Monthly Archives: December 2009

easy days

I’m finally going to have a magnetic scan of my knee tomorrow which I can hardly wait. I actually can’t believe that one whole month has passed since my injury and only now the insurance company has agreed to pay for the scan. What ever needs to happen after that has to be again decided separately. I think it’s unbelievable. They called me just before the Christmas holidays and I couldn’t get an appointment for the scan but still – so slow and inefficient. They also have kind of let me understand that it’s not that clear what they cover and what not… Anyway, tomorrow I’ll know better about the condition of my knee. But it’s been really annoying not to be able to exercise properly. Frustrating!

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My daughter got new skates for Christmas and yesterday we went ice-skating. I obviously couldn’t skate but it was fun and she did very well. It wasn’t that freezing but it was a bit windy so it felt quite brisk on the face. Other than that I’ve tried to relax and read, sleep and read… I’ve read three books and I’m especially proud of finally finishing Zadie Smith’s On Beauty. I was reading that book for months, never having time to concentrate on it properly, feeling too exhausted or just struggling with it. But I couldn’t leave it without finishing it. So I finished that first and felt really relieved as that book has haunted me for months. I still don’t understand why some people call it a master piece! It didn’t do anything for me. Actually, I tried to read it probably already last year, but had to give up then… Anyway, I have a pile of books waiting next to my bed as we borrowed a ton of books from the library before Christmas and also some dvd’s. It was nice to see Filth & Wisdom – some very good music on the film! Now I’m reading Erlend Loe’s Facts about Finland and I have some Hanif Kureishi also waiting…

on beauty facts filth hanif

I always cook the traditional Christmas casseroles from swedes, carrots, beetroots and potatoes. I’m delighted to see that my children eat them but it’s really not the case with everyone. We’ve had quite a crowded house for some days and I find it a bit disturbing when young people are so fussy about food. It’s almost rude. And sometimes I think it’s ignorance. I know I shouldn’t care too much but I’m a bit hysterical about good food…

 I’ve admired the woolen socks that Aila has knitted and wondered if I should take out my needles. But maybe that it too ambitious as I have so much unfinished work I should get back to. I’ll have to think about it!

Johanna

 

 

the days in Helsinki

On Thursday & Friday I was working in Helsinki and had meetings with different people and institutions. I think it was really useful and also inspiring.
This week I got the first versions of documentation dvds from Acts of Clothing and BODY/HAIR performances. Both look good but I should find time & energy to work on the subtitles. It’s a job I would happily give to someone else. I also don’t know what to do with the full documentation of the Acts of Clothing as it is almost non-stop talking for almost an hour and half…
But during my short visit to Helsinki, I had a chance to visit some of my favourite restaurants and design shops as well as the Christmas market in Vanha where I found a very nice present for my son. I finally saw the new Lustwear shop on Bulevardi. It was great to meet Hammi, one of the designers & owners, as she was in the shop when I visited. They had a few just amazing coats which I didn’t even want to try as I seriously can’t buy anything like that at the moment. And if I try something just perfect on, there’s a chance that I lose the battle with myself and take out the credit card… So I bought just a little Christmas present for myself. The next day I run into Hammi and Maikku, the other designer & owner, in Stockman and we had a nice chat. I haven’t seen those ladies for some time now. It was great to see them and items from their new collection. I highly recommend.
I didn’t visit Minna Parikka’s shop or Asuna, but I quickly went into Helsinki10. I was happy to find products of No Bad Design in there as well as jewellery made out of old toys (I cannot remember the designer). I had almost forgotten that I have a No Bad Design bracelet! And my daughter has fallen in love with the toy jewellery so I have bought a piece for her for Christmas. The Ethic shop is Kuopio sells them. Before taking my train back home, I visited the Mac Store where I bought I few items I needed for my new Mac Book Pro and also decided to visit the Nanso shop. They had some nice example single pieces in very good price and I ended up buying a black & red Love Cats top and a dress  … But they were very cheap! 

On Friday I had a nostalgic latte in Café Entré in Kruunuhaka. So many times I’ve sat there before going to the ministry of education or the arts council of Finland. Then I had a lovely lunch in Mai Thai and bought take away sushi for the train journey back home. The train trip was really strange as opposite of me sat the most hysterical or ADHD woman that I’ve ever seen. For the whole four hours, she packed and unpacked, sat and stood up to search through her 8 or so bags, she constantly also changed her place to sit and had everything, literally everything packed in plastic bags including her lip balm! She was all hot and red on the face from all the hassle she just couldn’t stop. She seemed very nice and friendly but she was so restless that I would go crazy if I had to spend a day with a person like that. Tomorrow is hopefully my last day of working in the ANTI office this year. I’m really looking forward to that!

Johanna

almost on holiday….

Yesterday the kids had their last day of school and Christmas celebration where my daughter was the ‘star angel’… They also baked gingerbread cookies. So although I have to do some work next week, it feels almost like a holiday…

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le weekend!

After the Acts of Clothing performances I’ve been feeling rather exhausted, but happy and content. Despite the fact that in the third performance I had a knee injury and did the last two shows sitting in a wheelchair, Marcia assisting me. It was rather tiring but we quickly decided that we won’t cancel the last performances and in a very short time figured out a way to do the shows in the best possible way in the unforeseen circumstances. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and I’m excited about the upcoming possibilities to do the show in different festivals and venues in the future.

But this all has eaten up my energy! Of course the thing with the knee is a nightmare. I’m dealing with the insurance company at the moment and waiting to get a magnetic scan which will determine what happens next. Day by day I can walk better, with less pain, so I’m not desperate. But it is really strange not to be able to go for runs or nordic walks! I’m very worried about my fitness…

In the last performance I got 36 pink flowers from Marcia to celebrate my age and the number of my clothing items in the performance. I also got amazing flowers from the Regional dance centre of Eastern Finland the regional arts council of North Savo. They all still delight me every day! After the last show I wanted to have a party to celebrate the fact that Acts of Clothing might be last work I ever make. I didn’t really manage as the performance preparations and then the sudden injury ate up my energy and I didn’t have time to organize anything properly. But we had a nice time, some food and lots of cava… We also went out and on the next day I had a hangover from hell. But I’ve never been pushed around in a wheelchair through the city from bar to bar before ! At least it was an experience.

36 pink roses

So this is it for a while. I’m not going to make any new work in 2010 but hopefully tour the existing works and focus on developing the ANTI Festival, research new ways of working and collaborating and do some further studies. For a long time I haven’t felt this excited and happy!

To reward myself for all the hard work I ordered two skull bracelets & earrings by Tarina Tarantino. Marcia had the bracelets and I absolutely fell in love with them. So they are a memory of this wonderful collaboration and performance, which I’ve had the best time performing.

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Lovely weekend to everybody!

Johanna

 

did five shows of Acts of Clothing

Acts of clothing performance 1Acts of clothing performance 2Acts of clothing performance 3Acts of clothing performance 4Acts of clothing performance 5Acts of clothing performance 6Acts of clothing performance 7Acts of clothing performance 8Acts of clothing performance 9Acts of clothing performance 10Acts of clothing performance 11Photographs by Pekka Mäkinen.dressing roomAnd this was my dressing room decorated by Marcia!