East West (Oost West) Forum Dordrecht Holland

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The symposium was officially opened by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands in 1983

As the speaker of the organization of the East West Symposium it was my task to accompany the queen, introduce the participating artists and organizers and acquaint her with the site as the stage for the symposium. The site was still void of any planned development. The EMF plant had already been demolished, leaving an empty space, cleared of rubble. The adjoining Victoria Factory was only partly demolished, leaving us an exploitable space for the necessary activities - planning, having meetings making sketches and drawings, making models and having lunches.

Before Queen Beatrix was to arrive I was waiting with the others.

After the first two weeks of making plans, the twelve artists had installed an documentary exhibition of their work and the sketches, plans and models on the work floor of the factory. All was ready for the start of the actual work.

organization: East West Forum working group of the Dutch Sculptors' Association 1981-1983