Arts-Educative Surinam 2015One purpose that commits you to your Artistically-identity is to get to that valuable level that creates new ways of techniques for you and your teachings to society. With my Academically background, occupying as Visual Artist for 35 years and working with mix-paints, shablone, collage, papier mache, printmaking and lino-practise and fabric, I constantly need to discover more abilities and amuse myself to it. Nowhere else than to go and wander inside a harmonious variety of ethnics than in nearby Surinam. They offer many diverse Art&Craft skills from their century’s dynamism of old times and endeavor outcomes. Only Surinam can show this as I inspected their abilities. If you have experienced the famous 4-days- walk in Paramaribo which was not on my program but happen to meet- a fresh start has begun for the first week-stay in April 2015, enjoying this traditional march- full of overwhelm and sparks of inspiration.

Next, Surinam is the land of the unspoiled nature. Then the colonial style wood- buildings-churches and crafted Mosques – the multi-ethnic markets with their respected dishes and variety spices and vegs- all will speak for themselves. Also traditional designed fabrics and utensils will uncover their respected tradition like the Indian, Creole, Hindustan, Javanese, Chinese, Brazilian and Lebanese-one. With their distinguished tradition and firmly held pride largely noticed inside their religion like the Arabian and Hindustan around Surinam, I’ll remember the keen diversity showed inside villages and plantage-fields. I’ll mention the old colonial coffee houses and so forth-histories still lying there on a distance. Unspoiled Surinam-while Bauxite still left off its red dust marks on leaves, the wealthiest now in function, include the energized waterfalls and Brokopondo-and rich metals like the Gold.

Bij monding gebied ‘vier- kinderen’/at a starting river-mouth –the area ‘four-children’.

Zicht opgaande de brug bij de Saramacca rivier/sight before going up over the river

Fervent comparison in variety is Surinam’s’ vastly forests, mountains, creeks, rivers and beaches. The Flora and Fauna-interwoven, will give us chance now to enjoy as outsiders and let us make exotic trips like fishing, bird watching, rainfalls- and river-trips. As well the adventures and exhibitions in hiking and biking, visiting the Colonial plantations, the free-slave Maroons areas, Javanese family agrarian-lands, the Indian ways of living and ancient arts-exposures plus Hindustan diversity with little Mosques and slight bleached little flags hanging outside their homes to consider their tradition. I mention the every ‘square miles’ exposure of Islamic Mosques dominating the space from different background like f.e. Afghans and Indonesia.

Rotonde bij nieuwe brug over Saramacca Rivier- Roundabout to new bridge

This 3d trip will so far be kept to one purpose with focus on art- education subjects.

Times are getting critical on the islands where I come from and students in average public schools are not just satisfied with on and on same art-procedures but need new skills next to drawing, painting and crafting. Other means of content involves forming with clay, wood and fabric; this to waken up new interests, ideas and re-touch inspirations in creativity. Bringing forth a new system, swirling with new matching colors will brighten up, and then also introduce printmaking and digital arts as well. Gradually virtual aspects become important next to writings; in some Caribbean islands like in Barbados they start fusing both. Word and image get new forms to study on and make entrance in the after school activities. This method is until now so sadly stimulated to few individual-groups, until money becomes a minor problem to Government to organize as such. I live in Curacao and have my practices here and see what’s going on inside the less-average groups. Fortunately things are recovering but like the turtle-story ‘shon poko poko’ says: one at the time.

Changing new program-structures is usually good and cooperation stimulates. Reply to a new form of work in teams to create content will have art activities stay alive while discuss it. Students can train their speech and have verbal discussions about their own taste; stand out at what they think. With cooperation Artists/Educators can give their workshops and lectures- participate in residency-projects more at ease.

Invited at a Prosaic-project at one of schools with Rappa and Sombra

from schrijversgroep’77

Many traditional events with

School-projects

Startlingly a veil went up for third time to see- touch and feel Surinam and participate in steps with my programming visits. First occasion came 3 years ago, purely with the invitation from the Dept.Of Culture, Sports and Education to join with ‘folklore presentations during the Cultural Event of Carifesta. I had my Photo&Fine Arts framed by the costs of Prince Bernhard Funds which I gladly thanked for and I found myself merging with the Caribbean Visual Arts-group for 2 weeks. This adventure conceded in discovering the Caribbean writers Club on my path at Central Market for Visual Arts, the living Art exposures-club (mistakenly the Media thought me to be a St.Lucian) and Mural-team workings in different villages. After this ethnic- and color-explosion, a second visit became reality to attend Old Javanese Batik technique classes and wood-craft. This time I went with my meager pocket money, still few arts sold at our Kas di Kultura and MCB-Bank(Maduro&Curiel’s Banc) in Curacao. Whereas not enough, a proceeding third visit came in plan for 2015, advancing Batik included Clay techniques and Raku-teachings. This time I gladly had the precious opportunity with sponsors from our National Inselair-(ticket-company) and Prins Bernhard Fund for accommodation. It seemed by coming here, I’d gradually pitched myself for following weeks between two cultures – Javanese and Creole- with the need to look inside their separate art-kitchen and let all be satisfied me looking into their separate creative lines.

