Celebration of the 50th anniversary
of Laxness’ Nobel Prize - programme and a new exhibit opened
10 December 2005
 There
was an all-day festival in the Culture House on the Nobel Day, 10
December, to commemorate the event that the Icelandic author Halldór
Laxness was granted the Nobel Prize for Literature 50 years ago.
Visitors enjoyed the varied musical performances or listened to
poetry or discussions. A special theme exhibit was opened by Prime
Minister Halldór Ásgrímsson. The exhibit is
on view through January. The programme was as follows:
11 am:
A children’s quire receives guests with songs to Laxness’
lyrics.
The actor Þór Tulinius gives the thank-you speech Laxness
gave at the Nobel Prize ceremony in 1955.
Prime Minister Halldór Laxness opens a special exhibit on
the event.
The trio Flís meets Halldór Laxness.
The corporate manager of Íslandsbanki – ISB,
Bjarni Ármannsson, gives an address.
The poet Valur Brynjar Antonsson of the Nýhil group performs.
Þórarinn Eldjárn foreman of the board and Guðný
Dóra Gestsdóttir director of Gljúfrasteinn
– the House of Halldór Laxness introduce the role
and vision for the future for Gljúfrasteinn.
1 pm:
A children’s quire sings and reads from Laxness’ works.
2 pm:
A discussion on the atmosphere surrounding the Nobel Prize award
and on the way Laxness’ books were received before and after
the award. Keynote speakers are Jón Karl Helgason and Bergljót
Kristjánsdóttir. In cooperation with the Culture Magazine
of the newspaper Morgunblaðið.
3 pm:
Musicians Ragnhildur Gísladóttir and Davíð
Þór Jónsson perform
5 pm:
Musician KK performs
6 pm:
The trio Flís meets Laxness
8 pm:
The Nýhil poets:
Haukur Már Helgason
Kristín Eiríksdóttir
Valur Brynjar Antonsson
Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason
Óttar Martin Norðfjörð
Ófeigur Sigurðsson
Eiríkur Örn Norðdahl
Böðvar Yngvi Jakobsson recites poetry backwards
Dóri DNA, Halldór Laxness’ grandson, performs
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The
final grants from the Christianity Millennium Fund, the exhibit
the Ancient Future opened
1 December 2005
1 December the Christianity
Millennium Fund granted its final funds with due ceremony in the
Library Room of the Culture House. The Christianity Millennium Fund
was established by Althingi, the Icelandic Parliament, to commemorate
the millennium of the adoption of Christianity in Iceland. On the
occasion of its final year of operation the Fund has opened an exhibit
entitled The Ancient Future in the Library Room of the Culture House.
On display are specimens from the archaeological excavations that
have received grants from the Fund in the years 2001-2005. Dozens
of other research projects concerning the cultural and religious
heritage of the Icelandic nation are introduced.
The exhibit is on view
from 1 – 7 December.
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The
opening of a new theme exhibit in the Theatre Room
22 November 2005
 An
exhibit in memory of Lárus Ingólfsson, actor, set
and costume designer, revue singer and dancer, (1905-1981) was opened
with due ceremony on 22 November. Many of Ingólfsson’s
former co-workers in the theatre came to the opening ceremony and
enjoyed the talks, refreshments and screenings of some of Ingólfsson’s
performances on national television.
Examples of Ingólfsson's work as a designer of sets and costumes
are on display. The exhibit is mounted by the Theatre Museum of
Iceland. (See further information under “Exhibitions”
on the menu on the front page).
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The
Annual General Meeting of the Icelandic National League - cultural
programme
19 October 2005
 The
Annual General Meeting of the Icelandic National League was held
in the Culture House. After the meeting itself a cultural programme
was launched by the president of the INL, Almar Grímsson.
The agenda included addresses by Walter Sopher president of the
Icelandic National League of North America, Evelyn Thorvaldsson
from Lögberg Heimskringla and honorary guest Magnus Olafson.
The film maker Sveinn Sveinsson of +Film showed clips from The Path
to Gimli and The Icelanders in North-Dakota and participants in
the Snorri West programmes shared their experiences with the audience.
There was a musical performance by the trio Tindatríóið.
The programme closed with a reception held by the Minister of Education,
Science and Culture, Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir.
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The
Norwegian Author Tom Egeland views the Medieval Manuscripts
19 October 2005
 Author
Tom Egeland was in Iceland to introduce the newly published Icelandic
translation of his mystery novel Sirkelens ende (2001).
He was particularly interested in seeing the exhibit on the Medieval
Manuscripts and was given a tour of the display by research scholar
Gísli Sigurðsson of the Árni Magnússon
Institute in Iceland.
