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2006 spring
news of norway
geotourism – a pure escape page 4-7
design page 8
Volume 64
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editor’s note
S
pring is the perfect time to plan your vacation. In this issue we make every effort to “tempt” you to make your way to the Norwegian fjords this summer. Maybe to one of many eco-friendly locations – more accurately: geotourism destinations – where the focus is on increasing tourism while preserving the environment, heritage, aesthetics, culture, and the well-being of its local residents (page 4-5). And for your children or grandchildren? Why not consider a Norwegian language and culture camp (page 10). But if you can’t make it to Norway this year, come travel with us anyway – in spirit – walking Norway's western fjords (page 6-7).
A
nother way to make the “trip” to Norway is by attending one of many cultural events taking place in the U.S. and Canada this year. A good place to start is at the theater: As we are entering the designated “Ibsen Year 2006,” we focus on playwright Henrik Ibsen’s life and life’s work. Hundreds of plays, seminars, lectures, films, and festivals will honor Ibsen’s life – and hopefully make his life’s work more present for all of us. Among several highly anticipated productions this spring are Robert Wilson’s “Peer Gynt” at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) in April (page 3), and Oscar-nominated actress Cate Blanchett’s performance as Hedda Gabler in March, also at BAM. Please see page 16 for a sampling of Ibsenplays and events in your area and www.norway.org/ibsen for a complete and updated listing.
ARILD STRØMMEN | EDITOR
Royal Norwegian Embassy 2720 34th. St., NW Washington, D.C. 20008 (202) 333-6000 www.norway.org AMBASSADOR Knut Vollebæk HEAD OF PRESS AND CULTURE Erling Rimestad EDITOR Arild Strømmen EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Thor Englund SUBSCRIPTION News of Norway (ISSN: 0028-9272) is a quarterly publication of the Norwegian Embassy in Washington, D.C. The magazine was founded in 1941 and reaches 35,000 subscribers in the U.S. and Canada. For a free subscription, write or call with your name and address, or send an email to
[email protected].
golf Norwegian golfer Henrik Bjørnstad surprised everyone with a very solid start of the U.S. PGA tour. The first Norwegian to qualify for the tour, his highlight so far was a 10th place in the tournament in La Jolla, Cali., in January, after leading for most of the final day. “I have played really well, and I was battling with the best almost all week... What more can you ask for only a few weeks into the new year?” Bjørnstad wrote in his blog. He later got a 12th place in FBR Open in Scottsdale in February.
expedition Rune Gjeldnes set a world record for the longest unsupported ski trek in history, in January, after a 3,880 kilometer (2,425 mile) trek across the South Pole. He arrived at his goal by the Terra Nova Bay in February, after having skied for 90 days straight, covering atotal distance of 4,800 kilometers (3,000 miles) – longer than the distance from New York to Seattle. Gjeldnes used a kite to cover up to 180 kilometers (112 miles) every day. Gjeldnes is one of very few explorers who have reached both poles unsupported.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF KJETIL MØSTER
PHOTO BY OTTAR CATO OLSEN/THINK NORDIC
PHOTO BY RUNE GJELDNES/SEAL.NO
PHOTO COURTESY OF HENRIKBJORNSTAD.NO
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Write a letter mailed to the address above or send an email to
[email protected]. Published letters may be edited for clarity and space.
technology We all know that water is essential for humans, but now cars can also benefit from a sip. A Norwegian company has created a car that only emits pure water. The new car Think Hydrogen made its debut on Norwegian roads in February. The company behind the innovation is Think Nordic AS, which is using a ”battery electrical fuel cell hybrid,” which combines the original elmotor engine with a hydrogen fuel cell that can recharge the battery. The final result of this technology: pure water vapor.
jazz Tenor saxophonist Kjetil Møster has been drawing lots of attention for his work with the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra. The 29-year-old horn man blew into New York and Washington, D.C., in January fronting a quartet with pianist Erlend Skomsvoll, bassist Steinar Raknes and drummer Håkon Mjåset Johansen. In New York, Møster received the 2006 International Jazz Award for New Talent, awarded by the International Jazz Festivals Organization. The award recognizes a rising artist under 30.
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Peer Gynt in Brooklyn W
ilson was invited to direct the Ibsen play at the Norwegian National Theatre in Oslo and the National Venue of Theatre (Nationale Scene) in Bergen. He has been an important figure in the international theater world since the late 60s. He is also an architect and sculptor. Visual imagery is a central element in his works both on and offstage, and at the theater, his actors create innovative and original images through elaborate patterns of movements, adding to the depth and complexity of the play. “What makes the play interesting is that the text has so many dimensions and is full of time, either its past, present, or future,” the director said. The play was a great success when playing in Norway, and is now making its way across the Atlantic to be performed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) in April. Although the play draws heavily on Norwegian culture and nature, Wilson has no doubt that the play is relevant for people from elsewhere. “The local elements in the play, which Ibsen perhaps thought were hard for people from other places to understand, can in fact make the play even more understandable and relevant to others,” Wilson said. “Peer Gynt is so multi-dimensional that people in all cultures can relate to the text. In different countries you can easily replace the
typical Norwegian folkloristic elements with imagery that is more familiar. The local element is what makes the play international in nature, and Peer Gynt a clear international appeal,” he said. For actors, collaborating with Wilson is a unique experience from what they are familiar with. In contrast to most theater productions, preparations for Peer Gynt did not start with reading, but rather with choreographing the actors’ movements across the stage. Wilson introduces the text only after actors have practiced the movements for weeks. “In this formalistic theater, we try to open a mental landscape by expressing energy through body movement,” Wilson said. “We try out different patterns of movement without thinking about what scene to play. It's only later in the process that we connect these movements with the text to see if the two fit together. If they do, the two different ways of expression create a whole that is much more powerful than in a play where the movements just illustrate the text – which is dreadfully boring. My body language might be closer to that of an animal, where the mind is more of a muscle. Animals don’t just listen with their ears, they listen with their entire bodies.” – THOR ENGLUND
ibsen
PHOTOS BY DEN NATIONALE SCENE/LESLEY LESLIE-SPINKS
Robert Wilson is the mastermind behind a new version of Peer Gynt, opening at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on April 11. His interpretation of Henrik Ibsen’s classic received rave reviews when playing in Oslo and Bergen.
