CALIFORNIA LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY ARTS INITIATIVE

“A movement is sweeping the art world”

CONFERENCE AGENDA

WORLD TRADE CENTER, LEEUWARDEN MAY 1- 4 | 2018

www.trac2018.com CONTENTS TRAC2018 WELCOME WELCOME 3 Welcome to the Representational Art Conference 2018!

BACKGROUND 4 Founded by Michael Pearce and Michael Lynn Art Conference held in Europe, in partnership Adams the goal of the unique TRAC series with the city of Leeuwarden, Culture Capital of of conferences is to provide a community Europe 2018. PROGRAM OVERVIEW for the discussion of exciting ideas and new TUESDAY 8 developments in 21st Century representational An unbroken tradition in classical fine art art. It is an extraordinary gathering of artists, education has survived in the past 70 years in WEDNESDAY 9 lecturers, philosophers, historians, critics, the northern Netherlands. Here you’ll find a THURSDAY 10 collectors, museum and gallery professionals. concentration of well-trained artists from all FRIDAY 11 The Representational Art Conference is a over Western Europe known as the ‘Northern part of Californian Lutheran University’s Arts Realists’. About 50 of those artists are associated Initiative. TRAC was previously held in Ventura, with the Classical Academy of Fine Art in FLOOR MAP 12 California in 2012, 2014 and 2015, and in Groningen (50km distance from Leeuwarden). Miami, Florida in 2017. Fine examples of their work will be presented DISCUSSIONS 13 in the exhibition ‘Classical Art’, among TRAC’s Leeuwarden – the Culture Capital of scheduled visits to exhibits. Europe: TRAC 2018, the first Representational ACTIVITIES GRAND TOUR 14 EXHIBITION CLASSICAL ART 15 SPECIAL THANKS

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS 16 Municipality of Leeuwarden For the donation of the lunches and closing dinner SPEAKERS 19 World Trade Center, Leeuwarden PANELISTS 21 For their assistance in making TRAC2018 a wonderful experience

DEMONSTRATIONS DEMONSTRATION ARTISTS 23 PLEIN AIR PAINTING SESSIONS 27 GRAFISCH ATELIER FRIESLAND DEMONSTRATIONS 28

PAPER PRESENTATIONS 30

ART COMPETITION WINNERS 31

2 3 TRAC2018 BACKGROUND CO-FOUNDERS

What is representational art? representational art of the 21st Century. Having Michael Pearce, Ph.D., Representational art embraces painting, drawing established in 2012 that the representational Michael Pearce is co- and sculpture and seeks to render recognizable art community has an important voice, it is founder of TRAC. He people, places and things and capture natural timely to explore and articulate its distinctive paints grand allegorical phenomena, while also demonstrating the skill aesthetic values, vision and philosophical figurative canvases, loaded of the artist. Many representational artists are outlook. The purpose is not to establish a single with symbolism. As an deeply committed to capturing delicate images monolithic aesthetic for representational art, author, he is known for of beauty, elegance and grace. but to identify commonalities, understand the his aesthetic writings. He unique possibilities of representational art, and is presently writing a book Why TRAC was put together. perhaps provide some illumination about future titled “Never Nothing” The phenomena of the popularity and survival of directions. about emergence as the key to moving forward representational art - despite numerous emphatic from nihilism. He received his BA (Hons) from declarations of its ending - require the attention Why “representational”? Dartington College of Arts, then left England to of critical writers within academic discourse. We The conference is called “The Representational come to the US where he was awarded a Masters believe that there has been a neglect of critical Art Conference” because the founders wanted in Fine Arts in Theatrical Design from the appreciation of representational art well out the conference to be inclusive of a wide variety University of Southern California. He completed

of proportion to its quality and significance; it of work that is skill-based and explores a broad his PhD at Plymouth University, England with Michael Pearce is that neglect that The Representational Art range of techniques and ideas that are founded a dissertation on Neolithic British ritual art and Conferences seek to address. TRAC2012 was in recognizable expressions of our sensory architecture. organized as a focused but non-doctrinaire (particularly visual) experience of reality. event, of serious academic standards, asking What are the boundaries of representation – is what the role of representational art might be surrealism representational? Or fantasy art? Michael Lynn Adams, in the 21st century, questioning its sources and How far can a work of art move into abstraction Director of TRAC 2014 & directions and considering how might it shape before it loses the relationship between reality 2015, is a contemporary the art world. and our conscious experience of it? We felt that realist painter best know At TRAC2018 we’re committed to continuing “representational” allowed for a broad range of for his luminous still the search for answers about representational work that reflects human sensory experience, life paintings. An alum art, especially asking writers to explore the including art that is positioned on the misty of California Lutheran aesthetic principles and values implicit in the edges of this cloud-like category. University, he is currently visiting lecturer of drawing and painting in CLU’s Art Department. Adams was recently nominated by Siemen Dijkstra - Woodcut the editors of Fine Art Connoisseur, American Art Collector, and Southwest Art magazines to the pretigious “Artists for the New Century” show at Bennington Center for the Arts, VT and is represented by Principle Gallery of Fine Art, Alexandria, VA, and Charleston, SC. The Los Angeles, California resident is a member of the International Guild of Realism, Portrait Society of America, and an associate member of of Oil Painters of America (OPA) and California Art Club. Michael Pearce Jan van der Kooi ( Exhibition Classical Art)

4 5 SPONSORS & PARTNERS We thank our sponsors and partners for their generous support!