Batik teaching from Sri at Volksakademie/Sana Budaya Center

Working with the Intriguing Terra Cotta which I’ve tasted this clay inside my own homeland behind my area in San Pedrovlakte in Curacao, I’d found it to be very exiting and that others have such interest in it. I worked with it (and aloe) in Tie dye –techniques, coloring t-shirts, like Hawaiian-style (Red earth t-shirt). This type of technique gave me excellent profits in Barbados while the ’05 to ’08 Gift and Craft shows (my Funark Foundation) ; But clay mould-work technique on itself, I will have to pitch more inside other discovery and stay with tiles of mosaic style. As Soeki Irodikromo says- the father inside the Javanese circle in Arts and Crafts at the Sana Budaya center- ‘the clay doesn’t fit my hands’. Clever though is swift to the ‘Raku’-technique which I shall-whatever he’ll think- master the skill. These forms of fire your clay can be built inside own backyard under the earth and don’t need an oven or expensive kilt. It can do well in large metal basin or a hole into the earth, adding other prearranging materials before put the clay or other material (also glass for beads in a mold) inside to fire. ‘And it takes time’- so Mr. Soeki Irodikromo, from the center, where I took Batik lessons at his daughter Sri’s, is not intended to do this daily technique. But magically I’ve already got quite a view and insight from the Creole-family side.

Djinti, a Creole artist and writer–peddling between Holland and Surinam had emigrated back to his Surinam. His big working space and agri-cultural-land in Commewijne-district had confronted me with his enormous style techniques, Pit-firing statues; molding pieces to culminate to one big piece of figurative art. He is one of oldest artists that came along with Sandra Peroti to live and work after many, many years living in Holland. They have strong infinities and skills, while Djinti is very well-known in the commissioning world in Holland’s companies. He does not need affiliation to the Federation of Visual artists in Surinam as he puts it himself. But the Federation of Artists do very good work for the youngsters.

Djinti’s piece of art.

Djinti’s sculpture pieces then pit firing underground. Terra Cotta

Soeki- artpainter and Sombra –poet and dramatist

Soeki Irodikromo on other hand has learned the Batik and Raku techniques in Java in his younger days. He is a small, smart looking man who has a lot on his name in Surinam-even built the center to teach, work and organize Javanese activities. A white outstanding monument is pictured in ceramic (his work) on the outside entrance which represents 150 years immigration of Javanese families to Surinam. His daughter Sri turned occupying her fathers’ Batik-method while she gives great lessons, although she lets you do it all by yourself making many mistakes than she finally leads you into it more professionally. I did it well in a short time, accompanying most her Hindustan-Chinese and Javanese participants.

Supportively Soeki gave me examples how to smudge daringly with colors on canvas ( after my 35 years), because that’s his actual occupation-an Art painter. Furthermore suddenly he had ears for my own art paintings. After giving him a gift - a Traditional Old-Javanese Batik cloth from Djokjakarta and booklet info with my paintings, he soon turned interested. He asked me to send more details to the organization of National Art Fair so I can participate in October. ’15. Outdoors Art-guests are greatly appreciated like artists from Guyana and f.e. Holland. Actually Soeki asked someone from Curacao earlier this year. Then immediately I’d asked myself; ‘which company will be willing this time to sponsor me’, thinking back home. But to come back – I also had given his daughter Sri a present- a Ghanaian Batik handmade fabric, a uniquely designed gift during my Ghana-Arts/Culture-orientation trip ’11-‘12. Besides these gifts I was spreading my info-booklets amongst artists and Art/organizations while on visit.

Soeki Irodikromo’s Art - piece at Sana Budaya center.

A big sculpture telling the Javanaese migration story of 150 years in Surinam.

One of Raku system to burn clay subjects

Red seeds are a delightful coloring body-decoration to the Surinam- Amazon-Indians. The Creole uses the inside seeds to color rice. We as well in Curacao (Ruku-seed)

Magic colors in bold artistically ventures from Javanese and Hindustan Culture had my eyes really busy. I remember the Arts- Africana-style that I’ve tasted and to what degree Residency Art Projects had meant while in Ghana 2011/2012 and its Diaspora. Before this, I experienced the Caribbean Gift shows and Tie dye- techniques participation in Barbados. Then longer before, I’ve attended classes in textile (shablone/tie dye-silkscreen)l at the Arts Academy in Tilburg differently. Colors where not the first necessarily importance there, so coming from a warm climate something brought the whole of techniques simultaneously together and open doors to complete.

