Dirk van Erp in Leeuwarden

DIRK

DIRK VAN ERP IN LEEUWARDEN: A LANDMARK EXHIBITION
APRIL 6, 2018 THROUGH OCTOBER 28, 2018

Marian van Erp sent this photograph of the Nieuwestad at the turn of the last century.

The Nieuwestad where the van Erp shop is today.

The Dirk van Erp exhibit in Leeuwarden continues to draw many visitors. This is all new information to people in The Netherlands. Here is a letter I just received from Marian van Erp, Pieter van Erp's wife, which talks about a recent tour given in association with the exhibition along with some related photographs I wanted to share:

Dear Isak,

Today I want to tell you about the city walk the HCL organised yesterday: In the Footsteps of Dirk van Erp. The guide was Pieter van den Ende. He knows a lot about Leeuwarden in the last half of the 19th century. Lutske was also present. She had phoned us to ask if the group could have a look at the little space behind the shop at Nieuwestad 28, where the name Willem is written in the wall to make the Van Erp experience a bit more realistic. You know what I mean.
We started at the exhibiton at the Pier Pander Museum and after the walk the group could return there to have a closer look at all the beautiful things Dirk van Erp made.

We walked first to the edge of the Prinsentuin where the nursery school is, where Dirk and his brothers and sisters went. In that time a very unhealthy place, with smelling shot boxes in the building and a stove which burned turf. There were 60 children in one classroom!
The school is now used by the city police as a guardroom, but was 40 years ago still a nursery school. We discovered yesterday that our daughers went to the same school their great-great uncle Dirk went, but 110 year later it was no longer unhealthy, with better classrooms and toilets.

Then we went on to the primary school, which was on the Oldehoofster Kerkhof, in the shadow of the famous tower. That school was broken down a long time ago, because it was build on the remnant of the churchyard, which was not very healthy either. But Dirk and his brothers and sisters spent their schoolyears there.

From there we walked to Nieuwestad 28 and Pieter told something about the early years of Dirk and Dolf, his grandfather and Willem, his father. We went on to the cinema "The Tivoli", which was the catholic Bonifatius church where the family van Erp went on Sunday. In 1884 the new Bonifatius church was build on the Voorstreek by the famous dutch architect P.J.H. Cuypers. When Dirk was released from prison in 1887, he probably went to the new church.

We continued the walk to the corner of the Beijersstraat and the Muggesteeg, where Dirk and his mates committed their crime. The whole group was very surprised about the hight of his penalty: 5 years in prison, for standing on watch. The pictures were made there. Then we walked to the Blokhuispoort and the guide talked about the history of the prison and how life in prison was when Dirk was there. The group walked back to the museum, but Pieter and I went home, a three hours walk was a little much for me, but now that my broken ankle has healed, I'm very glad I can walk again!

It was very nice that in the group were also others members from the Van Erp family: A cousin of Karleen Veenker named Marjon Remmer, she is a grandniece of Pieter, and Jos van Erp and his sister Margriet, a grandnephes and a grandniece. They are grandchildren of Yvo Theodorus van Erp, a younger brother of Dirk and Dolf, born 22 juli 1869, died 12 januari 1942, who was a painter In Leeuwarder. His successsor in the company was his son Chris, and his successor is his son Peter. So there is another Van Erp company which has survived until now.

In the group were also some people who knew the Arts and Craft Movement and the work of Dirk van Erp. It would have been wonderful if you had been here to take this walk with us!

As you may have noticed: we had again a wonderful afternoon, we learned things we did not know about our hometown, and with a little family reunion!
All thanks to Dirk van Erp, Lutske Visser and you Isak.

We hope you are well too and send you our warm regards,

Marian

the corner of the Beijersstraat and the Muggesteeg, the scene of the crimes. The story being related by Pieter van den Ende.

Pieter continuing his talk about the events which led to young van Erp's incarceration.

The van Erp shop was located by Wolfshead Alley. This information and the drawing above thanks to Marian van Erp. The man who built the shop was named Hans Wolfszoon and he was a saddleback maker. The alley was named after him: de Wolvesteeg and when Dirk's father Willem started the shop he kept the name "In the wolf" The Wolfshead which was on the building was stolen in 1917, because the thieves thought it was made of copper, but is was actually wood with a copper color.

Here follow some photographs I took when Pieter van Erp gave my friend, Alan Thomsen, and I a private tour of the old shop. The shop is at a unique juncture. Finally closed after more than a century, the building is on the market and the business has been purchased by a young man who has re-opened two doors down from the old location. When one walks inside, "ghosts" of the old days are everywhere, writing on beams and doors, random objects which at this point seem purposeless which years earlier were vital to get the work accomplished.

The grand beginning of Nieuwestad, the avenue on which the van Erp shop is located. Here the old custom house, central to receiving goods to the city.

The new store and the old van Erp shop four doors further down the street.

The new shop.

