When Elien and Milan announced their Love Party, they asked their guests to bring a present in the form of a song, poem, painting, or other expression. I knew immediately: it’s high time for a re-definition in the Dutch Dictionary Van Dale of the word ‘rietmes’ – literally ‘reed knife.’
Their combined last names.
While I was writing a speech containing lots and lots of metaphoric references to our friendship, I suddenly thought: why don’t I hand out an award? The first and only presentation of the Golden Reed Knife, as a testament to the valuation of all the beauty they manifest in their environment.
I called Milan’s father, visual artist Hans Mes. He assisted with the stone base and attaching the knife. John Witteman and Koen de Koning helped out with photography. See below. Cool, huh?
The Golden Reed Knife
There’s more behind-the-scenes photos in my Flickr Album of the Golden Reed Knife project.