Sculpture Octa Folio, Ermelo - Ermelo

The stainless steel 'arms' of artwork Octa Folio (eight sheets) are up to six metres high and have stood together in a circle on the grounds of care institution 's Heeren Loo in Ermelo since 2008. Originally, there were also glass blocks at the bottom of the huge abstract work, but they were removed for the safety of the care facility's residents. The sculpture used to stand in the courtyard garden of the headquarters of Bouwfonds Nederlandse Gemeenten.

Visual artist John Spek (Oudewater 1950) initially worked as an occupational therapist, but became a full-time artist as early as 1974 and simultaneously studied at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam. He has been making sculptures and reliefs in particular for over 50 years, working mainly with stainless steel, phosphor bronze, lead or a combination of those metals. His work can be found in many municipalities in the Netherlands.
For enthusiasts: John Spek's studio, with two other sculptures in front of it, is close to the artwork Octa Folio on Witteland 20, and can be visited by appointment.