Piet R.I.P.

thebaz

Just heard the sad news that one of my favorite subjects Piet died at the weekend . Super Artist and innovative Graphic designer, and jazz musician.
I'll miss him greatly, and blackrock won't be the same , cultural icon gone



Im going to dedicate my forthcoming exhibition to his memory
R.I.P.

smelltheglove

Thats a lovely shot baz and I'm sure it prtrays his character greatly.

RIP Piet 'May he rest in peace and perpetual light shine upon him'

Ricky91t

Great shot and may he rest in peace!
Nice to dedicate an exhibition to him

AnimalRights

As the previous 2 posters said.

liamtinney

Great photo, may he rest in peace, would be a nice photo for the cover of the year book, as i am sure there would no objections as your photo's (work) are held in high regard on this forum

Covey

Sorry to hear that Barry. Nice gesture also.

stabo

Looks like a man who could tell you a few storys.May he R.I.P.

AnCatDubh

Piet's image has the hallmark of being a piece of the landscape. You have photographed him a number of times I think.
re:the above image - wonderful to have captured him - quite timeless.

A real nice thoughtful gesture with the exhibition.

TelePaul

I saw Piet (Louis?) last week. He wasn't looking so well, but he seemed so content, sitting on that bench outside the Ulster Bank, smoking his Hamlets. Great character.

thebaz

thanks all , very upset as i got to know him quite well over the past 2 years , and he used to inspire me to keep going, when i wanted to pack up . He loved this image , which i gave him, i'm going to speak to the pavillion people tomorrow , about dedicating the show to a cultural icon (in my mind) of the borough of Dun Laoghaire, blackrock and his native Holland

we were both born on the 9th of november

democrates

Like TelePaul I saw him last week in his office, only ever exchanged a friendly smile and nod apart from a few bob for drink (unless I'm confusing him with someone else?). Regretful now it was not more, but it never seemed needed as he exuded that sagely peaceful contentment. Too late now and the song "In the living years" springs to mind.

I think the dedication is a good idea thebaz, you're in a position to ensure his positive philosophy lives on through others, like ripples in a pond.

petercox

Sad to see a character like that passing on. He reminds me of someone we only knew as 'The Major' who lived around Merrion Square for many years, but who died around 1993. Similar character by the look of him - he would often times draw to attention and salute passers-by.

Great stories, and a face that told many more.

Cheers,
Peter

thebaz

My head is melted as another freind died at the weekend , so following Piets tradition of keep working till the end took a few around town and Grogans

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebaz/





my coffee or Blackrock wont be the same , tomorrow or again

smelltheglove

Very sorry to hear your bad news baz. You have a great talent of catching a persons charachter timelessly. Keep working till the end as your good friend said but do it with all the emotion you feel.

I know as crazy as it sounds when it comes to any form of art work emotion comes into it completely, you can have a world class guitarist play a technically brilliant solo but an ok guitarist can put every ounce of himself into it and result in a jaw dropping performance. Spo what I mean is keep working till the end but work with every ounce of happiness and sadness you have met:o

Dades

As as Blackrock resident I was used to the sight of him lording it over all of us while we hurried about like ants!

His absence will be conspicuous. Thanks for posting, Baz.

Ron DMC

Only heard about this just now in the South County Dublin forum.

He was always such a great character to have around. Don't think I've ever seen him not smiling.

Great photo by the way Baz!

thebaz wrote: »

we were both born on the 9th of november

Strangely enough that is also my birthday. Really brings it home, only a few weeks away.

R.I.P.

OK-Cancel-Apply

Yeah I just saw the flowers on the bench in the village about an hour ago. Piet was the first person that came to mind - perhaps they should put a plaque on his bench, or even a completely new bench.

What a character.

thebaz

An empty Blackrock in more ways than one



gone but not forgotten - Piet Sluis R.I.P.