SPONSORS

Peter Hartwig TRAC2018 ORGANISATION

THE CLASSICAL SALON The Classical Salon is an independent foundation. It organizes events and exhibitions, often in collaboration with the Classical Academy of Fine Arts (Groningen) and various museums and exhibition venues in the north of the Netherlands. It also works with the Alumni Association of Artists of the Classical Academy (AKKA) and the business community. http://klassieke-salon.nl

Chairman: Peter Trippi Treasurer: Tom Hageman Secretary: Annelies Meester

TRAC USA The Representational Art Conference is an initiative of professor Michael Pearce and professor Michael Lynn Adams of the Californian Lutheran University, USA. The goal is the resurrection of PARTNERS classical values and techniques in fine arts.

STAFF Initiator Head of Organization Tom Hageman Annelies Meester Secretary of Classical Salon Foundation Administration Wilco Veenstra, Louella Hendriksen & Graphic Design Annelies Meester Mariël Meijst

Marketing Translations Annelies Meester & Mariël Meijst Willemijn Meester

6 7 TRAC2018 MAY 1 TRAC2018 MAY 2

City Grafisch City Grafisch Central Hall New York Hall Madrid Hall Center of Atelier New York Hall Madrid Hall London Hall Center of Atelier Leeuwarden Friesland Leeuwarden Friesland

08:30h 08:30 - 09:30 08:30h Keynote lecture Stephen Hicks 09:00h 09:00h 09:30 09:30 Paper Semyon Bilmes Paper Jennifer Sendall

10:00h 10:15 10:15 10:00h Paper David Hardy Paper Joke Frima

11:00 11:00h 11:30 Keynote lecture 11:00h Opening by Mandy Theis Municipality 12:00 12:00h 12:00 Keynote lecture 12:00h Lunch sponsored by Municipality in Central Hall E. v/d Wetering vs. G. v/d Riet 13:00 13:00 13:00h Lunch sponsored by Municipality in Central Hall 13:00h Lecture Michael Pearce 13:45 13:45 13:30 - 17:00 13:30 - 17:00 14:15 Plein Air Demonstration 14:00h 14:15 - 17:00 Paper Lori Escalera Paper Aihua Zhou 14:00h Paper Presentation Painting Session Woodcutting Max Ginsberg Demonstration 14:30 14:30 Siemen Dijkstra Lithography Paper Virgil Elliott Paper Tamara Ansing Led by: Minno Banning Wouter Tulp 15:00h 15:15 15:15 15:15 15:00h Bargues Paper Paper Sandra Galda Anne Emerson Hall 16:00 16:00h 16:00 16:00h Opening Classical Short Film William Oberst Art Exhibition 17:00 17:00 17:00h 17:00 17:00h Panel Discussion: Painting Dinner break Art & Education Demonstration Conor Walton 18:00h 18:00 18:00h Woodburning Demonstration 18:30 Nick Willems Dinner break 19:00h 19:00h 19:30 19:30 19:30 Painting Painting Sculpture 20:00h Demonstration Demonstration Demonstration 20:00h Elvira Dijk Conor Walton Margot Homan

21:00h 21:00h

8 9 TRAC2018 MAY 3 TRAC2018 MAY 4

City Grafisch Groningen > Emden WTC Restaurant NewCentral York Hall Hall MadridNew York Hall LondonMadrid Hall Center of Atelier New York Hall > Assen ‘The Globe’ Leeuwarden Friesland

08:30h 08:30 - 09:30 08:30 - 09:30 08:30h Keynote lecture Keynote lecture Corinna Wagner Joseph Bravo 09:00h 09:00h 09:30 09:30 09:30 - 18:30 Paper David Molesky Paper Peter Coppin GRAND TOUR 10:00h 10:15 10:15 10:00h Paper Andrew Leventis Paper Niloofar Museum Bustour Gholamrezaei 11:00 11:00 ‘Romanticism in the North’ 11:00h 11:00h Paper Leon Lou Paper Shaun Berke Groningen Musuem

11:45 ‘American Dream’ Keynote lecture 12:00h Emden Kunsthalle 12:00h Odd Nerdrum

13:00 ‘American Dream’ 13:00h Lunch sponsored by Municipality in Central Hall Drents Museam 13:00h

13:45 13:45 13:30 - 17:00 13:30 - 17:00 Plein Air Demonstration 14:00h Still life Paper Carl Korsnes 14:00h Demonstration Painting Session Etching Henk Helmantel 14:30 Reinder Homan Paper Willem Venter Led by: Hans Parlevliet 15:00h 15:15 15:00h Paper Freerk Heule

16:00h 16:00 16:00h Paper Jorge Egea 16:45 17:00 17:00h Paper Elina Cerla 17:00h Panel Discussion: Art & Assessment

18:00h 18:00h 18:30 Dinner break 19:00h 19:00 - 21:30 19:00h 19:30 19:30 Closing diner Prix de Norvege Workshop / Sponsored by the 20:00h 20:00 Demonstration Municipality of Leeuwarden 20:00h International League Egg Tempera Esther Leuvenink of Fine Art Schools 21:00h 21:00h

10 11 TRAC2018 FLOOR MAP TRAC2018 DISCUSSIONS

Eager to participate in discussions about quality, knowledge, and tradition in art (education)?

Within the TRAC 2018 conference, time and space will be made available for panel discussions. We will discuss how to describe artistic quality and how to apply it in assessments. We will also explore how to generate this quality in art education. For the latter, art schools from around the world have been invited with an eye toward bringing them together in an international league.

