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Cathedral of Thorns at Night, a magical evening of art underneath the stars

Cathedral of Thorns at Night, a magical evening of art underneath the stars

The Cathedral of Thorns by Herman van Bergen will from now on be open to visitors every first Friday of the month from 19.00hr. Cathedral of Thorns by night is an unique evening in which the cathedral is fully lit and guided tours by the artist himself take place. Herman van Bergen has won the CODAaward 2020 in the landscape category with his Cathedral of Thorns. The CODAawards is an annual international prize for project that best integrate commissioned art into interiors, architecture or public spaces. This piece of art unifies all the themes of Van Bergen’s earlier thorn sculptures into one project: a building to honor Mother Nature and the Free Spirit that brings about change through creativity.

“During these evenings, both local and tourists can take a look at the cathedral which is completely made up of thorns. For the occasion, the cathedral is beautifully lit and the artist himself, Herman van Bergen, gives a guided tour. Every visitor will have the opportunity to meet Herman personally and ask him questions about the cathedral and its creation. It is also the best time to take beautiful pictures of the cathedral. The beauty of the cathedral is captured by the use of lighting, creating a magical effect. The Zumpiña shop will also be open on this evening. The shop is the perfect place to buy an unique gift or a beautiful piece of art for your home or office” Says Daisy Casimiric.

The first evening will take place on Friday 6th of August and the ticket sale will start at 19.00hr. The performance and tour will take place from 19.30hr to 21.00hr. entry for locals with sedula is Nafl. 25,- and US$25,- for tourists.

Presale tickets are available at The Zumpiña Shop (on the premises of Landhuis Bloemhof) & at Landhuis Bloemhof during the day (9 am – 12 pm) or at fundashondiartista@gmail.com / app: +59995266349

Ticket sale at the door: August 6, at The Zumpiña Shop from 7 pm.

Entrance August 6, from 7 pm. Santa Rosaweg #10 (Number TEN)

Cathedral of Thorns by night – 2 July 2021

Cathedral of Thorns by night – 2 July 2021
The Cathedral of Thorns by Night
July 2, 2021
The illuminated Cathedral of Thorns by night
  • Short documentary ‘The Making of the Cathedral of Thorns’ by Caribbean Legacy
  • Art exhibition by local and international artists inside the Cathedral
  • Experience the Cathedral of Thorns together with the artist Herman Van Bergen
Adult USD 25.00 // Children (6 – 12 yrs) USD 15.00
Resident rates available with local ID.
Make your reservations @ fundashondiartista@gmail.com or Whatsapp: +5999 526 63 49.
Tickets are available at The Cathedral of Thorns July 2, at the door from 6.30 pm.
The event only takes place with a minimum of 15 people.
Duration ± 1 hour
Refreshments and local snacks available for purchase
Entrance Santa Rosaweg # 10 (Number TEN).
Landhuis Bloemhof

The Cathedral of Thorns introduces… Frouwkje Smit

The Cathedral of Thorns introduces… Frouwkje Smit

The Cathedral of Thorns introduces… Frouwkje Smit:

Santu Kabritu di spiritu di sumpiña
De heilige geit van de geest van de doornen
The Holy goat of the spiritual from the thorns

Santu Kabritu di spiritu di sumpiña is an ode to the goat. The goat eats the leaves from the branches of the wabi, a work that is almost impossible for man to do. Doing so, the goat helps to realize the Cathedral of Thorns. The artist, nature and the animal work together and are connected with each other.

In many cultures the goat is a sacrificial animal and represents fertility, vitality and a strong connection with the force of life. In ancient Greek religion, Pan, the Greek god is depicted as half man half goat, and by the Christian as the devil.

The color blue stands for holy and is found in various religions such as the holy virgin Mary and the evil eye. The color blue also refers to the pigment of the indigo plant, which was shipped from Curaçao to the Netherlands as an export product during colonial times. It was the most sought after color and stands for royalty. The golden crown of thorns with cotton represents sharpness and tenderness

The goat is the main thread and symbolizes the power behind the Cathedral of Thorns masterpiece.

Visual artist Frouwkje Smit, April, 2021

The Cathedral of Thorns introduces… Mimi van Bindsbergen!

The Cathedral of Thorns introduces… Mimi van Bindsbergen!

Be sure to visit us and experience the magnificent Cathedral of Thorns for yourself.
With a total of 45 international and local artists and counting, displaying their art in the Cathedral of Thorns, we are very pleased to welcome and add yet another artist to our gallery.

