Sorry,… on Stage

Event

Sorry,... on Stage

Friday  August 11
7.00- 9.30 PM

Sorry, on Stage is a multidisciplinairy event brought to you by musicians, thinkers, dancers, writers and performers of Curaçao. Some are young, some are older, some are well known and some are underground talents.

What they have in common is that these artists will perform their reactions on the apology the Dutch Government made for its role in the slave trade. The current exhibition Sorry,… is a reflection by 19 visual artists on this apology. With Sorry, on Stage the floor belongs to artists from other art disciplines. On Friday August 11 from 7 pm to 9:30 pm.

On the Landhuis Bloemhof premises you can enjoy performances by writer Roland ‘Roi’ Colastica, the duo Iris Zavala Blanco & Vesuhely Americaan, Tittel del Mar, violinist CJ Opus, dancer True A, pianist Djuvaldric Groenenberg, dancer Rayzahna accompanied by Tshepo Seshaba on the ‘bari’, spoken word artist Robyn and a special appearance by Gordon & Friends. Tipiko Pasa Bon will open the evening and will let us go out with a blast at the end of this evening. And of course you will be able to visit the thought-provoking exhibition Sorry,…

So join us August 11 and be part of this experience with dance, music, literature and spoken word. This event is supported by the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds Caribisch Gebied.

Sorry,... on Stage starts at 7 pm and ends at 9:30 pm. Tickets @ 10 ANG for adults and 5 ANG for children up to 12 years old are available at Landhuis Bloemhof and at the door on the evening of this event. Parking is also available at the Orco Bank parkinglot

Sorry,…

Exhibition

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry,...

 

June 30 till August 19

 

ART Exhibition 'Sorry,...' reflecting on Dutch slave trade apology 

The thought-provoking exhibition 'Sorry,...' opened on June 30th, Landhuis Bloemhof, with inspiring artworks by 19 contributors. The inauguration featured performances by Nohely Simon, Ralph Winedt and Nathania Engelhardt.

Visitors have the opportunity to engage with the artists, gain insights into their creative processes, and discover the profound narratives interwoven within their works. The exhibition 'Sorry,...' will be on display until August 19.

About 'Sorry,...'
The exhibition derives its name from the historic apology made on December 19, 2022, by the Dutch Kingdom's Prime Minister, Mr. Mark Rutte, acknowledging the role the Dutch government played over time in the slave trade that deeply impacted Curaçao and many other countries. 'Sorry,...' invites visitors to explore the artists' personal perspectives on the apology and its significance in a variety of art forms, including mixed media, paintings, ceramic, stone and wooden sculptures, and more. Each artwork delves into the complex and emotional layers surrounding this historical event, fostering dialogue and understanding.

Artists
'Sorry,...' showcases a variety of art works by Ailsa Anastatia, Bethyamin van Nieuwenhuijzen, Ellen Spijkstra, Esther Reyerse, Gerlof Bouma, Miah de Sousa, Gwen Anderson, Kemuël Sandries, Laica Leito, Maghalie George, Margarita Haakmat, Nohely Simon, Paul Senders, Pito Polo, Raily Yance, Richard Doest, Rochelle Monte, Rose Ann Ignacio and Ruthson Cecilia.

You can see the online catalogue here.

Events
'Sorry,...' will be on until August 19, allowing ample time for visitors to delve into the diverse range of artworks and contemplate their personal responses. Throughout the exhibition, several events will take place.

The highlights of the events include:
Travelling Dialogue started on July 2nd in Otrobanda, continuing each week at a different locations. It's an interactive dialogue session inviting the public to share perspectives on the apology and the ongoing impact of slave trading. This event is presented in collaboration with Gray Area -audiovisual & artistic production - and Carrying Narratives
Dates are July 2 Brionplein- Otrobanda, July 14 Mi Lucha Snack- Santa Maria, July 22 Sentro di Bario Montaña and July 30 at Kas di Kuenta in Santa Cruz. All dialogues from 5 pm to 7 pm.

