Summer pair: blue & green combo

Brussels' 20K this Sunday morning

Music in Ghent's "cultuurkapel"

Bruges is not the only city in Belgium to have beautiful canals. I particularly enjoyed my walk along the Sint-Antoniuskaai in Ghent last Sunday afternoon, on my way to attend a recital in the Cultuurkapel. 

The concert featured my favourite cellist, the highly talented young Belgian, Paul Heyman, with the phenomenal pianist, Isil Bengi. They gave us an electrifying show with masterful execution of Schubert, Pärt, Brahms, and Piazzolla, leaving the audience at the edge of their seats. At the end of each song, they were met with roaring applause and rightfully so.

http://www.cultuurkapel.be/events/recital-cello-piano-paul-heyman-en-isil-bengi-1350/

Brussels' "communes"

 The different "communes" of Brussels by Alberto De Francisco. 

Zinneke Parade, photos by Karim Abraheem

photographs by Karim Abraheem

"More than being just one theme amongst many, fragile determines the equilibriums in the world, of the living and of systems. Recognising that fragility is an undeniable grace rather than a fatal weakness allows us to change our perspectives, to rethink interdependencies and and dare to embrace deliberately sensitive ways of life. 
FRAGIL is an invitation to reflect on various possible sources of inspiration, with a view to the next Zinneke Parade, on 21 May 2016".
http://www.zinneke.org/Theme-2015-2016?lang=en

Comic Strip - Atom style

Gaston at work. Gaston is cleaning one of the nine spheres of  the Atomium, Belgium's famous construction for the Universal Exhibition held in Brussels in 1958. Its name is at the origin of the comic strips Atom. 

(from BeauxArts Hors Série,Les secrets des chefs-d'oeuvre de la BD d'humour)
http://www.beauxartsmagazine.com/0125-1127-Les-secrets-des-chefs-d-uvre-de-la-BD-d-humour.html
http://www.thecomicstrips.com/subject/The-Atom-Comic-Strips.php

Marthe Donas, a Woman Artist in the Avant-Garde

Do not miss this exceptional exhibition in Ghent,  a treat and a revelation. "It seems that Marthe Donas is gradually achieving the international recognition she deserves". We do hope together with Peter J.H. Pauwels, curator of the exhibition and author of the magnificent catalogue in his foreword to the book that "this first monograph in English, which includes both her surviving work and much of what has been lost, will contribute to that process".  
In Ghent, Museum voor Schone Kunsten, MSK, till June 5.
http://www.marthedonas.be
http://www.mskgent.be/en/exhibitions/marthe-donas/marthe-donas

Happy faces.

Maybe it's just me but it not only looks like it finally stopped raining, it feels like it and... it shows! Happy faces everywhere.

May 1, labor day and "lily of the valley" day

I really like the tradition of offering these pretty little white flowers to friends, family and loved ones. 
"As the story goes, on the first of May 1561, King Charles of France—who was ten at the time—was presented with a fragrant bunch of muguet: the delicate green sprigs capped with tiny white bells that we know as lily of the valley. It was a gesture signifying luck and prosperity, which so touched the king, he continued the tradition by giving the sweet-smelling blossoms to the ladies of his court each year on the same day". http://www.vogue.com/vogue-daily/article/lily-of-the-valley/#1