The 3d List week 35 by Daniel R. Gould. Amsterdam art, Amsterdam galleries and museums

Two years ago, 3D received an e-mail from a documentary film maker, Frederiek Jochems, of Franjo Studio Amsterdam, who suggested we meet to discuss a concept she had in mind. "Sure," I replied. At the meeting, she said she would like to follow me around to the galleries as I did my thing. I, in turn, suggested that I have a more active involvement. It would take several months for each of us to dot all the "i"s and cross all the "t"s in a mutually agreeable way, but we did begin shooting within two months of the first meeting. The Amsterdam Art Scene is diverse. There are so many aspects that define it. First, there are the players: artists, gallery holders, curators, museum officials, PR companies, journalist, collectors, photographers and just the plan ol' gallery bums---both aficionados and drinkers. Second, there are the different levels or hierarchy of the galleries involved and that includes the "pros" who attend the major international art fairs; to those who consider it no more than a hobby; plus all those in between. It was our intention to bring all this into play. The big picture.

Did we succeed? 3D, at this point, has no idea. One contractural item that I would concede---and the only one--was in a sense the most important: Final Cut. Needless to say, I am not so masochistic that I would knowingly allow myself to be humilliated, but, at the same time, I do respect the "artistic freedom" of the filmmaker. Ultimately, I knew I would have to "trust" the director to see me in my best light---if there is one---or at least show the many sides to whoever I am that makes for the whole. The "story" told by a documentary emerges in the cutting room; in in this case, nearly 50 hours of tape has been reduced to less than an hour. A year in 3D's life has been reduced to a Reader's Digest' style synopsis. And this Saturday, the "3D List" readers and myself are welcome to come along for the ride. "I LOVE ART" (53 minutes) will premier at Smart Project Space (WG Terrien, Arie van Biemondstraat 105) at 15:30 (23rd May). 3D has decided to go incognito so, if he deems it necessary, he can slip out the back, Jack/get on the bus, Gus/and ride, ride, ride, Clyde into the sunset...or something like that.

Tickets are limited: RSVP: art@franjo.nl; (020) 470.25.77

INDEX:

Bits & Pieces:

What You Missed Last Week:

What Is Happening This Week:

BITS & PIECES:

...And more about "artamsterdam '09." Fair officials announced that there was a 57% increase attendance over last year's numbers. A total of 23,985 people attended compared to 15,238 in 2008. A truly remarkable increase. It was also reported that there was a total of five million euros in sales; this averaged out to 40,331 euro per gallery.

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Donna W. requested that her e-mail address be included on the "3D List" mailing list. She gave me her card and I found this quote of the back: "We can forgive a man for making a useful thing as long as he does not admire it. The only excuse for making a useless thing is that one admires it intensely. All art is quite useless." Oscar Wilde. Well, he did have a way with words.

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Remember the 20th of May is the benefit auction for De Appel at Christie's (Conelis Schuytstraat 57) beginning at 17:00. See on-line catalog: www.christies.com

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Nerds wanted: A rebuilt and renewed version of The Korsakow System software application is in its final stages of development. The group responsible "are now actively seeking volunteer beta testers to download and try out the new software and provide feedback." More info: www.cinerg.ca ; or contact: beta5@korsakow.com

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A new web-site, www.narb.me, has as its raison d'etre to: "Discover, discuss and collect art on-line...An art discovery site with social features...to help people find new art that's exciting and makes them want to get up off their ass and visit a gallery or musuem." To that, 3D says, "Right on!" For Twitter addicts: @narbme twitter stream. Contact at: lifesized@gmail.com

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Ko Fisscher relayed, on to 3D, this quote of Winston Churchill after reading the man's observations concerning the consumption of alcohol. When Winnie was asked to explain his good health, which lasted well into his 80s, he answered: "No sports!"

