Reykjavík Grapevine - 13.06.2003, Qupperneq 17

Reykjavík Grapevine - 13.06.2003, Qupperneq 17
 - the reykjavik grapevine -16 may 15 - may 29, 2003 - the reykjavik grapevine - 17may 15 - may 29, 2003 LISTINGS MORE MUSIC, LESS FISH An old fish factory in Rey- kjavík gets a second chance as a music development centre Icelandic music and Icelandic musi- cians have made quite an impres- sion in the rest of the world over the past few years. Björk or “our Björk” is a star, bands like Sigurrós have done some interesting things, getting good reviews, selling quite a few records, and both are filling con- cert halls across Europe and Ameri- ca. Not bad for a small country they say! Still, Iceland’s government has shown little interest in supporting musicians and spend most of their art related budget on building more museums, which few attend anyway. This policy of neglect means that re- ally interesting artists, at least to the rest of the world, are literally left out in the cold Many do not even have a place to rehearse, moving between garages and sometimes barns, loosing their expensive equipment to enemies like damp, and I am sorry to say, burglaries. Its is a sad picture I´m drawing here, but an accurate one according to many musicians, including Daniel Pollock, a 45-year-old American, who has been involved in the Ice- landic music business for over 20 years. Danny , along with his older brother Mike, is responsible for bringing punk rock to Iceland in the late 70’s. “I came here with my brother in 78 from Chicago to work, and to form a band, I especially had become influ- enced by punk, and at the time punk hardly existed in Iceland” The brothers formed a band with three other Icelanders and took stands as lead and rhythm guitar players. This new band, Utangards- menn (the Outsiders) became the most popular band in Iceland in the early eighties. Their debut LP became the record of the year in Iceland in 1980. Although a popular band, they had the same problem as everyone else, trying to find a place to rehearse. “In those days we had a lot of trouble finding ourselves a place to rehearse, and most the time we had no place at all” Even as their success grew, this remained a problem. The Pollock brothers along with the rest of the band were responsible for bringing the Icelandic punk wave out of the garage and into the public domain. Their efforts influenced the likes of Björk among many others. “We’d play in one of the big hotels in Reykjavík, every Tuesday, bringing sometimes up to 4 other bands to play with us.” “At that time, bands went through hell to be able to play together, and hardly ever had a chance to play life in front of an audience.” Danny says. Danny Pollock left Iceland for the States in the mid eighties, and con- tinued his own music career there. He returned in 98, “When I came back there had been no progress, things were the same for musicians as they were when I left.” “Personally, I needed a place of my own to rehearse, and I didn’t want it to be a filthy garage, but like I said, finding a place wasn’t easy, it was closer to being impossible”. I’m glad to report a semi successful conclusion to this sorry tale. Danny did end up finding a place, an aban- doned fish factory by Reykjavik’s harbor. “Finding a big place, way too big for just me, gave me an idea. In the states, there are so-called music centers, big buildings with one pur- pose, to house bands. Bands share rooms for rehearsal, often equip- ment too, and the music center offers the bands some free studio time also, not to mention safety for their amps, instruments and stuff. What these music centers are also known for is very cheap rent and a lot of time to practice. No angry neighbors either so you’re not going to get kicked out for playing too loud”. This is an innovative project and new to Iceland as no one has had the balls to try anything of this caliber before, and surprise surprise, the government with its usual blinkered attitude will not lift a finger to help. “Music centers, like the one I’m opening, should be supported by the government like any other form of leisure or sports, I hope they open their eyes soon”, says Danny. The Center has already opened, but some parts of it are not yet ready, e.g. a second studio and a concert hall. It will house 30 bands, already an inadequate number, as there are many bands waiting to get in. The good news is that concerts will be held and bands that have never be- fore gotten a chance to play in pub- lic will now get their fifteen minutes of fame. Danny hopes the Music center will be a boost for music in Iceland. “Once again I am bringing very creative Icelandic bands out of their garages and shit holes and into the light of day”. Jón Trausti Sigurðarson I N T E R V I E W Austurvöllur outdoor exhibition, The Earth from Above. May 31st. - September 21st. On a warm summer´s day (these may be rare, but they do occur) you can sit outside at Austurvöllur, strategically placed between the Althingi building and the liquor store, and sip beer. The beer might be warm, since the store sadly does not have a fridge, but the spot is interesting. It was once used for grazing cows, and travellers would pitch their tents here, giving it a reputation as a place of serious drinking. A hundred years ago it was used for ice skating, and it is also where Iceland’s last public flogging took place in 1829. Jerome Napoleon’s (the Emperors nephew) band played there in 1856, and every 17th of June a wreath of flowers is placed at the feet of the statue of Jón Sigurðsson, the national hero. This summer, the area is host to on exhibition of some 120 aerial photographs, taken by French photographer Yann Arthus- Bertrand. The exhibition