3 Generations

A bit over 40 years ago my dad, Rudi Borré, a Rotary member, was the brains behind the bianual Art exhibition by Rotary Club Aalter. Over the years it has become really big and an important artfare in the Flanders. Not just the art but also the location -a Disney style castle in a not so perfect condition- makes it a unique and unforgettable event.

It has evolved a lot : during the first edition a group of Rotarians went to sleep in the castle to guard the art as the castle didn’t have decent locks; the heating wasn’t working and they had to put fires in the large chimneys to warm up the building. In general, the castle was in a rather bad condition. Their ‘candle light dinner’ was world famous (in the region). We, the kids at that time, were put at work to sell tickets for drinks, the ones that were a bit older could serve the drinks, and when we could we would roam the unused parts of the castle, bedrooms, changing rooms, basement,… and let our phantasy do it’s job.

Today a lot has changed. For better and for worse. The level of the art has gone up, the castle has been partly restored, but these changes come with a price ; central heating has replaced the fires in the huge chimneys, the candle light dinner has now become the ‘tables d’amis‘ without candles -risk of fire-, the bar is now in a tent next to the castle, kids are no longer allowed to work, roaming around the unused parts is strictly forbidden, and an alarm system keeps thieves at bay, to name but a few differences.

In short, has become a lot more professional, but a lot less romantic!

Still, the whole event still is magical to me, in my mind I am still the little kid that used to roam the forbidden areas of the magnificent castle. The fact that I am now participating as an artist for the 5th time certainly has something to do with it too. They believed in me at a time I didn’t even believe in myself yet, and offered me my first exhibition, next to my dad who has been participating as an artist for a couple of times already, and they have supported me ever since.

But the magic continues, as this year, in it’s 20th edition, my daughter Astrid, 3th generation artist, is showing her work next to us, for the first time, which is rather an exceptional event!

See you all there I would say!

Also read my article about the Cheries
Follow me in IG to see how things go there @katti_borre_the_artist
The program and the participating artists are mentioned below.
The photo above, Kersfeest, shows the castle, the cherries, and is mine

GESELECTEERDE KUNSTENAARS
Agnes VANRANSBEECK, André GOEZU, Anneke LAUWAERT, Bilal BAHIR, Chris MEULEMANS,
Chris VANDERSCHAEGHE, Eddy WALRAVE, Erlend VAN LANDEGHEM, Francois BLOMMAERTS, Giovanni WINNE, Guy DE JAEGHER, Hervé MARTIJN, Hubert MINNEBO, Jan DE VLIEGHER, Jan DESMARETS, Jelle VAN HULLE, Jeroen BEIRENS, Johan CLARYSSE, Karl MECHNIG, Katti BORRÉ, Lieven DEMUNTER, Linde ERGO, Marc DE CORTE, Marc GALLE, Marianne TURCK, Marjolein LABEEÛ, Mark DEDRIE, Nico VAEREWIJCK, Niels KETELERS, RENIERE & DEPLA, Peter DEPELCHIN, Peter LAGAST, Peter VERMANDERE, Raf VANDEWALLE,
Roeland KOTSCH, Rudi BORRÉ, Saar DE BUYSERE, Sarah VAN HOE, Steven PETERS CARABALLO, Veerle ROOMS, Wannes VANWIJNSBERGHE, Werner WATTY, Willy VAN EECKHOUT, Winke BESARD, Yves BEAUMONT, Yves VELTER

VRIENDEN VAN DE BIENNALE
Agathe DE ROUCK, Andrée CLÉMENT, Astrid VAN NEVEL, Axel VAN ICKX, Björn COMHAIRE, Brecht BOSSUYT, Christine VANDEN BUSSCHE, Claudia NAKAYAMA, Ellen SOETE, Eva LOOTENS, Guy DU CHEYNE, Johan GELPER, Joke RAES, Koen DE CLERCQ, Kristin VAN TUYNE, Lut DEPOORTERE, Marleen VANDER CLEYEN, Mikaëla VERBEKE, Moniek VANDEN BERGHE, Peter DENISSEN, Remi IMPENS, Senay VEREECKE, Tom FIERS, WOCSY