Wild Treasure / Beestachtige Schat
Kunsthuis Syb, Beetsterzwaag, Opsterland NL
July 2016

An object that embraces the diverse stories of peat-distraction, hunting and farming in Beetsterzwaag. The Wild Treasure from Beetsterzwaag is developed, designed and made with a skilled and enthusiastic group of Opsterlanders.


Wapke Feenstra (Myvillages), Betty van der Kamp (Moll Fur), Douwe van der Velde (Silver), Durk Schroor (Beans), Eline Nijboer, Geertjan Plooijer (Photo), Gjalt Tjeerdsma, Koen Blank, Lutzen Schroor, Maritt Kuiper (Kunsthuis SYB), Murk-Jaep van der Schaaf

April till June 2016: We think about a local object that can be a souvernir and social sculpture to remind the landscape. Stories are passed down and the anarchistic and socialistic protest movements fed by peat-distraction are still a hot-topic in the area. The shape of the Wild Treasure was inspired by a typical local product: wâldbeantsje. Once the fare of poor people, but have recently found their way onto the menus of modern classy restaurants in the region. To shape the new product, two other particularly local skills entered the process: silver jewellery making and mole hunting. Douwe van de Velde, silversmith and owner of the town’s goldsmiths, developed a silver locket in the shape of a bean; whilst a local mole-catcher, used the traditional mole hunting technique to catch the animal for its fur.

WILD TREASURE was made during a residency by Wapke Feenstra in Kunsthuis SYB, Beetsterzwaag.
Thanks to Erasmus+, Mondriaan Fund, Bankgiro Loterij Fonds and Kunsthuis SYB

Kunsthuis syb

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