Discussions: Art & Education Discussions: Art & Assessment

Wednesday May 2nd Thursday May 3rd

Subject 1: Education in art, methods, values Subject 1: Assessment of art, values and and criteria How do you organize art criteria of quality in form and content. education in such a way that you generate What are the definitions (at least handy A Westcord WTC Hotel C Exhibition Classical Art E Grafisch Atelier Friesland optimal quality? What are the basic descriptions) that can be used to interpret Heliconweg 52, Frysian Gallery Zaailand Haniasteeg 61 principles, how do you teach them, and how the level of the work of art and to determine 8914 AT Leeuwarden 147, 8911 BL Leeuwarden 8911BX Leeuwarden do you structure them? the distinction between professional and amateurish art? When and why is something D Frysian Museum B Station Leeuwarden Subject 2: International interaction What called kitsch? What are the criteria? How 8911 AC Leeuwarden Wilhelminaplein 92, 8911 BS Leeuwarden do our institutions have to offer each other do we formulate definitions (or reasonable worldwide? How can we work together to descriptions) of various levels in art? optimize quality, inspire, and support each other? How do we organize exchanges of Subject 2: Art criticism and promotion: How expertise and of teachers and/or students? can you structure your arguments in such a TRAC is taking place How do we establish interconnected post- way that you can reach a reasonably broad on the first floor academic studies, summer schools, artist (interested) audience? How can you avoid of the World Trade residencies, etc esoteric excursions, emotional instincts, Center Hotel physical interpretations, or free fantasies? Speakers: Stephen Hicks, Mandy Theis, And more importantly, prejudices or Ernst v/d Wetering vs. Gezien v/d Riet political propaganda? How to restore public respect for art? Papers: : Semyon Bilmes, Jennifer Sendall, David Hardy, Joke Frima, Lori Escalera, Speakers: Corinna Wagner, Odd Nerdrum Aihua Zhou, Virgil Elliott, Tamara Ansing, Anne Emmerson Hall, Sandra Galda Papers: David Molesky, Peter Coppin, Jorge Egea, Niloofar Gholamrezaei, Leon Lou, Shaun Berke, Carl Korsnes, Willem Venter, Freerk Heule, Andrew Leventis, Elina Cerla.

