Newsletter 192
August 2020
|
Due to Corona we cancelled two exhibitions and had to reschedule most residencies. But from 6 August we re-open in a new normal.
This newsletter tells about the cancelled exhibitions and about some of the residencies that could still take place. But first a few words on our policy in times of Corona. Portugal has had a few infections and our municipality had none. That is why we decided to re-open OBRAS-Portugal, although with some adaptations.
The new-normal will be that our shared dinners will always be outside. If weather does not allow outside-dinner we will postpone. Also the artist talks will be outside. If projection is needed, the presentation will be after sunset. We have several locations that are perfectly fit for it. Open studios will be limited. As our municipality and all surrounding municipalities have zero infections we are pretty sure that we are clean. Only in Évora (35km) a few have been detected. We will limit visits to Évora to only the essential. Public traffic runs a limited scheduled. Physical distancing and face masks are obligatory in train and bus. In case you nevertheless renting a car is and option (they can be rented on Lisbon airport with an option to return it in Évora). In shops you have to wear a face mask and disinfect your hands. On the residence there is no need to wear a mask, but disinfecting your hands (e.g. when using the internet room) is advisable. In your apartment you will find a disinfection gel (refill it when empty) and a face mask. In case that in 2021 the situation on a global scale does not improve and our region stays clean, we consider to change our strategy a bit: OBRAS-Portugal will become a refuge. We will focus on long-term residencies and demand a recent negative test result. We will limit the shopping frequency and social gatherings with outsiders. OBRAS Holland will re-open in September, with some adaptations. Holland recovered well from the first wave of Corona infections and does a lot to avoid a second wave. The region of OBRAS-Holland (Renkum and surroundings) has relatively few infections. In the guidelines for OBRAS-Holland you will find details on our measures to minimize risks.
In July Yvonne Halfens, Nico Huijbreghts and (in the second half) Peter Bremer were our house carers in Portugal. They experienced the hottest July ever in our region, but the swimming pool and most of the time the house and the clear nights brought coolness. And they found the biorhythm to make art.
Nico composed a song that he himself will sing on 23 August at the finisage of an exhibition in “De Nieuwe Gang” in Beuningen (Holland). It is a requiem for a cherry orchard. Nico also experimented with texts carved in clay: short sentences that are not aimed to express something crucial, but nevertheless can deeply hurt the receiver (mostly an artist). Yvonne experiments with thin branched of the oaks that we pruned this spring. She made a series of beautiful, small installations in several styles: geometrical, calligraphy alike or surrealistic. It invites the viewer to make his own story. Peter made small, abstract drawings with vague suggestions of plants and birds. He experimented with the paints that he found in our art materials storage (basically largely leftovers from previous residents). He got excited by one colour that was new to him: Greek Foliage Green. The slideshow gives a first impression, later more pictures will be added. |
|
