Once upon a time it looked like the Dutch ministry of education had decided to enhance creativity among the Dutch, and I thought it to be a good idea to become an arts and crafts teacher (arts and crafts became high-school-graduation courses in the late '70, just when I was about to make a career-choice). I looked upon these courses as the only stimulation in high-school for pupils to think for themselves. In all other classes students are mainly trained to do things in a way the teacher tells them. Arts and crafts allows students to figure out their own solution for a problem. I thought -and still think- stimulating people to use their imagination is a brilliant idea. Alas, the vision of a country filled with creative minds was to much for the powers that be, and while I was slaving away at my education, they turned around and ended the party. I graduated, but there was no job ahead. IMBICELES! But what does one expect from politicians; after all they're the top in management.
Since unemployment was at it's peak in those day's, I turned artist. I joined a group of people, and together we started the 'Art-Centre Sittard' in an old empty factory. Things took off rather well, and for 5 years I had a studio and worked my way through about 30 exhibitions. I made little bronzes, big concrete statues, drawings, paintings, etchings and anything else that could classify as art and would hang from a wall or stand on its own. I enjoyed making those things, and I still like to show them.
I still make things. Drawing and paintings mostly, but they are no longer meant for exhibition. I use canvases over and over again, figuring out how to paint something, and once I finished it, I'm really finished with it. Every once and a while I get the urge to 'do' an exhibition, but only a short talk with people in the art-world, and once again I know why I quit. Maybe the net will eventually become my showroom one day, I'm not sure. For now I am satisfied knowing this is what I once did.
