Exhibitions
From Another Shore: Recent Icelandic Art
Through August 15, 2008
This survey of contemporary Icelandic art from the National Gallery of Iceland includes sculpture, installation, painting, photography, and videos by 21 of Iceland's most acclaimed artists: Þórdís Aðalsteinsdóttir, Olga Bergmann, Hildur Bjarnadóttir, Margrét H. Blöndal, Ólafur Elíasson, Steingrímur Eyfjörð, Gabríela Friðriksdóttir, Hulda Hákon, The Icelandic Love Corporation (Sigrún Hrólfsdóttir, Jóní Jónsdóttir, and Eirún Sigurðardóttir), Guðný Rósa Ingimarsdóttir, Hekla Dögg Jónsdóttir, Ragnar Kjartansson, Ólöf Nordal, Jón Óskar, Eggert Pétursson, Katrín Sigurðardóttir, Hrafnkell Sigurðsson, Magnús Sigurðarson, and Hulda Stefánsdóttir. No strangers to the international art scene, they draw vitality and creativity from the contrast between the majestic landscape of their isolated island nation and the bustling energy of cosmopolitan cities like New York.
Video clip as featured on Channel 13/WNET!
The exhibition is generously supported by Alcoa Foundation.
Additional support is provided by Baugur Group; Icelandair Cargo; The Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Iceland; The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Iceland; Blue Lagoon; Iceland Naturally; and the Icelandic Cultural Fund of The American-Scandinavian Foundation. The ASF is deeply grateful to the Consulate General of Iceland in New York and CIA.IS–Center for Icelandic Art.
Admission is FREE. Gallery hours: Tuesday-Friday, 12-6 pm
Scandinavia House will be closed on Saturdays in July and August.
Kids & Families
The Myths & Magic of Iceland: A Voyage through Icelandic Children's Literature
Extended to December 31, 2008
Travel to an enchanted landscape of glaciers, volcanoes, magical creatures, and spellbinding stories! This fall Scandinavia House's annual celebration of Nordic children's literature spotlights Iceland, an island nation with a unique culture and a rich trove of vibrant folk traditions and fairy tales. From the ancient sagas chronicling exciting Viking adventures, to folk tales passed from generation to generation, to brand new stories by contemporary authors, The Myths & Magic of Iceland presents a broad range of children's literature in a fun, colorful play space.
Icelandic literature reflects the closeness of man and nature, and The Myths & Magic of Iceland evokes the stunning, otherworldly Icelandic landscape with its violent volcanoes, majestic glaciers, and wide open spaces covered with moss and lava. Kids will encounter hardy Icelandic sheep, seals on icebergs, and lovable puffins perched on rocks. And if they look carefully, they may find elves and magical huldufolk (hidden people). Perhaps those strange-looking rocks are trolls that stayed out too long! Children can read and listen to recorded stories in a cozy rustic turf cottage and a glittering ice cave. A mini-stage modeled after Thingvellir (“parliament plains”)—the most important place in Iceland's history, where one of the oldest parliaments in the world was founded in the year 930—makes a great place to dress up in costumes and play! The Myths & Magic of Iceland is designed and created by artist Sarah Edkins.
Support for The Myths & Magic of Iceland is provided by Monika A. Heimbold/The Heimbold Foundation, Glitnir, Hrafnhildur and Kristján T. Ragnarsson, and the Icelandic Cultural Fund of The American-Scandinavian Foundation.
Scandinavia House will be closed on Saturdays in July and August.
Appropriate for toddlers through 7 years. Open to ASF members only Tuesday–Friday, 12–5 pm. FREE
Open to the public Saturday, 12-5 pm. $5 per child (FREE to ASF members) includes admission to both the Heimbold Family Children's Learning Center and The Myths & Magic of Iceland.
Heimbold Family Children’s Center
Scandinavia House features regular programs for children and families in the Heimbold Family Children's Center, a colorful, welcoming environment where children and their caregivers can learn about the history and culture of Scandinavia through books, toys, workshops, and storytelling.
Scandinavia House will be closed on Saturdays in July and August.
Open to ASF members only Tuesday-Friday, 12-5 pm. FREE
Open to the public Saturday, 12-5 pm. $5 per child (FREE to ASF members) includes admission to both the Heimbold Family Children's Center and The Myths & Magic of Iceland.