The two-day symposium Holland-America studies the artistic relationship and dialogue between Europe and the United States in 1950s and 1960s. While this liaison is all too often portrayed as one of rivalry and competition, epitomized by the waning of Paris and the rising of New York, it has equally well been one of association and exchange, taking place in then expanding international networks of artists, critics, and curators.
The symposium Holland-America will focus on the role and position of the Netherlands played in this transatlantic exchange. It intends to unravel the complex history of the distribution and the reception of American art and artists in the Netherlands in the first two decades after World War II. The aim is to explore the interchange between two countries with a shared social and economical history yet with distinct art historical traditions. Who were the key players in the transatlantic traffic of people, ideas and artworks? Which exhibitions or art events could be identified as major moments of intercontinental exchange?
* 17 February
Day 1: invited speakers: David Anfam, Wouter Davidts, Jonneke Jobse, Diederik Oostdijk, David Raskin, Caroline Roodenburg-Schadd and Rogier Schumacher
Keynote lecture: Jo Baer, followed by a conversation with Jeremiah Day.
Location: Rijksmuseum Twenthe, Gobelinzaal (www.rijksmuseumtwenthe.nl)
Tickets: 17,50 Euro (including entry to the Rijksmuseum Twenthe and lunch).
Please register at: servicedesk@rijksmuseumtwenthe.nl with notification of 'symposium abstract usa' before February 11.
* 18 February
Day 2: graduate speakers, selected via an international call for papers: Evelyn Austin, Catherine Dossin, Carl Jacobs, Janna Schoenberger, Daniël van der Poel, Marin Sullivan and Jesse van Winden.
Location: ArtEZ Academie voor Art & Design, Enschede, Collegezaal 2 (www.artez.nl)
Tickets: Free entry
The symposium Holland-America takes place within the context of the exhibition Abstract USA 1958-1968: In the Galleries at the Rijksmuseum Twenthe
(Enschede, NL; www.rijksmuseumtwenthe.nl)
The event is organized by the Department of Art History, VU University Amsterdam (www.let.vu.nl), in collaboration with Rijksmuseum Twenthe, Enschede; Fine Art Academy, ArtEz Academie voor Art & Design, Enschede (www.artez.nl); and WIELS, Centre for Contemporary Art, Brussels (www.wiels.org).
It benefited from the generous financial support of the Research Fund and the Graduate School of the Faculty of Arts, VU University Amsterdam; and the Embassy of the United States in the Netherlands.