Nora Fuchs is a sculptor from Germany and lives in Berlin and Dortmund. She has been a professor at the University of Applied Sciences in Dortmund since 2003. There she teaches in the bachelor’s program in three-dimensional design and in the master’s program in scenography and is active in a network for the improvement of artistic teaching at universities. It is her second stay in the fishfactory in Stödvarfjödur.

“It’s nice to be back. I had the opportunity to try out new ideas, experiment, and find a wonderful setting at the factory to present the results. The first few days felt like spring; there were some glorious, summery days, and in the last few days, winter returned with lots of snow and a yellow severe weather warning—which once again made me reflect on the power of nature and the smallness of humanity.

As a new project, I’ve started recreating my mother’s evening gowns. She had such beautiful dresses, all hanging in her closet, some of them wrapped in cellophane. As a child, I loved sitting in that closet, feeling the texture of the fabrics, the colors, and the sheen, and trying on the dresses. This work is linked to many memories and thoughts of my mother from the 1970s. I also reflected on that time through collages. As a second project, I completed a photo film about the Finnish summer.

It was shown on-site in a cardboard box modeled after an Icelandic house. It was a quiet month—such a beautiful, concentrated, and focused time—that it’s worth returning there and enjoying this place.

THANK YOU to everyone at and around the Fishfactory! Special thanks go to the Knitting Club and Phora, the lady who donated her collection of pins! “

www.norafuchs.de

Leah Harper is a New York City–based artist whose organic sculptures and installations explore the boundary between natural and built environments. Originally from South Florida, her work often draws on sea-inspired forms and patterns.

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“I went to Fish Factory for a creative reset, drawn by its proximity to water and the chance to experience a landscape and climate unlike anything I’d known. The newness of frozen rivers and waterfalls, giant icicles, snow-covered mountains, and northern lights helped shift my way of thinking and working, bringing curiosity and play into the art I made there. I created glowing jellyfish-inspired forms and oversized reed-like sculptures designed to sway with the wind.

I also experimented with new media, collaborating on an underwater video project capturing the flow of icy rivers and dreamy kelp-filled seas.

I’m deeply grateful to have had this time and space to explore and create so freely, and for the incredible group of fellow residents I had the chance to share it with.”

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Photos 1-5 by @alixmcintosh.

Website: https://www.leahharper.com/

Instagram: @leahcharp

Irene Hoppenberg is a sculptor from Berlin, Germany. She received her Master at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. Her works were presented in multiple exhibitions in Europe, USA, South-Korea, Taiwan and Australia.

I experimented with kites made of paper and bamboo during my stay at the Fish Factory, which offered me an ideal environment to work on my project. The kites form a colourful contrast in the Icelandic landscape. Their shapes and patterns refer to the style of the German Bauhaus.

I loved to stay in the green studio with its stunning view to the Fjord and the Mountains. It was inspiring even with rain, clouds, and fog. From there we could even once watch the whales from very close, it was so exciting.

Thanks to all the artists who performed the kites with me and to all the photographers who took the pictures. It was wonderful to share this moment with you and it was very much fun.

Very big thanks to Kris and Vinny who gave us so much support all the time, it was more than I expected. I would have loved to stay another month and have more time to develop my project and to explore more of the environment.

Website: http://www.irenehoppenberg.de

OPEN CALL >> January – May 2017 <<
We’re sending out an OPEN CALL for all artists out there in the worldwide!
We’re OPEN for your applications for January – May period of Residency program!

About Fish Factory – Creative Centre
The Creative Centre is located in Stöðvarfjörður, a remote village in the East fjords of Iceland. It was established in 2011 when a group of people acquired the abandoned Fish Factory of the village. The group funded a non-profit cooperation which owns the building and manages the daily operations and business of the Centre. The Centre is an independent initiative and has no financial ties to the local municipality or the Icelandic state. All team members are volunteers still today.

The Creative Centre is an ongoing collaborative and community project and our actions and aims are based on sustainable principles and alternative methods. We want to regenerate and sustain our small village by making it into a possible and desirable place to settle – a place where you can have engaging jobs, enjoy culture, and the influx of new ideas and creative people. The Centre is meant to be a platform offering many different workshops and facilities where small initiatives can thrive and jobs can be created. We run an all year around Art Residency for most creative fields and we frequently host cultural events and concerts. Currently we are starting up workshops and study courses at the Centre. We also host a small fish processing company, the local fish market, and the Red Cross charity shop of the village.

With the Creative Centre we want to demonstrate the possibility of strengthening small, remote communities with creative initiatives, establishing jobs, and to be a source of inspiration for others alike. We believe that many small pillars and culture are a strong way to ensure the livelihood of a society and are just as valid as big industrial solution.

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Residency Description
The Residency is multi-disciplinary and open for most creative directions:
Visual Art, New Media, Printmaking, Sculpture, Dance, Performing Arts, Land Art, Textile Art, Music, Literature, Crafts, Sustainable Design, Engineering & Photography.

The purpose of the program is to provide emerging and established artists, creatives, designers and progressive thinkers a port for free expression. We offer access to a range of studios and work facilities, and a place to meet with other creative people in a small collaborative community. The Centre has fully equipped wood & metal workshops, kitchen, small library, sewing workshop and a Concert hall. All of which the artists have access to along with our material storage in consultation with a team member.

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Accommodation
Our Residency Artists stay together in a big house called Bjarkarlundur. The house is located in the heart of our small village and in about 3 min walking distance from the Centre. The house has a garden, spacious bedrooms, large kitchen, a bathroom with bathtub, a washroom and internet access. Bed linen is provided. Each artist has their own private bedroom and shares the kitchen and bathroom with the other artists.

Artists can invite their partner or a guest for a short stay upon prior arrangement with a team member. The maximum stay is five nights. From time to time Volunteers, Interns and Musicians stay at the house as well.

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Duration of residency
The duration of residencies is between 1 and 6 months. If the Artist wants to lead a workshop, exhibit his/her works, hold a concert/perform or read poetry, we are up for most things.

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Residency Fee

Prices:
Shared Studio space  600 Eur/Month
Private Studio              700 Eur/Month

Included:
Access to all the Workshops & Facilities in the Centre along with our paint & material storage in consultation with a team member. You will also be provided with an Accommodation, a private bedroom in the Artists house.On arrival we provide a pick up from Egilsstaðir Airport. Other expenses for transport and meals are the responsibility of each participant.

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Application information
To be considered for the Residency, send us a filled out Application Form + CV + 5-10 recent work samples (up to 10MB) to contact[at]inhere[dot]is

Your application will be reviewed and answered within a week via email.

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Languages
We speak Icelandic, English and German.