Monday Ice: Herd in Iceland: Kickstarter

If you are a regular reader of this blog you will know that I often contribute to crowd funding projects...a great concept where a small donation can go a long way to making someone's ideas a reality.

A few weeks ago I posted a trailer for a documentary called Herd in Iceland, the makers of this film Lantern Fish Media have set up a Kickstarter page to help them finance the film through post production.

You can click on the link in the sidebar to be taken to their Kickstarter page and whilst there checkout the updates page to see some great footage of Icelandic horses in the landscape.

To look forward and not back, to look out and not in, and to lend a hand. - Edward Everett Hale.

If you have been reading my blog for a while you will notice every now and then I have mentioned a few crowd funding projects that I have pledged to.  Crowd funding is a great way to help someone to fulfill their dreams and give them the chance to act on their ideas and inspiration without breaking your personal bank...you only pledge what you can afford...if many pledge just a couple dollars a project that was out of the financial reach of the artist can often be achieved.  There are many projects to choose from...I of course like to support the arts as it is so difficult for the majority of artists to access money to fund their ideas.  Artists pretty much worldwide are one of the lowest paid career choices and yet life without them I cannot bear to contemplate. Crowd funding platforms offer a chance to do this within a price range that suits....you can support many projects for as little as $1...and many will offer you some tangible thanks via a reward process.

Last night I had the pleasure to meet one of the project creators I pledged to.  Australian Artist Emma Lindsay is here in Iceland on an Artist Residency facilitated by the Bær Art Centre just outside of Hofsós.

A postcard from Emma of one of her bird paintings

Emma who lives in Queensland set about funding part of her travel in Iceland via the Australian crowdfunding platform Pozible.  So it was impozible (sorry couldn't resist) for me to pass up the opportunity to assist in a small way this fellow Australian artist who's Iceland Dream Project was to take place only a half hour drive from Sauðárkrókur.  Last night was also the first opportunity for me to visit the Bær Art Centre and meet Steinunn Jónsdóttir the Directer who has created this outstanding facility.  The centre has five single studio apartments which comprise of bedroom, bathroom and large studio space with a communal kitchen and lounge area.  The centre is modern, light and airy with spectacular uninterrupted views.

 

view of the common room and the spectacular scenery

I suggest to any of my artist friends in Australia looking for an overseas residency to check out the application details on the Bær website...you never never know if you don't give it ago.   Emma like me has fallen in love with Iceland and you can read more about her Icelandic experience here.

Emma Lindsay and I at Bær

Over recent months I have had the pleasure to receive a few other rewards for my pledges on the Kickstarter American crowd funding site.

The Veterans Book Project was one that left a lasting impression and a continuing project that hopefully offers a healing path for war veterans who return to civilian life traumatised by what they have been through.  I was sent a poem by returned soldier Nathan Lewis you can read his story online here.

Born From Earth a project by Kat Kiernan who was completing her BFA in Photography sent me a 7x7" limited edition photographic book of her thesis Between Earth and Water.  Kat needed funding for a plane ticket to Iceland to complete her thesis.

A project which peaked my interest through my love of maps, geocaching and bookbinding was a story by Suw Charman-Anderson...Argleton: A story of maps, maths and motorways.  This little tale was inspired by Argleton a phantom town that has mysteriously appeared on google maps but which actually does not exist.  A couple of weeks ago I received my hand bound copy of this great little read.

There are quite a few crowdfunding platforms around now besides Kickstarter and Pozible 

RocketHub, IndieGoGo, FansNextdoor to name just a few and they are not all just for creative artsy projects...some are there to help businesses get off the ground, develop open source software and  product ideas...you will find links to many more here. If you have an idea that you want to develop maybe one of these platforms will help materialise your dream...however be prepared for a lot of online networking to promote your project.

If you are supporter to any of these crowd funding sites be aware that you may have to sit tight for any rewards coming your way...artistic ventures usually take time to bring to fruition...but they are worth waiting for and this is a great affordable way to support the arts or any other area that interests you.

