Reminiscing over the years that we, the Salon, have been together I realize only now that we have grown up together.
We saw each others joy, pain, children, sorrows and other emotions.
So the Salon is a reflection also of life itself. The Salon goes beyond decorative painting. Evidently we meet all once a year; but the communication after lingers on daily. And friendship goes to all corners of the world. Professionally many among us meet frequently due to shared projects and teaching for each others´ students. The Salon is very much alive. Personally I am very happy with the outcome of what once started. I consider it as a temple and worshipping of each others abilities and visions. The Salon can only exist by keeping it alive and bringing in new energy. That means a lot of enthusiasm of us individually. As in life, the Salon evolves and renews slowly. It is as the "Circle Dance" we did with Don Gray at all closing dinners. We all hold hands in a special "chain"-like way. One may break away from that chain of people but through a clever system the Salon itself will remain strong. I have witnessed through all these years so many talents. Women and men.
To come to the Salon is a special thing to do. Sacrifices are made financially, in time and in technical sense. One has to travel to meet up again with the Salon-friends. So the gathering MUST be something special when so many come out once a year. And to create a Salon, done by prominent -members, is something that inflicts ones own life very much.
The main issue is decorative painting in all different forms. Ornamental, grisailles, imitating materials, Trompe l’oeil or sign-writing.
Whatever skill or talent one has, only the very best will be part of the Salon. And only the finest personalities in life are found within the Salon.
We all worked very hard to create the only and first unique gathering in the world....without discriminating on believes and religion.....you have to be a good and trustworthy both as a person and painter.
I came to the very first gathering in Belgium by mistake in 1992,but what a revelation it was. Then in 1996 I met many, many more beautiful characters that influenced my work and also personality. They uplifted my thinking, and so many from all over the world became closer friends then my own neighbours. They sustained my ideals for a new group that uplifts the craft with knowledge and technique, new visions and startling surprises in a new adventure . The prediction for the future came out, I realize only now. In 1997 the Salon was re-founded in the Netherlands in the form as we know it now. Then 1998 the first (Kirwin-) Salon-USA was a fact. So many new talents came in that Salon and determined further the future. We never saw so many public-visitors as in Sweden which was again repeated in Paris. The decorative craft proved to be alive and kicking.