wilson’s peer gynt Directed by Robert Wilson (above), Music by Michael Galass. Co-production of the National Venue of Theatre in Bergen and The Norwegian Theatre of Oslo. Where: Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) When: April 11-16, 2006 Tickets: 718.636.4100 ($25-30) www.bam.org
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geotourism – a pure escape BY ARILD STRØMMEN
“G
eography dealt the Norwegian coastline a good hand when it geotourism-type programs already undertaken in Norway are an officomes to remaining unspoiled. Rugged terrain, cool, wet cli- cially designated national scenic road and Norway’s initiative to promate, difficult access, and a short tourist season keep develop- mote traditional farm foods and local products and raw materials. Queen Sonja met with president and CEO of National Geographic ment pressures comparatively low. It helps, too, to be in a sparsely populated country with one of the world’s best environmental track Society, John M. Fahey, in a ceremony to celebrate the charter last fall. records,” Director of National Geographic’s Center for Sustainable The Queen, who relishes outdoor activities, also made a presentation at the Smithsonian Institution in Destinations, Jonathan Tourtellot, said, Washington, D.C. when the Norwegian fjords were rated showed her own pictures from best out of 115 travel destinations worldGeotourism: tourism that sustains her She trips hiking the Norwegian mounwide. “It’s no surprise that Norway’s fjords lead the top-scoring destinations, or enhances the geographical char- tains and fjords. “I’m not a professional photographer,” she said, “but I try to thanks to a combination of luck and wise acter of a place – its environment, capture what is special about our counstewardship,” he said. and I love to share it. It’s great if my As part of a push to promote sustainheritage, aesthetics, culture, and try, presentation makes people want to go able tourism – preserving environment, to Norway,” Queen Sonja said, followheritage, and local culture – Norway the well-being of its residents ing the speech. became the second nation (following With a high number of NorwegianHonduras) to sign the National Geographic Geotourism Charter. Gunn Ovesen, CEO of Norway’s Americans and with a population concerned with eco-friendly tourism, tourism and business development agency, Innovation Norway, co- the U.S. is an important market for Norwegian tour operators and destisigned the charter with Tourtellot. Geotourism is defined as tourism that nations. “Americans are very attractive tourists,” Innovation Norway’s sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place – its environ- Director of Tourism–Americas, Arne Hjeltnes, said. “It takes 3.4 Germans to create as much revenue for the Norwegian tourism industry ment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents. “The signing of the charter demonstrates that Norway is committed as one American tourist. Americans don’t complain much, and have to being a leading geotourism travel destination,” Tourtellot said. good things to say about Norway when they return home.” This spring, Geotourism is a principle that countries and destinations work by, it is Hjeltnes is launching several campaigns to entice more Americans to not a fancy logo or an empty buzzword. Among several examples of vacation in Norway, including opportunities within geotourism.
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more
travel
PHOTO COURTESY OF INNOVATION NORWAY
PHOTO BY MARK THIESSEN/NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
• Travel Portals: www.norway.org/travel www.visitnorway.com/us www.norway.com
After Norway became the second nation in the world to sign the National Geographic Geotourism Charter last fall, Queen Sonja met with president and CEO of the National Geographic Society, John M. Fahey to mark the occasion. The Queen also made a presentation about hiking in Norwegian mountains and fjords, complete with a slide show of her own pictures from these trips, at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
• Destinations: Oslo: www.visitoslo.com Bergen: www.visitbergen.com Trondheim: www.trondheim.no Ålesund: www.visitalesund.com Stavanger: www.regionstavanger.com Tromsø: www.destinasjontromso.no Fjord region: www.fjordnorway.com Hardanger: www.hardangerfjord.com Flåm region and Flåm Railway: www.visitflam.com Finnmark/North Cape: www.visitnorthcape.com Lofoten Islands: www.lofoten.info • Tour operators www.coastalvoyage.com www.globusjourneys.com www.nordicco.com www.countrywalkers.com www.bortonoverseas.com www.norwaynutshell.com To receive tourist brochures about Norway in the mail, please contact: Innovation Norway — Tourism 655 Third Avenue, Suite 1810 New York, N.Y. 10017 Phone: 212.885.9700 E-mail:
[email protected]
PHOTO BY TERJE RAKKE/INNOVATION NORWAY
Two Norwegian fjords, Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord (at right), were added to UNESCO’S “World Heritage List” in 2005. Already on the list were five cultural attractions: Bryggen (the old Hanseatic wharf in Bergen), the 12th century Urnes stave church, the petroglyphs at Alta, the old mining town of Røros, and the Vegan Archipelago. National Geographic Traveler Magazine put the Norwegian fjords at the top of its list of the 115 greatest unspoiled travel spots in the world. The experts on the selection panel were asked to evaluate places they knew personally, using six criteria to assess the destinations: ecological and environmental quality, social and cultural integrity, the quality of historical buildings and archaeological sites, aesthetic attractiveness, quality in tourism management, and future prospects. Around the same time, Chicago Tribune included Norway’s fjords on its list of “Seven Wonders of Nature.”
PHOTO BY HARALD VALDERHAUG/HURTIGRUTEN
The Lofoten Islands in Northern Norway have been listed among the world’s top 20 paradise islands by British newspaper The Observer, which wrote: “The main tourist islands, Austvågøy, Vestvågøy, Flakstad, and Moskenes, appeal to writers and artists as well as outdoor enthusiasts, with climbing, hiking, riding, canoeing, biking, rafting and fishing highly popular. Puffins, cormorants, guillemots, eagles and seals bring in the wildlife watchers.” This year, the Lonely Planet travel guide named the Norwegian Coastal Voyage, known as Hurtigruten (at right), as the most beautiful voyage by ship in the world. Passengers enjoy a panoramic view of the Norwegian fjords and may experience the midnight sun during the northernmost stretch of the journey. The journey lasts 11 days, beginning in the west coast city of Bergen and ending at Kirkenes in the far north. Along the way the ships make 34 stops. Passengers may board for parts of the journey.
