Noordrabants Museum Expo, 1995

The story of the 1984 Christie’s historic sale of original vintage Disney Animation Art from the collection of retired Disney animator John(ny) Basmajian, of his love for the art, of its remarkable condition, and of his mission to save and preserve it for future generations, is kindred with the love of art and of its preservation that characterizes the Netherlands – home of such painters as Rembrandt and Rubens.

In 1994, Rick Vercauteren, a director from the Dutch museum the “Nordbrabants”, in the once walled picturesque and centuries old town of ’s-Hertogenbosch, an hour train ride south of Amsterdam, made contact with the Basmajian family. He informed them that he and other members of the museum staff were familiar with Johnny’s story and on the museum’s behalf proposed to feature artwork from Basmajian’s collection in an upcoming retrospective exhibition titled “ De Van Magie Disney” – ‘DISNEY’S MAGIC’. He went on to add that an exhibition of this type would be a first of its kind for the museum.

The exposition began May 24 and concluded in September 3, 1995. The Holland exhibition consisted of different works from the collection not seen in France or Spain, the reason being that the dates of the Dutch and Spanish exhibitions overlapped.

The exhibition at the Nordbrabants Museum was extremely well received with great warmth and enthusiasm! The success of this event was heralded with great celebration and closed with a fantastic party. The museum’s staff and friends brought all kinds of wonderful and delicious foods to the beautiful home of their hostess Marian Povel. All sitting around a long table, they ate, drank and laughed, toasting the success of the exhibition in real Dutch Fashion!