Saturday, August 27, 2011

Badminton anyone?

                                          THE NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM OF ART
                                                             Kansas City, Missouri

                                                                SHUTTLECOCKS

                                 Claes Oldenburg, American, born Sweden, 1929, and
                                 Coosje van Bruggen, American, born The Netherlands,
                                 (1942-2009), Gift of the Sosland Family; aluminum,
                                 fiberglass re-inforced plastic, urethane paint, 1994.
                                      © Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen
                                                    Photo: Attilio Maranzano

This shuttlecock (one of four) looks as if has just landed out-of-bounds
in a giant-sized badminton game, on a lawn whose scale befits such a match.

Claes Oldenburg and his late wife Coosje van Bruggen have been turning
everyday objects into whimsical public art installations from Kansas City to
Korea for decades.  Oldenburg, age 82, was on hand last Saturday to witness
the unveiling of his latest creation-- a 51-foot high paint brush, erected in
Lenfest Plaza in Philadelphia.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in downtown Kansas City is a cultural gem
and a major institution on the American art scene.  Go!

          en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson-Atkins_Museum_of_Art
                             
 

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Volendam, Netherlands

                          Two Volendam maidens in traditional "Klederdracht"
                          -Postcard postmarked 1912, addressed to Miss Irene Van Zanten
                            of West 9th Street, Holland, Michigan, U.S.A.

Historic Volendam, Netherlands has been a tourist destination for decades.
It is about a 40-minute drive north of Amsterdam on N247 Highway, and is
a popular day trip for Amsterdamers and foreign visitors alike.

If you prefer, there are also organized tours of Volendam and region departing
from Amsterdam:  Click on the link for "Marken, Volendam and Windmill Tour",
Amsterdam Tours and Canal Cruises, Tours and Activities in Holland.

amsterdamcitytours.rezgo.com/details/3865/marken-volendam-and-windmill-tour

The two Dutch girls in this postcard are wearing the traditional "Klederdracht", or
costume of the Volendam region.  If you go there, you too can try on a dress and
lace cap and have your picture taken!

The website VVV Volendam is all about things to do in Volendam.  Click on the
British flag for the English translation.

                                                           www.vvv-volendam.nl/ni

For more Dutch-themed postcards, visit:

CIRCUMSPICE MICHIGAN:
Postcards of a Pleasant Peninsula

CIRCUMSPICE MICHIGAN is dedicated to Michigan postcards.  There, you 
will find recent postings of two cards from Holland, Michigan, with links to related 
websites.