Reykjavík Grapevine - 02.07.2008, Blaðsíða 14

14 | REYKJAVÍK GRAPEVINE | ISSUE 08—2008
ARTICLE By Steinunn jakoBSdÓttir — photo By gaS
ARTICLE By Steinunn jakoBSdÓttir
Every Friday and Saturday this summer, a lively outdoor mar-
ket will fill the port in front of bar/concert venue Organ in
Hafnarstræti. The market is open from 14:00 to 19:00 and the
concept is to emphasise on different themes every weekend.
Themes range from music and art to fashion designs and ac-
cessories, just about whatever the supervisors Gígja Ísis and
Hanna Kristín, can think of. “We wanted to have different
themes and then organise events related to the theme each
week” says Gígja. The opening weekend’s junk market at-
tracted a large crowd of shoppers eager to stock up on some
cheap items, listen to live music and breathe in the creative
atmosphere. “We had a hairdresser who cut people’s hair for
example. The plan is to combine the street market and vari-
ous fun happenings, performances, fashion shows and live
music,” she adds.
This weekend, June 20 and 21, the focus will be on music.
Old records and new releases by local bands and all sorts of
music related stuff will be available for enthusiastic shoppers
who will have plenty of opportunities to find good bargains.
“Kimono has for example booked a stall where the band
members plan to sell their music as well as old instruments
and music equipment. Then we’ll of course have some big
concert,” explains Gígja and adds that the following week-
end is already fully booked. That time the theme is young
artists and designers so shoppers can expect a nice selec-
tion of design products, clothes and one-off art pieces. After
scanning the stalls, music-nerds and amateurs can show off
their knowledge by participating in the weekly Pop-Quiz,
starting at 18:00 every Friday at Organ. If all this isn’t enough,
the outside grill is open for everyone hungry for a BBQ and
the bartenders will gladly mix up your favourite beverage.
Anyone interested can rent a stall for 7,000 ISK for the
two days. For more info on upcoming themes see: www.mys-
pace.com/organmarket or contact the supervisors at organ-
thememarket@gmail.com.
To make Icelandic design more accessible to worldwide
shoppers, two local pioneers with an eye for quality prod-
ucts, Kjartan Sturluson and Ingvi Þór Guðmundsson, re-
cently opened a new design store on the Internet. The store
is entitled Birkiland and stocks a nice selection of Icelandic
designs, including various accessories, organic toys, decora-
tive items for the home and books on architecture, food and
photography. A great variety of cool gift items as a ‘virtue
blanket,’ Tim Burton inspired jewellery hangers, Volcanic
Ash Notepads and Rose-patterned food cutters are for sale
and, as the site evolves, fresh new items will be added to the
store. The site also includes useful information about the de-
signers and their products.
The reason for opening the website they say is the enor-
mous growth they’ve seen in Icelandic design in recent
years, with new designers gaining attention locally and inter-
nationally. To meet the increased interest, the webstore was
established to be a platform for designers who can present
and sell their products and in the meantime promote Icelan-
dic design around the world.
Today, 15 designers sell their products on Birkiland, both
new graduates as well as prominent designers with years of
experience in the business. Asked how they are selected, In-
gvi Þór replies that it is partly a matter of taste but that they
choose carefully what they think suits the store. “We want
to offer cutting-edge designs and include young designers.
We plan to add more names to the list and activate graphic
designers and fashion designers as well. Now we are study-
ing the market and looking at the grassroots,” he says. “We
get lots of visits each day and numerous blogs around the
world have written about the store. That’s of course the best
advertisement you get.”
Offering Icelandic design on the web isn’t their only goal
as the plan is to operate short-term stores that offer Icelan-
dic designs, exhibitions and events. “The stores will move
around and only be open for a week or maybe just over one
weekend. We plan to start this in July, maybe on Laugavegur,
but an exact location hasn’t been decided yet,” Ingvi Þór ex-
plains. With this new business, those interested in designs
can have easy access to the Icelandic creativity wherever
they are in the world. Check out the selection at www.birki-
land.is.
the organ faShion collective.
Organ Theme-market
Buy Icelandic Design Online
A new weekend destination
And look cool to all your friends
WhERE
Organ, Hafnarstræti 1-3
WhEN
Friday and Saturday
from 14:00 – 19:00
Licensing and
registration of travel-
related services
The Icelandic Tourist Board issues licences to tour operators and travel agents,
as well as issuing registration to booking services and information centres.
Tour operators and travel agents are required to use a special logo approved
by the Icelandic Tourist Board on all their advertisements and on their Internet
website.
Booking services and information centres are entitled to use a Tourist
Board logo on all their material. The logos below are recognised by the
Icelandic Tourist Board.
List of licenced Tour
Operators and Travel
Agencies on:
visiticeland.com
Tryggvagata 17
101 Reykjavík
Tel: 411 9000
www.velferdarsvid.is
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those who rent in the general market.
Application service is provided at the city’s 6 service centers and it’s also
possible to apply electronically through www.rafraen.reykjavik.is. Applicants
shall have reach 18 years of age, hold a legal residence in Reykjavik and be
able to show a signed rental contract that has been registered at the district
magistrade.
For further information contact you nearest service center, either directly or
through tel: 4 11 11 11.
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