Foundation Art and Public Space
Local and historical - Art in Blauwestad
Blauwestad is a new ‘city’ that is currently being built in the north-eastern part of Groningen. Indeed, in the coming years, 1500 houses will be constructed around the recently dug lake, Oldambtmeer, the circumference of which is equal to Amsterdam’s ring road. At first the plans for Blauwestad encountered strong resistance from the locals. Even now that it’s being built there are still many arguing against the project; however there are also those with a more positive attitude. The fact remains that, in many ways, this new housing estate will starkly contrast with its surroundings. Moreover, this previously isolated area will be confronted with a relatively large influx of new residents who are not locals.
Location
Blauwestad is located within the circle formed by the following towns: Beerta, Midwolda, Finsterwolde, Scheemda and Winschoten. The area can be directly accessed by the A7 and is situated at a twenty minute drive from the city of Groningen and a fifty minute drive from Oldenburg (Germany).
Koppelkeet: André van Bergen in Blauwestad
The farthest tip of Groningen, which is where Blauwestad is being developed, has a rich and moving history. In his novel De Graanrepubliek (The grain republic) Frank Westerman describes this forbidding piece of Holland as being imbued with (forgotten) peasants’ revolts, the decline of Groningen’s grain barons and radical agricultural reform. Its more recent history is dominated by its large communist support base and the presence of many artists, including the influential farmer and gallery owner Waalkens in Finsterwolde.
Art project
Recently an art project was launched in collaboration with SKOR. The project is based on the area’s current state and its rich history and aims to carry on the reliving of (forgotten) local histories. Over the next few years a local program will be combined with projects by non-local artists.
Koppelkeet
On 17 May 2008 Koppelkeet - a mobile unit created by artist André van Bergen for residential, working and exhibition purposes - arrived in Blauwestad. For the next few years, Koppelkeet will offer opportunities for meeting up, exchanging ideas and debating both within and outside of Blauwestad. Local residents and clubs etc. will additionally be invited to make proposals.
De Koppelkeet starts a new art season in May 2009
The first exhibition was opened on 29 May 2009 with a screening of old black and white films from the Winschoter Stadsjournaal. The films, ‘Uit Klei Gevormd’ from Clay and ‘Moushorn 1936’, are about the clay quarries in the Oldambt region and the retail trade in Winschoten. They provide a lively and attractive picture of the rich history of Winschoten and the Oldambt region. During this exhibition the Koppelkeet is standing beside the turnoff of the Nieuweweg towards the Blauwestad Sales & Information Centre.
Opening hours: Wed-Sun, 14.00 - 17.00
End of June: Poetry and storytelling evenings. Inhabitants of the Oldambt recite Groningen stories and poems.
6-10 July: Children’s Building Week in Blauwestad. Children between the ages of 10 and 12 are being allowed to build their own dream house n a special plot of land in Het Riet. Andrè van Bergen, designer of the Koppelkeet, will supervise the children.
Apply before 8 June to Josine Siderius, Verkoop- & Infocentrum Blauwestad, tel. 0597 - 471010 or via siderius@blauwestad.nl
