My mission is to: Spread beauty. Bring Joy. Make memories. Together.

Rembrandt Remastered | The Grand Rehearsal is celebrating the 20th anniversary in streetpainting of Planet Streetpainting's Founder, Peter Westerink. He funded and presented his very first pavement art project in 2003 (Utrecht, Netherlands), in collaboration with Julie Kirk and Melanie Stimmell (both USA). Subject at the time was a painting of Dirck van Baburen. It was the start of a 20 year long adventure. 

It seemed very fitting to celebrate this milestone with a rendering of Holland's most renowned painter and painting of all time, Rembrandt's Night Watch. At the same time it is also a try-out for a new challenge: bringing 'our' XL version of the Night Watch to every continent once, for all those people who are not able to come and see it in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Not a mere copy, but live experience instead.

My aim is to temporarily recreate and restore Rembrandt's Night Watch, one of the world's most famous paintings, to it's fullest glory. Not only that. By doing so I am taking the first steps to eventually create the world's largest rendering of this Masterpiece ever. 

Peter Westerink (Streetpeter) developped and initiated the idea. Being a native Dutchman and very much involved in streetpainting professionaly, it seemed only natural and a matter of time to merry classical art and street art in some way, shape or form. To be able to further promote the idea (of a travelling Night Watch), Peter felt that the best way to do that, is to allow people a sneak preview, a showcase. Teaming up with the city of Wilhelmshaven and their Int. Street Art Festival made that possible.

Fore sure, Rembrandt's Night Watch has inspired many, and many have copied this masterpiece, in different mediums and interpretations, such as: oil paintings, art photography, statues, and live costumed performances. There was even an underground replica of the Night Watch in the Netherlands in a deserted mine, created with charcoals early 1900. However, I know of only one true-size copy of the painting done by a pavement artist in black & white pastels, completed about three decades ago. No doubt the Rijksmuseum has invited pastel artists for artistic collaborations, but after having done a lot of online research, no similar results came up. 

One can expect a high-quality and eyecatching live demonstration, performed by a hand-picked crew of maestri madonnari: pavement artists that have earned this prestigeous title by winning the I Madonnari festival in Grazie di Curtatone, Italy. The birthplace of modern day pavement art and 3D street art. It is a 24 hour competiton where artists compete in three categories: simplici, qualificati and meastri. You have to win your category to be able to advance to the next level. It truly is fascinating and impressive to see a masterpiece emerge, chalk stroke by chalk stroke, out of seemingly thin air over the course of 5 to 10 days perhaps. It is simply beautiful to witness.

Hopefully this event will be performed once on every continent: Asia, Oceania, Africa/Middle-East/Gulf region, Europe, North/Latin-America, and South-America (Antarctica excluded). Both indoor (i.e. museums) and outdoor venues (i.e. festivals) qualify.

It is an artistic journey, on which we embarked in 2023 from the port of Wilhelmshaven, Germany. There is no time-table and no fixed itinerary. We will take it step-by-step and continent by continent.

That is certainly worth exploring! Just send me an email and we will take it from there.

That's a always fair question. I can provide a budget estimate once most of the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed. Budget is expected to vary depending on: travel distances, canvas & crew size, duration of the event, indoor or outdoor venue. And also depending on the nature of the event context: is it commercial or is it a not-for-profit/community oriented happening. Either way, it is not rocket-science, set-up can be quick and simple, and as you know, we already had our grand rehearsal.

Assuming there is a venue offering to host, including the needed facilities, then the remaining costs will be those of hospitality (travel&stay), equipment and art materials, and last but not artist fees (if not sponsored). Of course you are free to engage partners and sponsors, as well as initiate a (local) crowdfunding / gofundme type of campaign to get the ball rolling. The main thing is that we can make things happen together, and although money certainly is a very important factor in such matters, it should not be the decisive factor. Where there is a will, there is a way - I say!

Yes, it would. Also other works of Rembrandt (or other Dutch Masters), if that would be more suitable for your event and audience. In other words, I am open to your suggestions.

The finished masterpiece is currently in storage in Wilhelmshaven. We would like to continue to work on it, since 'a restoration is never really done' and we did not get to do the work on the frame yet. We hope we can have it on display again in a new venue, either as it is now, or as a continuing live demonstration for people to enjoy.