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF INNOVATION NORWAY/ WWW.VISITBERGEN.COM/WWW.SOLSTRAND.COM
walking norway’s western fjords BY YVONNE HORN
T
he stones were rough, some much larger than others, some a bit of a leg stretch from the next. But each had a worn spot where
my foot just wanted to go. The stones meander in a sort of staircase – as indeed that is what they are – designed by 12th century Cistercian monks to traverse a steep portion of the 3,000foot climb between their monastery on the banks of Sørfjorden and the plateau high above. Hundreds of stones, hundreds of steps, 616 to be exact. Did the monks organize themselves into a sort of ecclesiastical chain gang and quickly put them in place? Or, perhaps, it was the duty of every monk heading up from Sørfjorden to hoist an additional stone until it was eventually done. Thoughts to ponder while catching one’s breath. Not only the Cistercians’ feet wore the stones smooth, although they had 327 years to do so. Fishermen, hunters and trekkers have used the steps as a route into the Hardangervidda Plateau, now Norway’s largest national park, for hundreds of years. Our boots were but the latest in the centuriesold parade. With 12 others, I was traipsing through Norway's lacey network of western fjords on an itinerary as much devoted to understanding the culture of the country as to a leg-stretching adventure. With guides Vidar Rasmusen and Arjen Meurs leading the way, it was day five of our seven-day trek when we reached the misy plateau to spread our picnic by the edge of a rushing stream. Folly to jump in, even if it had been a rare day of Norwegian warmth; the rush of water feeds into the aptly-named Skrikjo¸ which translates to “Shriek,” a waterfall that, were it not divided by a rock interference, would be the highest in the world. Skrikjo helps irrigate the orchards of Hardanger, Norway’s fruit basket, that stretch
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for miles along Sørfjorden. Our stream-side picnic included Hardanger cherries grown plump and sweet in the long days of the farnorthern summer. The monks not only lugged about stones but planted Sørfjorden’s first orchards. “Norway: Bergen and the Western Fjords,” is a recent addition to the dozens of treks offered by Country Walkers, a Vermont-based
company with the motto: “Explore the world one step at a time.” On this trip, our first steps took us through Bergen’s historic center, a designated UNESCO heritage site beside the city’s inner harbor, Vågen, the heart of Bergen since its beginnings. Following a city guide we visited sites that the German Hanseatic merchants, who made Bergen one of Europe’s great entrepots during the 15th century, would easily recognize: the fortress of Bergenhus
with its burly Rosencrantz tower; the pointed gables of Bryggen, the Hanseatic’s surviving offices and warehouses and the incomparable natural setting – facing the sea, back cradled in the arms of seven mountains. Each first Sunday in June, thousands of locals take to the hills with the goal of reaching every summit in a single day. We took on but one, and – feeling a bit guilty about abandoning so soon “one step at a time” – that aboard Fløybanen, the funicular that whisks passengers to the top of Mount Fløyen for a bird’s eye view of the city and its surrounding fjords with the silvery shimmer of the Norwegian Sea beyond. Our city walk was but a warm-up for the next day’s trek into the Bergen Norwegian Arboretum incorporated into 125 acres of rocky gorges and mossy hills along the Fanafjord. Following a picnic lunch, Vidar and Arjen changed into their Speedos to dive into the fjord. “When you see the sea, you have to jump in!” Vidar jubilantly explained as he dried off from what is evidently not just a Norwegian thing to do as Arjen, a Hollander, expressed equal enthusiasm for his icy laps. It is the rare Norwegian, from commoner to king, who doesn’t relish their unspoiled countryside. The right to do so is ensured by the
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travel
PHOTOS COURTESY OF INNOVATION NORWAY/ WWW.VISITBERGEN.COM/WWW.SOLSTRAND.COM
OPPOSITE PAGE: 1. Lake Loen 2. Hiking by Bøyabreen Glacier THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: 1. Solstrand Hotel. 2. Hiking in the hills overlooking Bergen. 3. Kayaking in Loen. 4. Bryggen (The Wharf) in Bergen
1957 “Lov om friluftslivet” (Outdoor Recreations Act): “At any time of the year, outlying property may be crossed on foot, with consideration and due caution.” Shouldering their rucksacks, they stay in a cabin or lodge – hytte – located at the crossroads of the country’s extensive network of trails. With “consideration and due caution” we approached, not cabins but two luxurious country hotels for our overnight stays. Our first, Hotel Solstrand, has welcomed vacationers for more than 100 years at its idyllic location overlooking Bjørnafjorden. Borrea Schau-Larsen, the third-generation proprietor of the family-owned hotel, greeted us saying that not only does she, too, enjoy a good walk but also shares Arjen’s and Vidar’s zeal for leaping into the fjord, which she does every Wednesday with friends: “Blowing and snowing, no matter. We jump in. And it is good!” Hotel Ullensvang, owned by the Utne family since its founding in 1846, was the base the second half of our trip. Located in the village of Lofthus on land claiming a long stretch of Sørfjorden’s eastern shore, it was here that the 19th-century composer Edvard Grieg found inspiration for many of his compositions. His “composing cottage,” selfdescribed as “no more than a wooden box with a piano and a stove” remains in the hotel’s garden. One evening after dinner, we walked through the stillness of the village to Lofthus’ 12th-century stone church for an organ and piano concert featuring works by Grieg. Grieg traveled the Hardanger by foot and horse with internationally acclaimed violinist
Ole Bull – ”the Nordic Paganini” – the two finding themes for their music in the region’s centuries-old melodies and traditions. A short ferry ride delivered us to Ole Bull’s Lysøen island, where we walked the 13 miles of trails that wind their way through fjords and fauna to end up at his idiosyncratic house, an architectural gem that marries Moorish flavor with Norwegian simplicity. One day’s walk followed a fjord-side path
One step at a time we had plunged deep into Norway’s spectacular beauty and cultural soul. to the village of Os to visit the boat works where the light, flexible, fast and strong “Oselvar” boats used along the Norwegian coast for nearly 2,000 years continue to be crafted. Another day’s trek included a visit to a 12th-century “stave” church. Only 29 of the original 750 ornately carved structures survive, and they are among the world’s oldest wooden buildings. Before dinner one night at Hotel Solstrand, Jan Boettcher, an acclaimed rosemaling or “rose painting” artist shared examples of the artistry with which Norwegians have decorated their furniture and implements since medieval times. “I learned from my grandfather who learned from his father who learned from his father,” she said, adding that only recently have women participated in the rosemaling tradi-
tion. Kjersti Bondhus greeted us at Ola Løo, a traditional farmhouse where a lunch of perfectly poached salmon freshly pulled from the sea, boiled potatoes just emerged from the earth, and a salad of greens harvested from the farm garden awaited – fuel for a walk into the Bondhus Valley, following the cascading rockiness of the rushing Bondhus River to the mirror reflections of Bondhus Lake with the blue and green ice of Bondhus Glacier streaming out of the mountain ahead. All indications that Bondhus is far from a new name on the edge of Maurangsfjorden. Reaching the lake, we were given the option of being rowed across by Arjen or continuing on toward the glacier via the lakeside path with Vidar. Yet another example, as with every day’s walk, of options made available for varying levels of hiking endurance and expertise. Had it been May 17 instead of midAugust, Bondhus Glacier, an arm of the famed Folgefonn, would have been dotted with skiers in national costume annually celebrating their country’s frozen landscape with a day devoted to skiing across the ice flows. Risky business, it would seem, given the cautionary signs we encountered warning of the glacier’s deep and wide crevasses hidden under covers of snow. Our trip ended where it began, in Bergen. Looking at the map, our boots had not taken us far from the “Gateway to the Western Fjords,” as the city calls itself. Yet, one step at a time, following Arjen and Vidar, we had plunged deep into Norway’s spectacular beauty and cultural soul.
