Running Under the Aurora
The flavor of February was similar to January, with spectacular aurora, coziness and the gradual return of the sun! I think in February alone we gained around 5 + hours of daylight. There was some weather drama and I got to experience my first red alert in Iceland. The entire island was under a red alert and no travel was strongly advised. The wind was nuts and I saw thunder snow, which is unheard of in Iceland.
From the Icelandic Met office website prior to the storm approach.
Luckily the storm came and went with a quick fury. This excitement made way for The Northern Lights Run, which my Fulbright crew and I had been preparing to participate in. This is a 5k around the downtown area of Reykjavík at night, in the hopes of running under the aurora. Unfortunately, aurora only made a brief appearance. This was such a unique and fun experience starting with a pre-game rave, people dress up in flamboyant costumes with glow in the dark paint and light up accessories, and entertainment along the route. It felt like a unified celebration of light and togetherness for getting through the darkness of winter. I would totally come back to Iceland just to do this 5k again!
Fulbright crew!
February was a full month of activities including our Fulbright grantee enrichment activity. We took a trip to Bessastaðir and met with the president of Iceland, Halla Tómasdóttir! This was one of the coolest experiences I have ever had. To meet not just a world leader but the second woman president of Iceland!! I loved her comment during our greeting — that she is grateful to be Iceland’s second woman president because this is a positive step in a direction that normalizes the election of women leaders. I have unlocked a new woman idol. Wow.
A lot of printing got done this month with my freshly made screens! I also spent a good amount of time preparing for a block printing workshop I was putting together for the textile students at Myndlistaskólinn. I had so much fun conducting the workshop and the students took on the techniques with great interest and concentration. They all made some really great work and I was so proud! I feel very accomplished when I get other individuals obsessed with my obsession of printmaking. I hope they all continue the practice of block printing to some degree on their creative pursuits. I also had a lovely friend photograph me working in the studio. I finally got to start printing with mordant pastes and look forward to dyeing the pieces soon. I have been working on these landscape drawings from my travels around Iceland and really like how this first one turned out as a linocut. So many things to constantly be inspired by!
February was also the anniversary month of Fulbright Iceland, which just celebrated it’s 68th anniversary! We had a lovely gathering at the interim U.S. ambassador’s residence. I feel so very grateful to be a part of the Fulbright mission and this amazing cohort of incredible brilliant individuals.
Annnnnnnd here is just a compilation of images from my gallivanting around Reykjavík, and of course my aurora sightings! Also, loved seeing the rollout of chocolate easter eggs in the super markets.
