An
attractive exhibition catalogue; Icelandic Fashion
14 December 2006
 The
Culture House has issued an attractive exhibition catalogue for
the ongoing exhibit Icelandic Fashion. It gives a fine overview
of contemporary Icelandic fashion and makes an excellent Christmas
gifs for those interested in fashion and design.
Thirty-eight extraordinary exhibits by ten designers present the
versatility and creativity of the contemporary Icelandic fashion
scene. According to the curator they unveil not only artistic finesse,
technical virtuosity and perfection, but also the great richness
of artistic inspiration, aesthetic perception and innovative creative
power.
The items on display clearly convey the distinctiveness of Icelandic
fashion; the combination of apparent contrasts, inspiration from
the colours, light and textures in the landscape and a great feeling
for the Zeitgeist and the lifestyle of the wearers.
The designers are:
Anna Guðmundsdóttir
ásta créative clothes (Ásta Guðmundsdóttir)
Dóra Emilsdóttir
jbj design (Jóna Björg Jónsdóttir)
Path of Love (Ragna Fróðadóttir)
Rósa Helgadóttir
Spaksmannsspjarir
STEiNUNN (Steinunn Sigurðardóttir)
Þorbjörg Valdimarsdóttir
Editors are the curator Matthias Wagner K and Guðrún
Garðarsdóttir deputy director of the Culture House. The
catalogue is for sale at the Culture House and the above mentioned
designers.
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Vox
feminae choir sang at the Culture House
10 December 2006
 On
the occasion of the release of their third CD, Ave Maria,
the female choir Vox Feminae held a marvellous concert at the Culture
House. The choir made good use of the premises and its renowned
acoustics. It began singing in the loft at the Icelandic Fashion
design exhibit, then stepped down to staircase and ended the concert
in the Library Room where Antonia Hevesi accompanied them on piano.
Hanna Björk Guðjónsdóttir soprano sang along
with choir and Margrét J. Pálmadóttir directed.
The programme was held in cooperation between the choir Vox feminae
and the Culture House.
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Family
day in the Medieval Manuscripts Exhibit. Free entry
4 November and 2 December
2006
 On
Saturdays 4 November and 2 December from 2 to 5 pm families were
especially welcome to the Medieval Manuscripts Exhibit at the Culture
House. Children and grown-ups were invited to try their hand at
writing on vellum (calf-skin) using quills made of the feathers
of swans, geese and eagles and ink boiled of bearberries, dark soil
and willow twigs. A museum educator assisted and informed guests
about this age-old craft.
Free entry between 2 and
5 pm. |
The
Skarðsbók manuscript of apostles’ lives
placed on view in the Medieval Manuscripts exhibit
27 October 2006
 On
18 October forty years had passed since Dr. Jóhannes Nordal,
then Governor of the Central Bank of Iceland, presented Skarðsbók
to the Icelandic nation. This he did on behalf of the Icelandic
banks that jointly had bought the manuscript at an auction in London.
To commemorate this event the manuscript has now been placed on
view. On that occasion the Árni Magnússon Institute
in Iceland held an opening ceremony on Friday 27 October at which
the directors of the Culture House and Árni Magnússon
Institute gave short addresses followed by a lecture given by Ólafur
Halldórsson, manuscripts researcher, on his studies of the
Skarðsbók manuscript of apostles’ lives.
The Árni Magnússon Institute has furthermore published
an article in which Jóhannes Nordal recounts the complex
and exciting story of the events leading up to the purchase of the
manuscript. It is for sale in the Museum Shop at the Culture House
in English as well as Icelandic.
Skarðsbók is the largest and most splendid collection
of lives of the apostles and contains eleven lives. It was probably
written at the monastery at Helgafell on the Snæfellsnes peninsula
around 1360. The book belonged to the church at Skarð
(West Iceland) until the early 19th century, but was discovered
to be missing in 1827. It turned up in London where the bibliophile
Sir Thomas Phillipps bought it in 1836. Skarðsbók
was sold with other remnants of his library at an auction in London
in 1965, at which the Icelandic banks bought it.
