Holland-Alaska 2004

Holland-Alaska Exchange 2004
- who was involved -

Peter Hoevenaars - Dutchman residing in Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands. He is a well-known photographer and climber in the Denali area, having scaled Mt. McKinley in 1979. Peter initiated and organized the Exchange in 2004, and is also active promoting the 2006 Exchange.

Kate Wool - Photographer from Fairbanks, Alaska.
Photos from Kate's visit to Holland

Kate Wool's web site

Anke Hoeper - German photographer who brought to the Exchange event photos she took from all over Alaska, Barrow to Kodiak.

David Mollet - Alaskan painter

Tony and Julia Crocetto - Artists from Talkeetna, Alaska
Tony and Julia's web site

McLeod - Bluegrass band from Anchorage, Alaska
McLeod's web site

Personal perceptions of the 2004 trip

Denise Martin & Jim Kerr - Musicians from Anchorage Alaska who play hammered dulcimer and guitar (Jim also juggles).
Denise Martin's web site
Jim Kerr's web site

Personal perceptions of the 2004 trip

- what took place -

In May and June of 2004, Hoevenaars arranged for the Alaskan artists to visit his town of Bergen op Zoom over a two-week period. They stayed in the homes of other local artists, and brought their art and music performances through events that Hoevenaars organized, including:

Photographers Anke Hoeper and Kate Wool mounted an exhibit of Alaska photos shot from Barrow to Kodiak; some taken by Peter Hoevenaars. Painters David Mollett and Tony and Julia Crocetto also showed their work in the centuries-old Markiezenhof Museum.

Alaska’s renowned bluegrass band, McLeod, and musicians Denise Martin and Jim Kerr gave several performances, and they also played for the students of the local music school and for the opening of the Alaska exhibit at the Markiezenhof.

During this same two-week period, representatives of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute hosted a culinary open house featuring their products. A local movie theater presented special screenings of “Nanook of the North”, and dog sledding demonstrations were held in the town’s main park.

This unique presentation of Alaska art and culture was made possible through Peter Hoevenaars' hard work and the generous donations of many Dutch sponsors. This cultural exchange was well-received by the community, and it was lauded by both the Mayor of Bergen op Zoom, Peter van der Velden, and the U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands, Clifford Sobel.