My occupations started from Body workouts along with Drawing/Paintings in Curacao and Bonaire- Governments programs for youth-activities - after-school activities onto Private School Art teachings. Occupy next with Art-Craft foundations, 35 years Solo exhibits and Solo-Art-travels, I’d involve in Cultural events and Bario (hood) activities onto Arts&Therapy-sessions with organizations hosting young mothers to Methodist-youth activities. Gradually Creative writings joined on my way and became an interested illustrative subject for my paintings. From an old- fashioned rhythmical prose-system, a new form of Prose emerged, inspired from the Diaspora -Callalloo trainings in Rhode Islands. ‘Art and Prose are my interest now. In meantime, small groups until recent had tasted some of my knowledge to express both visual and literate. A turbulent economy of what we have right now doesn’t mean not keep Solo-myo’s tools clean from becoming blunt- but continue to let shape and do together. That’s quite an effort to do.

Exposing some works in booklets atenholt

Shri’s classes – here with the Tie Dye-technique

Soekli’s class room

Eventually residing in Surinam I had to cross from the Javanese technique and aboard onto the African Batik-stamp technique, when acquaintances thought I should learn the Creole-technique as well. No argue about this.

And finally I bravely and willingly accepted taking more time for the special kind of lady Seleste Raalte’-a very occupational lady. Next to her declamations in writings I surprisingly caught eye on her unique works with fabric- designing. She was at preparing a big contemporaries’ innovative show taken from old-tradition style for late after-summer. Generously, after getting her free practices, I was given fabric-paints and cotton cloth to carry to Curacao. ‘A nice sponsor deed’.

Seleste Raalta/story-teller and designer

Last year when making acquaintance with traditional ethnic folk costume during the Keti Koti festival, I was shown the most wanted ‘Angisa’ head scarves and all styles ‘Kotomisies’ lace style designs. The African Kente-fabric style had my eyes since in Ghana next to the Hindustani-colors clothing with embroidery. I could only enjoy these in the Bollywood pictures until the Surinam Fashion stores gave me their broader looks.

Amongst the traditional style clothing and other art and craft exposures, galleries are building up to more space in Paramaribo, the center. There is also the Museums and Nola Hatterman Art Academy where visual art classes are taken place daily. The artist ‘Marcel Pinas’ young global leader from Moengo, district of Marowijne, became director since last year. He organizes residency-projects as well.

Indian style Mahogany Root sculpture

Than last but not least, the famous known elder painter now, Erwin de Vries, shows up almost every afternoon at‘t Vat, the famous Dutch coffee-terrace near the water- front. Last year he had on commission a work to do in sculpture -a bust and portrait of famous past away writer Dobru. There are promotion- writings going on about his allure of past life. The bust was inaugurated in Cuba during a big Caribbean festival. Total of 35 Surinam Visual Artists participated together with prosaist, as well known Sombra and cultural groups. Soeki has a sculpture-portraiture to correct as well from same writer. The destiny will be later this year be revealed for a square-center in Surinam. I’ve seen this sculpture with a visit at his home studio together with Sombra- writer-dramatist and member of schrijversgroep’77. Soeki’s studio- compartment is divided in three special rooms. One for sawing wood and making frame works- one for storing art and the other for painting where the floor indicates how messy an Art-studio can be.

Muslim Mosque

Sombra the Sranan dramatist, is a gentleman who offered to take me anywhere I might want to be. Included he invited me at different important location such as National Archive, Publication centers and the Schrijvergroep Literate Café also Northern Surinam ultimatedly. As we drove to the places – he’d talk about the Surinam past and present occurrences and well-known persons. He’d even showed me where this famous designer of the National Flag lives; Right in front MY apartment ‘Apt Opzstar in Kaffiluddistreet’. Feeding me with ‘Sranan Proze’ didn’t really work well, but I’m still hanging in there with my own intend to publicize my Prose bundle after getting the necessary remarks in Surinam from ‘English connoisseurs. Back in Curacao I will find my way to the ‘Foundation of Language Plan-bureau’ before publishing. Than altogether Surinam is nearer to my heart and close to my sight.

Our Surinam Heroes

Then my stay on the whole was too short. I hope whoever reads this short presentation would feel this saying: ‘explore future and rely on the joined force and capabilities to educate freely’.

I fully thank the Prins Bernhard Fund for the great support in sponsoring my accommodation-while ‘Fly Inselair’ company got me a free ticket to Surinam. Many thanks to all my special acquaintances that made me super - comfortable in Surinam.

atenholt002@gmail.com / asyla’s arts on facebook and Creative Caribbean Network/Asyla Ten Holt

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Asyla ten Holt- May 2015 – all rights reserved.