Following in Mondrian’s footsteps: My Domburg Experience.
Late 2013 I was invited to join Schildersweek 2014 in Domburg, Holland. This is a prestigious Scholarship/residency/art festival where 30 international artists are invited (and sponsored) to work for 10 days in the picturesque seaside town culminating in a summer-long exhibition. The foundation Art and Performance sponsor the artists’ travel, materials, local transport and accommodation with a host family. Obviously I grabbed such a prestigious opportunity to represent Ireland’s plein air painters with both hands.
Mondrian's Windmill
Domburg has been a cherished and high-class, seaside and spa destination for Belgium, German and Dutch jet set for over a century now. Add to that a rich and influential artistic history and the scene was set for the organisers to re-kindle the cultural profile with the inaugural event in 2003.
Domburg Dunes
Please have a quick look here for full details from the organiser’s perspective: http://www.schildersweek.nl/english.html
A word my kids abuse and over-use continually is the only way I can describe my Domburg experience: “awesome”. It worked for me on so many different levels: culturally, artistically, socially and of course networking and building for the future. Not to mention time spent cycling around Holland on a bike with an easel tied to the back was pure therapy for me, and was like a holiday to an artist currently performing the balancing act of his life.
Mobile studio - Dutch style.
Watch this space as I retrospectively add my Domburg Diary.