The old shop.

Wolf Alley to the right of the old van Erp shop. The figure was removed some time ago.

Inside one of the upstairs storerooms.

Pieter and Alan in another upstairs storeroom.

A work space still in use for a little while longer.

Pieter coming through the portal from the front area upstairs back into the storage areas.

A rafter with long lost notations on it.

The steep stairs down to the basement.

The pinnacle of the place. Marian van Erp explained that it was mainly used for the storage of lamp glasses. They were breakable but not heavy, so they stored them high in the building.

Examples of the oil lamp and candle glasses which were used. (In the private collection of Pieter and Marian van Erp.)

The upstairs living quarters.

Alan and Pieter van Erp, the shop's current owner, on the roof of the old building.

Looking back out over the city of Leeuwarden from the rooftop terrace of the van Erp workshop.

The little lightwell courtyard between the front of the shop and the workroom, basement cellar and the upstairs storage rooms.

Alan and Pieter van Erp in the little lightwell where we discovered the founding brick installed.

The founding brick in the lightwell.

The full view from the back of Wolf Alley and the back of the building. Some multi-colored king graffitied to the upper portion of the back. Behind this building, a creative arts building where young people study stage, theater, and film.

Outside the old shop when van Erp was still apprenticing there.

The shop in 1953.

More pictures to follow later this week. A tour of Leeuwarden life today....

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Leeuwarden train station which was our first destination after landing in Amsterdam.

#1. THE DIRK VAN ERP EXHIBITION WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR SO LONG OPENED IN HOLLAND ON APRIL 6TH!

My friend, Alan Thomsen and I arrived in The Netherlands on April 4th and traveled to Leeuwarden from Amsterdam to attend the opening of the exhibition. Below: The Emmakade; the street where our bed and breakfast was located. (Two blocks from the Blokhuispoort prison where Dirk van Erp spent five years of his early life.) Below a little tour and some of the exhibit for your enjoyment and edification.

It rained that first night. This was my view from my bedroom window. Wilma, the home's owner, gave me her son's old room which was filled with toys. Alan stayed in the back bedroom looking out onto the urban jungle of backyards on the block. I could hardly stop looking at the view outside this window, rain or shine, night or day.

The front entrance to 25 Emmakade. We were on the third floor, up the most vertical, narrow stairs you have ever climbed!

My view the next morning and every sunny day thereafter. We brought Spring along with us. Flowers blooming everywhere! I was crazy about all the boats. Peter says to call them ships. He and his girlfriend live on the ship in front of Wilma's home and we got to know and like them a lot.

Looking toward the center of town on Emmakade. In the very back right is the prison which only recently has been turned into offices, a variety of restaurants, a book store, and an information center. It is a new and very popular place to visit.

Looking down Emmakade in the other direction. The streets are beautiful, wide and usually bike-filled. The pedestrian is at the bottom of the travel totem pole. Not like California at all.

This graphic on a building at the end of the first block from our residence.

This is the private residence and also second room of the antique shop across the street. I spent time with the couple who own it. They knocked out a wall to expand their living room and moved this huge stained glass fixture in. Tore out the opposite wall and put in five arched windows which look out onto their private garden. I thought it was a movie set. Once a year they open it to the public and sell things they have gathered from their travels all over the world that year.

The Pier Pander Museum, at the edge of a park near the Historisch Centrum. It is here that the exhibition is housed.

Setting up the exhibit the day before opening.

Lutske Vlieger, the archivist with whom I worked to make this exhibition happen. She was incredible. So sharp and determined. It would never have happened if she had not done such excellent research in advance. Our connecting was the start of the larger connection; that of Dirk van Erp's early life in Holland--unknown in the United States; and his later life in America; unknown in The Netherlands. What a great thing to be able to bring the two separate parts of his life together for the first time. The letters were loaned to the exhibit by Pieter and Marian van Erp. They were previously mounted on the outside of the shop on Neustadt which closed only a few years ago. Pieter gave Alan and me a private tour of the old shop which was very moving. More on that later.

Unpacking the objects pretty late in the day as far as I was concerned. It was the day before and they were concerned about the lamps' safety, so they waited until we arrived. Mad scramble even though you can't tell that from this photo. Alan titled it "Isak Lampenauer". Gotta admit, that made me smile! Fun and stress make for magic. The pace was furious and yet came together in the most wonderful way. The background information which the Historisch Centrum folk put together under the strict eye of Lutske made the show what it is. Deep with imagery and data never seen before. Rich little show for a first little show....

Beginning to try out placement of some of the lamps. Opening day--tomorrow!

Pretty great! Right? They knocked my socks off with the effort they went to. People loved it.

A D'Arcy Gaw triple candlestick and early shop photographs.

A teapot and early advertising.

Early Leeuwarden and the Nieuwestad, the street on which the van Erp shop was located.

An invoice from the early shop and a photograph of the shop in 1919 with Pieter's father in uniform and a fellow crafter, Geart de Vries .

