This summer Stick Together gallery owner Audrey Sykes was an invited docent and private guide for the Netherlands National Gallery – Rijksmuseum – and the Vincent Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Sykes and guests in the Gallery of Honor holding the largest collection of Dutch Masters artworks, including Rembrandt van Rijn, Frans Hals, and Johannes Vermeer.
The invitation followed from Sykes’ published guidebook to Amsterdam, a 400-page MOON guidebook contracted under Hatchette Publishing, the third largest trade and educational book publisher in the world.
In addition to being a guest on Apple’s Postcard Academy podcasts (below), Sykes’ experience in the art world and expertise in Dutch 17th Century art and French impressionism led to an invitation to perform 2 hour guided tours through the most prestigious and visited museum in the country.
“Audrey was knowledgeable, bright, engaging and passionate in sharing information about each painting. Her insight about Van Gaugh’s view of his landscape was captivating. We looked at brush strokes as if he was sharing a personal perspective with us. The works of Vincent will never look the same again,” wrote one visitor. “She mixed just the right amount of history and art appreciation in both museums. Her extensive knowledge and conversational way of sharing was spot on, we learned so much.”
Why accept the invitation? Sykes said it was a flattering gesture, and a great activity to get away from her day to day art dealings.
“I think it’s important to educate people who want to learn about art as much as possible, and from both a digestible and approachable angle,” said Sykes. “There’s more latitude in an art museum experience than just snapping photos.”
– by Jamie Bouwer