"Money is like manure; it's not worth a thing unless it's spread around encouraging young things to grow."~ Thornton Wilder

If you have read this blog for a while you will know that I every now and then follow and support Kickstarter projects, I don't give a lot of money but there are always pledge amounts that suit my budget.  I have just backed a couple of projects, one, purely for the reason of one artist supporting another, especially one (Aubrey Hayes) who wants to participate in an artists residency in Iceland....I couldn't not back this one.

As I was perusing the huge range of projects on offer I came across one that has left quite an impression on me.  An artist book project that I feel is so worthwhile and one that I am sure will make a difference to the lives of many, especially the authors.   These are personal stories, journals and images put together by returned soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan and their families. The stories they share all express a palpable intensity, often brutally honest with an authenticity that reveals the truths as they experienced them.   At the moment this project is for USA veterans and their families but I do hope this idea travels across oceans and continents and other veterans groups around the world source funding and set up similar workshops.

The Veterans book project website provides access to the stories where you can read them freely online, or from here you can purchase the printed bound soft cover copies or download to your computer a PDF version for free.

 source

These very personal and intimate narratives have touched me deeply and I thank all the authors for  having the courage to share their thoughts, experiences and insights.   I urge you to read a couple of the books and make your own mind up whether you feel this is a worthwhile project to back, if you feel the same as I, then click on their Kickstarter link in my sidebar.

Monday Ice and Big Congrats to Sigga!

UPDATE: I would like to update yesterdays post to let you know that The Best Party (Besti Flokkurinn) has indeed won the municipal elections with 6 seats in Reykjavik and comedian Jón Gnarr is most likely to take up office as mayor. I think this is amazing...hopefully they will take the role seriously and make sure they do have the right/good people around them to make it work....this just wouldn't happen anywhere else in the world....Iceland you are simply the best!

Before I get on with Monday Ice I would like to congratulate Sigga who has been such a help to me and fed me at least 42 different meals on my last trip. Sigga has won a ticket to the Premiere of Iceland: Future of Hope and dinner with the director Henry Bateman....lucky girl! You may remember this was a film I, Sigga and many others supported via the kickstarter website...once released I should get a dvd of it in the mail...hooray!

Ok I thought it was about time I posted a video or two of what Iceland does best and that of course is the landscape. So here are a couple of amateur videos by tourists of the amazing Iceland!
These videos were taken the same time I was in Iceland in the summer of 2009 but for me it was all about the wedding!

The first is of a young Norwegian family of five who spent their summer holidays travelling around Iceland...with 3 young children in tow they packed a lot into their trip and if I do half the stuff they did when I return I will be happy!

The next video is by a young couple in July 2009 who came because they watched the Sigur Rós video Heima and thought they had to see the place for themselves.

And now for more wonderful scenery and part 6 of Sigur Rós's Heima!

Mother Nature Fights Back!

Iceland is in the news again... as most of you will know there has been another volcanic eruption at Eyjafjallajökull in the south of Iceland...this one is causing more havoc than the others have in the last few weeks.  Mother nature is letting us all know it doesn't matter how advanced we think we are she is still the boss and can stop nations in their tracks if she wants to. The volcanic ash and billowing smoke has caused havoc with air traffic, disrupting flights across Europe.

 There are many amazing images around at the moment, this one is a radar picture of the craters as seen by the coast guard plane on April 15 Image from Iceland Review

 Another remarkable image found at The Iceland Weather Report taken by Ólafur Eggertsson from the farm Þorvaldseyri 

  

 This one is Ash cloud at Grafarkirkja í skaftártungu from Iceland's Facebook page which was added by Ísak Davíð 

Photo by Steini3 and added to Facebook group Volcano Iceland by Carlo Ævi Del Sal

Photo by Kjartan Þorbjörnsson and added to the Facebook group Volcano Iceland by Carlo Ævi Del Sal

 Photo by Fredrik Holm and added to the Facebook group Volcano Iceland by Carlo Ævi Del Sal

Photo by Belga and added to the Facebook group Volcano Iceland by Carlo Ævi Del Sal

This is footage from 1973 and of an eruption in Heimaey, a small fishing village in Iceland. Hopefully no Icelanders or their furry friends in 2010 will have to deal with this type of destruction.

