Day Trip, Gent

I went to Gent on Friday to spend the day with my friend, jeweler Jorge Manilla. Jorge met me at the train station and we walked to his place where I got to see his studio and his work, always good moments for me. Then he took me to the center of Gent and showed me all the sights. 

Our first stop was St. Bavo Cathedral to see "Adoration of the Mystic Lamb" by Hubert and Jan Van Eyck. It's an incredibly complex painting and stunning in person. I used a head set to listen to commentary about the work, something I don't usually do. I realized quickly that it was an important tool to better understand the rich detail and symbolism of the work. After a few more sights Jorge took me down a narrow street with wall-to-wall graffit. I was in heaven! We even snagged some pieces of the wall composed of layer after layer of paint.

At the end of this little street was a nondescript house that is actually a gallery called "Verzameld Werk." The interior of the house is a work of art in itself--walls have been modified, furniture is placed just so, and there is a glowing, cylindrical hallway. The house also serves as an exhibition space and has a sparse, but wonderful selection of objects, jewelry, and books for sale.

We also visited Pont & Plas, a lovely art jewelry gallery near the Korenmarkt. Currently, the work of Malvine Marichal is on view and a beautiful show. I also got to see the work of Karin Seufert and Jantje Fleischhut, two favorites of mine.

rings by Malvine Marichal

Finally, Jorge and I spent some time with the work for my show. I laid it all out on the table in his living room and we had a great conversation. He was supportive and complementary and gave me some insight for a few simple changes that will make the work stronger. We even did a small display mock-up and he recommended that I give the work lots of room. 

More images of Gent on Flickr.

P.S. More on Jorge on Friday.

Thanks for reading.