Family Names Lecture on July 8th was an interactive presentation by Christel Monsanto about the origin of family names in Curaçao, exploring their connections to the island's history. The presentation is conducted mainly in Dutch but not excluding Papiamentu and English.

Our closing event, Sorry,... on Stage on August 11th is a multidisciplinary event brought to you by musicians, thinkers, dancers, writers and performers of Curaçao. Some are young, some are older, some are well known and some are underground talents. Read more.

Potoshi Market

Event

Marshe di Pruga- Vlooienmarkt

Saturday June 3
9.00 am- 2.00 pm

Come and stroll in the gardens of Landhuis Bloemhof to find one of a kind items at our first Potoshi Market.
More than 60 vendors are eager to show what they collected in their homes, gardens, closets and even toy boxes. Come and find pre-loved items and thrift: clothes, home decorations, toys, plants and much more. Let’s give those lovely items a second life and reduce our waste production on the island.

Entrance fee: ANG 1,00

International Museum Day- Weekend

Event

International Museum Day -Weekend

Friday May 19 and Saturday May 20 

Museum Weekend at Landhuis Bloemhof and Cathedral of Thorns

Locals can buy a Museum Card to visit three museums during the weekend.
Locals and visitors without the museum card get a special 50% discount on their entrance tickets at Bloemhof.

Specials for the Museum Weekend:
- introduction tours to the Bloemhof Experience at 9.30, 10.30 11.30 and 12.30
- scavenger hunt for young and old
- our new art exhibition by Wilson Garcia and Ria Houwen
- walk through 'The Cathedral of Thorns' by Herman van Bergen
- visit Hortence Brouwn's open-air sculpture studio
- get a sneak peak of Bloemhof's interesting history in the Ex Libris May-Max library
We are open from 9 am to 2 pm

Schreeuw van de Stilte / Avondlicht (Cry of Silence / Evening Light)

Exhibition

Schreeuw van de Stilte - Avondlicht
Cry of Silence- Evening Light

 

 

Opening Saturday May 20

 

Showing new oil paintings by Wilson Garcia and assemblages by Ria Houwen.

Ode to friendship
This first duo exhibition is based on the longtime friendship between Garcia and Houwen and at the same time it is an expression of their mutual respect for each other’s artistic careers. Both are well-known and successful artists, with strong ties to Curaçao, who have known each other for years, but never exhibited their art together.

Garcia, through his oil paintings, advocates for Curaçao's artistic legacy. In Schreeuw van de Stilte (Cry of Silence), he wants to pay respect to those who paved foundations on artistic and creative levels. This is a cry to remind others not to forget them. "With my paintings, I want to honor Pacheco Domacassé, Diana Lebacs, Ced Ride, and also my wife, Ria Garcia. People who have inspired me and continue to inspire me."

For Houwen, Avondlicht (Evening Light) means the light that slips away. A last gentle touch. "It is an ode to a lifelong friendship, where memories are safely locked in the heart, and then suddenly surface, along with the realization of how precious they are. It's like life in mythological times, light-footed, as if you're being lifted. Friendships had wings. Now there is only a light, a last glow and a feeling of gratitude."

In Avondlicht, Ria Houwen presents a collection of assemblages called "Pandora's Box” which she first exhibited in 2002. These are small boxes, some slightly open and others wide open. They invite you to peek and examine closer. The boxes are transformed by recycled mixed media. Worn, torn, and old materials of which their history is still palpable. According to Houwen, these objects are the key to unlocking the secrets of the subconscious, a gateway to ancient times, myths, and fairy tales that still hold power today. They bear witness to lives once lived in a distant, forgotten world of dreams, desires, and dramas.

Wilson Garcia: colorful connections between people

Wilson Garcia is a Curaçaoan artist who has made a name for himself in education and in the art world on the island. He worked for years as a coordinator and teacher at the Akademia di Arte and as a visual arts teacher at the Akademia Pedagógiko. He also taught children aged 5 to 15 years old, promoting their creative minds. In addition, he illustrated numerous children's books and postage stamps for the Antillean postal service.