The Icelandic medieval manuscripts and 13th century author Snorri
Sturluson play a role in Egeland’s forthcoming sequel to Sirkelens
ende. The mystery continues in a hunt for lost manuscripts
with secret knowledge in the vein of the famous novel the DaVincy
Code.
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The
Minister of Science and Technology of the Republic of India visited
the Culture House
19 October 2005
 Kapil
Sibal Minister of Science and Technology of the Republic of India
paid an official visit to Iceland 19 – 20 October. The Minister
was received by Iceland’s Minister of Education, Science and
Culture, Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir.
Here at the Culture House the Ministers viewed the Medieval Manuscripts
guided by the director of the Árni Magnússon Institute
in Iceland, Vésteinn Ólason. Thereafter they jointly
signed two contracts on the cooperation of Iceland and India in
the fields of science and culture. The visit concluded with a lunch
hosted by Mrs. Gunnarsdóttir.
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Around
the World in 80 days
14 October 2005
 This
October afternoon guests were invited to enjoy a light programme
relating to the autumn exhibit on Icelandic bookbinding. The Culture
House café, Food and Culture, served steaming hot goulash
soup and red wine under the programme.
Displayed in the autumn exhibit are, among others, books that recently
part took in an international bookbinding competition in France.
The French commemorate this year the centenary of the death of the
great science fiction author, Jules Verne, and thus all participants
in the competition received his work Around the World in 80
days as the task of their bookbinding. This inspired the theme
of the programme.
There was music from around the world, played by the musicians Hjörleifur
Valsson, violin, and Ástvaldur Traustason,
accordion. The actor Sigurður Skúlason
read passages from Around the World in 80 days and Icelandic
bookbinders cast a light on developments in bookbinding in the country
today.
The guests enjoyed the cosy ambiance in the Library Room this beautiful
autumn afternoon.
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Introducing
the winning proposal for a music hall and conference centre
6 October - 3 November
2005
 The
winning proposal for a music hall, conference centre and hotel at
the eastern harbour in Reykjavík city centre is on view in
the Culture House. Anyone interested in the future face of the capital’s
city centre can come and view the video, model and posters of the
proposal, without paying the entrance fee.
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An
exhibit of Icelandic bookbinding has been opened
9 September 2005
 An
autumn exhibit of Icelandic bookbinding was opened on 9 September
in the heart of the building, the Library Room which used to be
the reading room of the National Library. Books bound in the old
manner, using 17th and 18th century methods, are displayed, as are
some modern bindings and a few pieces by students graduating in
the craft.
The exhibit is quite splendid
and bears witness to the flourishing state of the bookbinding craft
in Iceland .
The exhibit is mounted
by a group of bookbinders that call themselves the JAM group. This
group has greatly contributed to the awakening of this age-old craft,
bridging the gap between ancient methods and modern design. One
may say that a new era has begun in this field within the arts and
crafts. The JAM group also mounted the summer exhibit of Nordic
bookbinding, that now travels the Nordic countries.
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Patti
Smith tournament in the Culture House
5 September 2005
 The
rock star Patti Smith was in Iceland to give a concert. She visited
the Culture House to view the chess table that Fischer and Spassky
used in the World Championship Match here in Reykjavík in
1972. In honour of Patti Smith and as a tribute to her interest
in chess the local chess society Hrókurinn gave
a tournament in the Library Room during Patti Smith's visit. Young
chess players competed showing tremendous skill and daring to the
admiration of the audience.
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Culture
Night at the Culture House
20 August 2005
 The
exhibits and meeting rooms at the Culture House stayed open late
on Culture Night and many a visitor enjoyed browsing through the
displays or stopping for one of the many events on the programme.
The events were both informative and entertaining; such as lectures
and guided tours, film screenings and concerts. The Café,
Food and Culture, stayed open even longer with a special offer on
food and drink, well received by the Culture House’s guests.
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Concert
series in the Library room
12 and 19 July 2005
The Trio Dryas performed
in the Library Room on Tuesdays the 12th and 19th of July.
Dryas are Herdís Anna Jónasdóttir
soprano, Þorbjörg Daphne Hall cello and Laufey Sigrún
Haraldsdóttir piano. They are all studying music at the Iceland
Academy of the Arts. This summer they are performing as a creative
summer art group sponsored by the youth center Hitt Húsið.
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Nordic
Bookbinding 2005 – the opening ceremony of the summer exhibit
10 June 2005
 The
exhibit Nordic Bookbinding 2005, the summer exhibit in the Library
Room, was opened with due ceremony on 10 June. The president of
Iceland Mr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson declared the exhibit
opened and addresses were also given by Guðrún Garðarsdóttir
deputy director of the Culture House and Svanur Jóhannesson
bookbinder and leader of the JAM-group that sets the exhibit up
here in Iceland.
