Outcome of the Wish

Span of a Year

2012-02-05T02:55:00.002Z

To me, Blueberry Soup is a documentary that hits close to home. I have traveled to Iceland for over 15 years. I´ve seen the rise and fall of the economy in a very short period of time. Every single person living in Iceland was blindsided by the financial crash of 2008. The rippling affect instigated riots, triggered suicides and spiked the unemployment rate from 1.6% to over 8% in the span of a ye......ar and all of my Icelandic friends have a story.

When I first heard about Blueberry Soup - a documentary about the financial collapse in Iceland, I became immediately interested. I learned that the documentary was not just about the economic story but more specifically the personal stories shared by the local people. Without hesitation I made a financial contribution to the film. More than anything, I want the people of Iceland to be heard. Not the opinions of the government, not the media and not the rest of the world, just the people of Iceland.

-Karen Helena Wallington(Co-Producer of Blueberry Soup)

Bus Ride

2012-02-05T02:45:00.002Z

We head to the bus terminal at an intersection that I had long ago memorized. There was a bit of a wait time, and we decided to get some candy. Normal candy choices for me would be fuzzy peaches, all sweet. Eileen spies some dark purple stars and purchases about 2o of them. She passes the bag around to all three of us. Steve sniffs it, I bite into it, and Eileen pops it into my mouth. Steve watched as my jaw looked confused, and Eileen looked offended and let the candy drop from her mouth. These stars were VERY salty. I laugh, even now, hearing Eileen say, “I’m going to give these to someone who hates life.”

-Bria Cole (Producer of Blueberry Soup)

Cutting Room Floor

2012-01-22T22:37:00.000Z

Did you know that when you watch a documentary you are only seeing a small fraction of the process that went into making that film? The fact is there are dozens of incredible stories that are left on the "cutting room floor". Starting in February we will be releasing stories from our amazing three year adventure from conception to post production.

The Constitution is Finished

2011-07-29T00:40:00.003Z

Today the Constitutional Assembly handed in the much anticipated brand-new constitution!

In October 2008 Iceland's economy went belly up. A small collective of people became very rich as the nation was clothes-lined with an unimaginable debt.
After the collapse (called the "kreppa") imaginative, innovative, pissed off Icelanders got together and discussed what they wanted to see change. One of the main items on that list was to re-write the constitution.

There was never really a purely Icelandic constitution prior to today. Up to this point Iceland's constitution was a borrowed copy from the Danes (they have been independent since the 40's).

Here is a brief rundown of what's happened that's making this day so incredibly important.
Click for Illustrated Diagram

So to push democracy to a new level the assembly put the drafts online, opened up the issues for discussion through facebook and twitter, and directly incorporated the public's opinions in the final decisions.

This is not all rose colored, the assembly faces challenges ahead. Each elect will go back to their lives as teachers, students, lawyers, farmers, parents, and clergy members. In the months to come the constitution will be reviewed by parliament and there it will be decided if this shall be the nations new "law of the land".

Is the end result the most important focus here? I wonder if we can learn a great deal from the process itself? An entire nation was welcomed to directly participate in the re-writing of their constitution from the comfort of their own homes. Do we have to be so distant from the decisions being made on our behalf? Could we approach our future with tenacity and innovation over anger and exhaustion?
I invite you on this very special day to think of five things you would like to participate in, within your own community, nation, social circle.

My birthday is next week and I enter into 30 with an un-yielding sense of responsibility. I have been gifted with the opportunity to see a constitution drafted, to speak to its authors, and to have followed a three year bread trail through the changes in a nations society following one of histories largest economic downfalls.
Happy Birthday to you Icelandic Constitution.

Blueberry Soup is the documentary following the 3 year long aftermath of the economic crisis in Iceland. The film is in post-production now, as we sew together the dozens of interviews, epic imagery, and exciting moments please stay tuned for updates, photos, and videos.

The World is Watching

2011-06-13T02:01:00.002Z

Three days ago an article came out in the Guardian that lit a fuse under the international media's bum. The news that Iceland is re-writing their constitution is now officially in the eyes of the global community!! It came about in an non-traditional way. Instead of big media telling the people what's newsworthy, social networking turned the mainstream media onto the importance of Iceland re-writing their constitution.

This is a historic event and ironically not nearly represented in the Icelandic media as much as one might imagine. I was told that this is because one of the major publications in Iceland ( Morgunbladid) has an editor that is also the former prime minister and central bank governor Davíd Oddsson. There was a joint statement submitted by the journalists association of Denmark, Sweden, and Finland addressing their concern stating " Iceland's media must have the professional ability to cover the collapse of the Icelandic economy and have complete freedom of expression." Oddsson is one of the main individuals under investigation for the Icelandic economic collapse. Iceland's constitutional assembly is the antithesis to the small crew that was running the country before. The new constitutional process focuses on transparency and accessibility to all citizens. That certainly is not in the interest of the small few that ran Iceland's finances into the ground in 2008. So this directly ties into how much attention the constitutional assembly receives. The media holds so much power and if there is no press given to the Constitution then the constitution actually disappears in the eyes of the public. But my dear friends this is where things take an incredible turn. Knowing that they couldn't rely on mainstream media to relay the necessary information to the country, the assembly went viral.

This is the first time we are seeing a constitution being drafted on the internet. Yes, there is a lot more to it than just facebook feedback BUT it's also a major component to what goes into this document. And it's changing how democratic discussions occur.