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WHAT YOU MISSED LAST WEEK:

Tuesday:

From time to time, over the years, I have seen a mention for an exhibition at De Nederlandsche Bank. However, until a week or so ago, 3D never received an invite. Finally, one arrived. Perhaps a 100 or more invitations are sent to me over the course of one month. When one is received the info is recorded and the invite filed haphazardly. Unless it is something really special 3D doesn't take it to an opening. Last week he wished he had. The first difficulty was at the front desk. I asked where the exhibition was? And the reply was rhetorical---and through thick bullet proof windows---"Do you have an invitation." I explained I had not brought one. A phone call was made. I was then directed to a glass door which opened for me, but the one opposite didn't until the first one had been closed. I walked down a long hall way and came to another desk. A lady asked my name and was not able to find it. The closest she could come to it was "Gool." Well, that could be me it was agreed. She then accompanied me down another long hall and introduced me to someone incharge and, again, we went through the same routine. It was finally decided that I was probably not there to case the joint for a future robbery and I was allowed to stay. Forgot to mention that I was wearing jeans and the rest of the crowd appeared to be in their Sunday best. ..bankers' style.

What I did learn was that this was the 250th exhibition at this bank and the last for about a year because of renovations being done to the building. This particular show was curated by "Art Partner" and featuered the work of seven artists. Annemiek Vera hangs 18 portraits and each is done completely differently even though she does have a unique style. The work is impressive...Maze de Boer shows photos and objects. There is a miniature stele which is made of of gold plated magnets each measuring 10x4x2 mm. But a truly remarkable piece is what she has done with 3,289 Douwe Egbert paper coffee cups. She has "stacked" them all together and then she has sort of tied them into a continous flowing bow. Really cool...Aam Solleveld does "tape drawings" on aluminium in b/w only. She creates linear abstractions which are nearly representational. Striking...Machteld Aardse makes mixed-media light boxes. These are large (135x175 cms.) representational works where the light is arranged to create more expression of the imagery...Bas Louter draws figurative charcol portraits, but he is more interested in contrast than the representational aspect of his subject matter...Nathalie Bruys is a conceptual video artist who adds conceptual sounds to accent her work....Excuses to Dario Bardic, also a video artist, but 3D was too late and his video had been shut down. Seeing the work is a problem. You must call for an appointment and, who knows, maybe also filled out a questioneer as to why you want to see the show. Anyway, here is the contact number: (020) 524.2183. Call during banking hours...whenever they are. Nearly forgot...Kwak & Van Daalen & Ronday (Zaandam printers) did a special set of their "SO LO" publication for each of the artist. It is a takeaway.

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Wednesday:

3D was at "artamsterdam" for 10 hours before going to Amsterdam Achives (Stadsarchief Amsterdam, Vizelstraat 32) for the opening "NY PERSPECTIVES." From the title I misunderstood the emphasis of the show. My first thought was that it would be an exhibition of photos with New York City as the focus, however it is the opposite. To mark the 400 year anniversary of Henry Hudson's landing in the Big Apple, four American photographers photographed Amstrerdam and/or some aspect of the city. Gus Powell (NYC) is a street photographer and generally includes pedestrains in the camera lens frame. He shoots ordinary scenes which are representational of city life...Carl Wooley (San Francisco) does night scenes using ambient lighting and 3D suspects big spots. The scenes are rather banal, but with his controlled lighting the oridinary has a way of becoming dramatic...Joshua Lutz (NYC) photos are always snapped with perfect Dutch light. It seems that no matter what he focuses on is spotlighted brilliantly...but that's what Dutch light is all about...Richard Rothman (Philadelphia) works in b/w and is concerned with parks, trees and water scenes as seen through the trees. Ordinary settings but representational of Amsterdam city life. This is a joint exhibition with "foam," the Amsterdam photographic museum. Until 23rd August. www.stadsarchief.amsterdam.nl, www.foam.nl Entrance fee: Adults, 4 euro; children to 12, FREE; 13-18 years, two euro.

