Map of the area...

On the following website you can find a detailed map of the area of eyjafjarðarsveit...

http://www.eyjafjardarsveit.is

Here is a less detailed map:

"Pimp my Bird"

Some peeks into the upgrading of some old pallets, trash and other junk into a Life-size "Ruslaskarfur" or "Trash-Bird"... The spring project at playschool Idavollur in Akureyri will be to make several of these Funny Birds with a message...as mentioned before they will be on display at the "stationary bird - migratory bird" exhibition           

Translations for the non-icelandic birds...

I did realise it might be best to write in English so hopefully all of us can understand and communicate together. I forgot that the Blog-site is in Icelandic...

Athugasemdir = comments

Ruslpóstur = Junk mail

Gestabók = guestbook 

Hofundar = authors

Forsíða = front page 

If you need more info just let us know... 

 

Snapshots of the surroundings...

Below you find some snapshots of places and scenery Eyjafjardarsveit has to offer...hope this helps you to get an idea of the area...

Grant from the Nordic Culture Fund

The Nordic Culture Fund has decided to grant our project too! This means that travel costs, accomodation and expences are taken care of for the Scandinavian Birds flying inn. It is by now clear that there is a lot of interest for the "stationary bird - migratory bird" project. Not just by ourselves who will participate in it, but everyone I have spoken too so far is very excited about the project. SOOOO,  LET´S SHOW THE WORLD SOME BEAUTIFULL, CREATIVE or plain CRAZY STUFF!!! Maybe even with a message...

The first migratory birds have arrived...

We have already seen Swans, Ducks, Geese and other mirgatory birds flying inn, striking down and adding some live and colour to the awakening icelandic landscape...Yesterday the first one came inn a box. It is a very mysterious bird made by Roel Knappstein (it smells bread-ish)...nammmmm!

List of participants to date...

List of participants to date. Some minor changes should stil be anticipated but this is pretty much it...

1   Adalsteinn Thorsson IS (lives in Holland)
2   Anna Richards IS
3   Anna Sigridur Sigurjons IS
4   Arna Vals IS
5   Aslaug Thorlacius IS  
6   Beate Stormo N (lives in Iceland)
7   Claudia Losi IT
8   Dagrun Matthiasdottir IS
9   Franz P.V. Knudsen DK
10 George Hollanders IS (former NL lives in iceland)
11 Gudrun Vaka IS
12 Gudrun Hadda Bjarnadóttir - Hadda IS
13 Gunn Morstoel N
14 Helen Molin S
15 Helgi Thorsson IS
16 Hlynur Hallsson IS
17 Hrefna Hardardóttir +2 IS
18 Katja Hennig D
19 Kees Verbeek NL
20 Kristjan Ingimarsson IS (lives in Denmark / Iceland) & George Hollanders IS
21 Kristjan Petur Sigurdsson IS
22 Margret Schopka D
23 Palina Gudmundsdóttir IS
24 Playschool Idavöllur IS (playschool in Akureryi)
25 Playschool Krummakot IS (local playschool)
26 Roel Knappstein NL
27 Sveinjorg Asgeirsdottir & Charlotte Thorgils IS
28 Sound instalation
text / voice

Tonny Hollanders NL (has lived in Iceland from 1997 until 1998 and visits every year since 1989)
Ragnheiður Olafsdóttir IS (lives in Hong Kong)
Borge Bakken N (lives in Hong Kong)
Franz Knudsen DK
Jacqueline Fitz Gibbon GB (has lived in Iceland)
Claudia Losi IT
editting / set-upp
Buzby Birchall GB (lives in Iceland)
George Hollanders IS
Cantonese in progress

29 Art group Grálist IS
Dagrun Matthiasdottir
Gudrun Vaka
Inga Björk Hardardottir

Linda Björk Óladóttir
Karen Dua Kristjansdottir
Kristin Guðmundsdottir
Sigurlina M. Grétarsdottir - Lína
Steinunn Asta Eiríksdottir
Steinn Kristjansson
Sveinbjörg Asgeirsdottir

30 Hrafnagilsskoli (local elementary school)
31 Joris Rademaker NL (lives in Iceland)
32 Þorsteinn "Steini" Gíslason IS
33 Sæunn Þorsteinssdottir IS

IS = Iceland, NL = Holland, D = Germany, N = Norway, DK = Denmark, S = Sweden,
IT = Italy, GB = United Kingdom

story of a "garbagebird"

Since the beginning of this year I have been working partime as a guest teacher in playschool Iðavöllur in Akureyri. Together with the playschool I have been developing means to encourage a constructive but critical mind in individuals through creative handcraft and sculpturing. The project deals directly and indirectly with issues such as green design, grass root communities, recylcing, individual approaches etc.

Along with teaching basic craft skills to the children and their playschool teachers we have engaged on simple craft projects based on the "hedgehog" theme. Herewith we hoped to establish an idea about the abilities of the children and their staff but also "research" different ways of "problem solving". Instead of looking at one way to finish a project we have looked for a range of varieties to reach the same goal - to create a hedgehog figure.

Many variaties and new      ideas of using materials have evolved over the past months. Now the children have started to work on projects of their own choice and we try to assist them in realising their ideas within the frame of their capability and with the use of recycled materials that are given new roles...

         

 How about spiderman, spiders, a prinsess or horses...?

Next  tuesday we will start on  a new project wich will be part of the "resisdent bird - migratory bird" exhibition in Eyjafjarðasrveit. The project is called "ruslaskarfur" or "garbage bird". Bird sculptures made out of pallets will be decorated by the children of Iðavöllur and go on display amongst the work of other artists participating in the Bird exhibition. Here´s a small preview...

 

 

 

 

 

Funding

It is a great pleasure to announce that the "resident bird - migratory bird" project has been granted very generous subsidies from the The Culture Counsel of Eyjafjörður and The Culture Board of Eyjafjarðarsveit. Together with the grant from the Cultural Fund of KEA we are well on the way for "take-off"...

staðfugl – farfugl

 The exhibition “resident bird - migratory bird” will be situated outdoors. Around 30-40 art installations wil be on display at various locations in the rural area of Eyjafjarðarsveit, Iceland. The exhibition will be from the 31st of May  until the 15th of September 2008. About 30 individuals, groups and instituitions will participate.

 

The idea is based on contemplations about the changes that take place alongside the highway when spring arrives. Birds fly in from distant places after a long winters dwelling. Cars highball over the asphalt only - or so it seems sometimes - to make up for lost time in the winter traffic. Man’s connection to nature is best felt when a startled bird flies into the road and just misses a car… or not.

    Many subjects come to mind in connection with the bird theme. What is a migratory bird? Is a resident bird a native? What is our “homeland”? Where are borders and boundaries? How do we connect? Are we all one big flock or just strange birds hanging out together? 

This event is intended for everyone that strikes down in Eyjafjarðarsveit be it only briefly or for a longer dwelling. A mix of Muliti-media advertisements, sitemaps and catalogues at the countylimits will be used to guide guests to the marked sites. An especialy designed exhibition logo will be put up at each exhibition site. It will invite those interested out of their cars in to a meeting with the artist represented at each specific place. Perfomances, musical events and courses for young and old will be held throughout the whole period. In the beginning of august an annual Handcraft festival  at Hrafnagil will draw thousands of guests to Eyjafjardarsveit who will also have the opportunity to enjoy the bird-works presented to them… In the long run I hope this exhibition will give a greater understanding to the values we give to live and our personal identity – but even if this exhibition only moves people in a visual way a goal has been reached.