SUMMER DUST

From August 1st-31st, ten artists from six countries will occupy the Verksmiðjan art centre, at Hjalteyri, on the Eyjafjörður fjord, northern Iceland, for a project entitled, 'Sumarryk / Summer Dust.' Responding to the site and to one another, the artists will develop a large-scale, process-based, collaborative installation. The 'Sumarryk / Summer Dust' artists include Anna Rún Tryggvadottir (IS, drawing,) François Morelli (CA, drawing,) Matt Shane (CA, drawing, drums,) Michaela Grill (AU, video,) Mariana Frandsen (AR, photo), Nick Kuepfer (CA, recording, guitar,) Neil Holyoak (CA/US, recording, guitar,) Hannelore Van Dijck (BE, drawing,) Christine Francis (CA, drawing, bass,) and Jim Holyoak (CA, drawing.) Working with large-scale wall-drawing, live music, video projection, and audio/video recording, the artists will transform the acoustics, lighting, and surfaces throughout the massive concrete chambers of the former herring factory. Their work will explore ideas of performance, improvisation, collectivity and experimental documentation, seeking to find linkages, harmonies and dissonances between visual and audio artwork. They will work continually, listening, watching, describing and responding to one another’s marks and sounds. Verksmiðjan will metamorphose over August, during which time there will also be scheduled concerts, screenings and performances. Video and audio samples will be continually collected to document the month’s events, for publication after the finissage. As part of this document, the artists would like to extend a special invitation to hear from those with memories, stories and pictures of Verksmiðjan when it was a factory. As a satellite project, the group of artists will travel to Reykjavík, to participate in a one-night performance on August 18th, at the Mengi experimental music venue. The event will be a cross between performance-art and a music concert. Event Schedule: Aug 6th: Summer Dust / Sumarryk vernissage and artist lectures by Matt Shane, Jim Holyoak and Michaela Grill Aug 13th: films by Nick Kuepfer and Michaela Grill at Verksmiðjan Aug18th: satellite project Varulven live drawing/music performance at Mengi, in Reyjkavik Aug 27th: Summer Dust / Sumarryk finissage with concerts by Nick Kuepfer and guests.