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OLEANA, STOKKE, AND AUTOSOCK are winners of the Norwegian Award for Design Excellence — for their aesthetic and functional products
AWARD FOR DESIGN EXCE OLEANA
T
raditional Norwegian arts and crafts often inspire modern design. This is particularly the case at Oleana, a fashion design firm based just outside of Bergen. “Our clothes are inspired by Norwegian culture and traditional costumes, as well as by modern trends,” Oleana’s chief designer, Solveig Hisdal, said. “We don’t copy the traditional outfits, but rather draw inspiration from them.” Hisdal is considered one of the premier textile designers in Norway. Oleana’s designs combine cultural heritage with contemporary use of textiles. As an example, the Rosendal knitwear collection, (featured at a design exhibit during the annual festival,
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Norwegian Christmas at Union Station, in Washington, D.C.), incorporated patterns and colors found in the porcelain, design, and rose garden at the renaissance barony of Rosendal on the west coast of Norway. “Norway has a very rich clothing tradition,” Hisdal said. “Many Norwegians travelled abroad and brought new fabrics and ideas back home with them, creating a very diverse and colorful range of traditional outfits.” Oleana clothes are designed and produced in Norway combining traditional handcraft and modern technology, and about half of the production is exported, among other places to the U.S. and Canada.
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design
AUTOSOCK
T
he idea of Autosock was born when Sweden, Einar Hareide is one of the most the inventor Bård Løtveit remem- internationally recognized Norwegian bered how his grandmother used to industrial designers today. “Design is always about function and don woolen socks over her shoes to get more friction when she was walking on aesthetics, and striking a balance between the two is our ice. Autosock applies main challenge,” the same principle to My grandmother Hareide said. cars: By wrapping tires used to don woolen “A lot of things are in fiber covers they get socks over her shoes going on in a significantly better Norwegian design grip on icy or slippery to get more friction today,” he said. roads. With the when she was walk“If you only pay extreme conditions ing on ice. Autosock attention to the drivers might media, though, it encounter in Norway, it applies the same seems as the only is no surprise that principle to cars. thing we make is furniAutosock received ture and decorative instant popularity when Bård Løtveit, inventor ornaments. However, launched in 2001, and Norwegian industry is 400,000 units have increasingly trying to been sold to date. gain a competitive Design-wise, creatadvantage through ing a product that was the use of clever and functional but also aesthetic industrial aesthetically pleasing design. One example and easily recognizais in the ship-building ble was a priority from industry, where the the start. bridge is increasingly “From a design made to feel like the point of view, we wantdriver’s cabin of a car, ed Autosock to be giving an increased extremely easy to use,” sense of control for said Einar Hareide, founder of Hareide Design Mill, an indus- the staff onboard.” Autosock has already won several trial design firm based in Moss, Norway. “One of the ways we did that was by design awards all over the world, most creating a user’s manual looking very notably the International Grand Prix for Innovation from the much like what you see on emergency Technical exits in planes, with easy-to-understand Association of European Technical stick figures performing the tasks, giving Journalists, as well as the Award for Design Excellence from the Norwegian the product a clear graphical identity.” A former chief designer at SAAB in Design Council.
“
”
BY THOR ENGLUND
ELLENCE
STOKKE Xplory
S
tokke Xplory is a new breed of strollers, in which the needs of the child, and not only the needs of the person strolling, are equally important. It is built by furniture manufacturer Stokke in Norway, but designed by several young, new and promising Norwegian designers. “The Xplory Stroller was designed with two main ideas in mind,” industrial designer with Stokke, Hilde Angelfoss, said. “We wanted a stroller that encouraged contact and interaction with the child in the seat, and also a stroller that protects the child from exhaust fumes, mud, and all other risks involved with strolling a child in an urban area.” To achieve this, the Xplory is designed to raise the child up higher than most strollers, giving the child a better view and protecting him or her better from the elements and from car exhaust.
“Our research showed that the child is happier and less impatient if lifted up to a level where it can actually see the things around it,” Angelfoss said. The seat can also be turned 180 degrees, so the child and parent can interact more directly. “It is not a stroller for joggers, we saw that people with children in urban areas often have very different needs than what the “sports strollers” can provide,” Angelfoss said. “So we designed it to enable a child to sit in the stroller at a table in a café or restaurant too, which most strollers won’t allow.” “Norwegian design is very much focused on being practical and userfriendly, but also aesthetic,” Angelfoss said. “But we need to be better at marketing ourselves abroad.”
more • For a list of distributors of Oleana clothing, please visit: www.oleana.no 207.363.9156 • To find retailers of Stokke Xplory in the U.S. or Canada, please visit: www.stokkeusa.com 877.978.6553 • Autosock is currently not available in North America www.autosock.com • Norwegian Design Council www.norskdesign.no/english
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education
Language Camps T
he Norse Federation has offered its Norgesskolen programs in Norway since 2003, and every year the program attracts more youth from all over the world to Tomb Agricultural School, located just south of Oslo. In 2005, 57 students participated in activities such as 17. mai and Christmas celebrations, classes in Norwegian language, history and society, excursions, and outdoor fun, as well as taking care of the animals at the farm where the school is located. Priya Kvam went to Norgesskolen for the first time last summer. The 15 year-old has a Norwegian father and an Indian mother, but
Now is the time to sign up for Norwegian summer programs. Immersion courses in language and culture await for young children as young as 7 to high school students. has never lived in Norway. She appreciated that most of the other Norgesskolen students had a similar multicultural background. “Outside of classes, people spoke all kinds of different languages: English, Spanish, Arabic, but classes were all conducted in Norwegian. I think there was only one person who was actually from Norway.” The summer school’s theme was modern Norwegian history, and Norwegian independence from Sweden. “We had a very full schedule, starting at 7:30 in the morning. Obviously we learned about the language, the culture, writing in Norwegian, gave oral reports and
saw Norwegian movies. We went on field trips, visiting farms, Oslo, and a lumbermill. We also celebrated all the Norwegian festivities, like May 17 and Jul. We were even on Norwegian TV.” At the Norwegian village “Skogfjorden” at Concordia Language Villages in Minnesota, youth from across the U.S. have had the opportunity to spend a summer in a Norwegian setting since 1969. Now, for the first time, the school offers programs in Norway as well: Credits Abroad offers high school students the opportunity to spend a month in Norway, enjoying a fun learning experience while at the same time earning language credits for school. “The Credit Abroad in Norway is a continuation of what we are doing at Skogfjorden,” the dean of Skogfjorden, Tove Dahl said. “While the students can learn a lot about Norway in Minnesota, actually going to Norway will give them a taste of the real thing.” While potential Credits Abroad students are required to have Norwegian language proficiency comparable to two years of high school studies to enter the program, everyday smalltalk in the unique Sogndal dialect will surely add extra flavor to the skills of even the most fluent students. “You learn the Norwegian language, you learn the culture, you meet a lot of new people. It’s a pretty good way to spend a vacation,” Priya Kvam said. – LINDA PRESTEGÅRD
Norgesskolen
Age: 9 to 18 years Location: Tomb Agricultural School, south of Oslo Duration: 3 weeks When: July 9 to 28 Focus: Norwegian language and culture Phone: (+47) 23 35 71 70 www.norgesskolen.no
