Paard van Tetje

For almost fifteen years, the work of art 'Paard van Tetje' was a welcome guest at the home for the elderly, De Witte Poort in Aarle-Rixtel. From the end of 1989 until the spring of 2004 the bronze statue stood in the garden of the home. When De Witte Poort was demolished, the work of art by artist Harry Storms also disappeared. Not for good. It was put in storage, to be replaced at a later date. For more than nine years, Paard van Tetje never saw the light of day. Only on 13 June 2013 did it get a new place, not far from where it first stood. The work of art was given a new location in the garden of Zonnetij, which was built on the site of the former home for the elderly. In 1989 the sculpture was bought by the then municipality of Aarle-Rixtel from the artist Storms in Sterksel. 18,000 guilders were paid for it. The then mayor Buijs and the town clerk Briels made a case for the arrival of the work of art. They tried to obtain a subsidy from the province, but the sculpture was eventually paid for out of the municipal coffers. For many people from Aarle-Rixtel it is a recognisable image, partly because the horse is not a static figure but seems to be in motion. The sculptures of Harry Storms are known for this very fact.