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Thursday:

For those readers who complain that 3D make their slaver glands drool when I describe the food offerings at the openings at Dutch Design Hotel Artemis, 3D will dispense with the culinary report (he was too late to take advantage of the offerings) and go directly to the art of which there was much. Claire Berheyn does sheep...conceptually, that is. 3D means that her interpretation of these woolly animals has little to do with the BaaaBaaa variety. She recreates her version in the actual size of lambs, ewes and rams. These real wool pieces come in their natural colors of whites, browns and blacks and work the best when they are displayed as a flock. She spins the wool, herself, and braids it into dreadlocks and puts it all back together again with fantastic results. (Small @ 3,000; big @ 5,500 euro.)

Marijn Wensveen is a sculptor who works in metal with a welding torch. 3D has been following his work for about five years. Until recently he worked in aluminium and made wall hangings. On view here is a nearly circular stele standing about 350 cms., high. He cuts out a geometric pattern but only to a point; leaving it attached to the original metal sheet he then bends it to add dimensional qualities. The resulting piece is monumnetal...and priced at 4,800 euro, cheap.

Corina Rietveld does jewelry and in a variety of styles. A series of rings is mixed-media consisting of silver and colored thread which she wraps around the metal in simple linear designs. A necklace of the same material is shaped like a butterfly and there is a broach which is matched to it. The result is a simple and elegant avant gardé statement for jewlery design. There is more from her like "wrap jewelry." What's that? Go see! Very good prices: rings @ 79 euro; butterfly necklace @ 175 euro; matching broach @ 149 euro.

Studio As does oversize stuffed animals which, well, you might just adopt as a pet. Actually, it is flippant to describe them as "stuffed anmals" since there are so creatively constructed; at105 cms., high, 105 cms., long and 30 cms., wide (@ 695 euro) they are impressionistic sculpted pieces that look like you can sit on them. Most are whimsical renderings of animal like figures. They are made from polyester foam and handpainted with the stitching as part of the design. (145x85x30 cms., @ 625.)

Erik Loman, well, what to make of his work? Abstraction that sometimes resembles the simple amoeba but with character. There is a strong organic element to these paintings that perpetuates the imagery as it seems to slitter across the canvas. And he is a colorist and, you might add, with an attitude. (50x100, diptych, acrylic @ 1,800 euro; 50x100 cms., @ 600 euro.) ...Beerd Stokkum, unlike most artists, stresses that the works are ornaments "for a stylish ceiling or decorative wall." What you see are geometric patterns and a few that incorporate figurative imagery as well. All are monochromatic. (flowers @ 99 euro; Organic @ 139 euro; Classic Geometric @ 169 euro.)

Lon Hendriks has a truly unique style. There is one nude, titled "Carnival" (100x100 cms., @ 2,150 euro), that is a nude unlike any nude you have seen before. Figurative expressionism with a background of geometric abstraction describes it best. The latter has colors that range from hot pink to tranquil blue...Netty Klomp is an authentic colorist who works with a kaleidoscope like geometric designs that seems to have been determined by an innate source and motivation; and since she is auotdidactic that probably explains why. There is also a large ostrich like bird made of plaster that's very colorful and makes a presence. (70x70 cms., @ 1,250 euro; paintings range from 525 euro and up.)

Bold Design is a small firm of designers---two people, Ciske van Berkel and David Beckers---that produce often whimsical pieces of furniture like the "hanginglamp" which doesn't hang so much as "leans" against the wall at an angle and uses the wall as support. There is also the four legged table with one leg raised---as a male dog would do to relieve itself. Or take the zig-zag desk which van Berkel designed and was pictured in both Woning Elle and Residence. That brought the Gerrit Rietveld Foundation down on his back threathening a law suit for copyright infringement. Rietveld originally designed the Zig Zag chair in 1923. The latter is priced at 2,100 euro. Lamps @ 399 euro; and a tilting chest @ 1,850 euro. All of the above are on display in and around the restaurant. Eat and enjoy the creativity of both the art work and the food. Until 28th August. www.artmisamsterdam.com

Friday:

MB Art Agency mounted a show titled "......EXPECTATIONS," at a new building located at Barbara Strozzilaan 314 (between the Holiday Inn and Sotheby's). The invite promotes this show as a group exhibiton of 21 international artists. There is only one negative: You don't know who did what. No name tags, no numbers and no price list. Perhaps that is meant to be in keeping with the egalitarian climate of the Dutch society. Whatever. What it does is to put Xing Danwen and Sebastian Diaz Morales on equal footing with Ulay who is included as well. And all this is important since there are several very good works on display and 3D would have liked to know who had done what.

