Jaap Bongers
    Email
/
    Website
/

   

Jaap Bongers is a practicing artist who has had many solo exhibitions in the United States, Holland, Sweden, and Denmark. He has authored a number of publications and has received many public commissions for his art. Born in Holland, he was educated both there and in Italy. He attended the Stads Academy of Fine Arts in Holland. This five-year, full-time (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) program provided rigorous training in a broad spectrum of arts.

Following this training, Bongers studied for a year at ... view more »

ARTIST LAUREATE AWARD INFO

What do you do now? Has your art evolved or changed?

Coming from Europe, for me it was a sign of acceptance in the art community here.

What is one piece of advice you would give to an emerging artist?

My art has evolved. It is still very much 3-D but mostly photo based. I still teach at Harker Academy in San Jose, where I?m also Chair of the Art Department. Here?s a recent article that appeared in the Harker Quarterly: http://news.harker.org/art-instructors-annual-trip-aids-needy-children-in-africa/

Briefly, how would you describe the state of the arts locally, as well as national and beyond?

Don't join the rat race. Create what you are passionate about. Don't emulate the work of other artists.

Locally: the ICA is wonderful and the Art Museum is still unfriendly to the local artists. Nationally: too much technology for my taste (often too easy)