Reykjavík Grapevine - 03.12.2010, Qupperneq 33

A R T
GALLERIES & MUSEUMS IN DECEMBER
ART67
Laugavegur 67 | F6
Mon - Fri 12 - 18 / Sat
12 - 16
Artótek
Tryggvagata 15 | D2
Mon 10–21, Tue–Thu 10–19, Fri
11–19, Sat and Sun 13–17
www.sim.is/Index/Islenska/
Artotek
ASÍ Art Museum
Freyugata 41 | G4
Tue–Sun 13–17
Árbæjarsafn
Kistuhylur 4
The Culture House
Hverfisgata 15 | E4
Open daily 11–17
www.thjodmenning.is
Dwarf Gallery
Grundarstígur 21 | H6
Opening Hours: Fri and Sat
18–20
www.this.is/birta/dwarfgallery/
dwarfgallery1.html
The Einar Jónsson
Eiriksgata | G4
Tue–Sun 14–17
www.skulptur.is
Gallery Ágúst
Baldursgata 12 | F4
Wed–Sat 12–17
www.galleriagust.is
Gallery Fold
Rauðarástígur 14-16 | G7
Mon–Fri 10–18 / Sat 11–16 /
Sun 14–16
www.myndlist.is
Gallery Kling & Bang
Hverfisgata 42 | E5
Thurs–Sun from 14–18
this.is/klingogbang/
Gerðuberg Cultural Centre
Gerðuberg 3-5
Mon–Thu 11–17 / Wed 11–21 /
Thu–Fri 11–17 / Sat–Sun 13–16
www.gerduberg.is
Hitt Húsið
– Gallery Tukt
Pósthússtræti 3-5 | E3
www.hitthusid.is
i8 Gallery
Tryggvagata 16 | D2
Tue–Fri 11–17 / Sat 13–17 and
by appointment. www.i8.is
Living Art Museum
Skúlagata 28 | F6
Wed, Fri–Sun 13–17 / Thu
13–22. www.nylo.is
Hafnarborg
Strandgötu 34,
Hafnarfjörður
Mokka Kaffi
Skólavörðustíg 3A | F4
The National Gallery of
Iceland
Fríkirkjuvegur 7 | F3
Tue–Sun 11–17
www.listasafn.is
The National
Museum
Suðurgata 41 | G1
Open daily 10–17
natmus.is
The Nordic House
Sturlugata 5 | H1
Tue–Sun 12–17
www.nordice.is/
Restaurant Reykjavík
Vesturgata 2 | D2
Reykjavík 871+/-2
Aðalstræti 17 | D2
Open daily 10–17
Reykjavík Art Gallery
Skúlagata 28 | F6
Tuesday through Sunday 14–18
Reykjavík Art Museum
Open daily 10–16
www.listasafnreykjavikur.is
Ásmundur Sveinsson Sculp-
ture Museum Sigtún
Hafnarhús
Tryggvagata 17 | D2
Kjarvalsstaðir
Flókagata | I7
Reykjavík Maritime Museum
Grandagarður 8 | C3
Reykjavík Museum of Pho-
tography
Tryggvagata 16 | D2
Weekdays 12–19 / Sat–Sun
13–17 - www.ljosmyndasafn-
reykjavikur.is
Sigurjón Ólafsson Museum
Laugarnestangi 70
Spark, Design Space
Klapparstíg 33 | E4
www.sparkdesignspace.com
Art | Venue finder
John Tavener’s work represents
a duplicate challenge for any
performer: it is often highly
unorthodox in its rhythm and meter,
as well as deeply dependent on an
appropriate and receptive venue
and atmosphere.
A successful show would therefore have to
check both of those boxes; the record-release
gig for ‘Iepo Oneipo’ on the sixteenth may
have managed that, but not with a steady
hand... which is a shame, really, because it
started out so well, and its only real failing was
in not living up to the stunning two openers.