Nearly all the work is in b/w; from the drawings, paintings, sculptures to the photography and videos. The exhibitions strength is in its diversity of styles that vary from representational to conceptual with a little of everything in between. It is a very nice space to show work in and since it is also a very large space, no one work is overshadowed by another. Overall, a good show. Maria Rus Bojam was curator and at the initiative of Donna Wolf. Open from Thursday through Sunday until 20th June; guided tours by special appointment. e-mail: info@mbagency.nl; www.mbagnecy.nl

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Saturday:

Galerie bart (Bloemgracht 2) has a very special exhibition. An artist of the gallery is this year's winner of the Thiema Award presented at "artamsterdam '09," namely Gijs van Lith. At the fair there were three examples of his work; at the gallery there are ten hanging; and 3D's opinion is that each one is better than any at the fair...but, hey, that's nit picking. Van Lith is a representational expresionist or so I described his work on last week's 3D List. Seen here, he goes beyond that designation. One large work (140x380 cms.) is a linear abstraction study in conceptual redunancy. Yeah, it's hard to visualize...you gotta go see it. Another has the quality of a Jackson Pollack drip painting, but that's where the comparison ends. ""HK 6" is even more difficult to categorize. It pictures a busy big city street with nuances coming from every direction of an art technique lexicon. See the show and you will understand how and why he won the award. Expect more in the future. (80x60 cms., oil, alkyd, acrylic, gesso on canvas @ 1,400 euro; 140x190 cms., same materials @ 4,000 euro; 140x380 cms., same materials @ 8,000 euro.) Until 20th June. www.galeriebart.nl

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At Galerie de Expeditie (Leliegracht 47) is a rather unusual exhibtion of two artists under the title, "Pasta Past Air." Two things make this show unusual: The way it is hung and the age of the artists, or more properly said, the difference in age between the two artists. They are both from Kosovo in the Balkans. Jakup Ferri---the younger of the two---does simple, very simple drawings. His subject matter ranges from cows to dogs to human figures. The style makes them look like they have stepped-out of a comic strip and there is humor, too. The work is either made with pencil or pen and ink, plus wash. Four videos by Ferri can be viewed and all seem to have a conceptual theme.

The other artist is Nysret Salihamixhiqi who is probably somewhere in his 60s. The work he is hanging is dated from as early as 1963 through 1984. They are watercolors and gouaches and reflect the psychedelic style of the 60s with a element of surrealism thrown in. What is unusual about the hanging is that both artists have intermixed their work with the other; 3D found the price list confusing, but later I thought that that was because the drawings and watercolors are in groups of 10 or more pieces and I now assume that you purchase a group as a set. Until 27th June. www.de-expeditie.com

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Eduard Planting Fine Art Photography (Eerste Bloemdwarsstrat 2) shows "Lilith," a photographer that goes by that single name. "All the subjects of this photographer is a woman" was the first notation 3D made. What I didn't know was that ALL the photographs were "self portraits." She is a person with many sides to her personality. She shows great humor and often in the extreme to a very subtle tongue in cheek. A few photos could be classified as "fetish." Then there is one with her laying on the ground with a rose bush and its flowers atop her head like a hat and it is just, well, sweet! Nearly all work is in color but there are a few b/w pieces. Also available is a book containing about 200 full page reproductions of her photos. Signed and numbered (plus one original ed. 100 photo) @ 395 euro. Unsigned @ 125 euro. She is also a writer and the book is interspersed with poetry: "There ain't no strings to tie me down/I got no strings on me/My spirit is mine/I'm on my own/Tie me up, I'll still be free." (50x30 cms., Cibachrome on Dibond Ed. 5 @ 1,450 euro; 100x70 cms., Cibachrome on Dibond, Ed. 3 @ 2,950.) Until 13th June. www.eduardplanting.com

