Reykjavík Grapevine - 03.02.2017, Qupperneq 47

Art Youth46The Reykjavík GrapevineIssue 02 — 2017
Listastofan, an art space founded
by Emma Sanderson and Martyna
Daniel in 2015, has an exciting
year ahead of it. The city of Reykja-
vík is now an official sponsor after
selecting the art space to receive a
cultural grant for 2017. The grant
was issued by the Department of
Culture and Tourism, which works
to promote and support cultural
events and the artistic community
in Reykjavík. Other recipients of
the grant include Iceland Airwaves,
DesignMarch and the Reykjavík In-
ternational Film Festival. This fi-
nancial support along with recogni-
tion from the city and community
means that big things are coming
for this non-profit organisation.
Emma and Martyna learned a
lot through trial and error in their
first year, ranging from the use
of different platforms and medi-
ums to scheduling a wide variety
of events and workshops. “We ex-
pect this year to be even busier,”
says Emma. “A large portion of the
grant will go into refurbishments
for the building including improv-
ing the layout and lighting of the
space, and offering our first ever
scholarship program.”
The Listastofan Scholarship
will allow two artists to create
their own exhibition by hosting
the ‘Scholarship Show’ this July.
This will give emerging talent the
chance to utilise the gallery space,
work with other artists and gain
recognition. The first scholarship
exhibition will feature Kolbrún
Inga Söring, an Icelandic artist,
and Mustafa Boga, an artist from
Turkey; the dates will soon be
announced in Listastofan’s 2017
schedule.
Stranger than fiction
Listastofan’s aim is to work with
emerging and mid-career artists
who are working to gain expo-
sure, while offering an affordable
workspace and exhibition oppor-
tunities for artists, designers and
filmmakers. They are also a center
for the community to gather, of-
fering monthly events like Strang-
er than Fiction, in which local
authors read their work aloud; life
drawing sessions where amateurs
and experts alike can sketch live
models; workshops for artists and
families, and well as plenty of ex-
hibitions, performances and in-
stallations for the public to visit.
“This year there will also be a big-
ger emphasis on artist talks,” says
Martyna. “Exhibiting artists will
be able to discuss their creative
process and answer questions
about the exhibitions.”
Moving forward into 2017, Lis-
tastofan wants to continue to
expand their reach and continue
to strengthen ties with the com-
munity. “Our hope for 2017 is to
keep having fun,” say Martyna and
Emma, “and we want to see lots of
new faces coming in to see what
we have to offer.” The gallery is a
space where the public can gather
for free art exhibitions and meet
artists and art enthusiasts while
sharing new art and ideas. Most
importantly, Martyna and Emma
want to continue to have fun and
follow their gallery’s motto—“Be
Young And Shut Up!”—by con-
tinuing to be active and trying
new things with an amazing and
seemingly endless source of en-
ergy, motivation and entrepre-
neurial spirit. This is a space for
artists and the community to sup-
port each other while inspiring
and supporting a diverse group of
artists and art mediums. Feel free
to stop by the gallery, or to contact
the friendly co-founders—they
won’t bite, honest!
Listastofan is open Wednes-
day-Saturday from 13:00-17:00 and
for specific events. A full schedule
of events will be available soon on
their website www.listastofan.com
SHARE: gpv.is/be02
Be Young &
Shut Up!
Listastofan moves into 2017 with new
funding and endless enthusiasm
Words KATIE TEETER
Photo ART BICNICK
03.02.–
01.05.2017
Ilmur
Stefánsdóttir
Panik
Hafnarhús
Tryggvagata 17
+354 411 6400
artmuseum.is
Open daily
10h00–17h00
Thursdays
10h00–22h00
i8 Gallery
Tryggvagata 16
101 Reykjavík
info@i8.is
t: +354 551 3666
www.i8.is
Málverkasýning
9 February - 22 April 2017
SILKE OTTO-KNAPP
JAMES WHITE
LARA VIANA
ANDREAS ERIKSON
MAIREAD O´HEOCHA
MELANIE SMITH