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The
Icelandic National League - a cultural programme
19 October 2006
 The
annual cultural programme of the Icelandic National League was held
in the Culture House for the third time, along with its General
Meeting and followed by a reception. The Culture House and the INL
have recently confirmed a collaboration agreement as both parties
share the goal of furthering understanding about the history and
culture of Icelandic emigrants to North America.
The programme was launched
by the president of the INL, Almar Grímsson. The agenda included
addresses by Stephan V. Benediktson, Jón Aðalsteinn Hermannsson
and Ólafur B. Thors on varying subjects. The Snorri and Snorri
West programmes were introduced by Ásta Sól Kristjánsdóttir
and Ragnheiður Diljá Gunnarsdóttir. There was
a musical performance by singer Anna Sigríður Helgadóttir
and Reynir Jónasson accordionist and finally the INL Honorary
Award 2006 was presented to the Icelandic Emigration Center. |
Book-art
from Berlin – the opening ceremony
17 October 2006
 An
exhibit of books from the publishing house Edition Mariannenpresse
in Berlin was opened in the Library Room of the Culture House on
17 October. Entitled Berlin Excursion the exhibit takes
the viewer through the strand of Berlin culture that produces exceptional
books, true pieces of art, usually made in a cooperation between
an author and an artist. Each issue is thus specially designed and
published in a limited numbered edition.
His Excellency Johann Wenzel, German ambassador, Hannes Schwenger,
director of Mariannenpresse, and Guðríður Sigurðardóttir,
director of the Culture House gave addresses at the opening ceremony.
Hannes Schwenger is pictured.
The opening ceremony was attended by artists and authors alike and
others who appreciate quality design and publishing. Hopefully the
exhibit will add colour to the cultural interactions between the
capital cities Reykjavík and Berlin.
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The
Culture House participates in the Sequences festival
14 – 28 October
2006
 SEQUENCES
is an international crossmedia festival in Reykjavík focusing
on time based art phenomena. The festival links contemporary visual
art with other media, especially sound and performative art. It
takes place in different locations in the city center of Reykjavík,
accompanied by exhibitions and video/shortfilm nights. The festival
takes place from 13 – 28 October 2006.
The Culture House participates in the festival by showing the video
Oh, holy times´ thousand! by artists Libia Castro
and Ólafur Ólafsson:
Oh, holy times´ thousands! is an approximately 8
min. long video-registration of a happening in Kolaportið, Reykjavík’s
flea-market. A young man wearing a bright-coloured dotted T-shirt
enters the scene and starts trying on glasses at a market's stand.
After trying a couple he steps back, opens a note-book he's carrying
and starts performing the Icelandic National Anthem. In the version
he sings, the lyrics have systematically been mixed up by a simple
formula, resulting in the Anthem being transformed into absurd poetry.
Curiously though the anthem doesn't lose any of its romanticism,
nationalism and religiousness, rather it is as if those aspects
become clearer, due to the disappearance of grammatical logic and
subsequent narration.
During the singing the market life goes on almost undisturbed.
The complete programme of the Sequences festival is available on
the website www.sequences.is.
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The
Culture House participated in a Polish Culture Festival
1 October 2006
 Two
music events included in a wide-ranging Polish Culture Festival
in Reykjavík 28 September – 1 October took place in
the Culture House on Sunday.
The first event was the finals of a music competition among students
from various music schools. The winner was Snorri Hallgrímsson
(b. 1989) who studies guitar with Þórarinn Sigurbergsson
at the Garðabær Music School. The prize was a trip for
two with Heimsferðir to Krakow, Poland. The judges were the
respected musicians Adrzej Kleina violinist at the Icelandic Symphony
Orchestra, Peter Maté pianist and Martial Nardeau flutist.
At the prize award, Piano quintet no. 1 by the renowned Polish composer
Grazyna Bacewicz (1909-1969) was performed for the first time in
Iceland by musicians Zbigniew Dubik and Ewa Tosik-Warszawiak on
violin, Svava Bernharðsdóttir on viola, Pawel Panasiuk
on cello and Örn Magnússon on piano.