On the constitutional assembly's facebook page there have been hoards of supportive comments from around the world. Here are just a few of the comments people have posted over the past three days;

"I ordered your flag to fly at my home in the US. "- Chris (USA)

Cheers from Finland!- Susannah

"You are like a lighthouse beaming hope across the world. Congratulations, you got it right!" - Eddie (Egypt)

"be proud of your participative democracy, icelanders!"- Pierre (Makati)

"What a genius and bold move Iceland. I doth my cap. Digital democracy - amazing".- Nick (United Kingdom)

"You guys started something very important there. I'm excited to follow its evolution. I really think societies and governments (its funny to mention them separately, shouldn't be, and it is one of the points you are changing for better) in any country can't keep the same after this. In fact, more than congratulations i should say "thanks"."- Michele (Mexico)

It actually breaks my heart a bit to see how many Americans posted on the FB page. This is exactly why I am making this film. We feel so separated from our government but you can hear in these posts that we are ready to participate in democracy we are just looking for the venue. I think like many of the Icelanders I spoke to, Americans (and it sounds like a lot of other nations) feel depleted by political corruption. I grew up in a political household (my father is a politician) and watching my dad try to work within a system that has so many irrefutable flaws, made me feel like we was swimming up stream. But nothing good can come from concentrating on what is NOT working. I think what we can learn from all of this is that by creating new systems and addressing what IS working we can start to see the kinds of positive change that makes Iceland's situation so remarkable. In this constitutional reform we see innovation, transparency, and the determination to see the needs/wants of a nation heard. I know we as individual nations and a global community can arrive here as well. If it must come from an example, here we have it; an example of democracy and change created away from "the powers that be". With certainty I see that we can use this as an opportunity to transform our own systems.

Here is the last photo I took in Iceland. As you see this is a normal lamp post, traditional in structure and straight forward in its purpose.

Now here is the same structure but altered to be something new and innovative. Its functionality remains the same but it's design helps us see things can be altered and still be effective.

I think it's pretty symbolic that this was one of the last things I saw before I left the country.

If you haven't seen the buzz, here are just a few of the news sources that have caught wind of the Icelandic Constitutional Reform in the past few days.

ABC
The Guardian
USA Today
Time Magazine
CNN

More soon...

What do you do when there is a Volcanic Eruption?

2011-05-23T23:58:00.000Z

What do you do when there is a Volcanic Eruption?

The talented Toronto musician Ronley Teper came to visit me here in Reykjavik as well as playing two magical shows, she helped me in the various one-man production adventures throughout the city and beyond. As Ronley was about to hop on a plane back to the land of Canada, we learned that there had been a Volcanic Eruption in Grímsvötn in the Vatnajökull Glacier. This is not near the volcano that made international headlines last year (Eyjafjallajökull)

So what do you do when your plans of planes have been put on hold?

ROAD-TRIP

We have two wonderful friends (Anna and Gunnie) here we consider family and they come in at the most unexpected moments to show us nooks and crannies that the tourism books keep secret.

Anna called to say instead of the airport we are going to see beautiful things and drink lots of coffee.

We all piled into the car and experienced what it's like to take a day trip on a lovely lazy Sunday in Iceland (as a volcano is erupting).

We muscled through the fierce cold winds that threatened to push us off cliffs into the deep pretty blue sea.

Bright blue and orange splotches randomly stain the dirt and the air smells like eggs (sulfur).

We crossed a bridge amongst steaming beds of earth, a warm haze covers you and nothing is visible. Once on the other end you find yourself sopping wet and cold.

There is one area where the hot water is funneled into the very cold ocean, causing a mass amount of steam and fun sounds.

Have you ever heard of harðfiskur? It's a very popular fish that Iceland exports and is often eaten as a healthy snack. This fish has been imperative in the Icelandic fishing industry, so much so that they made a museum for the little buggers!

Nearly everyone has someone in their family a generation ago that was involved in the fishing industry. It's much like where I am from (Central New York) with farming, everyone was involved (within my grandparents generation) in the process somehow, it was a major industry for our area.

I asked Anna if having husbands out to sea so often was a major stress for the wives and she quickly said it was and that even her great grandfather was killed at sea, leaving her grandmother with seven children.

This wasn't a mans job, the entire process was greatly reliant on every one's hands.

You can see the fish drying structures like this near many of the shores.

So this is what happens in disaster... we go on. And it will be much like the days before, maybe even

What if I never see this pile of bright green moss again?

What if you never see this pile of bright green moss... ever?

Today is day two of the Volcanic Eruption and it's made its way to Reykjavik. The warnings say do not go outside because the airs pollution is 4x the legal limit. I ran to the grocery store near by and my eyes are itchy and my skin feels like I have rolled around in Pink Panther insulation.
Tonight is one of the darkest nights I have seen here since the trip began. The ash has reached the city and the wind is violently blowing it all over. A mountain that I can always see from my window is absent from our view and three tones of dusty clouds are over the water.
Here is a video of the Eruption happening now.

Eurovision

2011-05-20T11:27:00.001Z

Last week there was an event that passed North Americans without a peep. This event however was epic to European countries. It is called EUROVISION
Eurovision is an annual song contest open to members of the European Broadcast Union. The event is often viewed in a party setting (much like the superbowl). A number of people in Iceland have said to me "You are going to watch Eurovision, right? You must it's a tradition here." Nearly all follow up that with "but you know we think it's cheesy? It's just fun".

So we went to the new massive music center HARPA and watched Eurovision with over a hundred Icelanders. The costumes were glitzy and the songs were pop but somehow I still felt the need to articulate my opinion on each performance. Why should I care? I don't know... but I did. During the tally I was scoffing and clapping right along with everyone else.
The contestants for Iceland had a compelling story that made me really hope that they would win. The man who wrote the song died right after submitting it to Eurovision. His friends then got together to perform it. Although there wasn't a big light show, fancy graphics, or women on unicycles it was sweet and I wanted them to feel validated in lue of their friends absence.
Azerbaijan won. It was a jarring surprise seeing that this was the first time I had even heard of this country. It's surrounded by Iran, Georgia, Armenia, and Russia and has a population of 8,781,100, this is what Google told me.

The tradition of Eurovision is that the country that wins, hosts the event the following year. So next year I bet thousands will be following suit and asking "Dear Mr. Google what/where is Azerbaijan?"

My first constitution

2011-05-19T18:37:00.001Z

I experienced my very first Constitutional Meeting today~

Maybe you are wondering to yourself "What is it like to go to a constitutional assembly?"

It all starts in an conservative looking building on the outskirts of the city center. I sat there and waited in a room filled with chocolate candies and cookies. I came to the happy conclusion that it's vital to have treats when taking on such important business. An older man dressed in full professional attire bolted into the room with great focus. He walked past one candy dish and then stopped and ran back snatched a handful of candies and ran into the meeting.

The room is kept FREEZING. Is this to keep the elects from getting too cozy and dozing off?