Concordia Language Villages
At the Norwegian village “Skogfjorden” at Concordia Language Villages in Minnesota, youth from across the U.S. have had the opportunity to spend a summer in a Norwegian setting since 1969
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Age: 7 to 18 years Location: Oslo and Sogndal, Norway, and “Skogfjorden,” in Minnesota Duration: One-week exploratory, two-week immersion, or fourweek high school credit sessions When: Start in June or July Focus: Norwegian language and culture Phone: (800) 222-4750, ext. 312 www.concordialanguagevillages.org
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interview
HOW TO INVEST $200 BILLION ... ETHICALLY
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WHY ISN’T THE OIL MONEY JUST INVESTED IN NORWAY, SOLVING ALL SOCIAL PROBLEMS? We want to avoid what is called the Dutch Disease: Historically, nations which have suddenly become very wealthy – particularly from natural resources – have only rarely been able to manage the wealth wisely. This has happened time and time again in the history of the world, and it is therefore absolutely vital for us not to become dependent on – or even addicted to – the wealth the oil has given us. In the short term, pouring oil money into the Norwegian economy would result in overheating the economy, an inflation spiraling out of control and a large WHY DOES THE GOVERNportion of Norwegian industry – MENT PENSION FUND the very basis of our current and HAVE A STRONG ETHICAL future economy – would be PROFILE? The ethical guideforced to shut down or outlines were adopted by the source. We also need the money Norwegian Parliament in 2004, to cover our social security costs and are based on two premises. in the future. As with most other First, the fund is an instrument industrialized countries, we are for ensuring that a reasonable facing an aging population and portion of the country’s petrolevastly increasing costs of penum wealth should benefit future sions. Still, the oil fund will only generations. So it needs to be cover a third of these expenses in managed with focus on generat- PHOTO BY ARILD STRØMMEN the future, so we need to keep the ing a sound return in the long term. Second, the fund should Tore Mydske, Counselor for Economic and Financial Affairs at the Norwegian economy healthy. Some oil revenue is already not through its investments con- Royal Norwegian Embassy in Washington, D.C.. The Heidrun platbeing used today, though. tribute to unethical acts, such as form in the North Sea in the background. According to a self-imposed violations of fundamental humanitarian principles, serious violations of influence the value of the company, and the “fiscal rule,” the government can use the real human rights, gross corruption, or severe Finance Ministry’s decision is made public return of the oil fund to cover the “non-oil” deficit in the national budget. This real return only after all stocks are sold. environmental degradation. is stipulated to be 4 percent of the total value HOW ARE THESE ETHICAL CONSID- HOW MANY COMPANIES HAVE BEEN of the fund. Still, it is vital that we show temperance and not use too much. ERATIONS OBSERVED? The ethical basis EXCLUDED TO DATE AND WHY? for the fund is promoted through three differ- 17 firms from around the world have been ent measures. First, it is done through exercis- excluded from the fund. Most of these are – THOR ENGLUND ing ownership rights in order to promote long- involved in production of nuclear weapons or term financial returns. This is done by Norges key components for cluster bombs. Bank (the Norwegian Central Bank). Corporate governance is a keyword here, and ARE ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS the bank exercises its ownership rights and MORE IMPORTANT THAN PROFIT? • The Government Pension Fund voting power, for instance by fighting corrup- Often there is no conflict between the two. In terms of corruption, for instance, it is neither tion or poor leadership within a company. is currently worth more than Secondly, it is done through negative ethically nor economically sound to invest in $196 billion. • At the end of 2006, the fund is screening – selling the shares in companies a corrupt company. that produce weapons which may violate expected to be worth $220 humanitarian principles. The focus here is on WHERE IS THE FUND INVESTED? To billion. That is approximately the products the company makes, not on how put it simply, the net is cast as widely as pos$43,000 per Norwegian, up sible. We are not interested in risky stocks the company is run. from $1500 per Norwegian in Thirdly, it can be done through exclusion with short-term gains. This fund is for our 1996. • At the current growth rate the of companies where there may be a risk of children, and for our children’s children, and contributing to serious or systematic human therefore it is important that we have as low Government Pension Fund will rights violations, severe environmental degra- risk as possible. We do this by investing combe the world’s second largest dation, gross corruption, or other particularly paratively small sums in a broad array of comretirement fund by the end of serious violations of fundamental ethical panies. This way we follow the larger tendenthis year. • Income from the petroleum norms. The decision to sell shares in a com- cies in the stock market. A little over half of pany based on negative screening or exclu- the fund is invested in bonds and equities in sector accounts for 21 per Europe. The rest is spread out over America, sion is made by the Ministry of Finance. cent of the Norwegian GDP • 47 percent of Norway’s Asia, Australia and New Zealand, and South WHO DECIDES WHAT IS ETHICAL OR Africa. The fund can hold a maximum of 3 exports are petroleum related. NOT? The ethical framework is anchored in percent of the shares in any company. orway pumps three million barrels of oil from the North Sea daily, and is now the world’s third largest exporter of oil, after Saudi Arabia and Russia. But how to save this wealth for future generations? The answer: Funneling the revenues into The Norwegian Government Pension Fund. Currently the fund receives attention not only because it is one of the largest retirement funds in the world, but also due to its newly implemented ethical investment guidelines. Tore Mydske, representing the Norwegian Ministry of Finance, which is responsible for the fund, answers the ethical questions:
the guidelines adopted by the Norwegian Parliament – with broad political support. The Ministry of Finance commissioned a Council of Ethics to screen the companies the fund is invested in. The council evaluates whether investing in certain companies is consistent with the Parliament’s ethical guidelines. The council gives its advice to the Ministry of Finance, which makes the final decision on whether to sell or not. If deciding to sell, the stocks are sold off quietly in order to not
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what’s cooking
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uthor Diane Morgan went to the Wild Salmon Center in Lærdal, Norway, as part of her research for writing "Salmon: A Cookbook" they’re doing very interesting work. I also took the train from Oslo to Flåm, and it was such a great way to see the countryside.” “The visit to Lærdal was very helpful, and it gave me a lot of background about the environmental issues associated with farmed fish,” Morgan said. At the center’s observatory, she was able to view wild salmon and trout through panoramic windows looking into the river itself. “Farmed or wild, salmon is extremely healthy, and is the ultimate source of protein.” “To me, food is about a passion for life,” said Morgan. “It is a way to create
The Portland, Ore.-based chef-turned-food writer and has written 11 cook books, about everything from pizzas to midnight munchies. “My interest in food came from a summer job I had at a restaurant,” Morgan said. “I had some great mentors there who made me really interested in food.” Recently she published “Salmon,” a cook book about her epic but entertaining quest to learn everything there is to know about the feisty fish. “I’ve always had a very special interest in salmon,” said Morgan. “It’s always been my favorite food, so when my publisher approached me with a book project about salmon I jumped right on it.” Her adventure took her around the world, from Alaska to Scotland, and finally to Norway. “I had a great trip to Norway. I visited the Wild Salmon Center in Lærdal, and
cultural exchange, and it’s a way for different people to come together and experience each other’s cultures.”