shows us some of the more noteworthy sights of Planet Earth, as seen from above, some of them man made, (a Shinto temple in Japan, a nudist colony in France) and some of them not (a glacier in Argentina, a reef in Austra- lia). What the exhibition aims to achieve, and does quite well, is to question mans imprint upon nature, whether creation (the Guggenheim museum in Barcelona, the palace in Versailles), or destruction (An abandoned town near Chernobyl, a tank graveyard in Iraq). They emphasise the variety and stunning scenery of our planet, and our duty to maintain this. The pictures are impressive, and achieve their goal by criticising man’s destructive impulses with visions of beauty. Some of them are sad, such as the picture of the slums in Sao Paulo, and others joyful, such as the Love Parade in Berlin, but all make some sort of point about man’s responsibility towards, and impact upon, his environment. The exhibition is large and it is free, and will be there all summer, so it is ideal to look at the various parts of it on different trips to the city, if the weather remains good enough for enjoying outdoor exhibitions. A giant map of the world is also part of the exhibition, so you can see where each of the pictures where taken. Some 5 pictures come from Iceland, the greatest amount for any one country (per head, of course). The text is in Icelandic, English and French. The pictures, like their photographer, have been touring the world, and the exhibition has been seen by some 30 million people worldwide. of painter Jóhannes Kjarval. Norræna húsið, Nordic House, The Big Nordic Elephant Show. Children dressed up as elephants especially welcome. Hafnarhúsið, Reykjavik Art Museum, The earlier works of popart painter Erro. Reykjavik Museum of Photography, The Five Elements. Photographs and etchings from french- vietnamese artist Claire Xuan. Einar Jónsson Sculpture Museum, The works of Iceland´s first modern sculptor, whose works are partly based on Icelandic folklore. Ásmundarsafn, Sculpture museum, The works of popular sculptor Ásmundar Sveinsson, who believed sculpture should be part of the urban environment. Kjarvalsstaðir Art Museum, The works of Örn Þorsteinsson, who creates sculptures from stones found in nature. Sunday, June 15 Reðursafnið, Phallological Museum, A fine penis and penis related selection from various mammals. First human specimen still awaited. Hafnarborg Art Gallery, Anniversary exhibition from the museum collection. Árbæjarsafn, Folk Museum, Artisans show their skills and folk dances shown at 15.00. Austurvöllur out door exhibition, Earth from Above. Aerial Photographs by Yann Arthus- Bertrand. National and University Library, Exhibition of Lárus Sigurbjörnsson, the founder of the city´s documentation. Gerðuberg, Cultural Center, Images of Iceland - milestones in cartography Nýlistasafnið, The Living Art Museum, Matthew Barney´s Cremaster project. Photographic works, sculptures and films. Sólon, Photo exhibition Gerðuberg, Cultural Center, Photographs of the bridges of Highway 1, which encircles the whole island. Gerðarsafn, Kóparvogur Art Gallery, Retospective of sculptor Gerdur Helgadottir´s work, in honour of her 75th birthday. Kjarvalsstaðir Art Museum, Russian Photography from 1900 to today. Kjarvalsstaðir Art Museum, Some of the works of painter Jóhannes Kjarval. Norræna húsið, Nordic House, The Big Nordic Elephant Show. Children dressed up as elephants especially welcome. Hafnarhúsið, Reykjavik Art Museum, The earlier works of popart painter Erro. Reykjavik Museum of Photography, The Five Elements. Photographs and etchings from french- vietnamese artist Claire Xuan. Skemmtihúsið Theatre, -18:00- The Saga of Gudridur. A play about a Viking woman in America performed in English. Skemmtihúsið Theatre, -20.30- The Saga of Gudridur. A play about a Viking woman in America performed in English. Einar Jónsson Sculpture Museum, The works of Iceland´s first modern sculptor, whose works are partly based on Icelandic folklore. Ásmundarsafn, Sculpture museum, The works of popular sculptor Ásmundar Sveinsson, who believed sculpture should be part of the urban environment. Kjarvalsstaðir Art Museum, The works of Örn Þorsteinsson, who creates sculptures from stones found in nature. Grand Rokk, Tonic. Live band Monday, June 16 Reðursafnið, Phallological Museum, A fine penis and penis related selection from various mammals. First human specimen still awaited. Hafnarborg Art Gallery, Anniversary exhibition from the museum collection. Salurinn, -20:00- Classical piano recital by Tómas Guðni Eggertsson. Café Victor, DJ Gunni. Prikið, DJ Kári. Austurvöllur out door exhibition, Earth from Above. Aerial Photographs by Yann Arthus- Bertrand. National and University Library, Exhibition of Lárus Sigurbjörnsson, the founder of the city´s documentation. Gaukur á Stöng, Hip hop, DJ Sasha.. Gerðuberg, Cultural Center, Images of Iceland - milestones in cartography Nýlistasafnið, The Living Art Museum, Matthew Barney´s Cremaster project. Photographic works, sculptures and films. Gaukur á Stöng, NOFX, Brain Police and Innvortis. Sólon, Photo exhibition Gerðuberg, Cultural Center, Photographs of the bridges of Highway 1, which encircles the whole island. Gerðarsafn, Kóparvogur Art Gallery, Retospective of sculptor Gerdur Helgadottir´s work, in honour of her 75th birthday. Kjarvalsstaðir Art Museum, Some of the works of painter Jóhannes Kjarval. Leikhúskjallarinn, The acid jazz band Jagúar Norræna húsið, Nordic House, The Big Nordic Elephant Show. Children dressed up as elephants especially welcome. Reykjavik Museum of Photography, The Five Elements. Photographs and etchings from french-

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