festive kolams

Around New Year is a season for of celebrations in all religions, and that shows in the more than usual colorful kolams in Tamil Nadu. To walk a village streets is a true craft exhibition.
Here are just a few to enjoy, before they are smudged by fotsteps over or swept away to make place for a new, next day.

happy new 2015! with Tamil Nadu kolams

Best wishes for the new year!

Mine started in South India, back here after 12 years. Both me and India have changed, I treasure being here in a new way.

The kolam painting stays the same around Pondicherry and Auroville, though. Proud craft by women, every morning a new (but some make shortcuts, like myself, and use paint instead of rice powder).
So skillfully made, can't get enough kolams, will post more pics...

Old post about kolam...

jewellery jewellery jewellery and Mah Rana

This week is the peak of this year's big jewellery gathering in Göteborg; New Adventures in Jewellery. So many interesting exhibition; international, Nordic and local artists in museums, galleries and shops.

The whole program here.

I will attend the two day New Adventures in Jewellery seminar, and will get to meet Mah Rana again. She will give one of the talks about her work that is as much about the people as about the jewellery piece they wear.

Meanings and attachments, ongoing international archive, many many stories on a new website - submit your own!
Mah Rana - Jewellery is life

Photo from the session at Blå Stället in June, when visitors told the story about what personal relation they have to the jewellery they wear. Some fun, some sad, all touching.

anders winberg - wood artist

Anders Winberg is one of three artists in the first exhibition this autumn at Blå Stället konsthall, where I have my new job as curator/producer. Lucky me who will meet with so many artists and other creative people.

I first saw Anders' work at a hands-on conference for craft instructors some ten years ago. He still manages to challenge craft traditions in the most respectful way and can innovate a great idea from nothing.

The photos are from when we picked up his amazing ladders from his workshop. They ladder steps are attached by the wood shrinking when it dries, without any glue. Parts of the long straight ladder were nibbled by the elks in Slottskogen.

Anders workshop is history any day now, due to gentrification of the street, Tredje Långgatan.

this summer: dalsland

Dalsland is a dreamy piece of Sweden, full woods and lakes. A growing artist community attracts other artists and culture workers, as well as visitors.

Not Quite is located in a former paper mill, now filled with artists' studios, a bakery, galleries, shop and a fantastic café. It is getting better and better each time I visit.
notquite.se

Nearby is Dalslands Konstmuseum, the program always an interesting mix of contemporary art, design and craft.
dalslandskonstmuseum.se

koster island sculpture park walk

Koster islands, a summer paradise in the Swedish west coast archipelago. Since two years a sculpture park is slowly taking shape on the south island. Starting point for the walk in the woods: Koster gardens, best café/restaurant on the island.

This year Norwegian artist Solveig Egeland built a (to be two) tree cottage in a meadow, still smelling from the newly cut wood and tar in the roof.
She has built houses in other places, like Svalbard, in materials found on the site. Environment and sustainability; educating art work.

Ocean Hope, Svalbard, photos:
smaahytter.squarespace.com/fotogalleri

Solveig Egeland webpage, in Norwegian
www.solveigegeland.no

before summer came: atiz resiztans

Last day of a long summer holiday - soon I'll go swimming...

A long holiday has given time to sort all kind of things a life is filled with.
And all photos. And maybe catch up.

What happened in May:
I felt totally connected with my two work places, Konstepidemin and Blå Stället art space, when two Haiti artists, André Eugène and Jean Claude Saintilus, made a month long stop in Göteborg.

It made me realize how blessed I am, and will be even more in the future, to meet with all kinds of artists at my new job. It is a challenge to facilitate their visits and shows for maximum encounter for all. And the start of this adventure could not be better than with a Voudou Spirit theme.

Jean Claude and André are part of a group in Port au Prince, Haiti, Atiz Rezistans. Their work is highly integrated with the spiritual beliefs that live so strongly in the Haitian community. And a little brutal and yet with so much humour.
www.atis-rezistans.com

Atiz Rezistans arranges Ghetto Biennale, an international art biennial along Grand Rue, a main street of former glory in Port au Prince. Artists apply and stay for about a month to prepare their art projects.
www.ghettobiennale.com

In the one day workshop at Blå Stället with André Eugène and Jean Claude Saintilus were invited artists Faris Al-zwain, Yousra Samawi, Anna Unsgaard, Catrin Serck-Hanssen along with Faruq Omer, Ahmed Bachai och Abdulkareem Sadoon from the ORT ART group.

The Haitian guests were invited by the folk music gathering event at Konstepidemin, thanks to musician Sten Källman and his strong connection to the country.

Val Inc - Val Jeanty, another Haitin guest, unforgettable electronica performance, truly magic.
To just listen doesn't give the total experience but still:
soundcloud.com/vjeanty