The Fjords

Today I am leaving Svolvær, it is bitter sweet. I am sad to leave but very excited to go to Tønsberg. It is raining again, I hope it is nicer in Tønsberg. Though the clouds are moving higher now, I get to see the tops of the fjords before I leave. I will never forget these fjords.

By Sarah Zuckerman

Last Day in Svolvær

My last full day in Svolvær. 

My last night in Svolvær.

Had tea and cookies with Lotta and then everyone came to join us! A couple who traveled all over the world sat with us and poured us all small glasses of whiskey and gave us some cookies. We all sat and talked for hours. The single malt whiskey was so strong, I could only have very few sips. The couple talked for hours about energies and chakras. 

I think it was a good ending here, I started here all by myself and I spend my last night with a group of people and even some friends I have made. 

It makes me happy.

Some informal shots of some of the work I produced while at the Kunstnerhuset. 

The Puffin Man

Today I met Lars Erik Karlsen (he told me sometimes people refer to him as "The Puffin Man"). Oh, his work is so wonderful! He showed me his studio, prints, and presses. He uses multiple blocks and prints up-side-down on an electric press. He said he never uses white so that the paper can really show through. The colors he uses are so vibrant and alive, they truly represent how he sees the nature of Lofoten.

Images by Lars Erik Karlsen

He also said he liked my work and to keep it up. I don't think I could have smiled any bigger.

Rainshowers and Galleries

Today I was drinking a cup of tea while sitting on the front steps of  Galleri Lille Kabelvåg with some fellow artists and a small rain shower came from one small passing cloud while the sun was still shining. The raindrops evaporated as soon as they hit the pavement. It seemed so magical and unreal for whatever reason at that moment and I thought, "Yeah, I could live here". 

I woke up late this morning and printed the third layer of my midnight sun print. I finally got around to some laundry and later took a bus to Kabelvåg. There was an opening, Thor Erdahl had some work being shown, as well there was a large piece by Kjersti Andvig; a knitted prison cell called "Knit Until Death". It was powerful and something I had not seen before, a kitted structure of any kind. 

 

"Knit Until Death" by Kjersti Andvig

Utakleiv

Today I went to Utakleiv! I went to rent a car but I hadn't made a reservation so... no car. I took a bus to Leknes and from there I walked....a lot, but it was well worth it.

There were sheep on the beach! Sheep! So I walked down further away from the two people on the beach, the only other two there, it was so silent and serene. I put on my suit and went to swim in the Norwegian Sea. I was up to my waist and had to run out it was so cold! I laid on the sand and warmed up a little while taking photos of the sheep and the lucid blue water. Then I decided there was no way I could come all this way and not go swimming so I went in and went swimming, all the way, over my head and all. It was freezing and invigorating and wonderful! I loved it. Soon thereafter I saw a jellyfish and bolted out of the water. I changed out of the cold suit and walked back. Passed a good deal of cows and more sheep (the sheep were everywhere!) By the time I had reached the bus stop I had to wait for three hours for the next bus to come, with nothing around at all. Things get interesting when you stare at clouds for three hours.

Utakleiv Photographs by Sarah Zuckerman

Expedition of Printmakers

Today I went to see the "Expedition of Printmakers" at the Kunstnersenter. Saw Cecilia, Tine, Maria, and Thor, (and more I have met previously but for the life of me can't recall their names!). I was able to speak with so many artists and was invited to some more openings, one on Sunday at Thor's Gallery in Kabelvåg.
The artists who worked on the expedition of printmakers were from Norway and Poland, their work really complimented each other. There were woodcuts, etchings, and some other processes I wasn't as familiar with.

The Artists at the Exhibit

Found at a site about the show

A piece from the show, I can't find the name of the artist though, 

(found here) 

It is a linocut though, which totally blew my mind because of how the detailing was with the lines.

By Elisabeth Alsos Strand "Passasje II"

By Marta Bozyk, Lofoten II

By Janne Juvi Rasmussen "Dancing in Zakopane"

Janne was staying at the Kunstnerhuset as well, I didn't get to see her when I left and walked back but she was very kind, I thoroughly enjoyed talking to her.

