Reykjavík Grapevine - 10.02.2006, Blaðsíða 26

Images Of the North. February 24-26.
Iðnó, Vonarstræti 3
Images Of the North is an international interdisciplinary conference held in collaboration by the
Reykjavík Academy and the Winter Lights Festival. Scholars gather to discuss life in the northern
hemisphere. The aim is to elucidate the multiple aspects of the idea of the North, both as a mythologi-
cal space and a discursive system created and shaped by cultures outside the North as well as from
within. Seventy-five scholars from different fields of research will partake in seminars and lectures
during the three-day conference. Keynote speakers will be Dr. Sherrill E. Grace, University of British
Columbia and Dr. Waldemar Zacharasiewicz, University of Vienna. This conference is related to the
interdisciplinary research project Iceland and the Images of the North that is now well underway.
For further info contact: Ólöf Sigfúsdóttir, conference manager
Phone: +354 699 7066. Fax: + 354 562 8528. E-mail: olof@akademia.is www.akademia.is
Reykjavík Museums Night.
Friday 19:00-01:00
Reykjavík Museums Night is an extravaganza where all museums in Reykjavík open their doors
and invite guests to enjoy special programs, free of charge. Special buses will offer free rides
between the museums, so transportation is easy. There are a variety of attractions, most muse-
ums will offer guided tours, and in many cases there are special exhibitions put on display for the
evening. Carefully study the programme to select an art cocktail of your liking.
The Children’s International Day.
Laugarlækjarskóli Sunday 14:00-17:00
The Children’s International Day is a celebration of Icelandic multiculturalism, where children
aged 6-12 are given an opportunity to experience a taste of different cultures through the various
workshops offered under the name Safari around the World. The workshops offer the chance to
try Chinese martial arts, African and Bolivian instruments, Filipino karaoke, and Bulgarian dances.
There is also a short seminar in stomp dancing for 10-12 years olds. Besides the workshops, there
will also be diverse entertainment on the school’s stage. The school’s choir will perform, a rock
band from the school will play, Chinese martial arts display and a theatre group will perform acts
from the musical West Side Story.
The Intercultural Centre Folk Festival.
Sunday 12:00–17:00. Blómaval, Sigtún
The Folk Festival is being held as a part of the Winter Lights Festival for the third time. The
festival aims to show how the multicultural society has enriched Icelandic culture and society.
The organisers hope to raise understanding of different cultural backgrounds by introducing the
variety found among Icelandic citizens. Exotic and foreign foods will be prominently displayed and
guest can sample different national dishes and try exotic flavours. Multicultural entertainment will
be offered on the stage.
An Evening with Saamis.
The Nordic House. Reykjavík Museum Night.
A part of the Reykjavík Museum Night is An Evening With Saamis held at the Nordic House. The
programme features one of the world’s most renowned yoik singers and a variety of films docu-
menting the live of the Saami people. Originally, yoik referred to only one of several Saami singing
styles, but in English the word is often used to refer to all types of traditional Saami singing.
Its sound is comparable to the traditional chanting of some American Indian cultures. The Saami
singer Marit Hætta Øverli has modernized this old music form and her performances have
received a lot of praise and attention. The film presentation features films where Saami culture
plays a central role. The highlights are the Oscar-nominated Pathfinder (1987) by Nils Gaup and
the comic documentary short Kautokeino Bachelor’s Club by Paul-Anders Simma.
Canadian Northern Cinemas Festival.
The Nordic House, Sturlugata 5. Sunday, February 26, 18:00
A four-day film festival, focusing on the relation between Canada and the North. The festival
begins with the screening of two English-language films, The Importance of Being Icelandic (Jón E.
Gústafsson, 1998) and Snow Walker (Martin Smith, 2003). The festival is produced by the Interna-
tional Laboratory for the Comparative Multidisciplinary Study of Representations of the North of
the Université du Québec à Montréal and the Reykjavík Academy, in collaboration with the Centre
de recherche interuniversitaire sur la littérature et la culture québécoises, the Kviksaga - Docu-
mentary Centre and the Winter Festival of the City Reykjavík, with the financial support of the
Embassy of Canada in Iceland.
For further information visit: http://www.crilcq.org/festival2006/default.asp
Megas at Hallgrímskirkja.
Saturday, February 25, 17:00
The popular poet and songwriter Megas (Magnús Þór Jónsson), will be performing his musical
accompaniment to Hallgrímur Pétursson’s Passíusálmar (Passover Psalms) with the assistance of
a children’s choir and several other musicians. They will be performing seven of the Passíusálmar,
two hymns by Matthías Jochumsson and several other pieces of music written to accompany
other less religious compositions of Hallgrímur Pétursson. Hilmar Örn Agnarsson, choir direc-
tor and organist in Skálholtskirkja, is the organiser of the project and he has recruited two of his
former band mates from defunct punk outfit Þeyr: Sigtryggur Baldursson and Guðlaugur Kristinn
Óttarsson. The concert will thus be an important occasion since this will be the first time in 20
years that the former members of that band are reunited in concert. The chamber choir of Bisk-
upsstunga is made up of children in their last few years of grammar school. People of all ages will
take part in the event and amongst the performers are Megas, the chamber choir of Biskupstunga,
and an ensemble consisting of a guitarist, a bass player, a percussionist, an organist, a harpist, a
string quartet and two soloists playing the oboe and guitar respectively. Variety is the order of the
day at this impressive event at Hallgrímskirkja. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the music
store 12 Tónar on Skólavörðustígur.
The Pipe Organ in All Its Power.
Thursday February 24, 20:30
Traditionally, the pipe organ is an instrument used only for mass or other religious gatherings.
During the Pipe Organ in All Its Power concert, a few pipe organ players will get a chance to dis-
play the musical versatility of the pipe organ. The programme features a selection of Bach, jazz,
Icelandic classics, psalms and toccatas. During a part of the programme, the Cathedral lights will
be turned off, and guest will have a unique opportunity to witness a pipe organ being played at full
blast in the dark.
Reykjavík Winter Lights Festival Highlights