A Passion for Folk-Art: Jantje Blokhuis-Mulder | Darin Squire
Jantje Blokhuis-Mulder’s home gallery looks as if it has captured a part of the beach.
The gallery, JAREA Art Studio, is situated in the community of Bocabec, N.B., along the Passamaquoddy Bay. The location is breathtaking with its encasement into nature by the ocean. The walls are covered in perfect symmetry with folk art depicting seascapes and their wares. Shelves are lined with sculptures made from refurbished metal and natural elements. Jantje, renowned as one of Canada’s top celebrated folk artists, has excelled in developing her artistic practice here, with the support of her family.
Jantje’s folk art is created by hand from reclaimed items found in nature, garage sales, home renovations, packaging, and discovered treasures during beach walks. Where the majority of people see a stone, Jantje sees a little house. A piece of driftwood becomes a pier, a discarded fishing line becomes a tiny clothesline. Even old utensils are bent and molded into metal sculptures.
“Most of my materials are gathered from walks with my granddaughter along the beach,” said Jantje.
Jantje’s daughter and son-in-law, Andrea Mulder-Slater and Geoff Slater, are also artists whose works are displayed in the gallery. Andrea is a mixed-media painter and potter, and Geoff is best known for his line paintings.
“JAREA Art Studio is a family of artists who create original handmade art and craft that’s fine, folk, functional and fun,” said Jante, sharing her website’s tagline.
From Hobby to Career
Jantje immigrated to Ontario from the Netherlands with her family when she was twelve. She didn’t speak any English when she arrived.
“It was hard in school, not knowing the language.”
Jantje found solace in drawing during this difficult time in her life, but instead of turning her love for art into a career, she would go on to become an accountant. Her parents wanted her to learn a trade that would provide an income. They were supportive of her art, but only as a hobby.
But when the time came to retire, Jantje and her husband decided to move to the East Coast. Her children soon followed and encouraged her to pursue her creative talents full time.
Jantje started JAREA Art Studio 1993, when mother-daughter team Jantje Blokhuis-Mulder and Andrea Mulder-Slater combined their names and their talent to form Jarea, according to their website. Completely self-taught, her folk art would eventually be highly sought after throughout Canada and the United States.
“What I create is not difficult, anyone can do it.”
There is a genuine humility and humbleness that comes forth when Jantje speaks about her art, yet the skill-level evident in each piece speaks contradiction to the “not difficult” claim as does the articles and awards that have filled her many artist years.
Jantje and her daughter also started KinderArt® in 1997, an online resource for teaching art, with a hope their philanthropy would allow underprivileged children and cash-strapped schools have access to art lessons and supplies.
“KinderArt has the largest collection of art lessons in the world,” Jantje’s daughter, Andrea said.
Advertisements on the KinderArt website now allow for a stream of income so they can continue to create their own art and support those in need.
Even though Jantje is a sought after an award-winning artist, she feels her biggest success is in her support of the underdog. She has spent years supporting and encouraging young people to follow their heart to create.
Jantje said she’s learned to be true to herself.
“Keep doing what you love, not just what you think will sell, because ultimately there's a buyer for everything that we make.”
Edited by CreatedHere.