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Galerie Hof & Huyser (Bloemgracht 135) is showing"Frozen Moment Desert," by Erik A. Frandsen (Danish). He works in three mediums: mosiac, painting and neon. There seems to be not much relationship to any of these styles and techniques. No matter. Each one he does very well. The emphasis, in this show, is on the mosiac tile work. These huge (200x300 cms.,) works create representational scenes using small colored tiles. The work is meticulous and demanding. He then emphasizes certain parts of the composition in a smaller work. There is also a series of eight photos of firework burst; and eight showing what looks like petrified wood. In 3D's opinion, the crowning touch is the 80 cms., diameter orb done in various neon lighting segments. At the core of the piece is a reflecting globe which picks up the neon colors and creates a whole new illusion. Fantastic piece...if you like neon! (80 cms., diameter @ 25,000 euro). (Series of 16 photos, Ed. 5, 50x70 cms., each @ 19,000 euro; "People" mosiac, 200x300 @ 155,000 euro; "People-Detail," 50x65 cms., @ 17,500 euro.) Until 13th June. www.hofhuyser.nl

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Sunday:

Joram Roukes is from Groningen and is showing at "art olive." I saw his drawings at the Carhartt Streetwear Store about a year ago. This was the first viewing of his paintings. Six huges canvases (300x200 cms.) make up the exhibition and dominate the walls of the gallery. Roukes is an inconscious follower of what 3D identifies as the David Salle School. Several years ago, at KunstRAI, I saw about three or four artists doing something similar and each in a different way. They painted a compositon using various styles: reperesentational expressed as impressionism or expressionism or something else. A year or so later, I saw retrospective show at the Stedelijk for Salle. He mixed different styles, imagery, technniques, etc into one composition. I then assumed that he had been the one to instigate this new style. With Roukes work it is his mix of all these elements into one composition that qualifies him as a member of the Salle School. But his work could not be more different than Salles.

In a sense, you could say that each canvas is "figurative and representational." There are feet clad in tennis shoes---designer style, of course---hands and heads, well, sort of heads. The "heads" tend to be that of a ram, bear, pigeon and a Pokemon doll? The rest of the "body parts," torso, hips, etc., vary in artistic styles: geometric, expressionistic, impressionistic, realistic, etc. In addition, he adds statements which are pithy and sometimes witty. As an example, in the work "Send me an angel,"(240x160 cms.,) he says: "Rubbers are fun;" "Got Christ?" "Jesus Christ eternally refreshing" where the font style and overall design resembles the Coca Cola logo; and, finally, "In God we r**t" from the American currency. 3D was reminded of a book by the American satirist Jean Sheppard titled: "In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash." Impressive work. (240x160, oil, @ 4,350 euro; 300x200 cms., @ 5,950 euro.) Until__?__ (There were no inviations available, 3D asked.) e-mail: joramroukes@hotmail.com; www.joramroukes.blogspot.com

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WHAT IS HAPPENING THIS WEEK:

Reminder: The (?) symbolizes that the information could be WRONG! Kid you not. And the "*" tells you to check on the time. So click on to the gallery's web-site or phone...3D accepts no responsibility on the accuracy of this list...the devil may have made me do it!!!

N.B. 3D has not paid the "postbus" bill for this year and ten days ago TNT began returning mail. Sorry for the inconvenience, but my plea for donations fell, generally, on deaf ears. What this all means is that the following list is more than likely abbreviated. Sorry.

FRIDAY: 22nd May

17-19:30 The Frozen Fountain (Prinsengracht 645). "Truly Dutch," featuring "stunning designs," by Piet Hein Eek, Hella Jongerius, Maarten Baas and the Design Academy of Eindhoven. Hey, Dick, you forgot to include the web-site address.

