Finnish brands I have so far spotted in Reykjavik: Marimekko, Iittala, Ruskovilla, Tonfisk Design and Fazer. The only Finnish artists that have come across are Tea Mäkipää and Alvar Aalto.
Update: also spotted Ivana Helsinki, Secco and Golla.
Johanna
… I woke up 5.20 am local time and just couldn’t sleep. So I decided to go for a jog by the seaside. It was quite windy but beautiful and although I haven’t been able to exercise for more than two weeks because of my flu, it felt ok. Somehow the seaside, its plants and the views remind me of Azores.
Yesterday was a full day. I met one actress, Thorey, and she has set up some meetings for me with local artists. I also went to two galleries, walked a lot around the city and went to Kringlan, a huge shopping mall outside city centre. Kringlan was a big disappointment to me, I guess I wasn’t at all into shopping at Topshop, Adidas or Puma stores, Next, Warehouse etc.! From there I continued to Laugardalslaug, one of the citys many geothermal pools. That was relaxing but a bit strange, too.
I ate a delicious vegetarian meal at the One Woman Restaurant and went to bed.
Today I’m up for a couple of meetings and in the evening a get together at Thorey’s place with local artists. Great!
Johanna
…from the hotel Arnarvoll’s 8th floor restaurant & balcony in Reykjavik, Iceland
I love the Eames plastic amrchairs they have in the hotel, also in the rooms. They are just so beautiful. We need some chairs at our dining table at home and I must say I really like these ones. I have looked at them before and wasn’t so fond of them but I might have changed my mind! They are quite comfy. I definitely prefer the ones with the arm rests.
I’m off to have walk in the Reykjavik city centre. I’m meeting some artists in the afternoon and then might go swimming in one of the thermal pools after that.
Johanna
At Stockholm Arlanda airport, on my way to Reykjavik, Iceland. Although it’s just afternoon, I’ve been traveling now for 9 hours and have a slight headache. I don’t know if it’s because of the short sleep or lack of coffee. And of course, I forgot my paracetamol at home.
I’m going to see some performances, exhibitions and have arranged meetings with people. I’m really looking forward to all that, and experiencing some of Iceland of course, but more importantly, I’m hoping this trip would somehow enlighten me in terms of my new work that I’m working on. As always, there isn’t enough money to do what I have set myself to do and I’m struggling where to cut. Drop one of the performers? The dramaturg? All the videos? I have already made a cut down budget but I somehow don’t know where to cut any more without changing the work completely.
So, I need to get a revelation concerning this matter and I’m hoping the time in Iceland would help me. I have of course packed my cameras and I’m open to get inspiration for my ongoing interest in the body/landscape.
Johanna
I was looking forward to a useful weekend but on Thursday I got a sore throat and I’ve been feeling really ill and bad all weekend. Great. I don’t know how I’m going to manage all the work I have to do next week as at this point I don’t even know if I can go to work tomorrow. That’s the biggest challenge when you work on your own; if you cannot do the job, no-one else will.
Anyway, I’ve been just resting, cooking and eating healthy food and trying to get better. We have TALKS & DEEDS coming up next Friday, Gregg will be in Kuopio, along with Davida Hewlett, Pilvi Porkola and Hanna Pajala-Assefa.
There would be so much to do and look forward to. Hope I’m better tomorrow.
See you all at T&D!
Johanna
We have been blessed – or cursed- by unusually warm and hot days. The children have had 4 days off and they have fully enjoyed the summer like weather including shorts, sandals, t-shirts and the like. We’ve also had exciting days watching the back yard slowly starting to turn from brown to green and some kind of green perennials pushing from he dirt, growing every day. Last autumn I planted some perennials, don’t really remember what they were. There were some tulips though and they are vigorously growing. It’s kind of amazing. I’ve never had a garden before and I don’t come from a family of gardening enthusiasts so this is all new and strange. But the kids are excited. It’s been almost too hot to work. We’ve done some work on the house though and I worked today setting up a place for the rhododendrons.
Yesterday I felt really irritated and headed to the gym. It felt a bit ridiculous to work out in the gym when the weather was so great but I really needed it. This morning I went for a jog and ended up training for one and half hour. My calves are a bit achy now but otherwise I felt good and energetic. This was the first time I ran to Haapaniemi from our place via the Saaristokatu. And it was quite stunning. The road is not officially open yet but you actually can get all the way to town by it. The views are just beautiful and as the day was sunny, it was very idyllic. Saaristokatu will be such an incredible improvement for us and others who live in the neighbourhood. I’m already now looking forward to cycling and walking to the city centre. It’s also great for walking and jogging.
As I was a kind of super mom today, doing my exercise routine, cooking two delicious meals and being at home with the family, I was feeling guilty of not getting to do some work I wanted and needed to do. Well, I guess I’ll be more focused on that tomorrow but it’s so hard for me to relax when I know I have work waiting that could be doing now. This is silly, I know, but I cannot help it.
Luckily, in rained in the evening and now it seems a storm is approaching. The shower was needed and very welcome. And after it, an enormous rainbow. The image by Pekka.
Last week I found out I didn’t get more production funding for my new group piece so I have to see how I manage to produce the work with the existing funding. Not easy. If at all possible. Will have to see.
Hope you are well,
Johanna
The site has been down due to unknown problems with the hosting company. I’m sorry if this has prevented you from finding what you were looking for!
Johanna