OK-Cancel-Apply

Smelltheglove, thebaz, Dades, democrates... I wonder how many other boardsies knew Piet and live nearby. You guys could be my next door neighbours for all I know!

Army Of One

thebaz wrote: »

An empty Blackrock in more ways than one



gone but not forgotten - Piet Sluis R.I.P.

Sad news I like the photos, they capture something I cannot put my finger one.

giddynurse

aw man piet was brilliant. i live up the road from him. he was always smiling or singing or talking to people.. sadly in the last few months i saw him falling a lot !! i walked through the village and didnt see him on the bench.i thought it was weird.. then i saw flowers and i had a bad feeling.. and when i had a good look.. i saw cards and wreaths and i was like ''NOOO!!'' its definitely the end of an era

TelePaul

OK-Cancel-Apply wrote: »

Smelltheglove, thebaz, Dades, democrates... I wonder how many other boardsies knew Piet and live nearby. You guys could be my next door neighbours for all I know!

I don't want to seem like I'm losing sight of what happened, but yeah, it seems like a good few of the boardsies visit that way. I'm quite close myself most days...maybe I'll see you guys around.

thebaz

i live on the border of cabinteely, dun laoghaire and sallynoggin - Piet introduced me to insomnia coffee shop in blackrock , where you can meet all sorts - anyway theres a service on tuesday , like everything with the great man , a bit sketchy at this stage

netanyahu

so , what say ye of sending some letters, emails and stories about Piet to the council to see if theres chance of them funding a bronze statue or something of equal permanence of him for the bench? i think they will understand if enough people share their love and stories of Piet, and this seems it would be the right thing to do it just seems to obvious - i woudl just be worried it would be distatefully done. it would be truly a lovely lovely thing to do and i know you all think so too so lets get workin on it whaddayas say?

fluffyVW

So sorry to hear.

Wonderful shots you have of him and I'm sure his memory will last.

R.I.P.

AnCatDubh

Hey all,
I see the Liam Collins has written a piece on Piet in the Sunday Indo. I'm not sure if people realise that Piet was honoured by the national gallery with the purchase of one of his artistic pieces. Piet himself apparently was 'astonished' by the purchase by the Gallery from a 'Dutchman'.

Also of note, his story is quite sad through personal tragedy when his wife drowned off the Dun Laoghaire pier whilst walking their dog.

A service for Piet is detailed in the piece as being at the morge of Loughlinstown hospital at 11:30am on Tuesday October 29th. His funeral will be at Shanganagh Cemetry at 12:30p.m.

truecrippler

I don't know much about him, but was he homeless?

thebaz

truecrippler wrote: »

I don't know much about him, but was he homeless?

no - although he had a different approach to money to most in todays world , he seamed happy as long as he eneough for smokes , money worried him little - one of the innovators of Graphic art to Ireland, as well as playing with the great Louis Armstrong in Cork - strange with the jazz festival on this weekend - he could have made a lot if so inclined , but watching the world go by interested him more - or so he told me. I gave the pidgeon image to his freind Anne today.

bullpost

I didn't know him but he played at my wedding. My wifes neighbour was a jazz musician and they played at the wedding and Piet played trumpet.
That was 18 years ago.
Just been looking at some footage of him in action .
A very fine musician he was.
RIP.

thebaz

Piet was laid to rest in Co. Dublin today .
As sad as these occasions are , it was nice to get a jazz band send off .
Blackrock won't be the same , but there are many plans to remember him by.



Goodbye Piet

smelltheglove

Oh I didnt know him, just offering my condolences to those who did.

YogiBear

As per my post in Pix.ie, sorry to hear about your friend.
All the best with the exhibition. I've put it in my diary!

frecklz

So sad to hear about poor Piet. I saw him almost every single day of my life in Blackrock. Used to see people deep in conversation with him on that bench, including locals teenagers, and always wondered what kind of whaky advice he was giving. A character indeed.

I loved how he used to stand on the corner of the street directing the traffic.