12 13 TRAC2018 ACTIVITIES EXHIBITION CLASSICAL ART Northern Dutch Realism and the Classical Academy of Fine Arts. An exhibition of artists from the Classical GRAND TOUR MUSEUM BUSTOUR Academy in Groningen: (Former)Teachers and Guests in the Frisian gallery, Zaailand, Leeuwarden from 1 Groninger Museum, Groningen: May – 24 June 2018 ‘Romanticism in the North Eddy Roos Wim Jonkman Participants: From Friedrich to Turner,’ the first international Andrijana Martinovic; Anuschka de Smidt, Asaph ben exhibition surveying northern European Menahem, Carolien van Olphen, Diederik Kraaijpoel, Romantic landscape painting. Dramatic scenes Douwe Elias, Eddy Roos, Elvira Dik, Ernst van de of raging seas, imposing mountains and erupting Knud Baade (Romanticism in the North) Wetering, Esther Leuvenink, Flip Gaasendam, Francien volcanoes will alternate with quiet moonlit nights Krieg, Gerrie Wachtmeester, Geurt Busser, Gezien van and peaceful fields where lonely figures pause to de Riet, Gosse Dam, Grietje Postma, Hans Parlevliet, rest. Come discover more than 95 magnificent Henk Helmantel, Herman van Hoogdalem, Jan van works from the Netherlands, Germany, Loon, Jan van der Kooi, Jantien de Boer, Jille van der Scandinavia, and Great Britain. Veen, Joke Frima, Jon Gardella, Keimpe van der Kooi, Svetlana Tartakovska Lennaert Koorman, Margot Homan, Marten Huitsing, Drents Museum, Assen (Netherlands) Matthijs Röling, Milan Smidt, Minno Banning, Niels & Kunsthalle Emden (Germany): Smits van Burgst, Paul Boswijk, Peter Hartwig, Peter ‘The American Dream – American Realism Hiemstra, Pieter Pander, Rachel Dieraert, Ralph 1945 – 2017’ Douglas, Randolph Algera, Rein Pol, Reinder Homan, Siemen Dijkstra, Svetlana Tartakovska, Tim Blaauw, The Drents Museum (Assen, Netherlands) and Tom Hageman, Wim Jonkman, Wouter Berns. the Kunsthalle Emden (Emden, Germany) are presenting a spectacular overview of American Sponsored by: Achmea, Beringer-Hazewinkel Realism with work by such artists as Edward foundation, Scholten-Kamminga foundation (JBS& Hopper, Andy Warhol, Andrew Wyeth, Alice Neel, HSK), Classical Academy of fine arts. Roy Lichtenstein, Stone Roberts, Alex Katz, and Chuck Close. This two-part exhibition is on view SPECIAL OFFERS concurrently in Assen and Emden. In total, there Lottery Geurt Busser are more than 200 works of art spread between “Prix de Norvège – making good artists better” Lottery Geurt Busser – Geurt Busser is a painter the two museums. The Drents Museum focuses Louis XIV founded the Academie Royale de of the Wadden Sea. With his ship ‘Hendrik’, an on the period 1945–1965, while the Kunsthalle peinture et sculpture in 1648. The crowning point old shrimp cutter, he has been sailing the Wadden Emden features works from 1965 to the present. of a student’s education was to win a scholarship for dozens of years to make watercolors in and Never before has such a comprehensive overview Edward Hopper (The American Dream) to continue his education in Rome: the Prix de around this area of outstanding natural beauty. of American Realism been mounted in Europe. Rome. This example is followed by the Norse On the occasion of TRAC2018, Busser will invite Dutchman, Egbert Pijfers, with the Prix de 5 participants to accompany him for a trip on the Norvège: two students of the Classical Academy Wadden Sea on 5 May. OTHER EXHIBITIONS (Groningen) are able to find inspiration in the Fries Museum, Leeuwarden: ‘Escher’s Journey’ Norwegian fjords each year. However, Busser does not know who to choose An exhibition of Maurits Escher (1898–1972), for this honor. For this reason, TRAC2018 has master of perspective and optical illusion. Visitors On the occasion of TRAC2018, the foundation devised a lottery: applicants will write their will meet Escher the person, and walk in his Prix de Norvège will expand this offering to two personal information on a special card during the footsteps. This exhibition is designed as a three- additional artists graduating somewhere else in welcoming events on 1 May. From these cards, 5 dimensional biography: it will truly feel as if you the world. Art schools everywhere are invited winners shall be drawn during the farewell dinner have entered Escher’s headspace. Richard Estes (The American Dream) to submit nominations, from which a jury will on 4 May. This experience has been made possible choose the winners. by the organizing foundation ‘Classical Salon’. 14 15 Odd Nerdrum Wouter Tulp Hans Parlevliet TRAC2018 PLEIN AIR PAINTING SESSIONS TRAC2018 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS The historic city center of Leeuwarden is exceptionally picturesque. That is why TRAC2018 is organiz- ing a program of plein air painting for TRAC participants during the conference. You will not need to Odd Nerdrum., Odd Nerdrum’s work is held in several public bring your own materials; these will be supplied by our sponsor: The Fine Art Collective.“ Odd Nerdrum (born 8 collections worldwide including in the United April 1944) is a contro- States: the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture versial Norwegian figura- Garden in Washington, D.C., the Metropolitan Wouter Tulp tive painter whose work is Museum of Art, New York City, New York, New I tell stories… held by museums world- Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA), New Orleans, A succesful drawing wide. Themes and style in Louisiana, Museum of Contemporary Art San tells a story. I always ask Odd’s work reference anec Diego (MCASD), San Diego, California, Walker myself : What is it I want Hans Parlevliet dote and narrative. Art Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and in to tell with this drawing, Hans Parlevliet Primary influences by the Norway, the National Gallery in Oslo. Odd and how can I be as clear was born in 1953 painters Rembrandt and Caravaggio help place Nerdrum is represented by the Forum Gallery, as possible. Every element in Groningen his work in direct conflict with the abstraction New York City. in the drawing should be and followed in and conceptual art considered acceptable in supporting the story. a fine art study much of his native Norway. Odd Nerdrum’s Kitsch and Roger Scruton’s There is a story in a traditional portrait, a at Art Academy Beauty were the main topics of discussion children’s book illustration, as well as a cartoon Minerva from Nerdrum creates six to eight paintings a year at TRAC2014. The difference between the character or a background design for an 1975 to 1980 in that include: still life paintings of small, everyday aesthetical views of the two philosophers, can animation. Over the years I told many stories in the same city. He objects like bricks, portraits and self-portraits, more or less be summed up in some of what magazines, books, commercials and animations. mainly paints landscapes, almost always with low and large paintings allegorical and apocalyptic in Stephen Hicks also concluded with in The I have been working professionally since 2001. sunlight and a long horizon, so characteristic of nature. Subjects of Nerdrum’s paintings are often Aesthetics of 21st Century Panel Discussion: I have worked in many fields of illustration and the North of the Netherlands. His paintings have dressed as if from another time and place. gained a lot of knowledge about drawing and a bright use of colour, and often there is a strict, Professor Scruton is a Platonic-Kantian and painting techniques and working for clients. I sometimes even symmetrical, composition. The Nerdrum says that his art should be understood Odd Nerdrum an aristotelian, reacting against love to share that knowledge, teach and inspire paintings are detailed and the ground often as kitsch rather than art as such. “On Kitsch“, a Kant’s ideas, which have been so influential in people, and help them improve their art. From extends right in front of the viewer’s feet. He manifesto composed by Nerdrum, describes the the universities, politics and aesthetics since the time to time I step on stage to give lectures or invites the viewer for a virtual walk. distinction he makes between kitsch and art. 18th century. The former wants to observe and workshops, and I teach online. http://www. Nerdrum’s philosophy has spawned The Kitsch describe the present situation, the latter wants to woutertulp.nl/ Hans will lead a plein air painting session on Movement among his students and followers, change it and find a solution. Thursday, the third day of the conference. who call themselves kitsch painters rather than During TRAC2018, Wouter guides the Plein Air This session is fully sponsored by The Fine Art artists. painting session in the city centre of Leeuwarden. Collective. 16 17 TRAC2018 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Ernst van de Wetering., Ernst van de Wetering Mandy Theis Hallenius., teachers nationally and internationally through was first trained as an Certified K-12 art teacher online classes, art education conferences, key- artist at the (Netherlands) and Co-President of the note speaker services, weekend retreats, dis- Royal Academy of Fine Washington Art Educa- trict-wide workshops, and more. Arts in The Hague. He tion Association. ​ received his doctorate She is also President and Mandy is a graduate of the four year program at in art history from the Ernst van de Wetering cofounder of The Da the Aristides Atelier. She also studied classical University of Amsterdam. Vince Initiative. The Da drawing at the Corry Studio of Figurative Art, Since 1968, he has been a style. He has also written several academic Vinci Initiative is a 501(c) Mims Studios, and Ingbretson Studio. She has member, and is now chairman, of the Rembrandt papers debunking the myth that Claude Monet (3) non-profit education 10+ years of teaching experience, and leads pro- Research Project. He was art historian on the staff painted only with natural light. foundation that supports skill-based learning in fessional development workshops for art teach- of Amsterdam’s Central Research Laboratory K-12 art classrooms. This Initiative works with ers and artists all over the United States. for Restoration from 1969 to 1987 and, since In 2003, Van de Wetering was presented with the 1987, has been full professor of history of art at Heritage Preservation/College Art Association the University of Amsterdam. He has published Joint Award for Distinction in Scholarship and Joseph Bravo., tion on issues in contemporary art, particularly extensively on historic painting techniques, Conservation at Oxford University, where he has Joseph Bravo is an inde- those relating to the dynamics of the creation as well as in the field of theory and ethics of been a frequent guest lecturer. pendent curator and arts of art canon and the inclusion of marginalized conservation and restoration. writer. With a masters aesthetic optics. degree in art history and Van de Wetering is the voice of dissent when it over twenty five years In the course of these efforts, he has been an ardent comes to the significance of light in Dutch 17th- working in museums advocate for various forms of contemporary century painting. He doubts that it was a factor at and as a university art figurative realism. Bravo has been a lifelong all and says there were as many kinds of light as history instructor, Bravo student of the metaphysics of art as well as of there were ways of painting. It was not a question brings unique insights to its semiotics and esoteric iconography. Whether of light, he adds, but of a painter’s methods and the interpretation and contextualization of fine as a museum curator or director, a university art. After initially working in the Classical and instructor or independent scholar and theorist, Egyptian antiquities department, he went on to Bravo has made it his life’s pursuit to share the Stephen Hicks., Serbo-Croatian, Polish, Swedish, Hindi, Russian, curate Oceanic art and specialize in matters re- intrinsic value and illuminating power of fine art Stephen R. C. Hicks is Ukrainian, Cantonese, French, and Arabic. lated to Art and Otherness theory. For the last with anyone who would aspire to perceive it. Professor of Philosophy In 2010, he won his university’s Excellence in decade and a half, Bravo has focused his atten- at Rockford University, Teaching Award. Illinois, USA. He has been Visiting Professor of Business Ethics He has published 4 books: at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., a Corinna Wagner., Anatomy: The Body and Visual Culture (forth- The Art of Reasoning: Visiting Fellow at the Social Philosophy & Policy Corinna Wagner is Asso- coming), Pathological Bodies: Medicine and Readings for Logical Center in Bowling Green, Ohio, and Senior ciate Professor of Litera- Political Culture (California UP, 2013) and with Analysis, Explaining Fellow at The Objectivist Center in New York. ture and Visual Culture at Joanne Parker, Art and Soul: Victorians and Postmodernism: Skepticism and Socialism from He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees the University of Exeter. the Gothic (Sansom, 2014). She has also edited Rousseau to Foucault, Nietzsche & the Nazis and from the University of Guelph, Canada, and his Her research interests in- A Body of Work: An Anthology of Poetry and Entrepreneurial Living. Ph.D. in philosophy from Indiana University, clude photography and Medicine (with Andy Brown, Bloomsbury, 2015) Bloomington. nineteenth-century, art and Gothic Evolutions: Poetry, Tales, Context, He has published in academic journals such as and anatomy, visual cul- Theory (Broadview, 2014). She is also a photog- Review of Metaphysics and other publications More information about Dr. Hicks’s courses, ture, and the relationship between medicine and rapher and is at work on a project called Trans- such as The Wall Street Journal. His writings publications, and blog can be found at his the arts. She has published articles and chapters parent Bodies. have been translated into fourteen languages: website: StephenHicks.org on these topics, and her books include Art and Portuguese, Spanish, German, Korean, Persian, 18 19 TRAC2018 SPEAKERS

