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40th Anniversary of the Art ShowIn 1968, younger members of the Islendingadagurinn were looking for new ideas to promote interest in the annual weekend. One of the novel ideas was to sponsor an art show, to showcase the talents of artists in our Canadian/American Icelandic community. Terry Tergeson agreed to take on this project. He received help from Scotty (Skafti) Borgfjord and Harold Moore. Scotty Borgfjord was at that time a University professor in Engineering. It is notes in the program for that year that both Edna and Solveig Borgfjord were also assistants as well as Wayne Kinrade, an architect too. Scotty, Wayne and Terry produced a large structural display out on the lawn of the venue to feature engineering abilities.
Harold Moore was a newly graduated fine art student. He was an artist who had some very interesting work to display. In that first show, Harold had a piece very large that needed electricity to compliment its features. It was a show stopper! The first show was held in what was then called the Recreation and Leadership Training Centre. This same building is now the Gimli New Horizons 55 Plus centre. That first art show was judged just as it is today by established visiting artists. Films were shown at appointed times during this display. The films of Dr. Larus A. Sigurdson were shown in the first years. In charge of this part of the show were Steini Jakobson and his wife LeBeau.
Outside, an alcove at the back of the art display, a musical program took place--much like what now is held on Sunday aternoon on the main stage in the park. The organizers for this entertainment were Len and Karen Vopnfjord. It was here that young artists had the opportunity to perform while the audience sat on a hill enjoying both the music and sun.
The art show has now become an integral part of the Festival weekend with artists of all genres displaying their work. Many of the purchase prizes from past shows are on display in the Waterfront Centre and are maintained by the Gimli Art Society.
Investors Group Gift Matching Group and Don McKinnon have been sponsors of The Art Show for a number of years.
(reprinted from the 2008 Islendingadagurinn Program)
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Icelandic Festival Annual Purchase AwardThe Icelandic Festival has mounted a Fine Arts Show at the Festival for 40 years. Over that time we have shown the works of some of the finest artists in Manitoba. Many have become known nationally for their works.
The criterion for entering this show is that the artist be of Icelandic descent..
Over the years the festival has recognized the significance of the Icelandic artists represented in the art world, and felt they would like to develop a collection of this talent to display as a permanent representation of the contribution Icelandic artists have made to the community and the world.
Each year the presiding juror is asked to choose a piece of work, from the show, that he/she feels would be a significant addition to our collection. This piece is purchased by the festival with grant monies from the Investors Group matching Gift Program, and is placed in the permanent collection of the art that we have assembled over the years.
This is a "stand alone" award and does not have to be the best in show, or honourable mention, although it sometimes is a well.
The Art Show includes: paintings, sketches, pottery, glass work, carvings and photographic prints.
(reprinted from the 2009 Islendingadagurinn Program booklet)
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First prize winner in the open poetry category of the Poem & Short Story Competition 2010Mead of Poetry
By: D. Gary Christian
The Mead of Poetry is given to the gods
and those gifted in the art
of forging silver words in the smithy
of their silver throats -- skalds and learned men
who tell of the beginning and the end,
with unsurpassing eloquence
They carve their learning in mystic writings
on the antler of a stag or the shin bone of a bear.
God has graven runes upon their tongues
to mark them as his own for they tell us
of the leavening of consequences,
and the equilibrium of fate.
And so they travel through the world
carrying the wisdom of the ages
entrusting knowledge to mankind.
There are no qestions they cannot answer,
nor any answers that they cannot tell.
Those who have not drunk the Mead
but tasted only of a drop,
the "rhymester's share,"
give what they can that some might know
from simple poems and short,
silly poems and scant.
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The Gimli Choir at the Icelandic Festival1915
Gimli, Manitoba, Canada
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Art ShowAugust 6, 2004
Gimli, Manitoba, Canada
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ChoirAugust 4, 2004
Gimli, Manitoba, Canada
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ChoirAugust 1, 2005
Gimli, Manitoba, Canada
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