20-21:00 ABC TREEHOUSE (Voetboogstraat 11). Book presentation and lecture featuring Gary Renard the author of "Disappearance of the Universe" and "A Course in Miracles." www.treehouse.abc.nl

SATURDAY: 23rd May

12:00 De Opsteker (Noorderstraat 61). Fernando de la Rosa and Oliver, "De Roze Canapé." No web-site on invite.

16:00 Reuten Galerie (Prinsengracht 510-sous). This is the return of a gallery that has been inactive for the last year or so...it is good to see it back. Miloushka Bokma, Photography, 2003-2009. www.galerie.nl/reuten

16-18:00 AdK (Prinsengracht 534). "Oversprongen." New Guinea art. www.adkactuelekunst.nl

16:00 GIST Amsterdam (Veemkade 364). Gijs Assmann, Arno Kramer and Barbara Polderman. www.gistgalerie.nl

16:00 Galerie W. van Leeuwen (Hazenstraat 27). Tomio Seike (Japan), photography. www.woutervanleeuwen.com

16:00 Cokkie Snoei Amsterdam (Hazenstraat 11). Kati Barath (German). "Hazibuli I."

16:00 Reflext Modern Art Gallery (Weteringschaans 83). Phyllis Galembo (USA), photography.

17-19:00 Aschenbach & Hofland Galleries (Bilderdijkstraat 165). Thomas Arnolds, "Spazieren (international)." www.xs2art.com

17-19:00 E. de Bruijn Projects (Rosengracht 207a). George Korsmit and Rune Peitersen. www.edbprojects.nl

17-19:00 Galerie SLEWE (Kerkstraat 105). Domenica Bianchi. www.slewe.nl

17-19:00 Galerie Gabriel Rolt (Elandsgracht 34). "INVISIBLES," Anna Bjerger (Sweden), paintings and work on paper. www.gabrielrolt.com

(?) Steendrukkerij Amsterdam (Lauriegracht 80). Gery De Smet, "Heden alle circuits gesloten." www.steendrukkerij.com

17-19:00 AFC (Bethanieënstraat 39). Group photographic show. www.afc-web.nl

17:00 Van Gelder (Planciusstraat 9). Sigurdur Gudmundsson," "The Other Side." www.galerievangelder.com

21:30 Mediamatic BANK (Vijzelstraat 68). "The End must go on," a performance by Joao Evangelista and Felix Kubin. Entry: 7.50; RSVP: info@mediamatic.nl. ...And continuing: "Re: Parallax: Strike a pose and laugh."

SUNDAY: 24th May

15-18:00 Museum Diemen Zuid (PROJECT RUIMTE). (Verrijn Stuartweg 3, Diemen). Ray Zijlstra's "original coincidences." No web-site address on invite.

16:00 Galerie 23 (KNSM-laan 307). An installation that the invite describes as "remarkable." The work is by an African, Ouman Mbenque Atakosso, "Post-Modern Immigrant - Lost and Found: an installation in situ." www.galerie 23.nl

WEDNESDAY: 27th May

19:30 ChildRight (Energieweg 7a; IJsselstein). Special guest, Marion Bloem. More info: www.childright.nl; contact: info@childright.nl

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...And there you have it. A far more active weekend then one would expect after an major art fair. But the galleries are faced with a decline in the economy and that means work, work and work a little harder. The same demand will fall on the shoulders of the artists, too. They will be challenged to do something "new" that will tickle the collectors fancy and stir museum curators to say: This is timeless. 3D has noticed another trend and that is in the pricing of art. The prices are looking more realistic for the average buyer. Hey, forget about getting a gun and ripping off the neighborhood FEBO because prices are descending to levels not seen for the last several years. Now's a very good time to BUY. But, folks, you gotta go to know!!! It is great bike riding weather so visit a gallery today without further delay and tell 'em: "3D sent me!" You never know, the gallery may give you a 2% discount.

...And there goes 3D counting his pennies, riding through the streets of Amsterdam, incognito, wondering how you pack one year of living into an hour of celluloid? But I'm not complaining; Andy said that in the future everyone would have 15 minutes of fame...3D is getting 53 minutes...take that Warhol.