to the artists, designers and craftspeople who think I call their work kitsch... this is NOT the case, it refers to my own work

Jun 29, 2010

feestgalanterieën

The opening of the Kringwinkel-Diest (see previous posts) was a huge success.  Never thought that on this very hot day so many people would turn up. 


A work of art was revealed.  Some time previous to the opening the whole staff of Kringwinkel Hageland - 178 if I remember well- had dinner together.  At the end of the meal they were invited to bend their forks any way they liked.  These forks were given to lighting-artist Erik Reynders to turn into a work of art that would represent the people in the company.  This is the result.




A local school had pupils working on lighting with cutlery as well, here is on of the results.



Erik Reynders is part of a collective of 6 artists/artisans called Feestgalanterieën.
www.re-lit.be/
www.feestgalanterieen.be/

A previous post on this collective click HERE

Jun 27, 2010

Dirk Stasseyns - kinetic assemblage

Sneak preview ... Public opening of a brand new thriftstore - Kringwinkel Hageland Diest - this afternoon at 14.00.
One of the artist exhibiting Recyclage Art is Dirk Stasseyns.  Here are a few of his many creations made from trash.  They blink, beep, wink ... and make funny little noises, well ... not all of them.










Info on the opening of the Kringwinkel Hageland - Diest  HERE


Have to hurry now as I've got to be there in two hours...


Dirk Stasseyns BLOG on his works in assemblage
He's also a sculptor, view his other BLOG to see his sculptures in stone

Jun 21, 2010

Coffee or tea?

fun project


Not fixed yet, just looking in which order the parts look best.
Tricky thing, drilling through all the parts to get the cable through.  Broke one piece, luckily found a perfect replacement for it and made it even better.

 
Almost finished, still needs a base and a shade ... and light off course.


That's it I guess.  Eventually might change the shade into a white one, depends on where the light will stand.

Jun 18, 2010

packing and moving

Very busy - don't have time to do decent posts - so I'm way behind with many things I'd like to show. My little stand at the past Upcycle Festival with smaller works in the stAAApel-gek series, a few smaller Good Mood Lights and Honderdwaters.


As I said, only smaller columns from the series.



On the right the glass series.


Top left, two paintings on scrap metal by Michael Fitts, represented by Gallery Art Cézar.



One of my latest lights made from stacked vintage ceramic cups, saucers, bowls, sugar-, tea- and coffeepot (30ties - 40ties - 50ties, mostly Boch Frères and Villeroy Boch).


Only half of it.




One of the small Good Mood Lights gets a nice greeting from the late evening sun through the window.


Other lights have an unexpected reflection in the high gloss painted wall which adds an extra dimension.


I love the effect.


But then it is time to pack everything again and move to the next 'exhibition'.


 
Bringing my works to the brand new Kringwinkel in Diest - Belgium.  There is an exhibition Recyclage Art for the opening of the shop on Sunday 27th of June 2010 .  Will have to drive twice to get everything there.  Not ready yet.  Again, only the smaller works; the bigger ones are kept aside for a different event later.

Upcycle Festival is an event by Art Cézar.  view more posts on the Festival by clicking the label.
http://www.artcezar.be/

More pictures of the festival on Sonny's blog HERE.
Info on the opening of the Kringwinkel Diest HERE.

Jun 9, 2010

Bags & Rags

Belgian designer Hanne Beutels creates unique and one-of-a-kind bags from discarded leather jackets and trousers. 





Dimanche à Bamako - Eco fashion & design - sells a whole range of purses and bags - among many other things - made from discarded fire-hoses and other materials.  Book your own Soirée Privée in the shop with your friends and explore a world of colour, scents, images, stories, traditions in a relaxed atmosphere with music and drinks.



More rubber in these former tires turned into baskets and bags at Hahdi.

Advertising canvas from the streets in Paris make colourful bags.  Nice paper items from Vietnam.  Also at Hahdi.
And surprising bags made from the pull-tab rings (not sure that is the right term). 
Everything from Hahdi, a shop where fair is beautiful. 
The painting on the left is from Elke Matthijs at Gallery Art Cézar.



Dutch Bouwjaar 63 has this cardboard bag, it comes in a flatpack.  Click HERE to see how creative people turned this into something unique.



More flatpack bags - the ones on top - at Mamzel.  In sturdy leather and great colours, assembled in no time.

Soft fluffy dolls made from Yak wool, with their own range of clothes!! at Mamzel.
Mamzel has a webshop and organizes homeparties.



More ragdolls created by designer Martina Vangeneugden, so are the fun brooches and pins.


She makes the most colourful dresses in vintage curtains and delightfull African fabrics.

Studio Tickle sells bags made from soft woolen blankets, Kudzu sells former army bags restyled with vintage upholstery fabrics.  Sorry, I don't have pictures of those.


The following has no connection with bags or rags, but here it comes anyway...


Jeroen Timmer - UitMijnHoofd - from Amsterdam makes these interesting notebooks from once used envelopes.  He is setting up a whole network of envelope collectors.  More info on this great project in which you can participate HERE.

All pictures taken during the UPCYCLE Festival last weekend, the list of participants HERE on the site of Art Cézar.

Jun 8, 2010

Bram Lemaire - SuperExtraDesign

Raindancer
A unique piece with lights continiously changing in the spectrum of rainbow colours (check his site to view better pictures and more colours).  The solid glass balls were a lucky find years ago.  Belgian designer Bram Lemaire will make similar lighting according to the clients wishes.


And these vintage lights get a new life...




I do like this little one, I call it Alien Cyclop.


Seen at the UPCYCLE Festival organized by Art Cézar.


Jun 7, 2010

Studio Tickle ...


... formerly known as Vlijtige Liesjes has delightfull jewelry made from reclaimed old ceramics.  I was extremely intrigued by the precise and delicate cut in porcelain and ceramic plates.












Discover more and other products from these charming Belgian designers on their website and blog.


seen at the Upcycle Festival, an event by Art Cezar

Jun 5, 2010

halfway ...

... with setting up my work for the Upcycle-Festival this weekend.

Opening tonight at 18.00
tomorrow from 11.00 until 18.00
Oude jongensschool - Pastoriestraat 49, achter de kerk - Wakkerzeel - Belgium
together with the exhibition Survive!
organized by Isabel De Craene ,Art Cezar
view all participants on the site under chapter 'gifts'

Jun 4, 2010

expo Survive! - sneak preview


Three artists - Elke Matthijs, Marc Janssens and Raf Veulemans -  are setting up the exhibition Survive! for this weekends' event.  A glimpse of what is to come.

At the same time and location is the UPCYCLE Festival, designers working with recycled items and turning them into interesting objects will show their latest creations.  I'm one of them.

The exhibiting artists are represested by gallery Art Cezar, organizer of the festival.  More info on their site.
Thanks to Isabel De Craene, the driving force behind all this.

A good nights' sleep ahead.  Weather forecast excellent.  What can go wrong?
More tomorrow.