CLEVERcreating - Balance between thinking and doing

5 Practical Criteria for Reviewing Ceramic Art to Enjoy it Even More

May 26, 2023May 26, 2023 by Hannie Mommers

This summer I was able to rethink my criteria for reviewing ceramic art when Tom and I visited Villa Datris in France.

A themed exhibition is organized in this villa every year. To my great luck, the theme this year (2022) was ceramics. The ceramic art was grouped over 4 floors and there was also a lot of ceramic work to be seen in the garden.

Thanks to founder Danièle Kapel-Marcovici’s love for art and her altruism, the villa and its exhibition is free to enter from May to October each year. It’s a marvellous initiative and was an unexpected discovery for us.

Discovering 3 Fascinating Cultural Hotspots in Tilburg, the Netherlands

May 26, 2023May 22, 2023 by Hannie Mommers

In the 70s I studied and lived in Tilburg. It was hardly a bustling city then. Empty factories and unstructured plans for the town and its inhabitants. A grey impression.

Later I worked as a graphic designer for the municipality of Tilburg and saw the efforts being made to improve the town. Often together with the residents in seminars and workshops.

Nowadays, there is much to experience in the city, especially in the cultural field. Factories and other empty buildings have been refurbished and given a cultural destination.

Zollverein Essen and More Industrial Heritage in the Crammed Ruhr Area

May 19, 2023May 19, 2023 by Hannie Mommers

Despite the industrialization of the area my favourite place to go was the Ruhr area in Germany. When I still lived in the Netherlands, it was a car journey of 1,5 hours from our house.

The area became the “European Capital of Culture” in 2010. This meant a facelift for a region that had been a dirty, neglected orphan since the mines and steel industry slowly came to a halt.

There are a lot of interesting places nowadays, but my favourites are Insel Hombroich and Zollverein Essen.

Insel Hombroich, a Stunning Place of Art, Architecture and Nature

May 15, 2023May 15, 2023 by Hannie Mommers

When I still lived in the Netherlands, Insel Hombroich was a car journey of 1,5 hours from our house. I have visited the location often with friends and family and it was a favourite day out for my staff and me.

An average museum visit lasts between one and two hours. Visiting Insel Hombroich can easily take up a whole day. One of the reasons why it is perfect for a short getaway.

The area is a breathtaking landscape full of little buildings, beautiful vegetation, and most of all a lot of art in all disciplines and genres.

Finding Special Places of Culture and Modern Art in Madrid

May 12, 2023May 12, 2023 by Hannie Mommers

Our family lives in a suburb of Madrid with an excellent train connection to the city, so we can often be found there. Especially since there is hardly any modern culture in our own village.

Until recently I appreciated Barcelona and Valencia more than Madrid, but now that we are getting to know the city better, that is changing.

It is of course still the case that the distances to interesting places remain large, but public transport is good. There is also beautiful culture and modern art in Madrid beyond the large, overcrowded museums, which makes a visit pleasant.

Fantastic Outdoor Land Art on the Estate of Winery Chateau la Coste

May 8, 2023May 8, 2023 by Hannie Mommers

A landscape is often beautiful in itself. Nevertheless, a conscious addition by an artist can be of great added value. It contributes to a different experience of the environment.

My travels have already taken me to several places with landscape art on display or as part of the collection, such as Insel Hombroich in Germany, Museum Kröller-Müller in the Netherlands, and the Beaufort event in Belgium.

In this article, I will tell you about another great location that is well worth visiting: the organic winery Chateau la Coste.

Museum LUMA in Arles, a Lively Creative Breeding Ground

May 4, 2023May 4, 2023 by Hannie Mommers

A Lively Creative Breeding Ground: Museum LUMA in Arles

After 2 years of lockdowns and restrictions, we were able to take a trip abroad in June 2022. Our first visit was to Arles. Tom and I had seen a documentary* about the LUMA experimental cultural centre on the European TV channel Arte and were very excited about it.

*Unfortunately, the documentary is no longer available.

We live in a culture-poor area. This is why we took every opportunity to experience art during our holiday. Fortunately, we were often also able to combine this with another activity we cherish so much: nature walks.

Review of 365 Days of Facebook Success: How to Build your Presence?

May 1, 2023May 1, 2023 by Hannie Mommers

As a creative person, you want your work to stand out, right? So whether you feel like it or not, there’s no question that you should be doing marketing.

In this review of 365 Days of Facebook Success, I’ll tell you about my achievements with the program.

In my starting days as a graphic designer and artist, I always hated the idea of putting myself out there. Advertising was like a swearword and promoting myself in any way felt wrong.