The finals were held in cooperation between Ewa Tosik-Warsawiak,
the Polish Culture Festival and the Culture House.
 In
the evening the Jagodzinksi Trio gave a concert. The members are
the esteemed musicians Andrezej Jagodzinski, pianist, composer and
creator of the band, Adam Cegielski bassist and Czeslaw Bartokowski
drum player. The trio travels the world enchanting audiences with
their interpretation of the works of Chopin. They have recently
released a new CD in their “Chopin” series, receiving
popular acclaim and honours in their home country. The Trio gave
a superb performance at the concert here in the Culture House.
The concert was in cooperation between the Polish Culture Festival,
Reykjavík Jazz Festival and the Culture House.
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Culture
Night in the Culture House
19 August 2006
 The
programme at the Culture House this Culture Night was varied and
entertaining, as the list below clearly shows. The house stood open
from morning to night and there were concerts, a video composition,
readings and a showcase for guests to enjoy in addition to the exhibits.
At 4, 5, 6 and
8 pm:
Saloon Concert
Aðalsteinn Ásberg
Sigurðsson, poet and musician, held his annual concert at the
Culture House. He and his band performed lyrics and poems from past
and present in these four family friendly concerts.
From 11 am to
11 pm:
 As
they say. Video composition by Ólöf Arnalds shown in
a loop.
Ólöf performs
in nine frames simultaneously and sings in eighteen languages, creating
a multicultural symphony. Ólöf was present to chat with
viewers. Note: Due to popular demand the video composition will
be on extended view.
From 4 to 6 pm:
Icelandic fashion
Jóna Björg
Jónsdóttir the designer of the jbj design
label was present in the exhibit explaining the method of felting
she applies to the wool and silk she uses for her clothing.
At 4:30 and 5:30
pm:
The Road to Zion
A reading from a travel
account written by Þórður Diðriksson who went
from the south of Iceland to Utah in the years 1855-1856 and settled
in the promised land. (In Icelandic).
Special offers
in the Culture Shop and Culture Café |
Icelandic
Fashion – the opening ceremony
29 June 2006
 The
Culture House was vibrant with enthusiastic guests for the opening
ceremony of Icelandic Fashion, which presents a cross-section
of fashion design in new Icelandic culture. Prime Minister Geir
H. Haarde declared the exhibit opened and discussed, among other
issues, the increased availability of education opportunities for
Icelandic students of design. He expressed his delight with the
mounting of this display in the Culture House, but last year he
opened an Icelandic Art Festival in Cologne where items from the
designers currently presented were on view. The Minister observed
the high standard of fashion design in Iceland. He thanked the curator
Matthias Wagner K for the organization of the display and his interpretation
of the Icelandic fashion scene, emphasising aspects perhaps not
apparent to natives, such as the extent to which fashion design
is inspired by elements of nature. The minister assured visitors
that they were in for an excellent exhibit in an excellent setting.
Addresses were also given by the director of the Culture House,
Guðríður Sigurðardóttir and the curator
Matthias Wagner K, both of whom expressed their delight with the
cooperation with all parties involved in the display.
 The
guests thereby viewed the exhibit listening to some music, enjoying
the refreshments and lively conversations.
Soon after the opening an exhibit brochure will be issued, with
photos and texts on the design.
See further information on the exhibit and the fashion designers
represented in it under Exhibitions
on the home page.
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The
summer exhibit in the Library Room has been opened
28 June 2006
 The
summer exhibit 2006 focuses on foreigners´ descriptions of
Iceland and Icelanders as reflected in travel books and other publications
from the beginning of the 16th century to the middle of the 19th
century. The exhibit was opened on 28 June and the historian Sumarliði
R. Ísleifsson gave a talk on the subject Carta Marina
and images of Iceland on the occasion of the opening.
The exhibit is entitled Reflections on Iceland, it is mounted
by the National and University Library and will be on view until
13 August.
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The
opening of a new theme exhibit in the Library Room
22 April 2006
 On
Saturday 22 April the opening ceremony of an exhibit on the life
and work of poet Snorri Hjartarson (1906-1986) was held in the Library
Room.