The exhibit bears witness to the rich imagination and quality handcraft
of Nordic bookbinders of today. Featured are some 81 bindings, one
by each bookbinder, all of whom live in the Nordic countries. Twenty
four of the bindings have received Honourable Mention by a jury
that examined the technique, choice of material and design. Sketches
to some of the pieces are on display in the café, Food and
Culture. This exhibit travels the Nordic countries and is on view
in the Culture House until 22 August.
Visitors can for fun vote for the best bookbinding on a website
that is accessible in the exhibit room.
An association of Icelandic bookbinders, the JAM-group, sets the
exhibit up here in Iceland. Since its formation in 1989 the group
has held numerous courses, exhibitions and as of late participated
in Nordic cooperation with the aim of preserving the age-old craft
of bookbinding and passing it on to new generations.
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XXXIII
International Viola Congress held in the Culture House
2 - 5 June 2005
 The
Icelandic Viola Society hosted the 33rd International Viola Congress
in the Culture House.
Participants included players on every level and the congress was
open to amateurs as well as professionals.
The congress was a four-day long music festival with concerts, master
classes and lectures. Several word premiers were on the programme.
Participants and guests
were impressed by the quality of the performances and the welcoming
ambiance of the venue.
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The
exhibit The Road to Zion was opened with due ceremony
7 May 2005
 A
new exhibit was opened in the east-wing on the 2nd floor on Saturday
7 May. The exhibit is called The Road to Zion and tells the story
of the first Icelandic emigrants to North America, the Mormons who
settled in Utah. This year marks the 150th anniversary of their
settling down in the “promised land”.
The programme of the opening ceremony was as follows:
Guðrún Garðarsdóttir acting director welcomed
guests, thanked those involved with creating and mounting the exhibit,
and introduced the speakers and musicians.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Davíð Oddsson gave an address
and declared the exhibit opened.
Representatives of a few parties that have to do with the subject
matter of the exhibit gave informing and concise addresses:
Almar Grímsson president of the Icelandic National League
David A. Ashby of the Icelandic Association in Utah
Andrés Sigurvinsson on behalf of the Westman Islands municipality
Valgeir Þorvaldsson director of the Icelandic Emigration Center
at Hofsós, North Iceland.
Ólafur Kjartan Sigurðarson sang some Icelandic songs
about looking back at the forsaken fatherland. Jónas Ingimundarson
accompanied on piano. Their performance was truly magnificent and
uplifting.
Following the ceremony guests enjoyed refreshments and viewed the
exhibit.
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A
programme about the Poet of the Month
24 April 2005
 The
Culture House invited to a programme about Hallgrímur Pétursson
(1614-1674), the Poet of the Month in the Library Room, on Sunday
24 April.
Author Steinunn Jóhannesdóttir attempted to answer
the question: what made Hallgrímur become a poet?
She focused on his childhood in Skagafjörður, North Iceland,
drawing from new archaeological findings at the old bishop’s
seat at Hólar. Hallgrímur’s youth abroad was
also discussed and his fateful encounter with Guðríður
Símonardóttir. They married and Steinunn’s discussion
stopped at their youngest child’s death and the family’s
relocation to Saurbær on Hvalfjarðarströnd.
Traditional chanter/singer and composer Bára Grímsdóttir
and guitarist Chris Foster performed old songs to some of Hallgrímur’s
lyrics.
Both the talk and music were uplifting and interesting, leaving
the guest with a feeling for and an idea about a great poet’s
destiny and genius.
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The
Culture House participated in the programme Travellers Day 2005
21 April 2005
This special day was dedicated
to the tourism industry and travel-related leisure activities in
the Greater Reykjavík Area, in the Reykjanes area, Westman
islands, East Iceland and North Iceland.
Entrance to the Culture House was free and there was a special film
screening for the whole family: The short films Nation and Nature
by Páll Steingrímsson were shown all day.
Quite many visitors, especially Icelanders, visited the displays
and café on the occasion of this celebration.
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A
programme with lyrics and music
19 April 2005
 The
Culture House helped launch the week of the book by hosting a programme
on a newly published book of poems by author Njörður P.
Njarðvík.
Njarðvík read a poem from his book: Aftur til steinsins.
Vésteinn Ólason director of the Árni Magnússon
Institute contemplated the correlation between the poem and Snorri’s
Edda.
Literature scholar Sigriður Albertsdóttir discussed Njörður
P.
Njarðvík’s literary carrier.
In between the talks singer Davið Ólafssson performed
accompanied by Ólafur Vignir Albertsson.
The Café had a special offer on the theme of Idunn’s
apples during the programme.
The new book by Njarðvík was for sale in the museum store
on a special discount and was very well received.