Are the windows open to reinforce that this council is representing the people outside these walls?

I had the lucky seat of sitting directly behind the council members. Even though the backs of heads are normally uninteresting, it is interesting to see what people are doing on their computers. Many are on Facebook and the rest are keeping notes on the meeting.

I was able to see for the first time in person all of these wonderful people I have been in communication with since the election. In my own way it was like seeing celebrities.

The intention of the assembly meetings on Thursdays is to allow each committee to come together and discuss as a group the issues at hand. When I asked a few individuals how everyone is getting along they said "swimmingly, there are no major issues on the table yet to decide on but when there is... that's when the gloves may come off. But it's been an incredible experience because even if we don't always agree we are coming from such different places that it feels like it's genuinely representing the Icelanders across the board.

The entire meeting is open to the public but also broadcasted online. How's that for transparency?!
It's all in Icelandic but it's still interesting to see. Go ahead take a peak CONSTITUTIONAL ASSEMBLY MEETING If you would like to know what is happening you can see the Icelandic transcript below and send it through an online translation, I use this one ONLINE TRANSLATOR

Part of what they are trying to accomplish with this re-write is to come to conclusions on issues that the parliament has not been able to reach.
I met a woman whom has been working day and night with a highly skilled team in preparing the elects for the re-write. She has been collecting the necessary materials so that the assembly can brief themselves on the issues, arming their brains with data, studies, and a cohesive history so that a proper analysis can be made. This is a bit like cramming for the exam of a lifetime.

This was also the first time I entertained the idea that there was an entire fleet of people behind the "curtain" when it came to preparing for the constitution.

At the end of the meetings they close out the session in song.

Harpa, pumpkin bread, and the blue everything

2011-05-14T02:16:00.000Z

This film is not about making a point as much as it is having a conversation. I have been having unique rich discussions with people I have met, internally considering things I have experienced first hand, and the stories I have listen to second hand. This conversation has been going on now for three years. What will be left on the cutting room floor? How many films could be made from all of this information? This is what is spinning in my head more often than not. I can say I feel full here; my head, my heart, and the inspiration tank is topped up and running at its optimum.

What does it look like when the sun never really sets- it's 10 pm and my room and the hallway has filled with a red and pink light and everything else is blue...blue water, blue clouds, blue mountains.

A wonderful friend here told me she still wears a sleeping mask to bed because it's so bright even at midnight.

A good friend (Anna Torfadottir)
that I have made here is a visual artist in Iceland and took us to her studio today. It's an old dairy barn converted into artist studios called Korpúlfsstaðir. In this building there is a gallery where the hay mow used to be. The show currently up was under the theme "Aggressive text", which meant that the piece could be very tranquil but needs to have this aggressive text somewhere within it. Anna (the friend that took us here) showed us one of her works that was this lovely vertical piece with flowers, gentle colors, and if you didn't know Icelandic it would seem like it was something really sweet. They translated it for me and it pretty much was about a women saying to a man, you are a pig and you will not place your dirty hands on me, you can put them on your own privates because that is the only place you have a right to put them.
I liked this contrast.

We all then went to Anna's house and had a really great American style dinner with pizza and soda. Tonight this feels like home, not just because of its similarity to the back in the states cuisine but there was something more. I realized it when she brought out the pumpkin bread which was just like a spice cake my grandma makes back in New York. Anna said it was made just for us. Sometimes life has a really intense way of kissing you and punching you at the same time, letting you know you are exactly where you are suppose to be at that moment.
We watched the opening ceremony for Iceland's new massive concert center (HARPA). When we passed it today there were protesters outside. The center has been under a bit of scrutiny. Why you may ask? Harpa was only partially built when the collapse hit in 2008. It seemed to some like a spit in the face to continue with this grandiose structure after the economy had tanked and with cuts to medical facilities, artists funding, and fact that so many lost their entire savings overnight the idea of Harpa continuing seemed to some... patronizing.

I am going to go to some of the awesome free concerts tomorrow and will report back on the experience.
Goodnight pumpkin bread loving friends.

Windy Bright Nights

2011-05-08T17:17:00.001Z

The wind is strong today. I saw a woman attempting to stroll along the ocean side with her dress flying up and giving the gulls a peep show.

A friend of mine in Iceland said that he only knows one person who is in danger of losing his home. And while talking about it his friend realized that if he took out nearly 100% loans for everything in his home then essentially he was... renting. And that somehow eases the panes of losing control over belongings. I thought that was such a neat realization to come to.

There is an area out near the lighthouse where you can see these wooden triangular structures from really far away. They were used to dry fish. I have seen a lot of useful antiquitous contraptions near the sea side here. This particular area however comes with strong warnings. This is the season the neighborhood birds start laying there eggs and they get mighty defensive of their chosen area. There are few things that are as scary as angry birds, just to name a few:
1) Raccoons
2) Cucumbers
3) Cars
I will not be visiting during this time as to allow these birds enough time to prep their spawn.

I've had the darndest time trying to sleep here. You know that feeling you get when the days get longer and all of a sudden it's 8pm and still really light out? Those are the nights you feel like time is on your side and fun is on the horizon. So imagine it not actually getting any darker than the picture below. That picture is taken at midnight. I had my legs in a tiny hot spring right amongst the rocks looking out at the ocean and it's not a situation I could have planned but I was small in comparison to it's serenity.

In a place far far away there is coffee

2011-05-05T02:46:00.000Z

It's day one and Reykjavik is pumped full of sunshine and clean ocean smells.
I fumbled my jet lagged self into a cafe just shutting down for the day and I must have looked like a mess because the barrista said "ok, just one more". I then hobbled over to a friends house whom I always get lost trying to find but this one just this one time I found it!
So today you have been dream like.
I am staying near the ocean and at night there is this really thin road that cars race up and down for hours. When I was little we could hear the racetrack from two towns away, that's how silent the country is. This makes me feel safe.

Yesterday was bright and warm and today is rainy and chilly. I'm sure as anyone living in the Northern part of North America knows, we don't count on the weather being anything but unpredictable. So Iceland's weather makes sense to me. Then I came across this on my walk today and thought it was pretty spot on!

