Nijkleaster is honoring Jentsje Popma in his hundredth year of birth with the publication of a book about his work and life and two exhibitions. During a festive gathering in the Grote Kerk in Leeuwarden on Saturday, June 12, the book about Jentsje Popma was presented and the retrospective exhibition of his work opened.

Jentsje Popma received the first copy of the book about him from the hands of Jan Henk Hamoen, receiving a standing ovation. Alderman Hein Kuiken then opened the exhibition. In between the speeches, Janna van der Honing and Herman Woltman performed songs inspired by Jentsje Popma's work.

The opening was intended to be a celebration for many. Unfortunately, it could not be, but thanks to a relaxation of coronagraphs, some fifty invited guests were still able to attend the opening. In addition, the festive gathering could be followed online and can still be seen today on You Tube.

Exhibition Grote Kerk Leeuwarden

The exhibition at the Grote Kerk in Leeuwarden is open free of charge from June 15 through October 1 (note: this date has been brought forward), Tuesday through Saturday.

Opening hours: 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Until Saturday, June 26, you can reserve a time for your visit here. From June 26, reservations are no longer necessary. Then you are welcome without an appointment. The only restriction is that a maximum of 50 people may attend. Therefore, if there is a large crowd, you may have to wait a while at the entrance.
Keep an eye on the website of the Grote Kerk(jacobijner.nl, grotekerkleeuwarden.nl, kunstindegrotekerkleeuwarden.nl) for current opening hours (the church may be closed during a mourning or wedding service).
The exhibition has already attracted more than a thousand visitors.

On display is a selection of Jentsje Popma's work: drawings, portraits, a work of glass appliqué, the Ichthus made of chamotte clay from the former Diaconessenhuis in Leeuwarden, some ceramic heads and especially painted landscapes. There are also interesting objects and photographs in the showcase and a continuous slide show.
The book about Jentsje Popma is also available for sale here (€24.90).

In the reception area are four panels with one hundred photographs of hynsteblommen, made by students of the OntwerpFBRK ROC Friese Poort Drachten and Nijkleaster Jorwert, as a tribute to Jentsje Popma.

On September 30, we hope to pay special attention to Jentsje Popma's centennial, if possible also in the Grote Kerk.

Receptionists wanted

Decisive for opening hours is the number of volunteers available to receive visitors. This number has not yet been reached. Should you feel something for this, or do you know people who are interested in this, we would be grateful for any degree of cooperation and would love to hear from you (via info@grotekerkleeuwarden.nl).

Sales exhibition

Following the summer exhibition, there will be a large sales exhibition of Jentsje Popma's work at the church in Jorwert, on Saturday, Oct. 9 (10 a.m.-5 p.m.) and Sunday, Oct. 10 (noon-17 p.m.). The offerings include paintings of landscapes and portraits, ceramic heads and reliefs, stained glass windows and drawings. A total of 60 to 70 items, which are well worth viewing because of the different techniques Jentsje Popma used. This includes work that has never before been offered for sale. Admission is free. Those who wish to view Popma's work without obligation are also welcome!

Great response to call

That the work of Jentsje Popma lives among people was evident from the enormous response to the call for (un)known work by Jentsje Popma, for the book and the exhibition. About one hundred and twenty-five people contacted us and referred us to over two hundred and fifty works of art. Often these reports were accompanied by wonderful and sometimes moving stories about the backgrounds of that work and encounters with Popma. The responses were so many that by no means everything could find a place in the book, nor in the exhibition. But we are very grateful for all the contributions we received, which alone have played an important role in the realization of the book and the retrospective exhibition.