Exhibition 'Frij as in Fûgel'

Ulke Wiersma (*1940 Koudum) worked as a teacher in special education in Sneek. After his retirement in 2000 he was able to focus more on painting. Once he obtained an Akte LO Tekenen (certificate in drawing) and also in other creative fields he regularly made himself useful. In painting he trained further at Parnas in Leeuwarden.

His earlier work is characterized by great stylization: tight lines and even surfaces. In the course of time his touch became looser. He also began to use other materials besides paint, such as gesso and cardboard. His work can be categorized by period: during a certain time Wiersma focuses on a theme, only to leave it behind at a certain moment and focus on a completely different subject.

The paintings on display in the Nicolaaskerk next summer have birds as their subjects. The canvases have a special format: they are narrow and vertical. The birds are each placed on an object: against or in a tree trunk, on a bollard, a fence, etc.
In painting, Wiersma drew inspiration from what he himself considers the spiritual nature of the birds. "They have a special place in the spiritual world. They are considered messengers of heaven. They are symbols of freedom and transcendence. They rise above everyday reality so that we experience a higher reality - something of the great mystery."

The paintings invite the viewer to become still and enter into a meditative mood. Short texts accompanying the paintings can also serve as inspiration in this regard.

The work is on display in the Nicolaaskerkerk in Dearsum during Tsjerkepaad on Saturday afternoons from July 5 through August 30 from 1:30-17:00 pm.