I went to pet a fluffy awesome cat today on the sidewalk JUST to see if anything had changed... NOPE!
Cats are still mean as snakes here.
Click for backstory

Next week is when the real "meat and potatoes" begins (i.e. interviews, meetings, gatherings etc.)
And so this week I am going to slowly move into focus and be really greatful I am finally ready... ready to finish this film.

Canadian politics inspired by an Icelandic Comedian

2011-05-02T01:46:00.000Z

Tonight we went to a screening of the Icelandic documentary Gnarr. The film is the true story of one of Iceland's most popular comedians becoming the mayor of Reykjavik. Screening this film in Toronto couldn't have been timed better. I leave for Iceland tomorrow to document the re-writing of the Icelandic constitution AND tomorrow is a very important election day in Canada.

I have been hearing so much hope in the air about this federal election! I can only keep all my toes, eyes, fingers, and.... well anything else I can find crossed that you too will experience the surge of excitement that so many of us felt when we got Obama. And that citizens of Reykjavik felt with Gnarr.

The theme of the film Gnarr was that absolutely ANYTHING can happen if you get enough people behind it. One woman in the audience asked during the Q+A "Is this real, did this really happen?" There was a this really neat laughter that came over the crowd as sort of a comradery that we would love to see that happen in Canada. One person said "wow, I am moving to Iceland". But I feel we can't just leave our countries because we are in troubled times, we all live in countries right now where amazing change is possible.
As outlandish as electing a comedian politician sounds it actually was proof that the voters do have a say in the decisions being made. And as said in the film there are some very difficult issues on the horizon but if we can find a way to laugh and find joy while working through them then life won't feel unbearable.
I will make this short, as I have not packed yet. I hope for you tomorrow Canada that you don't feel defeated before you even reach the polls. Please use your voice and the power of your vote to say something about where you want your country to go. There are some scary issues on the table right now socially, economically, and environmentally and Canada you stand as a global example.
Be loud tomorrow!

Saving Ice

2011-04-21T22:08:00.001Z

I had a very unique experience on April 9th. I was invited to Thorrablot hosted by the Icelandic Canadian Club of Toronto. Thorrablot (Þorrablót) is a midwinter feast (Þorrablót's are common events among Icelanders everywhere and can be anything from an informal dinner with friends and family to large organized events with stage performances and an after-dinner dance)

An important vote happened in Iceland this very same night.
Imagine sitting in a room celebrating Icelandic traditions and at that very moment the future of Iceland's economic landscape is being voted on.

This is a major issue that Iceland has been dealing with since the crisis (October 2008) that I have yet to talk/blog about. Mainly this issue is just so complicated and evolving that I didn't want to make interested readers more confused.

* I am going to give you a rapid run-down of what happened but please know there are volumes of details involved in this that I am leaving out for the sake of being brief. I will provide links at the bottom of this page for those that would like to get deeper.

What were they voting on? What are the possible outcomes of the vote? What was the outcome?

The first term to understand when trying to grasp what is happening in Iceland is "ICESAVE".
Icesave was an online savings account brand owned and operated by the private Icelandic bank, Landsbanki. It operated in two countries – the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

Because of the financial collapse in October 2008 (the "kreppa") there is a huge sum of money owed to these countries and they want it back (or at least the guarantee that it is going to be paid back). The Dutch and British governments paid their citizens losses from the Icesave failure voluntarily. So the debt is not owed to the individual citizens effected by collapse but rather their governments.

This has been an issue on the table since the collapse.

What were they voting on?
On April 9th Iceland had their final opportunity to decide if they would accept the Icesave agreement (that they would accept full responsibility for the money lost to these countries).
It was as black and white as Yes or No.

What are the possible outcomes of the vote?
To vote YES means:
a) Iceland will be paying this back for what could be many generations ($5.6 billion)(12,000 euros per citizen).
b) All Icelanders (in Iceland) will shoulder the burden/blame of a corrupt faulty banking system which benefited a small few.
c) Taking on this financial commitment can mean cut backs to all public sectors (i.e. education, arts, health care).

To vote NO means:
a) Pissing off the United Kingdom and the Netherlands simultaneously.
b) Possibly jeopardising any chances of joining the European Union
c) Iceland will be sued by the UK and Netherlands in the European Free Trade Association Court (this could take several years).

What was the outcome?
177,559 people used their opportunity to vote out of a total of nearly 230,000
60% voted NO
40% voted YES

By voting NO, Iceland has made (unintentionally or not) a global statement. Since then, large main stream media has been talking about Iceland non-stop. Politics aside this is an incredibly bold stance for Iceland to take, gaining international attention.
"The European Union and the International Monetary Fund — their bailouts of Greece and Ireland were designed to make creditors whole — should learn from Iceland’s example. As they negotiate a rescue for Portugal, they should realize that taxpayers cannot bear the entire cost of the banks’ misdeeds."- New York Times

Links to articles directly addressing the recent vote.
Wall Street Journal
Bloomberg
BBC Video (Iceland's Finance Minister talks about results)
The Economist

LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION

ICELAND REVIEW (Icelandic publication in English)
GRAPEVINE (Icelandic publication in English)
BBC (British publication in English)
Rabble (Canadian publication in English)
The Economist
Guardian

Kicking our Butts to Iceland

2011-04-11T19:17:00.000Z

We are going back to Iceland for all of May! As we mentioned in the last post, Iceland has officially decided to keep the constitutional assembly and now call it the "constitutional council". We are going to document the re-writing of the Icelandic constitution. These are very exciting changing times and I cannot wait to share what we find (or what finds us).
I was asked why we haven't gone the route of large scale sponsors this is how we responded:
Part of why we are doing this in such a direct way is to embrace how a community of people can make the unimaginable happen. So far the entire process (3yrs of research and filming) has been supported and strengthened by a network of people who wanted to see a vision come to fruition. Wouldn't it be amazing if we were able to make this film that is about community and the power of alternative thinking through those same methods?

New music and the decision for a new Constitution

2011-03-04T23:08:00.003Z

It has been decided that the constitutional re-write will happen!
If you haven't heard of what's happened in the past three months in Iceland here is a good way to catch up
(CLICK ME FOR BACKSTORY)

So now instead of the 25 authors of the new constitution will be referred to as the "council" rather than the "assembly". And that seems to be the only change.

