Art and nature lovers take note: until the end of September, the sculpture route 'City in Picture, Picture in Park' will be on display in Park Merwestein. Dordrecht's oldest city park is 135 years old and Dordrecht 800 years will celebrate its anniversary in 2021... Reason enough for something special, according to the neighbors, including neighbor and cultural enthusiast Geesken Bloemendal. Something special that all Dordrecht residents could enjoy, as well as visitors from outside.
It features fifteen works by eleven artists, young and old, all of whom have a connection to Dordrecht. Each work has its own story.
800 years of Dordrecht
"We submitted our plan to the Dordrecht municipality two years ago as part of 800 years of Dordrecht. We received 60% subsidy with the condition that we would pay the additional 40% ourselves. We succeeded. Ad, Geesken, Kerstin, Lia and Martin have really pulled this initiative off together as neighbors around the park in which, by the way, we also receive support from our larger neighbors like Kunstmin, the Dordrecht Museum and the entrepreneurs around the park."
Dordrecht Artists Exhibit
They are by no means the least names exhibiting. They include works by Jelle Korevaar, Jan Timmer, Yvo van der Vat and Lucien den Arend. "Piece by piece the works fit in well with the surroundings. With each object, a tile states who it belongs to, what it is based on and the material. Some artists engage with the material, others make us think by denouncing current events in a special way. Half of them are new works, not yet exhibited in other places."
Toppie organizes 'Outdoor teaching days'
"The sculpture route is also fun for children," Geesken continues. "From Weizigt's 'Green does good' project, Toppie organizes outdoor lesson days for elementary schools. With a varied program for all groups filled with dance, drawing, searching, listening and rap at the sculptures, the children learn to experience art and the park. Schools can sign up for this and plenty of it is happening now. The tours we had planned with NIVON, Association Dordrechts Museum and Heliantus volunteers, among others, have been suspended due to the lockdown. This also applies to the listening, talking and viewing evening in Kunstmin in which the importance of art and nature in the area was on the program. But postponement is not a cancellation. If we can again, we will pick up the tours and organize the evening in Kunstmin."
Photo Contest Tree and Image
"From early August through the third week of September, there will be a photo contest. An experienced jury will consider which photographer best brings together a tree and an image in a photograph. Naturally, we are hoping for many entries. Participants will have a chance to win great prizes, made available by once again our neighbors. Think tickets to Kunstmin or a nice picnic package from Ferdinand's."
Image tree remains
From her study on the second floor, Geesken overlooks the park. She sees the deer, trees, winding paths and now some statues. She sees lots of people bending down to read the tiles. "It's always been a beautiful park, of course, but the sculpture trail makes it all the more fascinating. And great that much of the program, despite corona, can go on." One work of art, by the way, will remain in the park beyond the end of September. The sculpture tree (black walnut tree) was specially planted at the request of its neighbors as part of Dordrecht 800.
Park Merwestein, Singel, Dordrecht.
Sculpture route 'City in Sculpture, Sculpture in Park
