Early Dutch Period: 1986 - 1984
The two years spent at the Jan Van Eyck Academie (Maastricht) were pivotal in Huebner’s career. At this highly regarded post-academic institute for creative research and production he was able to develop work independently in a studio situation with access to facilities, materials, mentors and direct participation in the European cultural experience. Huebner would often refer to this period as representing a special and critical time in his development in that it offered him the opportunity to explore and experiment with methods and materials that would otherwise not have been made so easily available to him. It was here that several memorable works were created that to this day are considered an important part of his legacy: ‘Untitled’ the 500kg solid lead cast sleeping bag and ‘Clock for Passing Time"‘ which were later part of the Montreal ‘Stations” exhibition, the ‘Oostende Binoculars’ containing seawater from Oostende, Belgium (which became the key marketing image for the Jan Van Eyck for several years thereafter) and ‘Wishing Well / Homage to Berlin’ - a cast bronze/steel audio sculpture that was installed in Dusseldorf, Germany. Huebner had left his mark on his European colleagues and they had left a mark on him.