The council will submit their draft to Althingi (The Icelandic Parliament) in June of this year.
The same 25 that were originally elected in November will be writing in the upcoming months, that is if they still want to participate.
Wilma's Wish is in touch with a number of the elected officials and we will be posting updates on this very exciting process as it happens.

That is great news .

If you are searching around for new music, I have even more good news for you...

Sin Fang has released his newest album and you can sample it HERE.

Sin Fang is the solo project from the lead singer of Seabear an also very popular Icelandic band.

The New Constitution

2011-02-03T06:47:00.010Z

There has been a considerable amount of turmoil in Iceland as of late.
I went to bed with sweet dreams of re-invented democracy and new constitutions in my head and awoke to an entirely new horizon.

Many people I speak to here in Toronto are immediately engaged with what is happening in Iceland. This is particularly true when we talk about the new constitution. I've been trying to think of how to break this down as simply as possible.

The Decision

A decision was made post-crisis to re-write the Icelandic Constitution by using a direct personal election. Now it is argued that the constitution is not directly related to the economic collapse. Although many also see it as a beacon of hope and change for Iceland's future. Which if looked in that way, can be directly connected to actions being taken to ensure a crisis like the one in 2008 will not happen again. " The flaws in the government flow from the Constitution upon which it is based"- Bjarni Brynjolfsson.
(History Note: The current constitution was actually written by Denmark and used even after Iceland gained its independence)
To begin this process an event referred to as the "National Gathering" took place, 1,000 citizens were chosen at random to compile a document that will be used as a reference in writing the new constitution. The assembly drafted an outline to be submitted to the elected authors of the upcoming shiny new constitution, crafting an image of the future of Iceland, according to it's people.

The Candidates

Lawyers, students, farmers, journalists, and teachers ran for a position on the constitutional assembly (Members of Parliament are not allowed to run). 526 candidates and only 25 seats open. I was in Iceland during this period of time. We were lucky enough to attend one of the meetings intended to coach those interested through the campaigning process and offer advice to the candidates running on how to properly represent yourself to the public. One of the organizers Thorglis said "It's a tricky thing to teach people how to be politicians overnight". At this event dozens took the microphone, giving short speeches addressing their interest in the constitution and a bit on their own personal background. The event was filmed and made available to anyone that wasn't living in Reykjavik and wanted to hear the various candidates platforms.
There was a cap put on how much could be spent per campaign, that number still worked out to much more money than the average citizen's budget allowed. Because of this, social networks such as Facebook became paramount in campaigning.

The Election

The election was held on November 27, 2010. Each candidate had a number assigned to them, because there were so many in the running, voters needed to have a "rough draft" of the numbers associated with the candidates they wanted to vote for.

The Results

The results were impressively fairly balanced between men and women. The line-up of the chosen candidates covers all sorts of backgrounds (i.e. physician, filmmaker, lawyer, student, radio personality, farmer)
Things were about to get started, the process was to begin in February of 2011 and estimated to take between 2-4 months.
The elected 25 would spend this time in Reykjavik with the heavy duty of re-writing their nations constitution.

The Back-Lash

Then 3 lawsuits were handed into the courts. The claimants stated that the electoral process was not up to the standards needed to ensure fairness and voter confidentiality. (It may be worth mentioning that one of the claimants was an individual that ran in the election but did not win)
Why you may ask?

Here are the main issues the plaintiffs had with the election:
1) Due to the ballots being hand-written, a number of ballots were illegible and therefore not counted.
2) The box in which the ballots were placed did not have a lock and the forms were not folded, therefore exposing the voters choices.
3) The order in which each person voted, depended on when they showed up, therefore it was suggested in the law suite that one could trace back a voters ballot.

The Verdict

On January 25th the Supreme Court ruled the November 2010 constitutional election illegal due to its deficiencies in execution.
Did your heart just sink too?

The Prime Minster Jóhanna Si gurðardóttir said that "The Constitutional Assembly was the nation’s tool to forge a new constitution and we cannot take the assembly away from the nation,”

A Constitutional Assembly can be a badly needed champion for the people. "margt smatt gerir eitt stort" ("many small things make one large thing")- Eyglo Svala Arnarsdottir. "It can eliminate the effect of money from the political process and let political parties fulfill their proper role of advocating ideologies. It can look beyond the clamour of those who proclaim the benefits of divisive, confrontational party politics and recommend a process that puts public interest above private interest." Fred Gohlke, Carteret, NJ, USA

I am considering the recent protest in Egypt, where its people gathered courage from watching Tunisia dramatically change their own political landscape. With smaller nations such as Iceland and Tunisia ushering in proof that we can change our situations and and are never powerless, I see that we stand a real chance at change within our own difficulties. I am not going to see this as a defeat for Iceland but rather a chance to re-claim how much they really want the constitutional reform. I look forward to reporting back to you when the assembly reconvenes.

Chances are, it's better with you

2010-12-22T05:09:00.001Z

With the amazing online tool Kickstarter, Wilma's Wish Productions was able to launch a platform to fuindraise for our second film shoot in Iceland. The best thing that could have happened for our little project born out of a insatiable love for Iceland and it's creativity. Just in time for the holidays, we would like to thank our patrons. Each individual pushed the wave of our filmmaking tide. These cultural contributors who donated to our film,

Karen Helena Wallington
Gail Einarson-McCleery
Amy Jerrett
Chris Gostling

Lori Grace

Michael Evans

James Lovich

Jamie Sanchez
Chelsea Muth

Brett Brownell

Lynne Thorkelsson

Carol Westdal

Heather
Ronley Teper

Joseph Seliga
Kathleen MacKey
Kathleen Chung
Fin Hirschoff
Anna G. Torfadottir
Catherine Raphael
Ernie Sears
Heidi Williams
Ilona Biro
Paul Robinson
Douglas Dankel
Ann Ten Cate
RY10
Kieth Collins
Adam Brown
Donna and Ted Jerrett

thank you.