The eruption has temporarily overshadowed the political fallout that is also current in Iceland.  The Black Report was released last Saturday which is an investigation into the financial collapse of Iceland at the end of 2008.  Many bankers and politicians who were less than ethical to downright dishonest in their dealings, actions and decisions were named in the report.  Whilst this investigative team are not about pressing criminal charges they have laid down the framework for it to happen...hopefully justice will be served and those that should pay for their actions do.  However few are coming forward to take responsibility for their role in this financial disaster that is crippling the country...the list of those who have can be found on the Economic Disaster Area website.  

I have found another amazing project to back on the Kickstarter website and in light of everything happening to our planet I think this project highlights the wondrous and majestic nature of the world we live in.  

brain coral #0210-4501 (2,000 years old; speyside, tobago)

image via Rachel Sussman

la llareta #0308-23b26 (up to 3,000 years old, atacama desert, chile)

image via Rachel Sussman

Please take a moment to look at Rachel Sussman's project the Oldest Living Things In The World. Rachel is working with scientists and biologists, traveling the world to find, document and photograph living organisms that are 2,000 or more years old. More info on Rachel Sussman can be found at her website and blog.

 

Nearly Done!

Nearly all the major work is done, I painted a bedroom earlier in the week...It needed it desperately, I had intended to do it after Jesse moved out, however the day after he left Dom moved back in for a couple of months before going to Melbourne...when Dom left, Eva moved into the room so I never got the chance.

The only major job left is to paint the front fence which I have started and managed to get one coat on yesterday but it needs another...but hey it rained early this morning so I think it best to leave for another day.

A very overcast looking sky today...not a good day to paint outside!

Before!

After one coat!

So will work on sorting and cleaning up inside, remove some of the unnecessary clutter and then the old place should be ready for sale. The Perth market is very buoyant at the moment and places seem to sell relatively quickly, I don't think this house will take too long.

Hopefully the roses will keep blooming as they make the house look good!

However I seem to be doing everything back to front, selling my home before I have got residency in Iceland but I am taking a leap of faith that it will all work out...fingers crossed!!! Hopefully Unnur, I will get back there in time for some Berry Picking with you!

Besides painting the bedroom I managed to catch up with a dear friend Judy and fit in a little retail therapy...my style...at the same time (no shoes, clothes or handbags for me) we visited Shedwallah in Freo.

Shedwallah is the place for those interested in all things exotic, oriental...furniture, carpets, rugs, textiles, garden pots etc it is a great place to while a way a few hours...6 Stack St Freo.

I bought floor rugs and cushions...which will make the house look good but the stuff can move with me to Iceland.

The purchases...Afghanistan Balouchi tribal wool rug and two saddlebag cushions.
Iranian Meshecl wool runner for the entry hall

I also bought a slightly damaged kilim in their hail sale...it had a slight run of colour that is hardly noticeable...a bargain for $100

And this lovely handmade chainstitch cushion for my bed...they even had large floor rugs in chainstitch they were absolutely magnificent and mind-boggling in the amount of work.

It was a week of catching up with friends and family, on Thurs night I enjoyed a meal with Mai-Yung a dear friend from uni days and on Fri had a lovely lunch with my two younger sisters Kerry and Donna.

Donna

Kerry

I must say I am enjoying not being tied down to a 9-5 job.
Aah...I did make the right decision not to paint today as it has just started to rain again.

Just one more thing...one of the kickstarter projects I have pledged to (1024 bits of you and me) time is just about up, so if you feel inclined to sponsor go to the link above.