Reykjavík Grapevine - 02.08.2013, Qupperneq 2

TRACK OF THE
ISSUE
We are all about Múm this issue. Not
only is their next album’s cover our
super-crazy-fucking-amazing cover art
(we are patting ourselves on the back!),
we have a fantastic interview with the
band written by their original singer
Ólöf Arnalds and THIS. A free track for
you from said album!!! And it certainly
is a good one, full of skitters, thumping
bass, mournful cello and Mr. Silla’s rich
voice all to make a dark, down-tempo
dance tune. Download this jam and
groove it out while you floss your teeth
in the car! Get it? Toothwheels!!! (PRO-
TIP: Do not floss and drive.)
Múm – “Tooth wheels”
Download NOW at www.grapevine.is
2The Reykjavík Grapevine Issue 11 — 2013
Hafnarstræti 15, 101 Reykjavík
www.grapevine.is
grapevine@grapevine.is
Published by Fröken ehf.
www.froken.is
Member of the Icelandic Travel Industry Association
www.saf.is
Printed by Landsprent ehf. in 25.000 copies.
Editor In Chief:
Haukur S Magnússon / haukur@grapevine.is
Editor:
Anna Andersen / anna@grapevine.is
Editorial:
+354 540 3600 / editor@grapevine.is
Advertising:
+354 540 3605 / ads@grapevine.is
+354 40 3610
Publisher:
Hilmar Steinn Grétarsson / hilmar@grapevine.is
+354 540 3601 / publisher@grapevine.is
Editorial | Haukur S. Magnússon
THIS IS IMPORTANT
Here’s the story behind our cover: We some-
how got to thinking: "For a feature story about
street art in Reykjavík, wouldn't it be cool to
make some street art, in Reykjavík, to put on
our cover? Like, get some smart, talented,
wonderful artist to paint a mural of the entire
cover—headlines and all—on a wall some-
where and then just stick a photo of that on
our front page?"
(We later remembered that this is pretty
much what the lovely Philadelphian Kurt Vile
did for the cover of his latest record, 'Wakin
On A Pretty Daze' (it's great - go get it from
wherever you get your music from) with the
help of street artist Steve Powers. We are in-
spired by Kurt and Steve—thank you guys!).
Sara Riel was an obvious first choice and,
we're not gonna lie, we were super thrilled
and humbled when she agreed to do it. We
got even more excited when she proposed to
use a piece she had made for the band múm's
new single. "That's great," we thought. "múm
are great and we can interview them and also
feature them this issue!" we thought. "DOU-
BLE-TROUBLE," we thought.
We then set about finding a suitable wall. We
found a few ones we thought would make a
nice fit, and wondered for a while whether
we should get a permit or, like, ask the wall's
owners if they were down with our plan. Ul-
timately we decided: "Our feature story is,
among other things, about the legitimacy and
legality of street art. A lot of the works we dis-
cuss weren't done with the blessings of the
City of Reykjavík or property owners. Most of
the advertising we are exposed to while walk-
ing down our city's fine streets doesn't ask
our permission before invading our eyes and
headspace. In the spirit of street art, of oppo-
sition and of radicalism in general, we'll just
go for it and see what happens."
We then got started. Sara rented one of those
crazy basket lifter car things and got a bunch
of paint and a few volunteer helpers together
and set out creating the cover for Reykjavík
Grapevine issue 11, 2013. The thing was a
full two days in the making (let no one tell
you that street artists are a bunch of lazy do-
nothings—that’s some hard work!). As soon
as Sara Riel painted the final stroke at a little
past one AM this Wednesday, she went home
to take a brief nap before heading on a hike
across Iceland's highlands (let no one tell
you that street artists are a bunch of lazy do-
nothings!).
Meanwhile, we keep going over there and just
gawking and admiring that work of art Sara
made. It's gorgeous, and it is a reminder of all
the beauty, fun, wonder, humour and awe we
have been privileged enough to experience
thanks to Sara and her fellow Reykjavík street
artists over the past years. Their efforts are
important, and we are thankful.
