Market socializing

The purpose of visiting the wonderful Brussels markets seems to have shifted from buying  fresh vegetables or roasted chicken to taking the aperitivo, socializing, talking, people watching ...
The lady in the photograph spoke with a British accent.  Even though I could guess her origin,  I asked where she was from and she replied that her husband was German ;).  She did answer my second question totally to the point and  said that it was perfectly ok for me to take her picture and  post it on This is Belgium. 

Academy of Leuven

Last stop on my "end of year exhibitions trip" was the Academy of Leuven. 
Although the photography section usually get most of my attention, I had the privilege of taking a picture of Jan Smets (photo 1) who stands in front of Michael Jackson, his interpretation of the assignment 'tragedies'.
The umbrella man in the second picture was probably just on his way out, into the rain again, when he ran into friends.  I do not think he was part of the show.
http://www.slac.be/

Elections in October

For as long as I can remember I have noticed a link between city works and communal elections. In Belgium the next communal and provincial elections take place in October and I have the impression that it becomes more difficult to take a decent picture in Brussels without having the view impaired. 

Kaat Tilley, a tribute

                                Photo: de standaard.be

I just heard the sad news on the radio of Kaat Tilley, a well known Belgian fashion designer,  passing away today at the age of 52. 

Kaat Tilley who graduated from the Antwerp Academy had her own unique and particular style. She mixed colors, materials, different layers and created dreamy, romantic clothing. She was a very special lady.

According to her personal website "Her views do not adhere to trends rather they reflect more of a life story by mirroring a woman's journey and the lesson learned through living life. Kaat Tilley drives esthetics to the extreme... her world balances between female fragility and strength..."

The fashion community lost one of its creative and very talented members.

http://www.kaattilley.com/frames.html

http://www.flanderstoday.eu/content/dreams-design

http://www.viona-art.com/pages/gothic/fairytale/kaat-tilley.html

http://www.visitflanders.co.uk/discover/flanders/people/fashion-designers/kaat-tilley/index.jsp

Academy of Etterbeek

I pursued my end of the academic year art academy trip and visited the Academy of Etterbeek.
A thorough cleaning job was going on  there in preparation of the exhibition  and open door days this coming weekend.
Els Hattink (picture 1), an accomplished painter and now a photography graduating student, was defending her work, street photography, with a smile and flair to her lecturer Johan Duyck (picture 2 and 3) and photographer Elisabeth Broekaert (picture 3 left), distinguished jury members. 
Work of Elisabeth will be shown in the Fotomuseum in Antwerp during the summer.
http://www.elshattink.net/
Exhibition dates and hours Etterbeek Academy on the website www.rhok-academie.be
http://www.elisabeth.broekaert.com/site.html 
http://www.fotomuseum.be/tentoonstellingen/in_het_vooruitzicht/

From Antwerp to Brussels (car-iphoneography#1)

Always trying to improve my photography skills, I practiced this morning and am showing you what things look like when you hit Brussels via Laeken, coming from highway A12 from Antwerp (and when you simply photograph what you see from your car -; ) 

Academy Anderlecht

 
 
 

Stop 2 on my June Academy trip is the Academy of Anderlecht (Brussels),  one of my very favorite.  Take one step into the door and you breath another world: you enter a captivating place with a special atmosphere, gorgeous old buildings, exceptional teachers (last photo).

Work of graduating photography students was presented to the critical scrutiny of an external jury.  Teun Voeten, a well known Dutch journalist, is shown in picture 3 (man holding book). 
One student painted the floor under a voting booth in the Belgian colors to provide an appropriate context for her slide show on Belgian politics (photo 2).
http://www.academieanderlecht.be/
www.teunvoeten.com