Gezien van de Riet., Museum Møhlmann, an important Dutch plat- Michael Pearce., allegories from the West’s deep past, from cen- After her Master’s Degree form for representational art; her works are part Michael Pearce is a Brit- turies-old emblem books and alchemical sym- in Sociology (subsidiary of the museum’s collection. In 2016 she became ish figurative painter who bolism. Pearce digs for conceptual themes in the subject History of Art, Associated Living Master of the Art Renewal lives in Ventura County, paintings that capture his audience by encourag- University of Amster- Center (America). California. He is inter- ing their individual imaginative interpretation of dam), Gezien van de Riet nationally known for his the events he has painted. There’s meaning here – went to Bolivia, com- leadership of The Repre- a reconstruction of ideas bigger than ourselves – bining fieldwork with As an editor she wrote about realism, in mono- sentational Art Confer- that makes these paintings feel greater than their illustration. The wish to graphs and magazines. She gave lectures about ence (TRAC) series and already large size. qualify seriously in free realism, concerning discussions in art history his huge figurative “Secret pictorial art drove her to the evening classes at around the question: is naturalism lacking imag- Paintings” which are presently touring the Unit- Pearce teaches painting and drawing at Califor- the La Paz School of Fine Arts, where director ination? She started a blog focussing art history ed States. nia Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. He Alberto Medina recognised and stimulated her issues. is author of Art in the Age of Emergence, a re- talent. Her first exhibitions –and her first suc- While on the surface Pearce’s paintings are ro- markable book about the aesthetics of represen- cess– also took place in La Paz. A new hospital Gezien participated in TRAC2014 and saw the mantic contemporary escapes from the hard tational art in the emerging present age. He has commissioned her a mural painting. importance of an international movement re- edges of daily life, celebrating colorful flowers a Phd from Plymouth University, an MFA from inforcing and enriching the contemporary and beautiful people, there’s a mythic depth to the University of Southern California, and a BA So she came back to Holland as a painter. She classical art. So she informed several people them that reveals the artist feeling his way out of (Hons) from Dartington College of Arts. learned about distemper (Wackers Academy, in Holland. Tom Hageman was interested and deconstruction by drawing upon archetypes and Amsterdam) and an inspiring tutor was Diederik went to TRAC2015 and accepted the challenge: Kraaijpoel, painter, teacher, art theoretician and TRAC2018! co-founder of the Groningen Classical Academy. Peter Trippi., painter Lawrence Alma-Tadema, who lived from She was editor of Palet art magazine for 10 years. During TRAC 2018 Gezien van de Riet will give Peter Trippi is editor-in- 1836 to 1912. That project opened at the Fries Her work is shown in galleries, art fairs, and a keynote lecture together with Ernst van der chief of Fine Art Con- Museum in Leeuwarden, Holland, then traveled yearly in the Independant Realists Exhibition of Wetering on Wednesday May 2nd. noisseur, the magazine to Vienna’s Belvedere Museum and London’s that serves collectors of Leighton House Museum. In 2008-10, Trippi historical and contemp- co-curated the international touring exhibition orary representational art. J.W. Waterhouse: The Modern Pre-Raphaelite. He is also president of Projects in 19th- Peter also advised the curators of the exhibition Century Art, a firm he ‘The American Dream’, that is currently being established to pursue research, writing, and shown at both the Drents Museum (Assen, curating opportunities. Previously he served as Netherlands) and the Kunsthalle Emden director of the Dahesh Museum of Art (New (Germany). On the last day of TRAC2018, a York) and vice director for development at the guided bus tour is organised for all participants Brooklyn Museum. In 2016 Trippi co-curated an so that you can see this two-part exhibition. exhibition about the Dutch-born, London-based

