Deventer painter Gustave Nouel from Aruba is currently in Aruba until June for special ‘Pro Deo’ church projects, to the honor and glory of the Lord.
Gustave (gustavenouel.nl who also became chess champion in Deventer on April 30th last…) will now paint in a studio set up for him in the church, as a specially invited guest of the Protestant church in Aruba. Because the Aruban church involved could not bear all the costs for this promotional project with Gustave, Christian organizations in Deventer, such as Gemeente OASE and House of Hope, also contributed by covering Gustave’s plane ticket for this biblical Art Mission, thereby demonstrating their support for the initiative of Reverend Kees Mos in Aruba regarding the Biblical Museum of the Protestant Churches. The initiator of the Biblical Museum, Reverend Van den Doel, personally donated an extensive collection of Bibles from various countries for this museum in the last century. Some Bibles are even centuries old; Gustave’s timeless paintings naturally possess visual value… Because no foundation had been established yet at the time, the project also ‘died’ following the unexpected passing of Reverend Van den Doel, and the paintings were safely stored in the church and almost forgotten. Reverend Kees Mos, an experienced retiree and ‘unpaid’ volunteer, guides the Aruban Protestant church as an interim minister. When he ‘discovered’ Nouel’s paintings, he immediately wanted to meet the painter. Reverend Kees Mos contacted Gustave in the Netherlands and even visited his studio. At their first meeting during an exhibition by the artists’ association DAK (https://www.deventeramateurkunstenaars.nl/lessen-en-begeleiders-1) in the Lebuïnus Church, Rev. Mos already openly told some of Gustave’s students that he wanted to bring Gustave back to Aruba… Reverend Kees Mos also succeeded in bringing the Aruban painter back to Aruba to create two new paintings (‘KING DAVID’ and ‘THE CREATION’) for the Biblical Museum of the Aruban Protestant Churches as an ‘Art Mission’.
The initiator of the Biblical Museum, Reverend Van den Doel, personally donated an extensive collection of Bibles from various countries to this museum last century. Some Bibles are even centuries old; Gustave’s ‘timeless’ paintings had added value…
Because no formal foundation had yet been established for this museum, the project also ‘died’ following the unexpected passing of Reverend Van den Doel, and the paintings were stored in the church. Reverend Kees Mos chose to assist the Aruban Protestant churches to the best of his ability as a retired unpaid volunteer serving as an interim minister.
Kees Mos’s contacts with Gustave Nouel have resulted in current intentions to jointly promote the Biblical Museum in Aruba and to explore options for potential museums that Aruban artists have been dreaming of since the last century… and to investigate projects that could be valuable to the Aruban community. It is also intended to establish a new foundation during Gustave’s stay to help to reach this goal. Crucial first step to effective cultural activities appears to be a foundation with capable people willing to lead such projects. And, of course, securing the necessary preconditions for this. A well-known Biblical Museum in Aruba can, in any case, motivate more people to be inspired by the Bible.