Hooked on Salmon Shaved Fennel, Lemon, and Arugula Salad, with Pan-S Seared Salmon Vinaigrette
3. Toss lightly to mix and set aside. 4. Season the salmon on all sides with kosher or sea salt and freshly ground pepper. 5. Place a large, heavy skillet over mediumhigh heat. When the skillet is hot, add 3 tablespoons of olive oil and swirl to coat the pan. 6. Add the salmon, skin side down, and cook until the skin is crisp, about 4 minutes. Carefully turn the salmon and cook until the fillets are almost opaque throughout, but still
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 clove garlic, minced ½ teaspoon sugar ¾ teaspoon kosher or sea salt Freshly ground pepper 1. In a small jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the extra-virgin olive oil, lemon zest and juice, garlic, sugar, salt, and lots of pepper. 2. Cover tightly and shake vigorously to blend.
3 cups thinly sliced fennel bulb (fronds reserved) 2 bunches arugula (about 1/2 pound total), stemmed 4 salmon fillets (about 5 ounces each), skin on and scaled, pin bones removed 1. Chop the fennel fronds and measure out 1/3 cup. 2. In a large bowl, combine the fennel, ¼ cup of the fennel fronds (saving the rest for garnish), and the arugula.
12 | www.norway.org/food
more PHOTOS BY CHRONICLE BOOKS AND DIANE MORGAN
The Salad
very moist, or an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center registers 125º to 130ºF, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a warm plate and set aside while you toss the salad. 7. Shake the dressing vigorously again and then toss the salad with it. 8. Arrange the salad on 4 dinner plates. Place a salmon fillet in the center, on top of the salad, garnish with the remaining fennel fronds, and serve immediately.
• Information about Norwegian seafood and recipes www.seafoodfromnorway.com • Read about the Wild Salmon Center in Lærdal www.norsk-villakssenter.no • More about Diane Morgan www.dianemorgancooks.com
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books
Leaving Home to Save Home taught English at Whitworth College in Spokane, tells the story about the 7-month journey in “Bold Spirit: Helga Estby’s Forgotten Walk Across Victorian America.” “When I first heard about it I was curious about what made the mother of 8 children so desperate as to leave home to walk across the continent. The answer was that she left home to save home,” Hunt said. Sadly, home would never be the same. Because when Helga and Clara finally reached New York – within the stipulated seven months – the benefactor refused to pay the prize money. Devastated, mother and daughter started scrambling to earn money for their return trip. A railroad magnate gave them train tickets to Chicago, and from there they made their way back to Spokane. But by the time Estby reached Washington, two of her children had died of diphtheria. The homestead was lost and her husband had become a carpenter. Shameful and disappointed, the family “silenced” Estby’s story for generations. It was not until a few old newspaper clippings turned up almost a century later, causing Estby’s great-great-grandson to hand in an 8th grade paper titled “Grandma Walks from Coast to Coast,” that the story resurfaced. Hunt’s husband, also a professor, was given the paper when he judged a historical essay competition, and after reading it immediately passed it on to his wife. “I was electrified with the story,” Linda Hunt said. She spent 8 years researching the story before publishing “Bold Spirit.” Estby’s route from Spokane to New York
Bold Spirit Helga Estby’s Forgotten Walk Across Victorian America By Linda Lawrence Hunt Published by Anchor Books $14 www.boldspiritacrossamerica.com
PHOTOS COURTESY PORCH/BAHR FAMILY PHOTOGRAPH COLLECTION
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n 1896, Norwegian immigrant Helga Estby walked 3,500 miles to New York, from Spokane, Wash., determined to win a $10,000 wager – and save her family farm from foreclosure. A mother of eight living children, she attempted to save the homestead in Eastern Washington after the 1893 depression ravaged the American economy. Fearing homelessness and poverty for herself and her family, Helga responded to a challenge posed by a woman working in New York’s fashion industry: Walk across the U.S. and win $10,000 to “prove the endurance of women.” The rules stipulated that she could leave home with a maximum of $5 and needed to earn her way across the route. She had to collect signatures of mayors and governors along the way and reach New York in less than 7 months. In addition, she had to enter Salt Lake City donning a bicycle skirt, a garment that reached all of four inches above the ankle. Helga Estby packed a Smith & Wesson revolver, a pepper spray gun, no change of clothes, a journal, a pen, a compass, a medical kit, and a curling iron. Her satchel weighed only 8 lbs. Estby set out with her 18-year-old daughter Clara (picture at right), walking 25 miles a day along railroad tracks so they would not get lost, and sleeping mostly in railroad depots. Clara was not exactly thrilled about the journey, but her mother encouraged her: “This is better than a college education because you learn about human nature,” she said. Linda Lawrence Hunt, who for 21 years
“Kristin Lavransdatter” Gets Face-Lift
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new translation of Sigrid Undset’s trilogy about Kristin Lavransdatter is out, to rave reviews from literary critics. “The English translation I read as a child was from the 1920s,” translator Tiina Nunnally said. “Unlike in Undset’s original, the language was extremely archaic, there were serious mistakes, and parts of the book were mysteriously just left out.” A Boston Globe critic, Katherine A. Powers, agreed, calling the original translation “a book to save for the nursing home years or a stretch in prison.” Appropriately, the Globe’s review of the new edition was called “No Longer Lost in Translation.” In order to write the new translation, Nunnally went back to the source. After living in Denmark, Nunnally speaks Danish and Norwegian, and was able to read Undset’s original edition. She translated the three books between 1997 and 2000, earning a PEN/Bookof-the-month Club Translation Prize for her
work in 2001. With the new deluxe edition, the modernized trilogy is available in one book. “I hope more Americans will rediscover Sigrid Undset, because she is fantastic,” Nunnally said. “American readers really crave the good story, and the story about Kristin is a real “soap”, in the best sense of the word.” “Although these books are set in the old days, the books are very modern in terms of views of human relationships. There is so much happening, and it’s so real. You are dragged into the story, and get a personal relationship with Kristin. She is in many ways a flawed human and makes many bad decisions, but that’s exactly what makes her so real.” The new edition has an introduction by Brad Leithauser, a literature professor and regular contributor to the New York Review of Books. Undset wrote the trilogy between 1920 and 1922, and received the Nobel Prize in Literature for her work in 1928.