The amazing ‘Song For Athene’ and ‘The
Lamb’ were all the more effective for being
performed back-to-back. Choir-only, with no
backing orchestra, they perfectly harnessed
the anticipation in the room, the verses nearly
bursting from restraint, then the gorgeous,
humble and resigned refrains adding palettes
of wild, deep and impenetrable colour.
The rest of the show had its highlights, to be
sure: ‘Iepo Oneipo’ and the ‘Three Holy Son-
nets’ were technically impressive in the ex-
treme, and although it was the weakest of the
choral numbers, Tavener’s disarming rendition
of ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ wrapped things up very
nicely. Baritone Hrólfur Sæmundsson espe-
cially shone, his voice exuding an unnerving
yet charismatic resonance in Schuon Hym-
nen’s hypnotic “mit der Sonne nur bekleidet”
refrains.
But nothing ever really topped those openers,
I’m sorry to say. Perhaps it was a lack of con-
fidence in the players, or perhaps too much—
an overconfidence that left them without the
necessary level of intensity, or maybe there’s
just something about the perfect purity of a
well-singing, well-conducted choir performing
Tavener’s deceptively gentle, yet orgasmically
beautiful work that, quite simply, leaves mere
instruments lacking.
-Sindri Eldon
John Tavener’s Iepo Oneipo
Performed by The Chamber Choir Of Southern Iceland
at Landakotskirkja, November 16
Probably the best pizza
in town
Pizzeria tel. 578 8555 Lækjargata 8 Downtown

Preserving quality
is our business
Open daily for lunch and dinners
Special off er on Monday
and Tuesday – 3 course dinner
for only 4200 ISK.
Reservation: tel. 552 5700,
e-mail: gallery@holt.is
Bergstaðastræti 37 s. 552 5700
holt@holt.is www.holt.is
Elegant surroundings
Superb cuisine
Modern comfort
RESTAURANT- BAR
Vesturgata 3B | 101 Reykjavík | Sími 551 2344 | www.tapas.is
Tapas barinn is open New Year‘s Eve and
New Year‘s Day
Experience a stylish fusion of traditional Spanish
tapas prepared with the best Icelandic ingredients
in a vibrant and friendly atmosphere.
New Year
Celebrate e
in Iceland
wi a spanish twist
For reservations call 551 2344
or e-mail tapas@tapas.is
SantaCon
Thirteen Santas and counting
All over Reykjavík
Saturday, December 18, 12:00 – 00:00
Yes, it’s that time of year again. Time for
strangers to assemble en masse, and stroll
around the city in Santa Clause costumes.
Doesn’t sound like a familiar Christmas
tradition? Well this might just be the next
laufabrauðsdagur (don’t know what that is ei-
ther? don’t worry about it) because SantaCon
is coming to town. A mass gathering of Santa
Clauses is planned for Saturday, December
18, between 12:00 and 00:00, which means if
you feel like strolling around the city, giving
out gifts to strangers, singing Christmas
songs, and getting drunk dressed as Santa,
this is your chance not to do it alone. But
wait, with the red suit comes responsibility,
and rule #1 is: Santa does not make children
cry. That means that although ‘a little alcohol’
is encouraged, “babysitting Santa while he
vomits in an alley is not. Don’t be that Santa.”
VT
18
December
Clothes off your back
Worn By Worship launch party
Icelandic Design Center, Vonarstræti 4b
December 10, 19:00-21:00
Worn By Worship, an innovative new online
boutique that sells Icelandic and international
design, celebrates its launch this month. The
project, created by Richard P. Foley and Þórey
Björk Halldórsdóttir, will provide a platform for
designers to sell their products, with a unique
addition whereby 10% of each product sold
will go to a charity of the customers choice.
The launch will be held at the Icelandic
Design Centre on December 10. To celebrate
the launch, several designers involved with
the project, such as Shadow Creatures, Eygló
and Mundi Boutique, will be donating 10% of
selected sales to charity over the weekend of
the 10th. For more information and details of
participating designers and charities check
out www.wornbyworship.com. EF
10
December