After the event

Presenting the gift (pictures by Mathijs van Dooren)

 

This day, this morning

This morning, we started to hang the pictures up around eight. A rasta man came looking. I asked him if he had children, yes I have a son, but he probably won't be here. I said that we only miss two children. He said: "My son doesn't like school, I tell him you have to learn to read and write, but he likes to be outside." I continued and the man stayed. I asked for the name of his son and I remembered the name. He said I will find him then. I let the man be.
He went away and came back. We talked about his son again, he was worried. Afraid he would grow up without proper schooling. He just can't learn. I said all children have some talent. He said he likes the outside and he likes to fish. I said that being a fisherman is a good life.
Then he said he coukdn't find his son. He pointed at one picture and said he might look like the kid on that picture. I took offmthe picture and looked at the back. It was him.
The man started to cry. He said "thank you". I said monday we give the paintings back to the children. He said I want to have it. I said it belongs to your son.

Wilhelminapark, in the morning of 15 November

yep he is here alright

Step 1 for exhibition

Thank you Dennis Hielen and GVP students of the "praktijk klas". Teacher Rudy Courtar had hoped they would be ready in 20 minutes, but that was too optimistic. To finish it of, Mr. Hielen had to get a ladder and go inside the construction to give extra fastening to the panels.

We hung up some painting to test if they will hold with our tape. Here you see Olga and me in our official moment: fastening the first painting: our new logo. (design Annemieke Kusters :))

Mixing Colors

Mixing Colors is a magical experience. The girls especially loved to see how red and white turn into pink and how red and blue turn into purple. Some of them made beads in their hair, earrings in their ears, necklaces around their neck, just to be able to mix the colors.

When the children finished the sketch of their face, we let them mix the perfect color of their skin. We had three colors for that; brown, white and orange. Usually we did not correct them, but one time, there was a little boy that made a color much ligther then his skin. Teacher Ankie told him to add some more brown, but he said no. "I am half Kaukasian you know," the dark brown boy said. "Who is Kaukasian then, your mother or your father?" asked teacher Ankie. "My great grand father." said the boy.

Rehearsal

This morning we had our first rehearsal. One of the children, Sjohvankah Courtar, from the Gov. de Graaffschool, could not be there, since she is in the hospital. We hope she will be better before Thursday, because then we have the dress rehearsal with all the other participants! Teacher Hilda of the Terminal School played King Willem and I played Maxima. We have the feeling Maxima would want to kneel down by Tashika (Bethel Methodist School). So Tashika has to be prepared! She was good, but her little voice was not loud enough! We first thought Tashika would be the one to give the book and we would have Chiani (Seventh Day Adventist school) to help her. But then we practiced and Tashika did not give the book! So now Chiani is going to hand over the book. We figure Tashika doesn't have to worry, one of them, whether it be Willem or Maxima, will surely talk to Tashika! The boy on the left, Jose, did very well, he already practiced with his principal Rosalie (Golden Rockschool).

On the grass, behind the children, you see a pink ribbon, that is to mark the spot where the portraits will be exhibited. We are the last group they will pass by.

Is Kymani finally the last of all children?

Teacher Alicia had told us that little Kymani was in Bonaire with his parents, who both had to do a course. She didn't think he would be back in time to make a portrait. But this morning he was back in school! We now miss only two children, one is in Colombia and one is on St. Maarten. Kymani did well, he was eager to go back to class and show his portrait to the rest of the class and to the teacher. When we rached class though, he suddenly was shy, hiding his head under his arms. But then, when all the children said: "Aahhh that is nice, Kymani you done well!", he peeped around the door with a big smile. 

On Ankie's porche

Today on Ankie's porche, our volunteers made their own self portraits. Just to see what they would make of it. Well? Not too bad, are they?

Exhibition

Yesterday afternoon all participants that join the cultural manifestation at Wilhelminapark gathered to verify if everything is prepared and if everybody knows where to do what. We have decided not to bother about the beamer, television problem to show the slideshow of our pictures, but to just only have the painting exhibited. On this picture you can see how high this square will be.

For the children that were absent

This is the schoolboard at the Golden Rockschool where we started the project. As you can see, Rosalie Lopes, schoolhead, introduced us by drawing her own self portrait.

We ended the project at that same school. We invited the children that were absent when we visited their school and we had a little session with them.

Maia Samuel from the SDA school made a very good portrait, see below.

Panels

Here you see what the students at GVP will make. A big wooden box. Teacher Dennis van Hielen will come to the Park on Tuesday with ten of his students to construct this construction. Early Thursday we will glue all the paintings to it.

Tomorrow we will make the final final paintings, there are 10 more children that were absent when we came, we will take them all to the Golden Rockschool and work with them there. Pictures will follow.

Glasses

Most children with glasses decide to make a portrait without glasses. Not Dantez Daniel!

Last group!

Group 8 of the Bethel Methodist School was the last group we had. Somehow they worked longer then all the other groups we had. Maybe because we were enjoying it so much?

Now, when group 8 was finished we still had 4 children of group 7 who had to finish their work. They had to leave the group earlier this morning to go to Wilhelminapark. Dennis Amajan was there to practice the "Koningslied" with the children.

This girl is one of the lead singers for the performance, her name is Madelin Elizabeth Courtar.

Jedediah Belleau

Jedediah Belleau, best looking portrait, most talented painter, we have discovered him on the very last day of our project.

Today, last day, we also discovered most talented teacher, teacher Yannick of this same group 8.

We now have 380 portraits, we are missing only six children who were absent. We will see to it that they too make a portrait before the 15th.

Today's favorite

The little ones

Pure concentration

Our volunteers

This is teacher Annelies, she is also known as the flower lady.

Here is teacher Heleen helping. Most children already know her, she is also "teacher Stenapa".

This is teacher Trudy, she lives on the island from Nov. to March.

And this is teacher Ankie, she is also a member of Statia Pride.