As downtown Reykjavík keeps turning more
and more towards blatant commercialism
and salesmanship—puffin shop by Viking bar
by luxury hotel by tour provider, all clamour-
ing for your attention, all desperate to cash
in on TOURISM FRENZY, all trying to lure you
in so you can be properly harvested—as our
scenery and surroundings get increasingly
covered in advertisements and attempts to
sell you goods and/or services, as competi-
tion for our attention increases and our mind-
space becomes more and more besieged by
unwanted intrusion (“COME HERE! BUY THIS
THAT OR THE OTHER!”), street art becomes
increasingly significant and important—es-
pecially when it is of the unsolicited kind. Do-
ing stuff just for the fuck of it is important.
Decorating, making your mark on the envi-
ronment, making your voice heard regardless
of your lack of capital, despite your not own-
ing walls, despite your not having anything to
sell—that is important.
Here’s to Sara Riel and all the others making
their mark on Reykjavík’s walls, delivering
their thoughts, ideas, arguments and mes-
sages in an aesthetically pleasing manner,
enriching their environment and asking for
nothing in return (often running the risk of
arrest or fines in the process!). While we’re
at it, here’s to all the writers, photographers,
illustrators, designers and enthusiasts who
fill our pages with their thoughts, ideas, argu-
ments and messages.
Here’s to free expression, expression that’s
unconstrained by capital and free of the mar-
ket’s demands.
On the cover:
Photo by Magnús Andersen
www.magnusandersen.com
Mural by Sara Riel
www.sarariel.com
Assisted by Gústi et. al.
Special thanks to the RVK street art
community, Kurt Vile, Steve Powers, the
band múm and especially Sara Riel!
Contributing Writers:
Vera Illugadóttir
Paul Fontaine
Patrcia Þormar
Davíð Roach Gunnarsson
Marvin Lee Dupree
Haukur Hilmarsson
Óli Dóri
Árni Finnsson
Lawrence Millman
Ragnar Egilsson
Sveinn Birkir Björnsson
Kirsten O'Brien
Kári Tulinius
Vala Þóroddsdóttir
Carol Devine
Journalist & Listings editor:
Rebecca Louder / rebecca@grapevine.is
Journalist:
Ingibjörg Rósa Björnsdóttir / ingibjorg@grapevine.is
Editorial Interns:
Shea Sweeney / shea@grapevine.is
Tómas Gabríel Benjamin / gabriel@grapevine.is
Parker Yamasaki / parker@grapevine.is
Adrienne Blaine / adrienne@grapevine.is
Alex Ardri / alex@grapevine.is
Kaisu Nevasalmi / kaisu@grapevine.is
Art Director
Hörður Kristbjörnsson / hordur@dodlur.is
Design:
Guðmundur Úlfarsson / giu@grapevine.is
Anton Kaldal / anton@antonkaldal.com
Hrefna Sigurðardóttir / hrefna@dodlur.is
Photographer:
Alísa Kalyanova / www. alisakalyanova.com
Sales Director:
Aðalsteinn Jörundsson / adalsteinn@grapevine.is
Helgi Þór Harðarson / helgi@grapevine.is
Distribution manager:
distribution@grapevine.is
Proofreader:
Jim Rice
Listings:
listings@grapevine.is
Submissions inquiries:
editor@grapevine.is
Subscription inquiries:
+354 540 3605 / subscribe@grapevine.is
General inquiries:
grapevine@grapevine.is
Founders:
Hilmar Steinn Grétarsson,
Hörður Kristbjörnsson,
Jón Trausti Sigurðarson,
Oddur Óskar Kjartansson,
Valur Gunnarsson
The Reykjavík Grapevine is published 18 times a year by Fröken ltd.
Monthly from November through April, and fortnightly from May til
October. Nothing in this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in
part without the written permission of the publishers. The Reykjavík
Grapevine is distributed around Reykjavík, Akureyri, Egilsstaðir,
Seyðisfjörður, Borgarnes, Keflavík, Ísafjörður and at key locations
along road #1, and all major tourist attractions and tourist information
centres in the country.
You may not like it, but at least it's not sponsored (no articles in
the Reykjavík Grapevine are pay-for articles. The opinions expressed
are the writers’ own, not the advertisers’).
www.fontana.is
Be in your
element
GEOTHERMAL
STEAM ROOMS
THERMAL
BATHS
SAUNA
The perfect rest stop between Thingvellir and Geysir
Open everyday 10-23
Make sure your Golden Circle tour completes the geothermal experience
Visit the Laugarvatn Fontana wellness centre. Relax in steam rooms over a natural
hot spring and open air thermal baths. Afterwards try local delicacies in our café.
Ask us how the locals at Laugarvatn use the steam baths!