Kristin Lavransdatter By Sigrid Undset Translated by Tiina Nunnally Published by Penguin Classics $25.00 (CAN $35.00)
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For a complete and updated calendar of events please visit
Rune Olsen in "Archival to Contemporary: Six Decades of the Sculptors Guild" BROOKVILLE, NY., Through April 8 Olsen is a new member of the Sculptors Guild and the exhibition is a survey of the guild's history, spanning the course of six decades. Info: 516-299-4073 or
[email protected]
www.norway.org east coast exhibits
Elise Martens at Art Space Gallery NEW HAVEN, CT., Through March 18 Elise Martens will show her prototype rocking chair in steel, as well as large scale digital photographs in the project "Confinement and the Arts of Decoration." Info: 203-772-2709
NEW YORK, Through March 25 Norwegian artist Nedreaas shows her art work at the LUXE Gallery. Info: 212-404-7455
music
FELDSPAR BY ESPEN EIBORG
Espen Eiborg
NEW YORK, Through April 28 Espen Eiborg exhibits internationally and his paintings are part of both private and corporate collections worldwide. At the Clodagh Collection Showroom. Info: 212-780-5300
PHOTO BY JOHANNES WORSØE BERG
Designer Pia Myrvold in "The Fashion of Architecture: Constructing the Architecture of Fashion" NEW YORK, Through Mar. 11 The Center for Architecture in New York presents new work from leading architects and fashion designers such as Shigeru Ban and Pia Myrvold. Info: 212-683-0023
[email protected]
.
"Edvard Munch: The Modern Life of the Soul" at Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) NEW YORK, Through May 8 The first major retrospective devoted to the work of Munch to be held in an American museum in almost three decades. Info: 212-708-9400
The Long, Adventurous Life of Edvard Munch NEW YORK, March 18 In this interactive presentation with performer Rolf Stang, children 5+ can learn about Edvard Munch. Info: 212-879-9779 or
[email protected]. Call 212847-9740 for reservations
Trine Lise Nedreaas STILL FROM FILM BY NEDREAAS
Frost: Life & Culture of the Sámi – Reindeer People of Norway WASHINGTON D.C., Through April Norwegian Sámi photographer Fred Ivar Utsi Klemetsen's photo essay "FROST" documents the life of those who still herd their reindeer the traditional way. At the Baird Ambulatory Gallery, National Museum of Natural History. Info: 202-633-1000
munch
”THE DANCE OF LIFE” 1899-1900, OIL ON CANVAS. THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ART, ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN/NATIONAL GALLERY, OSLO. (C) 2006 THE MUNCH MUSEUM/THE MUNCH-ELLINGSEN GROUP/ARTISTS RIGHTS SOCIETY (ARS), NEW YORK
3/10/2006
PHOTO BY SCANDINAVIA HOUSE
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Norway-Balkan Music, With Students from Juilliard School of Music NEW YORK, March 2 Five young musicians are involved in this project, among them Norwegian Ola Gjeilo, at Scandinavia House. Info: 212-847-9740 Magnus Martensson & Friends: Music & Comedy NEW YORK, March 10 and April 21 Magnus Martensson, conductor of the Scandinavian Chamber Orchestra, invites three critically acclaimed musicians to perform with him in a new concert series that will include great music as well as what critics have called "hilarious and clever comedy." Info: 212-847-9740 ASF Fellows Concert: David Coucheron & Ingrid Emanuelsson NEW YORK, April 6 Ingrid Emanuelsson, a recent graduate from Hunter College with an M.A. in piano performance will play with violinist David Coucheron. At Scandinavia House Info: 212-847-9740
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Edvard Munch: Symbolism in Print NEW YORK, Through May 13 Highlights from the Munch exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, at Scandinavia House. Info: 212-879-9779 or www.scandinaviahouse.org The Edvard Munch Biopic at MoMA NEW YORK, March 10 - 12 Info: 212-708-9400 A Collector's Perspective on Munch NEW YORK, March 21 Sarah G. Epstein, collector of Edvard Munch prints since the early 1960s, will give a slide lecture on the life and art of the famous Norwegian artist. Info: 212-879-9779 or www.scandinaviahouse.org Munch, Sex, and Modernity NEW YORK, April 20 Dr. Patricia G. Berman, a professor of art at Wellesley College, Mass., will present aspects of Munch's visual dialogues with modern notions of sexuality. Info: 212-879-9779 or www.scandinaviahouse.org.
poetry Poetry Readings by Norwegian Poet and Novelist Dag Sundby NEW YORK, April 23 Dag Sundby will read some of his works at the Norwegian Seamen's Church on Manhattan, immediately translated to English. He will also tour universities in Conn. Info: 212-319-0370 or
[email protected]
classes Norwegian Classes at the Norwegian Seamen's Church Classes last for 12 weeks and are educating, socializing and fun! Beginner, intermediate and advanced courses available. info: 212-319-0370 or
[email protected]
seminars Seminar about Auroras, Flares, Spots and Storms
children’s events Viking Seafarers: The First Europeans’ Journey to America NEW YORK, March 11 and April 8 Presentation for children 5+ about Vikings. Info: 212-879-9779 or
[email protected]. Call 212847-9740 for reservations
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 17 The Smithsonian and NASA are hosting a seminar about the sun with Norwegian scientist Pål Brekke. Info: Smithsonian, 202-633-1000
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calendar midwest lecture/literature
exhibits
Princess Märtha Louise SALT LAKE CITY, UT: April 6-7 Author of “Why Kings and Queens Don’t Wear Crowns” Info: www.norway.org
Anne Karin Senstad's Portraits from her book "The Norwegians" PORT HADLOCK, WA., Through May 20, The Art Mine Gallery Info: www.senstad.com
music
music
Sangerfest 2006 DECORAH, IA, June 28 - July 2 The Norwegian Singers' Association of America, with 350 singers Info: 563-382-3088 or www.nsaaonline.org
Per Brevig and the East Texas Symphony Orchestra
exhibit
south west
PHOTO BY PERBREVIG.COM
36th Annual Norse Rosemaling MILWAUKEE, WI., April 1 - 2 Juried rosemaling show with approximately 150 entries. Norway House/Sons of Norway Info: 262-767-2857 or
[email protected]
classes
March 9 – April 19 This exhibition of top Nordic designers presents design with an emphasis on both the sensual beauty of craft design as well as innovative design allowing for survival in emergency situations. Atrium Gallery & Courtyard Info: www.nordic5arts.org
festival
PHOTO: NORWEGIAN-AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSSOCIATION
