During their explorations and tours of the MEMORIA NORWAY project, SpringerParker will update the Logbook on a regular basis. It documents their route and events in forms of on location photos and descriptions sent directly via the mobile phone to this website. Clicking at the geographical data to the left of the entries lets you follow their route on the map.
Go here to see the Logbook archive of the previous explorations
PERFORMANCE TOUR 01
Feb-02-10 - 21:10
Deep in the Fjellhallen
The Fjellhallen used to be a bunker and shelter during the war, it is built deep into the mountain and you still can see the heavy metal doors attached to the long hallway of rough stone that was painted white. It was transformed into a sports arena in 1984 and is also used for concerts and other activities. For the opening concert, four stages have been built up: North, East, West and the South Stage, on which we are currently building up our equipment for the first on-stage rehearsals.
Feb-02-10 - 14:00
Lunch break
On our way to the lunchbreak we are dropping by the Pavillion park, where French artist Eric Mutel (currently living in Helsinki / Finland) is building up a round labyrinth, modeled after a traditional Sámi maze, 20 meters in diameter. This enormous amount of snow combined with 60 iceblocks will be the center piece for the "Nord Rute" outdoor performance that will be held on Feb. 6.
Feb-02-10 - 13:32
Breathtaking
No matter whether she performs on stage or only in the rehearsal room, Stepanida Borisova, famous Yakut actress, singer from Yakutsk / Sibiria is fascinating and breathtaking! Here she is rehearsing a piece with percussionists Petter Berndalen (photo) from Sweden and Håkon Mjåset Johansen from Norway.
Feb-02-10 - 13:01
Cutting Edge Arctic Workshop - day 3
The third day of the Cutting Edge Arctic workshop, which outcome will be presented as the opening concert of the festival. Alltogether we are 16 artists and musicians, most of them from all far away corners of the Arctic regions. Here: Anda Kuitse from Greenland eye-to-eye with Johan Sara Jr. from Kautokeino.
Feb-01-10 - 21:39
Dinner at the Taiga
Tonight we went to the Taiga restaurant in Svanvik lies close to the power station of Pasvik Valley, about a one hour drive from Kirkenes. The old and beautiful house is famous in the region and, according to many travel guides, one of the best restaurants in the Finnmark. For a reason! Parker (who is vegan) claims that this was one of the best meals he ever had. Taiga is also a pension and a starting point for winter adventures. Enjoying the dinner and the time next to the fireplace (left to right): Steven Blanchett (Alaska), Olga Letykai Csonka and Zoia Tagryna (originally from Chukotka/Sibiria), Anda Kuitse (Kulusuk/Greenland). When suddenly the polar lights appeared over the area, Olga (who is now living in Switzerland) presented her traditional way of whistling to the sky to make the polar lights change direction.
Feb-01-10 - 13:29
Preparations
On the big square in front of the library the show for the opening ceremony is prepared. Everyone is curious and looking forward to "IL CORSO", based on the "Book of Questions" by Pablo Neruda, a spectacular show with actors, singers, installations and pyrotechnics, which will be presented by the German theatre ensemble "Pan.Optikum", as a parable about man's search for immortality.
Jan-31-10 - 20:56
What's for dinner?
The singing and music couldn't even be stopped during dinner at the "Surf&Turf", the freshly opened bar and restaurant in the city center. When even more artists arrived, the room seems to be bursting from energy from different but similar cultures from around the globe.
Jan-31-10 - 18:09
First rehearsal
The first rehearsal was mainly about getting to know all the artists, sharing ideas, introducing various amazing instruments and singing styles and actually having a great time together.
Jan-31-10 - 16:18
The Fjellhallen
In this location, the Fjellhallen, the opening concert "Cutting-Edge Arctic" will take place on Feb. 3, performed by ethnic singers and musicians from the Artic regions all over the world (Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Norway). We were asked to use our sound recordings of the Finnmark for an introduction to the concert. So, the next days will be a lot of rehearsals to create a structure for the show, which is produced by Sápmi Music with Pikene på Broen, Producer is Kai Somby and it will be directed by Kristiina Ilmonen and Johan Sara Jr.. Our audiovisual Memoria Norway live performance will take place on Feb. 5.