Even after his retirement, Garcia remains actively involved in education, for example through his work for the Fundashon Material pa Skol. In the Netherlands, he worked for the Institute for the Development of School Childcare. With his art and his commitment to education, Garcia has made a lasting contribution to the cultural richness of Curaçao and beyond.

In 2000, he moved to the Netherlands, where he continued painting. Garcia's art is personal and invites connection. He captures human interactions in his own characteristic way through sensual ton-sur-ton images. By directly mixing oil paint on the canvas, subtle transitions and nuances emerge in his work.

About Ria Houwen
Ria Houwen, a Dutch artist who called Curaçao her home for many years, is a fascinating and dynamic creator whose art has caught the attention of both local and international audiences. She taught at the Akademia di Arte, later became an art teacher at Radulphus College, and gave workshops both at home and on location.

Houwen's journey began at the Academy of Fine Arts in the Netherlands. She arrived in Curaçao in 1972, and soon thereafter made a name for herself in the local art scene with her first exhibition at 'galerie rg' in Punda in 1975. Since then, her work has taken her to many local and international exhibitions, establishing her name in the art world.

Houwen's work reflects her own personality, characterized by a remarkable tension between eroticism and spiritual life. This connects deeply with the Caribbean world where magic and reality are interwoven in a web of complexity. Her paintings reflect on the drama of the personal soul and connects it with the drama of the island, creating a stunning and unforgettable artistic experience.

 

COT by Night

Event

Cathedral of Thorns by Night

Cathedral of Thorns by Night

Friday 5th of May | 7.00 PM

Cathedral of Thorns by Night

Be prepared for a magical evening and get your tickets now for Chispas Latinas With: Yumarya Grijt, singer,  Rhazul Sebelon, kuarta, Ernie Gregorius, percussion, Arjen de Graaf, violin and Ernesto Paz, contrabas.

Doors open at 7 pm and the event starts at 7.30 pm.

Tickets are available at Bookhandel Mensings Caminada, Zumpiña Shop (next to Restaurant Number TEN) and at Landhuis Bloemhof
Entrance ANG 35.00 / US$ 20.00

Workshop Stone Sculpting

Event

Workshop Stone Sculpting by Annie Clement

May 20 & 26 | June 3 & 10
9.99 AM- 1.00 PM

Sculptor and teacher Annie Clement is back on the island. And that means there is another workshop sculpting coming up.

Register for this 4-day course in the garden of Landhuis Bloemhof. Every Saturday morning from May 20 till June 3. From 9 am to 1 pm. An outdoor exhibition is part of the last day of the course. Tools are included. A maximum of 8 people can join this fun workshop.

Reggister at info@bloemhof.cw

Gwen Anderson Open Atelier

Event

Open Atelier Gwen Anderson

Saturday May 6

In 2006 Gwen Anderson re-emerged in her artistic element when living in New York after she joined the Art Students League.  In 2008 she moved to London where she kept her artistic rhythm by joining various courses in a variety of disciplines such as mixed media painting, experimental drawing, fine art photography, live drawing and art history. In 2010 she enrolled at The Sir John Cass Faculty of Art, Media and Design at the Metropolitan University in London, where she later attended the Faculty of Art, Architecture and Design, and completed her Masters in Fine Arts (Hons), Merit in 2014. During her stay in London she participated in many exhibitions, alternating between London and Curaçao.

When she moved to Tokyo the next year, she immersed herself into travelling, creating art and participating in exhibitions.
In 2018 she moved back to Curaçao where she continued creating art and participated in many group exhibitions to this day.

The paintings exhibited in this show, consist of multiple layers. In some of the works she uses silver leaf as a ‘clean slate’ on which colors, figures or images reflect themselves. The grids of tarnished silver leaf organize a silence onto which forms, or photographic images are placed as output from lifetime impressions. Other works are layers of encaustic, pigment, ink and shellac. The unpredictable nature of the materials and the hypnotic flame of her torch, help her to disappear into a meditative, focused state as she creates.