Hannele Jyrkkä has edited this upcoming book of 37 contemporary Finnish choreographers titled Nykykoreografin jalanjäljissä. Johanna is one of the featured choreographers of the book. It’s published by Like and it will be launched at the Full Moon Dance Festival in Pyhäjärvi on the 27th of July. Johanna will be present at the book launch.
Author Archives: Johanna
blueberry – my superfood
The Finnish forests are full of blueberries at the moment – the free superfood. You can read about the nutritional value of blueberries for example here.
I really love blueberries and each year we try to pick a load of them to freeze and then use during the dark & cold winter. Some years are not so good for blueberries but this year we have a lot of them and the season came earlier than usually. So I’ve made blueberry pies for the visiting friends and blueberry smoothies for breakfast. Sooooooo delicious!
Yesterday I made a low carb pizza which was really really yummy! I didn’t take a photo of it but I was very surprised how good it tasted – without any wheat and hardly any flour (just 3 table spoons of rye flour). It was very filling and pretty healthy and didn’t leave one feeling stuffed like a balloon… I’m not on any low carb diet but I do try to eat more protein and a bit less carbs…especially from wheat.
Days have been pretty mellow spending time with some friends, reading, thinking, exercising, cooking and picking & freezing berries. Pimu wants to participate in every action and she’s very excited about people. We’ve also done a few longer walks – she’s growing up very fast. But she still sleeps a lot – especially after exciting excursions…
By the way, I’ve read some Auster and Hustvedt. I finished Siri Hustvedt’s What I loved yesterday and it was just amazing. Probably the best novel I’ve ever read. I really enjoyed it.
Johanna
cycling
I don’t know if you remember that I bought a new bike in the spring. I’m slowly getting gears in order to be able to do longer cycling exercises and to be able to cycle in different weather conditions. The Ortlieb back panniers have been great and very useful. Yesterday I bought these padded undies (amazing pink padding!) by Craft (on sale) which hopefully will help me to do longer rides. I also found Yoko wind stopper jacket on sale and just had to buy that -remembering the rather chilly rides in the winter and early spring. I still don’t have cycling shoes, I guess that’s the next thing I need.
My financial situation is a bit fucked up at the moment so yesterday I reserved a table at a local flea market where I will sell clothes, magazines and some cookware in August. I will let you know when my stall is up! I’m also planning to sell some clothes and shoes at huuto.net – will post a link when the stuff is available. There will be some Minna Parikka shoes, Lustwear clothes etc. Good stuff!
It’s a pretty hot day in Kuopio and I guess I’m heading off to the beach for a swim now…
Johanna
in Hailuoto
Justiina, Iitu, Zulani and Pimu in Pöllä beach – Pimu swimming for the first time! Photos Pekka Mäkinen.
Justiina’s swimwear by Australian Seafolly, mine Stella McCartney for Adidas:
An 8 kg salmon fresh from the sea. It was so yammy!
My dad and Justiina on the Hailuoto ferry:
Back home. Ohh, it’s hot but the blueberries are ripe! Photos by Pekka Mäkinen.
Happy summer holiday to everyone!
Johanna
my daughter’s birthday
My 9 year old daughter and our Yorkshire terrier puppy Pimu, photo Pekka Mäkinen:
Probably the best strawberry cake I’ve ever made:
Justiina and Iitu made cupcakes (with fresh, hand picked blueberries), on the side a chocolate cake I also baked…:
As usual, the day was really hot but nice! And in the evening we had an unplanned summer party at our neighbours. Dancing, singing and drinking all night long. But is there anything better than the Finnish light summer nights? You’ve got to enjoy them!!!
Johanna
meeting in Vienna
Before the midsummer I was in a meeting in Vienna for a couple of days. We sat two intensive long days in this room discussing artists and works for the upcoming UP TO NATURE project. I was very inspired by the meeting but I think this has been the first time ever that I literally didn’t have a chance to do anything apart from going straight into the meeting from airport, going to the hotel at night, taking the tube into the meeting the next day, taxi back to the hotel and bus to the airport early next morning! So no time to have a walk anywhere, to see anything or to shop. I guess that might be a good thing…
A view from my hotel window:
Our meeting room with a balcony:
A view from the balcony, apparently a big tourist attraction in Vienna (related to classical music) – hundreads of tourists visiting it all day long…
Anyway, thanks Thomas, Olivia, Gregg, Helen, Hannah, Jon (and who did I forget…?) for a great meeting! See you soon,
Johanna
Mandan ajatuksia Twirling World -teoksesta
Tässä ihanan avustajamme Manda Konttisen ajatuksia edellisen Twirling World -teoksen esitysperiodin jälkeen:
Viimeisestä kerrasta esitystä jäi niin koskettunut olo. Ystäväni Aulin rinnallesi asettaman sydämen tunsi yleisö myös omalla ihollaan ja sitä seurannut liikutus puhdisti katarttisesti. Esityksesi idean, vuosituhansina kasattujen roolien painosta vapautumisen, koki sisäisesti eikä pelkästään älyllisesti oivaltavana katsojana.
Tatu on kyllä tehnyt vaikuttavan äänitaustan teokseesi. Mieleenpainuvinta oli alkupuolen ääni, joka oli ikäänkuin repeämäisillään tuleen millä hetkellä tahansa, valtava rajapinnan lataus.
Toinen kohta oli se, kun nainen laitettiin kypsymään omenoineen, se valmistumisen odotusta kuvaava ajan tikitys.
Kolmas oli lopun puhdas, painoton leijunta.
Iloitsen, että saan kuulla tämänkin vielä kerran.
Silmien kuvaksi haluan jättää selkäsi, kun hitaasti riisut naiseuteen liimattuja kerroksia. Selkäsi on niin paljon puhuva, sisäisen tilan avartumisesta, levollisuudesta, voimasta – kaikki niin sisäistynyttä. Pakahduttavaa.
Manda
end of the first week of the new project
I had a very inspiring week with Rebecca. Working together felt very refreshing and thought provoking and I’m grateful for that. Exactly what I’ve been missing. So thanks Rebecca!
Rebecca flew back home today suitcase full of rye bread and Hanna Partanen‘s rice pies…
I was so tired I slept all afternoon.
Johanna
day 4 & 5
Unbearable heat. Walking and talking to people. Recording. Sweating. Creating an audio walk, recording it and testing it out. Some tears. Walking, cycling and also swimming a little bit.
Great week. Inspiring. Lots of thoughts. Many possibilities.
Johanna
day 3
Rebecca created “the free relief walk” for me. I followed her instructions and took these photos as instructed.
In the toilet of the city hall:
In the toilet of the main library:
In the toilet of the Hotel Puijonsarvi:
In the toilet of Intro:
The toilet of Minna shopping mall, which I didn’t get into:
I created an audio walk for Rebecca. I really enjoyed making it although I thought a lot about death.
The weather is kind of extreme at the moment. So hot! Cycling was great but Zumba maybe too hot.
Feeling excited, inspired and somehow exhausted. And very hot.
Johanna