Icelandic Art

2010-11-19T05:09:00.002Z

(image from Rice Boy Sleeps)

In the beginning I was pulled to iceland due to this intense flood of incredible art coming straight from the island. In every medium there seems to be an oozing of good coming out. Since being in the country I have asked countless creatives why they think this is and the most common answer was "I don't think this is any different than any other country". I know that seems to take a bit of the magic away but wait right there. How often have you made something and not given it a second thought whether it be a doodle on a notebook, apple pie, the way you set up a spread sheet and received some unexpected praise? I think it's a lot to ask of someone to be the creator and theorist. Why do we do what we do? Does it matter?
As a gift to Bria (the producer) a couple of winters ago I bought her a handmade book by artist(s) Jonsi (from band: Sigur Ros and solo project Jonsi) and Alex (from band: Parachutes) whom work under the heading of "Rice Boy Sleeps". This is a very romantic multi-media project that combines antiquitious images and atmospheric music. You can't imagine my happy surprise to find this one Tuesday as I am rushing get to an interview with musician Svavar Knútur, I see an entire gallery filled with the original works from the book! Here is a video of that experience.

There is so much more to discover! Please let yourself be as excited as I am over this!
Here are a few links of artists in different mediums I have been blessed to come across. I will update as they find me. Please feel free to add to the list. It's fun to see + hear the beautiful ways others are interpreting this world.

Click on name for website:
1) Anna G. Torfadottir
    (printmaker)
2) SeaBear
(band)
3) Lilja Birgir
(photographer)
4) Ingunn Fjóla Ingþórsdóttir
    (installation artist)
5) The Weird Girls Project + Olafur Arnalds
(video artist collective) (musician)
6) Andri Snær Magnason
(writer)
7) Þórunn Hafstað
    (filmmaker)

There are so many more. I will let you and your interest lead you down those paths.

Re-writing a Constitution

2010-11-08T16:16:00.001Z

Did you know Iceland is re-writing their constitution? It's actually incredible. On November 27th Iceland will hold elections for candidates interested in being the authors of the new constitution. The election process is interesting in itself; current politicians are not allowed to run and to discourage special interest groups from using heaps of money to campaign, many candidates are running on the platform: "commercials are lame but Facebook and other social media forums are cool". There are 532 running but only 31 seats.
We went to one of the meetings where 50 of the 532 canidates were given a chance to state their background and platform (this is one in a series of these meetings. IF they tried giving all candidates a chance to speak in one sitting it would've taken a full 48 hours to get through all 532 presenters). The entire event was in Icelandic (as it should be) but we had a good friend giving us periodic translated "cliff notes".
People came from varying occupations, ages, and areas in the country, all interested in seeing a change for their country.

The writing process will take in between 2-4 months and then the draft will be handed over to parliament.
It's actually shocking how little international press there is on the re-writing of the constitution. I feel this is one of those incredible historic events that happens rarely in ones lifetime. Don't you?
When was the last time YOU were around for the re-writing of a constitution? And better yet this is being written by the people. I am eagerly awaiting. What does that look like? If given the chance what would we state as the fundamental principles of our nation? I will keep reporting on this and the various stages the constitution must go through before it's declaration. .

Here is a short video of the meeting we attended.

CLICK ME FOR VIDEO

Until next time please have a happy Monday and know cool things are happening

Night Walks

2010-10-29T23:32:00.000Z

This night I took a walk. A long walk...

It's so chilly. I wrapped myself up just like you do when you are 6 yrs old and ready to embark on a snowy backyard adventure. I feel free enough here to explore without looking like a weirdo. Another thing that feels really good is no one has "cat called" at me. You know when you are

walking down the street happy in your own thoughts and then someone yells out "yeahhhhh baby" ?

It seems funny to repeat but each time I feel it chips away at you.

I have grown so fond of not tensing up as I pass a group of people outside a bar here in Iceland. I know when I get back to Canada things will return to the same way they were. For now, I greatly appreciate the distance and respect.

I climbed high over piles of half built structures and stony sea sides all night.

I am thinking about how much I miss my family and friends. Maybe I should be spending more time with them.

During an interview tonight the very interesting musician I was speaking to said that there is a school of thought that suggests that there is never a totally original idea. That all ideas are just things in the air that visit some people and not others. This explains why someone from one end of the earth could come up with a eerily similar melody as someone from a totally different region.

The same thing goes for paintings, poems, choreography, and anything you could create.

This frees us to not clench our ideas with an iron fist. Because it was never ours to own.

What do you think?

I can tell you that there are cats all over the streets here. Not the sad farrow cats that need you to scoop them up and just give them some sardines and a warm window cil to sit in. NO!
These cats seem like the guardians of the streets, predatorally following me through the alley ways, ducking behind statues and stair cases once spotted. They are well fed, fluffy, sprightly and want absolutely nothing to do with me petting them. I even tried the "kiss kiss" sound, averting from my old bird like sound. This hasn't helped lately. These furry balls of avoidance are breaking my heart daily. Thanks for nothing cats of Iceland.

Oh the Lights

2010-10-28T19:15:00.005Z

Word on the street; there is a crazy light show in the sky but it can end at any moment.

Quickly, move!

1) Boots: on

2) Camera: charged

3) Wicked excited face: ready

. Click Me For Video

I sat on a rock on the edge of the sea and saw all of this over me.

I heard myself yelling things like "WOW!!" and "No Way!!!

I would like to tell you that I thought and said something more profound but to be honest it was just beyond summations. I made this video to share a bit of the Wow's.

Goodnight.

Airwaves on the Quietest of Days

2010-10-20T16:25:00.001Z

On the quietest of days I am curled up in a warm cafe, picture windows make the whole rainy city a dry lovely moving picture. People walk in, they don't know me, I don't know them, it's sad and nice married. I start to reflect and try to channel a hemmingway frame of mind. And as I put the pen (<<<< Amiina)to paper to write my first analogy, I dip my entire necklace in my Americano- tipping it over and soiling my rainy day in a cafe dress. Grace has left me today. And I shut my journal.

There are two kinds of events going on at the Airwaves Festival (music).
1) Large bands from all over the globe (many Icelandic) at a variety of venues. The festival is sold-out so it's a crowded pushing fiesta (normal show).
2) Off-venue shows: which are fantastic! Many of the bands from the main line-up played free acoustic shows sprawling from a small cafe to a youth hostel. This gave me the chance to see these artists I have loved for years, close + personal, just the way I wish all shows could be.

