Lögberg-Heimskringla - 09.04.2004, Blaðsíða 11

Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 9. apríl 2004 • 11
Dabbling in
Melissa Jameson
Cold Lake, AB
Local artist Linda Dunn has been dabbling in
Celtic knotwork for around 15 years.
And now she is going to share her knowledge of
the art form with others.
“It’s easier than it looks,” Dunn said of the
intricate-looking art form. “It’s a mathematical
process that anyone can leam.”
Historically done in stone, knotwork has both
Celtic and Viking backgrounds.
“Both influence the other so much, that it’s hard
to tell them apart,” said Dunn.
Dunn, who is a weaver, noted that for her, knot-
work is weaving in a drawn form.
When she First became interested in Celtic
knotwork, there wasn’t a lot of information readily
available. However, with a growing interest in
things Celtic, more and more information has come
about.
While there are many traditional designs that
people like to copy, you can also make original
designs.
“I like to experiment, but I usually end up going
back to traditional patterns and combine.them in
ways that haven’t been done before.”
Dunn will be teaching an eight-week course on
Celtic knotwork at the Wild Rose Gallery in the
early spring.
“It’s very important to teach to pass on the tra-
ditions. You can learn it yourself, but it’s easier if
someone teaches you.”
Reprinted with permission from the Cold Lake Sun
PHOTO AND ARTWORK COURTESY OF THE COLD LAKE SUN
Cold Lake Artist Linda Dunn (inset) has made some creative designs over the years using an old, intricate
art. Celtic knotwork mixed with traditional patterns results in some fascinating fínished products.
ICCT provides audiences with
a pleasant visit to the Devil’s island
PHOTO COURTSEY OF THE ICELANDIC FILM CENTRE
Baltasar Kormákur stars as Baddi, who returns to Iceland
from the new world with a vocabulary augmented by the lat-
est American slang.
Devil’s Island (Djöflaeyjan),
1996
by Friðrik Þór Friðriksson
Reviewed by
Tómas Gunnarsson
Toronto, ON
evil’s Island, Friðrik's
Þór’s fifth feature film,
takes place at the time
when Iceland had recently
acquired its independence and
the inhabitants were still com-
ing to terms with the presence
of a foreign army, and the
changes that WWII brought.
The film, which is based
on the novels of Einar Kárason
(the script writer as well), tells
the story of a farnily who lives
in one of the barracks that the
U.S. army has ceased to use in
Reykjavík. There are three
generations, Tómas, the
provider, married to Karólína;
her daughter Gógó, who mar-
ries an American airman and
moves to America; and her
kids, Dolly, Danni and Baddi,
whom she leaves behind. The
niovie really takes off after
Baddi (played by Baltasar Kor-
mákur, the director of 101
Reykjavík and The Sea), retums
to Iceland after visiting his
mother in America.
The movie, like many of
Friðrik’s works, is made up of a
number of shorter stories, not
necessarily all of great signifi-
cance, put together to form an
interesting tragicomedy, as dif-
ferent phases of human exis-
tence are brought forward. The
cultural clashes are one of the
most prominent features of the
film, as rock and roll and televi-
sion blend together with heavy
drinking, religion and supersti-
tion.
Devil’s Island is a really
enjoyable film, which “runs
well” and keeps the attention of
the viewer. The actors handle
their roles with ease, the cine-
matography and editing are in
solid hands, and the music
score is excellent. The charac-
ters may be a little exaggerated,
but are still convincing enough
to make this trip to the Devil’s
Island a really pleasant one.
Devil’s Island (with Eng-
lish subtitles) can be seen in
Toronto on Thursday, April 29
as pait of a series of Icelandic
movies presented by the Ice-
landic Canadian Club of Toron-
to, the Icelandic Consulate and
the Icelandic Film Centre at the
National Film Board, 150 John
Street. The movie will be
shown at 6:30 and 8:30. Tickets
are $6 for seniors/students/NFB
members, $8 for others. To
book, call Carolyn at (905) 469-
4917, or e-mail carolyn.stin-
son @ sympatico.ca.
Site for sore eyes
Reconstruction Site
. The Weakerthans
Epitaph
The followup to Left and
Leaving finds Winnipeg’s The
Weakerthans in top form.
Combining powerful, thought-
provoking lyrics with a catchy
sound that lingers in the brain,
Reconstruction Site is proof, if
any were needed, that The
Weakerthans were no one-hit
wonders.
Stephen Carrol and John
K. Samson’s guitars hammer
out a strong sound without
binging into heavy-metal terri-
tory. The tone is assured but
heartfelt. And the combination
of John P. Sutton on bass and
Jason Tait on drums provide a
backbone to the songs that
almost defies your toes not to
tap. On this firm foundation
stand John K. Samson’s pared-
down lead vocals, like a lonely,
critical voice on the prairies.
But the tone isn’t plain-
tive. The lyrics are full of wry
observation, such as in the title
track: “With a girl at the top
wearing tulle, and a Miss
Somewhere sash, waving like a
queen. Beauty’s just another
word I'm never certain how to
spell.” They also don’t spare
their hometown from a kind of
caustic affection, as on “One
Great City!”: “And up above us
all, leaning into sky, our Gold-
en Business Boy will watch the
North End die, and sing ‘I love
this town,’ then let his arcing
wrecking ball proclaim, ‘I hate
Winnipeg.’” Definitely not
bubblegum rock.
Adding to the album are
guest vocals by Sarah Harmer
and Christine Fellows. For
rock fans looking for some-
thing a ciit above, Reconstruc-
tion Site is one for sore eyes.
—David Jón Fuller
First Lutheran Church
580 Victor Street
^Winnipeg R3G 1R2
204-772-7444
www.mts.net/~flcwin
Worship with us
Sundays 10:30 a.m.
Pastor Michael Kurtz
Visit us on the web at http://www.logberg.com