The morning started out at the African Museum on Leuvensesteenweg, Tervuren. The museum will soon be shutting for three years in order to undertake a major refurbishment. Our visit included a trip around the underground storage areas that are usually closed to the public including this elephant's graveyard (below).
The museum is open until the end of August so if you couldn't make it in June you have until 31 August to grab a ‘last chance to see’ visit.
Following a light lunch at Het Bootjeshuis Café at the town end of the Tervuren Park we made our way to Tom Frantzen’s Sculpture Garden and Workshop in Duisburg.
Garden of delight
Tom Frantzen is a very well known Belgian sculptor responsible for many, often animal-based, installations in Belgium and around the world. He is the creator of the Bandundu Water Jazz Band water feature at the end of Avenue Tervuren and Tom gave us an extended guided tour around his private 'garden of delight'.
In his workshop Tom (above) showed us work in progress and talked about his techniques and the various issues involved in constructing public artwork.
The entrance to the garden itself is guarded by a majestic Buddha (above) - with some binoculars!
Tom often works with water features and always with a sense of humour.
His extensive 'back garden' is full of sculptures - almost all made by cast metal.
Everyone was taking photos - including some of the sculptures!
Having spent well over two hours in the garden we could easily have spent more time browsing around the grounds. Many thanks to Tom for his time and to Rita Woodward for arranging a truly great day out in Tervuren.