Prize Forum with Nobel laureate Dr. Wangari Maathai DECORAH, IA, March 10-11 The Nobel Peace Prize Forum will honor the work of Nobel laureate Dr. Wangari Maathai, a former biology professor who founded the Green Belt Movement in Kenya. Maathai will be the keynote speaker, talking about sustainable development. With Geir Lundestad, Director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute. At Luther College Info: 563-387-1001 or
[email protected] www.peaceprizeforum.org
festival 16th Annual Scandinavian Festival HALES CORNERS, WI., May 6 The Nordic Council of Wisconsin presents the 16th annual indoor Scandinavian festival, celebrating scandinavian culture through arts and craft demonstrations, genealogy sessions, and ethnic food. Info: 414-425-0846, 262-5600232 or
[email protected]
walk Seven Hills Walk SEATTLE, WA., May 5 Organized by the Seattle-Bergen sister city association. Walk through Seattle is inspired by a similar tradition in Bergen. Info:
[email protected]
Sensuality & Survival: New Nordic Designs 2006 SAN FRANCISCO, CA.,
conference
"Snowshoe" Thompson Anniversary Celebration Genoa, NV., March 11 John Thompson – originally Jon Torsteinson-Rue – came from Norway to the U.S. in the 1830s, and became legendary in California and Nevada for his winter-time mail delivery on skis, carrying mail and medicines to 49ers stranded in the Sierra Nevadas. This year is the 150th anniversary of his first mail run, celebrated in Genoa with cross country skiing, food and entertainment. Info: 530-694-2266
Norway Day 2006 SAN FRANCISCO, CA., May 6 - 7 An estimated 5,000 annual visitors make this the largest Norwegian Festival in the U.S. Lots of food, music, and a 5/10k run. At Fort Mason, Herbst Pavillion, San Francisco. info: www.norwayday.org
"Revisited": Photos from Norway by Helene Sobol Seattle, WA., Through April 2 Nordic Heritage Museum Info: 206-789-5707 www.nordicmuseum.org www.helenesobol.com
The 18th Annual Nobel Peace TYLER, TX., April 22 Norwegian-born conductor Per Brevig will conduct the East Texas Symphony Orchestra Info: 903-526-3876 or
[email protected]
festival
west coast
Desire, Anxiety and Loss: The Prints of Edvard Munch STANFORD, CA.,
PHOTO BY CATHRINE MASKE
seminars The Scandinavian Example: The Return of Equality in World Politics NEW YORK, April 3 Dr. Bo Rothstein will address the current shift in the intellectual climate in the social sciences, where Scandinavian-style social equality is once again considered important for both economic growth and individual well-being. Info: 212-847-9740 or www.scandinaviahouse.org
Scandinavian School SAN FRANCISCO, CA Courses in Norwegian language and culture, from pre-school through advanced levels. Info: www.scandinavianschool.org Scandia Camp MENDOCINO, CA., June 10 - 17 A week long camp where one can immerse oneself in the dance, music, and culture of Norway. Info: 630-985-7192 or
[email protected]
literature Solveig Torvik Book Signing SEATTLE, WA., March 4 Solveig Torvik, former journalist from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer will read at the Nordic Heritage Museum from her new book “Nikolai's Fortune” Info: 206-789-5707 or www.nordicmuseum.org
music
March 22 - June 25 Exhibition of nearly 40 etchings, litographs and woodcuts by Info: 650-725-3155 Norwegian Folk Art Exhibit SAN DIEGO, CA, Through March 30 The largest Norwegian folk art exhibit to be shown in California features selected pieces from the Vesterheim museum in Iowa, local collectors, and Norwegian contributors. At Mingei International Museum on El Prado in Balboa Park. Info: 619-286-8641
Leif Ove Andsnes SAN FRANCISCO, CA., April 30 Davies Symphony Hall Info: 415-552-8000 Flunk in Concert SAN FRANCISCO, CA., May 6 Norwegian Folktronica Foursome Flunk plays at Herbst Pavillion, as a part of the Norway Day festival. Info: 415-987-8055
lecture Roald Amundsen Lecture SAN FRANCISCO, CA., April 9 Dr. Tim Baughman will discuss the adventures of Roald Amundsen at the Commonwealth Club Info: 415-597-6700
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PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Washington, D.C. Permit No. 251
Royal Norwegian Embassy 2720 34th. St., NW Washington, D.C. 20008 (202) 333-6000 www.norway.org
PHOTO BY TERJE RAKKE/INNOVATION NORWAY
cover photo
A PURE ESCAPE: Kayaking is one of many activities that bring people closer to enjoying the landscape of the western fjords of Norway.
plays
readings
Hedda Gabler BROOKLYN, NY, Through Mar. 26 Oscar-nominated actress Cate Blanchett stars in the Sydney Theatre Company’s production of Hedda Gabler. Info: 718-636-4182
Evenings with Ibsen at the Norwegian Seamen’s Church NEW YORK, Last Tuesday of every month Selected works by Ibsen will be read, followed by discussion. Info: 212-319-0370
An Enemy of the People WATERVILLE, ME, March 16 - 18 Info: 207-859-4535 An Enemy Of The People HATTIESBURG, MS., Mar 16 - 26. Info: www.usm.edu/theatre A Doll’s House ANN ARBOR, MI., Mar. 16-Apr. 23 Info: 734-663-0681 or visit www.performancenetwork.org Mabou Mines Dollhouse NEW ENGLAND (tour) Mar 29-Apr 9 Info: 212-473-0559 or visit www.maboumines.org 2006 marks the 100th anniversary of the death of the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. His life and work will be commemorated throughout the year, which in Norway has been named the “Ibsen Year.” For updated information about plays and festivals, see
www.norway.org
www.norway.org
Hedda Gabler SPRINGFIELD, IL., April 14 - 23 Info: 217-206-6160 or 800-2076960 Hedda Gabler CINCINNATI, OH, April 27 - 29 Info: 513-556-4183 Hedda Gabler OLNEY, MD., June 21 – July 23 Info: 301-924-3400
Peer Gynt FARGO, ND., April 6 - 14 Info: 701-231-9442 www.ndsu.edu
An Enemy of the People WASHINGTON, DC: Opens September 5. Shakespeare Theatre Company, Washington DC. Directed by Kjetil Bang - Hansen, National Theatre of Norway. Info: 202-547-1122
Peer Gynt BROOKLYN, NYC, April 11 - 16 Directed by Robert Wilson (see page 3 for review) Info: 718-636-4100
The Master Builder GLENDALE, CA., October 10 December 11 Info: http://anoisewithin.org/season.shtml or 818-240-0910
PHOTO: ERIK BERG
film An Enemy of the People MINNEAPOLIS, MN., April 14 - 29 The Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival. Info: 612-331-3134 or
[email protected] Nora NEW YORK, Through March 12 Director Ingmar Bergman's adaptation of Ibsen's play A Doll's House is coming to Manhattan for the first time in its 25-year history. Info: (212) 352-3101 or www.theatermania.com for tickets
tour Tour Norway in Ibsen's Footprints July 26 - August 9 Info: Adrienne at 507-467-2905 ext 208 or
[email protected] for details, or visit http://vesterheim.org/travel/Tours_ Norway.php