Asaph ben Menahem (Exhibition Classical Art)

20 21 TRAC2018 PANELISTS

Panel Art & Education is chaired by, among others, Tom Hageman Panel Art & Assessment is chaired by Peter Trippi, other members, among others, Mr. Infiesta (director of MEAM museum)

Kara Ross., She served on a panel focused on the future Kara Lysandra Ross is the of representational art at The Realist Art Co-Chairman and Chief Conference (TRAC) in 2014 and in her role at Tom S. Hageman Tom S. Hageman Operating Officer for the ARC spearheaded the introduction of the the world renowned Art live exhibition associated to the ARC Salon Renewal Center (ARC). Competition serving as curator and chief Tom Hageman., Patty Wageman., She is also the Chief organizer. She is an ARC Salon Judge, and Tom S. Hageman Patty Wageman (1967) Executive Officer for has served as juror in other competitions for (Amsterdam, 1943) studied is an art historian The Da Vinci Initiative, organizations such as the International Guild at the Academy Minerva in from Groningen, the dedicated to introducing skill-based art of Realism, the South African Portrait Society, Groningen. After finishing Netherlands. As of 1 education in public and private schools K-12. She IX Arts, and the Ani Academy. She is also an his studies Hageman September 2014, patty holds a BA in Art History from Drew University. expert on 19th century Academic French and traveled extensively in has been appointed as the As an art educator she has been a contributing English painting and is currently researching and Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, new director of Museum writer for Collections Magazine, and Fine Art writing the catalogue raisonné on Edmund Blair Pakistan and India which De Buitenplaats in Eelde. Connoisseur, and has been published frequently Leighton, for which she is accepted as the world influenced him in his Since 2011 she has in other magazines and newspapers. She was the authority, authenticating works by this artist development as an artist. worked at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen co-editor of the William Bouguereau Catalogue for Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and Bonham’s auction in Rotterdam first as Business Leader and since Raisonné and author of chapter 28 in the houses among others. In the seventies and eighties Hageman teaches 2013 as Head of Collection & Research. Before published second edition. at the Academy Minerva and becomes active that, she was employed by the Groninger as chairman for the National Association for Museum from 2001 to 2011, where she held the Visual Arts. In the beginning of the nineties position of business leader and deputy director José Manuel Infiesta., has been the winner of the Figurative Art prize for Hageman becomes an artist in residence and since 2005. José Manuel Infiestathe disciplines of painting and sculpture, which teacher at the Prague Academy for Visual Arts (Barcelona, ​​1949) is are usually presented by up to 2,500 artists from (Czechoslovakia) and travels in Hungary, Patty will be one of the panelists during the Art & the President of the all over the world. His private collection began Poland, Slovakia and the Ukraine. Here he was assessment discussion on Thursday, May 3. Fundación de les Arts i with marble pieces of the twentieth century. inspired to develop the series, “The Imaginary les Artistes, created in Over time it has been nourished mostly Catalan City of Prague”. In the latter part of the nineties 2005, and Director of the sculpture from modernism to the late twentieth Hageman becomes an artist in residence in European Museum of century, has about 200 pieces, and European Belgium where he worked on his series etchings. Modern Art (MEAM). sculpture of the twentieth century, a total of 300 In 2003 Hageman becomes an artist in residence He is an architect, as well as a writer, publisher works today. José Manuel Infiesta is awarded the in Spain where he worked on his series, “The and art collector. The Museu Europeu d’Art FAD Award for Decorative Arts in 2002. Panorama of Callosa en Sarria.” In 2005 he Modern, promoted by Infiesta, opened its doors founded the ‘Classical Academy of fine art’ in in 2011, in the Palau Gomis palace of the 18th Mr. Infiesta will be a panelist during the panel Groningen. He visited TRAC2015 and there century, among the alleys of the Born district of discussion about art & assessment. he decided he wanted to bring TRAC to the Barcelona. In addition, for ten years, the MEAM Netherlands. In 2017 he initiated TRAC2018 and here we all are today!