Imagine having your dream playlist. These are the songs make you sing along the hardest, the muse to your strongest ideas, and your escape when you're about to burst from the "real world. Now imagine two of those songs are sung inches from you in person. This is what happened to me this week:
These are the original versions that I used to play over-and-over:
1) Lay Low- By and By
2) Svavar Knutur- Emotional Anorexic

And here is the video that I was able to take of those same songs just this last week!!

CLICK ME!!

Below I am going to take you through what I saw and felt during this high impact few days. Grab any of these band names and look them up, you may have a new favorite (I would be willing to bet on it)

(Hjaltalin)

(Olafur Arnalds)

(Seabear)

(Lay Low)

(Lockerbie)

(Hafdis Huld)

(Ljosvaki)

(Blood group)

Music in Iceland Day One

2010-10-14T01:44:00.000Z

If you are part of the school of thought that all Icelandic music sounds like Bjork and Sigur Ros *
you would be an upset panda to know, they are a rarity... even in Iceland. I guess this stereotype is also a sore spot for some Icelanders. Tourists often come and seem disappointed by the lack of bjorkyness in the air. But please don't let that ruin it for you because there are actually many bands in Iceland that will make you laugh, boogie, sway, and tear up. This band for example (shot today at one of the concerts)

This week I am lucky enough to be around for the Iceland Airwaves and with a media pass.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

What does this mean? It means that I will be able to report directly from dozens of shows featuring Icelandic musicians. These are happy times for me because this lass has spent many hours in Toronto watching Icelandic musicians playing on podcasts and thought "one day my eyes will really see this and my ears will really hear this"

I will have much more to report in the next couple days and you can delight with me in Icelandic tunes.

Speaking of pretty things to the ears. There is this sound that I have heard a lot since I have arrived. The sound is something Icelandic women often do when talking, they breath in and speak as well as breath out and speak. It's really gentle and quiet and I have most commonly heard the word já (which sounds like "yow"). A friend told me today that it is a bit of a faux pas to do but I find it very beautiful.

(Disclaimer: It is all up to taste, there are some bands I do not stand behind- if you find a bad Icelandic band do not come to me with angry pointing fingers).

And lastly, this morning I woke up to this at the kitchen window. It looks like a dragon.

*(if you don't know who they are click BJORK and/or SIGUR ROS)

Yoko's Imagine Peace Tower

2010-10-10T01:38:00.001Z

On John Lennon's 70th Birthday (October 9th, 2010) Yoko Ono turned on the lights to her memorial to Lennon called the "Imagine Peace Tower".

I didn't bring a camera for the lighting ... I know that may sound weird being a documentarian but I thought it was more respectful to just tell you what happened and not add light (flash) that would distract from the focal light (the memorial). The images on this post are borrowed for reference purposes. We will however be filming there in one week, so do not fret.

I however wanted to bring you with me on the experience so I kept notes on the back of a receipt as not to forget the many feelings/thoughts.

I preface this with: I am not a hard-hitting Lennon, Yoko, nor Beatles fan...sorry
BUT
It felt really amazing to be there.

The light installation is located on a tiny island off of the coast of Reykjavik called Viðey

Yoko paid for free ferry rides for everyone and the big ol tug boat started puttering us towards the rolling hills of Videy. As we are approaching I am trying to think of why Yoko chose here? In an interview she said "Thank you, Iceland and Icelanders for being what you are – a family of wisdom, showing the world how we can protect our Earth and its spirits."
I like this story too- Yoko told an audience once that Lennon used to smoke and she said to him "why would you put that ugly black smoke up into that beautiful blue sky" and then ...he quit smoking.

Can you imagine living your life for a partnership without your partner? This is what hit me tonight. Yoko is still doing the work that they both set out to do and it sank my heart. Maybe because I couldn't fathom the weight of such a loss or that I felt such admiration for her unbridled dedication. And to have this huge (car show times 20) light beam straight into the sky, seems to be the most symbolic way to speak to the heavens (with out trying to denote any religion) and say "I am doing our work".

I went alone. I thought maybe I could hear her message clearer if I wasn't filling the air with mindless chatter. You know all those times we think of questions to ask just to say "something"?
I kept thinking of a quote I read of hers while I was sitting quietly in the tall grass:
"May all of us heal ourselves and learn to love each other in peace."

All sorts of people came. I could hear at least five different languages. Munchkins ran around and fearlessly threw themselves at the ground falling flawlessly into somersaults. There was no pushing or crowding. Some brought sandwiches and some just laid flat back and stared at the sky.
The island was exactly how you would want it to feel to sit with nature. Each footstep sounded like you were walking on a wooden box and the long grass bowed in a wave every time the sea shifted. I loved it so much. I haven't been this quiet with my mind... maybe ever.

The first beam of light shot up in the air with no warning and it was awesome. It was a soft light so you didn't have to squint. The second, then the third, fourth, each one was followed by "ohhhs" and "ahhs". All of the light beams together formed one unified beam at the top that pierced through any possible cloud.

When we were standing in line for the ferry to leave I wondered if people would push and bully their way to the front, totally ignoring the premise of "peace". And to my delight, no one did. Then from the back I can feel someone forcing through and low and behold it's a camera man

... shame on you media man.

I wanted to have a better understanding of their relationship and Lennon's life after this and so I found this short documentary on the life of Lennon. (link)

Goodnight lovely eyes.

A day off from Words

2010-10-08T02:55:00.000Z

Today is a day with out words. We don't need them... not today.

Iceland on top of a Mountain

2010-10-05T22:42:00.000Z

I have had the most vivid dreams since I landed here...
Walking around the city and sitting in conference rooms hasn't helped me connect why.
This day did though:

One car-Pancake snacks (literally folded up pancakes)- and non-stop jaw dropping scenery.
Please let me preface this section with this: I do not like hype or talking about what's just popular. Now we all know that Iceland is beautiful and have heard of it's unique landscapes. Maybe I am becoming a bit jaded from hanging out with people that are used to these views. But this was more... this was more than postcards, this was more than advertisments, and this was more than I could've expected. So get a cup of coffee and put on some pretty music. May I suggest this SONG (one of the musicians from the conference)

The horses were still like statues.