Mimi van Bindsbergen
“I am a collector, not only of objects, but also of impressions. Like an archaeologist I walk through the landscape in search of depths and layers of time, the history, by intensely using my senses, feeling and tasting the atmosphere.”

All the impressions Van Bindsbergen acquires, sometimes captured with a camera or notebook but largely with her memory, she processes to paintings or sculptures in her studio. Her impressions transform on the canvas and become connected with the places she has visited. Some of her paintings portray an image like an actual archaeological find. In some of her earlier works she would use iron wire and shards of clay, working outside the boundaries of the canvas. Shaped or modeled forms emerge from the canvas. “It is important that the canvas radiates a certain force. It’s not just about the form, but even more about the mysticism that surrounds it.”

Title: Sweet & Sour
Wooden box 30x30x5cm Acryl and Conte. Front is back and vice versa.

The union of two worlds. I have always lived near or just over the border of the Netherlands. And because of that, I was always conscious of ‘the other side’. The front and back of the art shows this.
The colors primarily represent Curaçao with the elements of water and the fierce radiance of light.
The dynamics, the energy in everything. Your connection as a human with your surroundings.

Moving along with the rhythm that is all around you. Consciously see everything through different eyes. The perpetual reflection between you and the world. The figure seems to ripple over the waves. True? At first, yes! But there is also a moment of unsettledness. Actually, it is both.

Cathedral Labyrinth by Night – Friday, February 26

Cathedral Labyrinth by Night – Friday, February 26

Cathedral Labyrinth by Night

Friday, February 26  –  6:30 pm

View a short documentary about the making of the Cathedral and take a tour of the labyrinth by night. Enjoy the art exhibition inside the Labyrinth and experience the ode to the free spirit with the light of life shining from within the thorns.

Limited seating. Buy your ticket in advance at The Art Factory (Next to Restaurant Number TEN) and Landhuis Bloemhof.

AFL. 20.00

Entrance and Parking : Restaurant Number TEN

Social distancing rules apply.

Immersive Curaçaoan artwork wins Two CODA Awards 2020

Immersive Curaçaoan artwork wins Two CODA Awards 2020

WILLEMSTAD, CURACAO – The Cathedral of Thorns, a labor of love created of 25 million spikes, has won two CODAawards2020. Not only was the huge Cathedral selected as the winner in the Landscape category, but the innovative artwork also took home the prestigious People’s Choice Award.

Dutch Caribbean artist Herman van Bergen started work on the grand project eight years ago on the island of Curacao. Wanting to demonstrate the futility of religious strife, his vision also included a focus on the original Curacaoan inhabitants, the Caiquetio Indians. The CODAworx jury praised the Cathedral of Thorns for the way Van Bergen and hisvolunteers “created an actual building out of native shrubs, and in the process, honored Mother Nature and the Free Spirit.” 

The immersive work, towering up to 60 feet above the visitor, is surprisingly real in a time when all platforms are forced to go virtual. It was officially opened in February 2020 with a theater performance reflecting Curacao history, curated by well known Curacaoan director Felix de Rooy of Curacaoan film cult classic Ava & Gabriel fame. For Van Bergen, the international recognition by CODAworx signals “the importance of the project, subsequently raising consciousness on how we treat our planet, each other and ultimately ourselves.”

As part of the CODAawards2020 prize, the Cathedral of Thorns will be featured in the summer of 2021 as part of the bi-annual CODAawards winners exhibition at the Octagon Museum, located on the grounds of the American Institute of Architects’ Headquarters in Washington, DC. By then, flights between the US mainland and Curacao may have resumed and the art work can be visited in person, a feat currently made impossible due to measures instituted to curb the spread of covid-19 

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NOTE: For additional information please contact Daisy Casimiri of Fundashon di Artista at +5999 526 6349 fundashondiartista@gmail.com

Art & Music Heal All Wounds-concerts a big success

After a sold out concert on June 12 with Banda Krioyo Nobo we had to close down for a while due to COVID-19 regulations. The planned performance on June 26 of he Yumarya Grijt & Friends was postponed to July 10. What a blast this performance was!

We are so happy to be able to show you the beauty of the Cathedral of Thorns again and continue with our series: Music & Art Heal All Wounds.

New Concert

So, we are happy to announce the 3rd concert of this series: Típiko Dulce Esperanza will perform on July 24 at 7.30 pm. Please check our agenda for details.