22 23 Nick Willems Esther Leuvenink Conor Walton Conor Walton

TRAC2018 DEMONSTRATION ARTISTS Conor Walton - Painting “I see myself as a figurative Nick Willems - Woodburning Esther Leuvenink - Egg Tempera painter in the European Woodburning art as “Since June 2016 I tradition, attempting performed by Nick graduated from the to maintain my craft at Willems from Holland is Classical Academy for the highest level, using unique in the world. Painting in Groningen. paint to explore issues Nick is privileged with a There I was trained in of truth, meaning and pure and open soul classical painting tech- value. All my paintings which allows him to niques in the basic are attempted answers to the three questions in translate his emotions, training and in the the title of Gauguin’s famous painting: ‘Where thoughts and feeling master phase I specialised do we come from? What are we? Where are we woodburn art. Willems in layered painting with egg tempera and fine going?’” – Conor Walton studied at the Classical Academy and is trained painting. Margot Homan professionally in expressing himself in art. In my work, I want to depict things as they are. Margot Homan - Sculpture where she casts her bronzes for the excellent Willems spends most his time and attention in Without decoration. The portrait or object itself Margot Homan was born qualities of the foundries they offer and finds the creating woodburn art inspired by his own life. tells the story to the viewer. By working with many in Oss (Netherlands), marble for her sculptures. Since 1984 her work is Recently he also decided to put his skill to work layers on top of each other and making intensive educated at the Tilburg exhibited in the Netherlands and abroad, beside in making specific woodburn art on request. use of detail, I invite you to pause for a moment Academy of Art several musea exhibitions. Till February 11th and to investigate the person, the situation or the (Netherlands), where it 2018 “Ïconisch” in The Jan Cunen Museum in “Once in a while you are stunned with absolute object. It is not a quick impression that I want was strictly forbidden Oss. She has been shown at important fairs beauty. The magic of empowerment and to leave behind, but an intensive introduction to to her to work in a like TEFAF Maastricht, PAN Amsterdam and imagination. Something totally different than a a life story. However, the image will not impose figurative style. Directly Olympia London Art Fair and Contemporary decently produced image, but a world of its own. itself on you. Connivance and tranquillity are after graduating she Art fair London, Tokyo Art Fair. You can find This is what I encountered when Nick showed characteristics of my work. It is up to the viewer followed her artistic her sculptures at several public places like me his work. The transformation of plywood to to accept the silent invitation.” vocation, and started to develop her own in Amsterdam and in Tilburg a 7 ton heavy a real ‘skin’. Warm and light, but using the most figurative style, while part-time teaching at the marble sculpture.Her sculptures and drawings aggressive types of tools: a flame and a soldering Markendaal Academy (Breda). Since 1984 she are represented in many private and public iron. If you linger a bit too long on one place with decided to follow her artistic passion fulltime. collections in the Netherlands and abroad like: the tool, then all is lost. Patience, concentration Margot Homan lives and works in Tilburg She is a member of the Royal British Society of and a burning love: that’s the essence.” Ruud de (Netherlands) and in Pietrasanta (Italy). In Italy Sculptors (RBS) since 2011. 24 Rode – Artist. 25 Henk Helmantel Henk Helmantel Elvira Dik Elvira Dik TRAC2018 DEMONSTRATION ARTISTS Henk Helmantel - Painting Elvira Dik - Painting I actually paint stories. For example, the post-it Alumni 2011 of the with ‘Eet lekker lieverd’, which means: ‘eat nice Henk Helmantel is a Fine Arts in Groningen, The Netherlands. Classical Academy. sweetheart’ of someone who hastily but lovingly painter of the 21th centu- The year 2018 promises to be a special year for lubricated the white sandwich with fruit hail is ry. He gets his inspiration Henk and Babs Helmantel. There will be no less ‘I want to make paintings an addition that can interpret the underlying from the work of illustri- than three exhibitions of Henk’s work. One in that stimulate the viewer’s meaning in a different way. By integrating ous predecessors, he likes Taiwan and two in the Netherlands. On January curiosity, capture, attention language, I can also add humour to my work. to paint old objects with a 23 2018, the opening will take place at the Chimei and hold on to it. Creating How wonderful that someone cares for you, but “past”; his work was cre- Museum in the city of Tainan. On February visually attractive works also doesn’t do too little for you. Fab four’ seems ated by a painter who had 4th 2018 at the More in Gorssel Museum. On and, above all, saying to be a feel good painting, but whether it really his education and train- February 24, 2018 in Museum Gouda. more with them’. is can be guessed at. She likes to put the viewer ing in the 20th century. She finds inspiration in the everyday that on the wrong foot. In the painting ‘Festen’, for Each year, thousands of people travel to surrounds us, such as food or materials, such as example, an elegant cake server and a knife are His work is widely appreciated in broad Westeremden in the summer to enjoy the porcelain, glass or paper. It can also happen that I placed in a random fashion in a cut cake, while circles and internationally. A highlight was an Helmantel Museum in the beautiful Weem, the am visually touched by a certain object and then the pink candles are flashed and crooked. In this exhibition in 1997 in Taiwan, where 100 works surrounding gardens, the old Andreas Church ‘have’ to paint it. A sign I inherited, for example, way, the viewer is confronted with an event. Elvira from his own collection were exhibited in a and the exhibited work from his own collection. with nostalgic memories. Like a telescope, I zoom explains that she was thinking of land grab and beautiful museum. There were also exhibitions Paintings made by a painter who still believes in on it and focus on size, image section, light war while painting. The cake looks festive, but it in the USA, in Germany, Tsechië, Malaysia, in beauty as an essential goal of his work with reflection, shadow contrast and translucency,’ she is not really. The title can help to get a grip on the England, France and Indonesia. His work in the brush, palette knife and oil paint. says. In addition, I complement it with humour deeper meaning of this work. In the Danish film Netherlands was shown in the Singermuseum, and story. ‘Festen’ (1998), a festive family gathering turns the Drents Museum and the monastery museum During The Representational Art Conference into a drama after a secret is revealed. in Ter Apel. Henk also teaches first and second / TRAC 2018, Henk Helmantel will give a Her new work does not depict people, but as year master students at The Classical Academy of demonstration about ‘How to start a painting’. Elvira says: ‘They are palpably present, because 26 27 Reinder Homan Siemen Dijkstra