The document of Dirk van Erp's arrest in Leeuwarden. Pretty remarkable research on Lutske's part to be able to come up with hard data like this. We still do not know what cell he occupied or more detailed information on what life was like for the nineteen year old van Erp once he entered a prison with some of the most hardened criminals in Holland. Five years must have been a very long time for a young man to serve who had made a series of grave errors in judgement he could not take back.

Blokhuispoort, the maximum security prison, and an image of the young Dirk van Erp from the secret registry of released prisoners, lower left. These images were circulated to the police departments throughout Friesland to give the officials some idea of who had been set free in the event they were involved in crime again once they had been released.

Blokhuispoort prison today. It has three open courtyards, one after the other. Pretty scary and imposing. Now upscale restaurants, office spaces inhabit former cells, a bookstore, an information center, and three restaurants. Macabre, ironic, even a youth Hostile as they call it named The Alibi.

Inside courtyard number one.

A view of one of the interiors.

A rogues gallery of some of the infamous. We couldn't find van Erp's picture in the bunch. Think that will change!

A closer look at the seasoned criminals who wound up in this maximum security penitentiary.

California bound. A passenger list of the Zaandam, the boat van Erp arrived on. An advertisement for the steamship line. A map of the Klondike region which van Erp traveled to on his hunt for gold along with a letter he wrote to his wife, Mary while on the hunt for wealth in Alaska's Yukon.

Dirk van Erp's death certificate, July 18, 1933.

Three early artillery shell vases, Mare Island, Vallejo period. circa 1906.

Pair of bamboo bookends from the workshop of Dirk van Erp, circa 1915 and a pair of Oak tree bookends from the Copper Shop, Oakland, circa 1908. To the right a Dirk van erp boudoir lamp circa 1915.

Two rare van Erp boxes: A large strapped box with monogram and an applied cut-out windmill motif. A unique complex cut-out floral design on its lid backed by a greened patina. This box was formerly in the collection of Don Ritchie, my friend and one of the earliest collector/dealers of Dirk van Erp in the Bay Area. As far as I know, it is the only such example known to have been made by the van Erp workshop/studio.

The objects in this exhibition were expressly chosen by Lutske Vlieger who had a vision which was very clear to her from the start. Her eye is an advanced one and had there been more time and more funds available, the exhibit would have included many more objects. Mounting an exhibition like this, one which involved the shipping and insurance of objects from one country, across an ocean, to another one was a monumental task for a small history center in a relatively small town to undertake. Undaunted, Lutske worked for over two years to get sponsors' approval and support. She had mine from the "get go". We also both counted on support from the staff of the center with whom she worked. She had initially chosen many more objects, exercising an advanced aesthetic which surprised me as she is a young archivist who was not initially conversant with the range of the studio's work. But we did our best under the circumstances and only wish we would have been able to indulge that aesthetic and mount a larger exhibition for the people of Leeuwarden as well as the visitors who will come to see the exhibit from all over Europe and beyond during the next seven months. As improbable a coming together as this has been, we have been able to pull it off. We all had a great deal of help from my friend, Alan Thomsen who did copious amounts of translation of documents in Dutch to English, from Karleen's first emails and information to Lutske's research in the magazine Leovardia which proved invaluable to all on both sides of the water and who accompanied me to Leeuwarden to help me navigate the city. His friendship,sensitive suggestions along the way, and his particular strength and daring lifting precarious glass cubes at the last minute must also be gratefully noted! Also particular thanks to Lutske's able assistant, Janneke Visser, and the Historisch Centrum's director, Geart de Vries, whose generous approval and energy in bringing this exhibit together was crucial and welcome. Everyone worked so hard to make this a reality. This may not be the biggest exhibit, but it is the very first. And of course we all hope it will not be the last. Thanks finally to Pieter and Marian van Erp whose participation has given the credibility of the family name, documentation, and personal history as well as the van Erp shop letters all of which add to the exhibit a unique authenticity and character.

_________________________________________________________________________________

At long last, Dirk van Erp’s work is now on exhibit in the city and land of his birth.
“Dirk van Erp Leeuwarder Copper Artist Made in America (1862-1933)".
The Pier Pander Museum is holding in its current season (April 7- October 28) an exhibition about the life and work of Dirk van Erp, artist in copper born in Leeuwarden.
Van Erp emigrated in 1890 to the U.S. He settled in California and grew to be one of America’s foremost copper artists. He became quite well known in the Arts and Crafts Movement which advocated traditional hand-made craft.
Dirk van Erp’s work can now be seen for the first time in the Netherlands at the Pier Pander Museum. Pander and Van Erp were moreover contemporaries and fellow artists, both Frisian emigrants from modest lineage who went on to become successful artists.”

A stroll along this Leeuwarden canal leads one toward the historic location of the Van Erp shop.

​DIRK

DIRK