titled in English---is the same. Then the camera focuses on the table and from the actions of both people we suddenly realize that they are both blind. (How does the man read the paper?) In some ways, the concept is reminiscent of Kurosawa's film classic Roshaman. The installation, in The Bakery, also has a WW II theme. There is a projector, on the floor, projecting the video onto the ceiling. What we see is a man doing a charcoal drawing of a B-29 USofA' bomber like the one that dropped the big one on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. No price list. Until 12th May. https://bit.ly/2u9Hxa3 
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At "gallery 9" (Keizersgracht 552) there is the work of two conceptual artists. Robbert de Goede, who is also an architect, does boxes that he defines as "spatial compositions." Well, what does that mean? It means that he makes geometric/abstract linear imagery from red thread. Of course, he does the designs in several ways; some are more complicated than others. But each is captivating because of its unique configuration. All the boxes---of various sizes---are painted white and contrast nicely with the red thread. Simple and elegant work. (16.5x16.5 cms., foam board, glass, thread, MDF @ 250 euro; 27x27x25 cms., MDF, thread, glass, acrylic paint @ 2,500 euro.)...Manja Hazenberg identifies her work as "objects." Some hang on the wall, some are three dimensional and hang on the wall, and some just sit on a table. The material is zinc. She works with it several ways from using acid to attaching gold leaf. The wall hanging objects are also studies in conceptual redundancy; there are from nine to 16 small square plates to each "canvas." Her smaller constructions are very nice and the configurations vary in some unusual and unexpected ways. (13x13 cms., zinc and paper maché @ 450 euro; 70x70 cms., zinc and wire on canvas @ 1,750 euro.) Until 5th May. https://bit.ly/2O2dGJ6 
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Spring is here and there is no reason to sit in your room alone...come to an art gallery, oh chum, come and enjoy the visual excitement that will stimulated your winter-logged cultural senses. Blossom into a living breathing-glad-to-be-alive homo sapien. Oh, yeah...And buy something. BUY A LOT...but: BUY! BUY and BUY some more. Let's kick the recession into oblivion.

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