DEMONSTRATIONS Siemen Dijkstra - Woodcut of Groningen and those of Drenthe, when I GRAFISCH ATELIER FRIESLAND Siemen Dijkstra was cycled through them at unseasonable times. It Reinder Homan - Etching Silence, inspiration, love and respect for born in Den Helder on took me back into the landscape in which I had Teacher at the Classical nature are captured in etchings that excel in the Northsea coast in grown up. Omewhat later after my ink-studies, Academy Fine Arts. craftsmanship. Stillness is raised tot he highest 1968. “Can’t remember it, the first colour woodcuts having the landscape After graduating from level without violating reality. The purity which but maybe my lovefor the as a subject appeared. These landscape still had a the Minerva Academy the artist identifies in natural elements that sea was also born there. strong symbolic character and showed a Nordic in Groningen and the most people carelessly pass by is intensified in Raised in the Northeast atmosphere, but it did mean the beginning of Jan van Eyck Academy printmaking on a quest for nuances. part of Holland (peatbog this “oeuvre”. It where also the Scandinavian in Maastricht, Reinder and oakforest).” painters of the Fin the Siècle, who inspired my Homan specialized in Reinder Homan is looking for the poetry of vision of the landscape. In a time when French etching and developed the erratic reality, fora n intensification of I always wanted to become a scientific impressionists where busy with painting what into a thoroughbred etcher. He manages to perception. He is described as an artist in whom illustrator, but during my study at the Minerva they saw, the nordic painters were also looking capture his subjects with seemingly playful ease the craftsman, the dreamer and the poet come Art Acadamy in Groningen I developed my for the spirit of the place; the Genius Loki. To in zinc and copper. together and whose etchings are unrivaled. interest in printmaking and landscape drawings. paint space is one thing, to paint the soul of a At the end of the eighties I made my first series place is quitte something else. I wonder: all these Old trees, a single twig, but also verges full Reinder will one of the three artists giving of landscapes in drawing-ink. It was a hesitating years I am busy to record all these animated of flowers, a creek in a valley in bird’s eye demonstrations in graphic techniques in start. Up to then imagination and the story had landscapes, before they are lost forever.. perspective or the mist over the fields. All of cooperation with Graphic Centre Friesland. The been the most important ingrediënts of my them subjects represented in his etchings, demonstrations will be held on every conference drawings. It’s true the interest in the landscape Siemen is one of the three instructors on the extremely meticulous and elaborated in subtle day between 14.00-19.00. On Thursday May 3rd, had been potentially present in my work, but it Classical Academy giving demonstrations detail. Every detail reflects an unconditional Reinder will give a demonstration in etching. hadn,t assumed a definite shape by then. Surely I in graphic techniques at the Graphic Atelier focus and devotion. felt a strong association with both the landscapes Friesland.

Minno Banning - Lithography In 1786 Alois Senefelder had developed a new graphic technique called Lithography. The basis was a plate of limestone and the technique relies on the fact that water repels grease and vice versa. The porous surface of the stone retained the water, the drawing was applied using greasy ink or chalk. When greasy printing ink was rolled over it, it adhered to the drawing and not to the wet stone. The Dutch artist Minno Banning teaches this technique at the Minno Banning Minno Banning Groningen ‘Classical Academy’. 28 29 TRAC2018 PAPER PRESENTATIONS TRAC2018 ART COMPETITION WINNERS

Elina Cerla Andrew Leventis Since there were 2 artists who had two works in the GRAND WINNER Forging a Figurative Language through the Can Representational Painting be Viewed as top 10, 2 extra winners were selected to come up Convergence of Form, Content and Process. Contemporary without Mediation? with 10 different artists for the exhibition. Howev- er, there turned out to be a shared tenth place, so we Aihua Zhou Freerk Heule made another exception: there will be 13 works on Chinese Face and Western Body Chinese objects in Henk Helmantel’s modern display during TRAC 2018! After the conference still lives the work will be exhibited in the Frisian Gallery, Anne Emerson Hall Leeuwarden, as a part of the ‘Classical Art Exhibi- Skill-Based Art Training: Its Promise and the Shaun Berke tion’ till June 24th. Problems It Poses. On the Nature of Culture: The Aesthetics at the Heart of Ethics The 10 winners were chosen by our Jury Peter Trippi, Mischa Tranquilli Jorge Egea Tom Hageman, Rein Pol & Xandra Donders. Caterina MEAM. A museum for figurative art and artists Carl Korsnes Kitsch and the Self – The Virtues of a Limited Max Ginsburg Voice “Truth is Beauty” Dr. Peter Coppin David Molesky What is afforded by representational art?: The Future Trajectory of Representational Clues from the cognitive science of external Painting and Sculpture representation.

Lori A Escalera David Hardy #2 Virgil Elliott Virgil Elliott #3 Joke Frima #4 David Vegt Pavement Art Raison d’Etre and its place in Today’s Rennaissance Self-Portrait with two Projectionist Rainy Day Lotus Sunday Soup Contemporary Art and Learning Leon Lou Sandra Galda Towards an experimental psychological Art Renewal approved atelier, first ever in high pedagogy for observational drawing and school painting

Tamara Ansing Joke Frima Problems in the Categorization and Terminology Forza e corragio: “Move forward with courage”, of Comic Art Styles the legacy of Nerina Simi, (1890 – 1987). #5 Alessandra Marrucchi #6 Wout Wachtmeester #7 Gerard Huysman Gerard Huysman Niloofar Gholamrezaei Semyon Bilmes Francesca Elegy of the past Huis met de Gele Markiezen Ingang Vondelpark Rethinking New Objectivity in Alfred Barr’s The Sight-size method, a Critical Overview Chart of Modern Art in 1936 Jennifer Sendall Willem Venter “Transcending Postmodernism: How drone The Kitsch Movement as manifestation of swarms might save the world”. Rancièrian dissensus William Oberst Virgil Elliott A Short Film Vermeer’s Eye #8 Daniel Enckell #9 Andrew Leventis #10 Cas Waterman #10 Thomas Langeveld The Crows Song Girl Watching Cartoons Hoogtevrees Still life with skull & Books 30 31 A movement is sweeping the art world