By Nancy O’Brien

One of Amsterdam’s most beautiful green spaces will be the setting for The Big Draw this October, with an outdoor event designed to encourage visitors to enjoy creating art in the open.

Amsterdamse Bos is modelled on the English landscaped parks, such as Richmond Park in London. The forest lies south west of the city, between Amsterdam and Amstelveen, and was constructed on a polder created 13 feet below sea level.

The Big Draw will showcase the unique public realm of the forest and take place in an area of contrast between nature and the built environment. The small swimming pool, designed by Jacoba Mulder in the 1950’s, will be transformed as the concrete structure becomes a canvas.  

Artist and Project Leader Julia Hope said:

"Our theme will be water life as it merges with the forest. We invite adults and children to come along, pick up a chalk and fill this space with drawings of animals, birds, insects and wildlife".

Julia has regularly taken inspiration from the forest, and was particularly keen to encourage people to come together and draw in an area of Amsterdamse Bos where the nature is at its most beautiful.  

The Director of Amsterdamse Bos, Evert Middelbeek said:

"We are delighted to be part of the Big Draw festival and to host a unique art project around one of our swimming pools. What better source of inspiration for drawing can there be than nature, water, air and earth with its beautiful plants and animals. We welcome everyone to join us outside, between the autumn leaves, to use their imagination with chalk and leave a temporary mark in the forest".

Julia is running the project with Nancy O’Brien, an architecture education and green space advisor. They will be supported by a team of three artists who will work with adults and children to create the collaborative piece of art.

The Big Draw in Amsterdamse Bos will take place on Sunday 12 October from 12.00 to 16.00.