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The
Hymns of the Passion; the melodies, the art, and the poet
24 March 2005
 On
Maundy Thursday, 24 March, the Culture House invited to a programme
on the “old songs” to the Hymns of the Passion by Hallgrímur
Pétursson. The programme was held in the loft of the Culture
House, an apt setting in light of the many medieval church items
found there in the National Museum’s exhibition.
Musicologist Smári Ólason gave a talk on the old songs
origins and development during popular transmission in Iceland over
the centuries. He played some old recordings with the singing of
people who grew up hearing these melodies sung every lent.
Guests received the programme well and lingered viewing the recently
opened exhibition on Hallgrímur Pétursson (1614-1674)
- the Poet of the Month in the Library Room.
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The
Poet of the Month – Hallgrímur Pétursson, opening
ceremony
18 March 2005
 An
exhibition on Hallgrímur Pétursson’s life and
work was opened with due ceremony 18 March in the Library Room.
It is a new exhibition within the series The Poet of the Month;
a co-operative project of the Culture House, the Árni Magnússon
Institute in Iceland which mounted the display, the National and
University Library that loaned publications and manuscripts, the
Institute of Gunnar Gunnarsson which mounts a small display in East
Iceland and a private company running the website Skólavefurinn.is
which opened a website on Pétursson’s poetry.
Guðrún Garðarsdóttir, deputy director of the
Culture House, welcomed guests and thanked the parties of the cooperation.
Margrét Eggertsdóttir, research scholar at the Árni
Magnússon Institute in Iceland, gave an address on Pétursson
and the themes of the display. The singer Magnea Tómasdóttir
and accompanist Guðmundur Sigurðsson performed four of Pétursson’s
hymns of the Passion to arrangements made in the ancient tonality
of medieval music by musicologist Smári Ólason. The
music elevated the spirit of the many guests that enjoyed the opening
ceremony.
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Music,
talk, and food in honour of the Poet of the Month – Davíð
Stefánsson
6 March 2005
 The
scent of spring lured in the air on Sunday 6 March when the Culture
House invited to a gathering in honour of the Poet of the Month
– Davíð Stefánsson. The theme of the programme
was the poet’s early years, specifically the time he spent
in Italy. Gunnar Stefánsson relayed his insights on the matter
and the baritone singer Ólafur Kjartan Sigurðarson sang
some of the songs composed to lyrics Stefánsson wrote in
his early years, accompanied by Jónas Ingimundarson.
The café had a special offer on Italian anti-pesto and red
wine to complete the experience.
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Icelandic
Musical Heritage on the Winter Lights Festival
20 February 2005
 The
Culture House held a programme on the theme of Icelandic Musical
Heritage on Sunday 20 February. Two accomplished musicians and scholars
gave talks in relation to two recent CD publications with traditional
chanting and singing. Singers performed some relevant traditional
verses, casting a shining light on the subject matter of the talks.
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Museum
Night at the Culture House
18 February 2005
 The
Winter Lights Festival this year included Museum Night on Friday
18 February. All museums in Reykjavik were open between 6pm –
12pm with free entrance and unusual happenings. The Culture House
offered unique events for nature and history enthusiasts:
Nation and Nature. The premiere of six short films by multi-prize-winning
nature film maker Páll Steingrímsson. The subject
matter of the films are Icelanders and their interaction with the
animals and birds around us; the horse, the dog, the seal, the puffin,
the goose and the eider. The films were shown in a loop all evening
and truly captured the interest of guests, some of them reportedly
watching them three times over!
 Calfskin,
feathers and bearberries. Upon viewing the medieval manuscripts
guests could try their hand at writing on vellum with a quill and
ink boiled of bearberries! The enthusiasm shone of every face as
the picture shows.
Guides were present in other exhibitions and the café, Food
and Culture had a special offer on red wine and cheese, hot
chocolate and cake and more.
Visitors enjoyed the long opening hours, programme and refreshments
in a relaxed atmosphere and Museum Night will surely be repeated
next year.
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The
opening ceremony of the Poet of the Month – Davíð
Stefánsson
21 January 2005
 The
Poet of the Month from January to mid-March is Davíð
Stefánsson (1895-1964). An exhibition of his works was opened
in the Library Room on Friday 21 January, the 110th anniversary
of the poets’ birth. A website dedicated to Stefánsson
at the educational domain www.skolavefurinn.is was launched at the
ceremony.
Guðrún Garðarsdóttir, acting director, welcomed
visitors and recalled in a few words her childhood memories of Stefánsson
and his lyrics. The writer Guðmundur Andri Thorsson gave a talk
about the poet’s works and influence. Many a composer has
written music to Stefánsson’s words and the musicians
Gunnar Gunnarsson and Sigurður Flosason improvised ingeniously
to music to Stefánsson’s hymn, On Good Friday.
During the programme and their viewing of the display, guests enjoyed
fine refreshments from the Culture House café, Food and Culture.
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