PARTICIPATORY ART workshop

 The Participatory Art workshop was a continuum of the collaborative BA/MA level courses arranged by the University of Lapland (UOL) and Iceland Academy of the Arts (IAA). The tutoring teachers were Assistant Prof. Ásthildur Jónsdóttir (IAA) and University Teacher Elina Härkönen (UOL).
          The first part of the course concentrated on SPACE - TIME - PLACE and discussed the prevailing trends of current time. The frantic lifestyle of western living seems to decrease face to face communication, sense of community, traditional ways of cultural living (food, lifestyles) and increase consuming. Due to this the course wanted to it differently and went to do an ice fishing experiment. It turned out to be an experiment of space and time due to meditative nature of the activity.
         The second part concentrated to include the surrounding communities into art making. A joint art work: Integrated view of the world was created together with the local Steiner School pupils and Helmikammari senior day clubs. The art work had strong aspect of sustainability and everything used in the piece was recycle materials. The piece was displayed as part of Ásthildur B. Jónsdóttir's "LOOKING back–around–forward exhibition, in gallery VALO, Arktikum, Rovaniemi. 

Photo credits: Elina Härkönen / Thelma Björk