Tine and her trip to Mongolia

Today I went and met with Tine Lundkvist and was able to speak with her about her work for nearly two hours. She recently went on a trip to Mongolia and was making art pertaining to her trip. A lot had to do with the sound of the place, the train tracks and the rhythms. She had recently had a show where she had written her entire trip on a copperplate, printed it (so it came out backwards), and hung these very large prints as sort of curtains in a row while playing the rhythms of Mongolia in the background, really wish I had been able to see the show. She did show me a piece of the show and played the "sounds" for me so I got a general feeling for it, but I know it would have been much grander to see it as she had wanted it when it was on display. She also went through all her paintings and showed them to me. It was really interesting because she had so many large scale paintings, a lot of them seemed to portray landscape mixed with emotions, and a bit of darkness, maybe the darkness of the winter there I have yet to experience. When I left she gave me some herbs from her garden.

By Tine Lundkvist

By Tine Lundkvist

Midnight Sun

I have seen the sun at midnight.

Midnight Sun at Eggum by Sarah Zuckerman

Kabelvåg

Today I walked to Kabelvåg and to Storvågan. I walked 11 miles today (at least). I got an ice cream in Kabelvåg and walked around until I got lost until I found the Lofoten Aquarium! I also saw the Kabelvåg Church today and it was exquisite.

Smile at the Lofoten Aquarium by Sarah Zuckerman

Kavelvåg Kirke by Sarah Zuckerman

TrollFjord

Today was awesome. I took a boat trip (fast boat!) to see Trollfjord. The water was crystal clear, turquoise and cerulean blues, fjords as far as you could see, and the most breathtaking waterfall. We saw a sea eagle as well! The wind was heavy on the water but the air was so fresh and chilled.

TrollFjord Photographs by Sarah Zuckerman

~

I went to an opening at the Kunstnercenter. I met Cecille H. from Henninsvær. There was a little get together afterward on a boat. It was fun to see everyone let loose and talk to different artists. Mostly I sat next to Dagfinn and talked to him again, it was nice. 

Dagfinn Bakke

These past few days have been fun! On the 7th I visited Dagfinn Bakke, a wonderfully kind artist in Svolvær. He makes lithographs, watercolors, and used to draw cartoons for the newspaper.

By Dagfinn Bakke

By Dagfinn Bakke

I have made a few paintings, it was good to get out all my thoughts onto the page. I was invited to an artist talk at the NNKS Center in the town center. I didn't understand a word they said but it was fun to see the work and meet some Norwegian artists. I met Tine, she said I could come by on Monday and see her work, I look forward to that. I met some fellow travelers from Germany, they were very nice, it was good to have some company after spending so much time alone the past few days.

A Day with Sunshine

Today was beautiful! Full of sunshine nearly all day! I went to the tourist office, found a bus schedule, and bought some postcards. I wrote postcards to Annie, Patrick, and my family.

I got lost looking for the post office - but when I finally found it one of my packages with art supplies from home had arrived, my paper package.

It does get a little lonely here, I think I have realized I am a people person overall.

I hope my other art supplies come tomorrow, I really want to paint and printmake!



It is raining again tonight, but I think it will be the last of it, and there will only be sun from now on.

Self Portrait

By Sarah Zuckerman

Pouring

Yesterday I ventured into town to get groceries. There I found some yarn and needles, spent last night and this morning knitting myself a scarf. It's blue and warm, I like it. I was going to go into town today and get some more yarn but it has been pouring all day and there is no way I am trekking outside in this...


The Rain

Builds up, holds up,
in the sky.
Dark, ominous skies
crawling over me,
trapping me within the mountains.
Holding me, holding me


Realease.


Onto the windows it hits with force,
drenching the glass,
making my lines waver.


But it is fresh and clean.

Raindrops

By Sarah Zuckerman

Bright Light at 2 AM

I woke up at 2am and haven't been able to fall back asleep. I suppose it will take a few days to get my clock right. It was odd waking up at 2am and have it be perfectly light outside, like it was daytime. I knew the sun did not set but I guess you can't really picture it until you experience it. I guess today is a holiday and all the shops in town are closed and everyone is at home. I will probably wander around with my camera some more...

Fish Hanging to Dry

By Sarah Zuckerman

Fish Tail

By Sarah Zuckerman

I am in Svolvær

I am in Svolvær, and it is so beautiful (vakker!). I flew in on a tiny plane, I could see every fjord peak and the shimmering Arctic Waters. Months of waiting, four planes, twenty-four hours and I am here. I went out exploring just a little, I got lost along the way, but I can't wait to explore more. I do feel that jet lag kicking in. SO tired. But it feels so good to actually be here.

Svolvær, Norway Fjord

By Sarah Zuckerman