The Writer’s Union of Iceland arranged the programme for the
opening which consisted of an address intertwined with reading of
and music to Hjartarson’s poetry. The opening was held on
Hjartarson’s birthday, a century after his birth, and that
same day Edda publishing released a new collection of Hjartarson’s
complete works.
The exhibit is mounted by Hjartarson’s relatives in cooperation
with the Culture House.
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Fun
for the family on the First Day of Summer
20 April 2006
 There
was an open house at the Culture House in celebration of the First
Day of Summer. In addition to the current exhibits being on view,
there was a screening of short films by nature film maker Páll
Steingrímsson. His fascinating and sensitive approach to
the interaction between man and wildlife is sure to inspire both
young and old.
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A
concert with music by Gunnar Reynir
1 April 2006
 Saturday
1 April the publishing company Bad Taste Inc held a concert in the
Library Room in honour of the composer Gunnar Reynir Sveinsson.
The Chamber Choir of South Iceland sang a few religious songs from
a recently released CD, along with the singers Hallveig Rúnarsdóttir,
Hrólfur Sæmundsson and Anna Sigríður Helgadóttir.
Kári Þormar accompanied on piano. Solo-guitarist Símon
H. Ívarsson also performed songs by Mr. Sveinsson who was
present at the concert.
The music and performance created an uplifting hour of beauty and
serenity this fine afternoon.
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New
special product in the souvenir shop
28 February 2006
 The
Culture House’s souvenir shop proudly introduces a new special
product: My family – thematic glasses from Stella design,
inspired by the Icelandic family. My family is created to brighten
up the mundane domestic life. The motives: Our national costume,
turf farm houses, sheep and beautiful country, which connect us
with our past and our roots.
The glasses are sold individually for ISK 840 or in pairs for ISK
1.590, and come in nice packaging resembling the Icelandic turf
farm house.
The shop is open every day from 11 am to 5 pm – as are the
exhibits.
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Reykjavik
Museum Night
24 February 2006
 Museum
Night was held on Friday 24 February. Exhibits throughout the city
were open past midnight and there was free admission during the
evening opening hours.
The Culture House participated with an open house, an open and running
scriptorium inside the Medieval Manuscripts exhibit, a programme
filled with music and dance and nice refreshments on special offer
in the café. In addition an art exhibit entitled The bright
/ dark North was opened earlier in the afternoon. (See under “exhibits”
on the front page menu”).
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The
exhibit the Mozart Opera in Iceland opened on the composer’s
birthday
27 January 2006
 The
Culture House celebrates the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s
birth by opening a theme exhibit in the Library Room about the performances
of Mozart’s operas in Iceland.
The opening ceremony was held on the composer’s birthday,
27 January. Guests enjoyed lively talks on Mozart’s operas
and their staging in Iceland and the singers Auður Gunnarsdóttir
and Ólafur Kjartan Sigurðarson sang excerpts from some
operas by Mozart, accompanied by Jónas Ingimundarson on piano.
The photograph shows Ólafur Kjartan Sigurðarson examining
Don Giovanni’s costume along with a few female experts.
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Laxness’
neighbours in the the world of Nobel
21 January 2006
 The
programme put together by author Árni Bergmann on the Nobel
laureates who along with Icelandic author Halldór Laxness
received the prize for litterature in the fifties was well received
by the audience.
Bergmann speculated about the cultural policy and political viewpoints
of the Swedish Academy, he discussed the authors and their contibution
to litterature and the social issues of the time, and mentioned
Laxness affiliation with some of them, in particular Hemmingway
and Pasternak.
Actor Arnar Jónsson read excerpts from the works of most
of the authors, but they were: Bertrant Russel, Pär Lagerkvist,
François Mauriac, Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemmingway, Halldór
Laxness, Juan Ramón Jimenéz, Albert Camus, Boris Pasternak
og Salvatore Quasimodo.
The programme was held in context with an exhibit currently on view
in the Library Room, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Laxness
receiving the Nobel Prize. The exhibit was mounted by Gljúfrasteinn
– the House of Halldór Laxness.
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