Unreadable

Jan MIECHELS (Arnhem 1916 - 1996) As an artist, he is self-taught. In 1940, together with his brother Henk, the graphic artist, he rented the Bolkstoren, a tower of the old city wall in Arnhem and set it up as a studio. The Battle of Arnhem drove Jan Miechels out of Arnhem in 1944, where he did not return until 1948. In that intervening time, he had made an important decision. He did not return to the office, but chose art permanently. In 1949, Jan Miechels became involved in the first Open Air Exhibition in Park Sonsbeek, where he provided educational guidance and guided tours. From then on, the stream of requests to give lectures on art for folk colleges, universities and associations did not abate. In 1966, he became a full-time consultant for the visual arts and organiser of travelling exhibitions at the Gelderland Cultural Council. After the dissolution of this Council in 1977, the exhibition department was transferred to the Gelderland Visual Arts Foundation and Jan Miechels became its director. In 1981, he took leave due to reaching retirement age. Besides a day job, filled with organising exhibitions and talking about art, Jan Miechels managed to draw and paint an oeuvre that commands admiration in terms of quality and quantity. Quiet and subdued work in which the landscape occupies a large place. Oil paint, acrylics, tempera and pencil lead are the main means of expression. Over the years, his work has been exhibited in many places at home and abroad.