FESTIVAL COLLECTION

These pieces were created with the intention of helping to preserve the traditions of the Orange City Tulip Festival. Many of the people depicted in these pieces are real people who posed for Elinor to photograph them during the Tulip Time Festival. Elinor used the photographs that she took as inspiration for each of these pieces. Many of Elinor’s characters may be familiar to Orange City natives or to her family members.

“Street Inspection (Festival VI)” depicts former Orange City Mayor, Bob Dunlop, and Ron De Jong who later took over the Town Crier position from Dunlop. The child in the piece is Ron De Jong’s son Daron who took up the town crier position after Ron.

Elinor’s daughter-in-law, Renee, recounts that “Zaan (Festival III)” depicts Renee's sister-in-law wearing Renee’s costume. At the time that this piece was created, Renee was pregnant, and she recalls being disappointed that she was not able to be in this piece.

“Frisian (Festival I) depicts Elinor’s daughter Lucinda wearing Elinor’s traditional Dutch costume. This series is a distinct nod to the Dutch traditions and heritage of the Orange City area, and Elinor has been able to preserve the spirit of the Orange City Tulip Festival within these pieces.