This has not been toyed with, these are the actual colors made my nature.

I only took this because I feel it makes a funny statement. If each family member is represented by a wooden figure, I see the dad as being a bit lower on the totem pole.

These crazy critters are everywhere and even though you want to run up and hug them, keep in mind that when I opened the car door to do so they started running at me. I don't think it was because they wanted to be embraced.

This is a story about a poet who made a deal with the devil that he could win in a poetical dual. The devil lost and therefore had to leap off the cliff. This is the cliff.

The white center on this map is said to be a hub for aliens to meet up. Right in front of that is the place where the devil jumped off the cliff. I think this is a bad place to build a house.

You are a part of this now too... just by reading. I hope you continue to join me in this journey.

More to come...

Protests at the Parliament

2010-10-05T00:22:00.000Z

This is a video I took from the protest. This will be a good intro into what many Icelanders went through tonight.

Did you know there were protests outside Iceland's parliament today? I write this and wonder how much happens globally that is so important to the people going through it and can go completely unknown to the rest of the world.

So here is the low-down. From the beginning

1) Icelandic bank(s) collapsed in 2008 (this became known as the kreppa) the nations currency (krona) becomes a small fraction of what it was before. Many many Icelanders took out these "special" loans to pay for their homes and cars(these loans much like in the USA were being offered to EVERYONE). Iceland gets rid of old Prime Minister, Geir Haarde (who has played a big part in the collapse and is facing criminal charges (LINK)} and puts in new PM Johanna Sigurdardottir. This up-heavel is called the "pots and pans revolution" where much like today crowds banged all that they had in their kitchens outside of the parliament, demanding a change in government and accountability for the collapse.

2) “I have full understanding that people who are suffering because of the crisis demonstrate their anger because there are many big unsolved problems as is clear by the forced auctions of people’s homes,” added Foreign Minister Össur Skarphédinsson. This quote sums up what's happening now pretty well. People are very scared because they are faced with losing their homes and many feel the government hasn't done anything to protect them.

It's very different reading about this vs. seeing it. To add to the whole feeling in the air, the wind is literally blowing like a monster. It's howling and rattling the windows, I wouldn't doubt if there was a connection somehow here. I will keep you posted as I learn more about this situation from the people who are experiencing it.

You are in Control Conference

2010-10-04T01:41:00.000Z

I am here!! This big boat is my neighbor.... well there are houses too.

I have spent the last two days at an intense design/artist/thinker conference called "You are In Control". Some of our strongest innovative movers and shakers were speaking at this conference and I have to say what a cool way to kick off this adventure.

If you were wondering if you can be vegan in Iceland.... the answer is, YES~

It's good to be reminded that there are incredible/valuable actions being taken to help the things in this world that make us feel powerless. This particular talk was from Thomas Ermacora, I am not going to give you his bio because you can find that through this link but what I can say that I took out of this is the value of taking a chance on ideas but even more so, taking a chance on working with someone else on ideas. This means if you see a problem, it's taking the initiative to pick up the tools necessary and change it. Thomas is collaborating with Imogen Heap in a project much like the cool things happening here in Iceland. Check out this interview with Thomas

INTERVIEW CLICK ME

This conference mentioned over and over how Icelandic music stands apart and therefore needs to be given as much support and credit as the other major industries in Iceland. The type of music and art that has been coming out of Iceland in the past 8 years is exactly what drew me there. Throughout the conference the coffee and meal breaks were partnered with incredible new Icelandic music. I was in awe. I think you may be too. Check out this one band called Mammut.

VIDEO for MAMMUT

Do you know who this is? Oh it's only one of the most influential documentary filmmakers of our time. Remember the film Manufacturing Consent? Yes this (on the left) man left me with a million thoughts swirling around as he ran a multi-media poetry esc. presentation. If you have never seen Manufacturing Consent he has put the entire film online for all to see for free. It's not peppy but I find myself referencing it often.

MANUFACTURING CONSENT

Imogen Heap was one of the speakers as well. She presented the strategy she used while making her last album. *If you haven't heard of her Look here, maybe you have and just didn't know her name

LIVE IMOGEN HEAP VIDEO

By use of social media (Twitter) she was able to get the opinions of her fans in the very vulnerable points of creation. The fresh thoughts actually helped her blast out of her funk and produce a beautiful new body of work. And this is what I took away from this conference at large: we are not above each other we all just have different directions, tools, and eyes. By working with other's and their tools, we have a really good chance of getting out of economic, environmental, social catastrophes. And if I am wrong... well I am not, because it's happening as you put your pretty head on your pillow tonight.

I was able to get a interview with Imogen Heap but that my friend will be saved for the film.

More to come.

Day One

2010-09-30T21:23:00.000Z

Day one

I'm here!!!!!!!! (Just a little pause to scream that)
The flight was a smooth monkey. It felt like the fastest flight I have ever been on. Maybe that's because of how long it has taken to get here. We land and in my sleepy daze the airline starts playing one of my favorite Icelandic artists, Laylow. You can click on this link and listen along while you read the rest of the blog and then somehow we will be experiencing this together (in a multi-sensory way).
SONG

Meat and Potatoes; Landing
I felt like a secret agent. The directions were to go to the bus, take that for an hour through the lava fields, second pick up harry potter looking key from bus station counter with my name on it, third take a cab to location. I walked up through flights of stairs, each floor holding another cluster of artists studios. I am staying at the SIM artist residency located on the ocean. For those of you who don't know I started this project almost 3 years ago to focus on the type of art coming out of Iceland... serendipitous aka perfect.

I started to walk into the city center and noticed how each house I passed had walls chalked full of art. The houses are what you may imagine in a Nordic country. They are in tight rows in bright colors on bendy streets. Yes I may be a creepo gazing into the windows of unsuspecting Icelanders but I couldn't help it. I went to the one of 3 vegetarian places in town and had a happy plate of goodness. And THEN.... in comes one of my all time favorite Icelandic musicians singer of the band Hjaltalin
And she just sits down. And I stare. She looks up. I stop staring.
This is a magical place.

Tomorrow is the You Are in Control Conference. Imogen Heap will be performing an improve piece and a handful of our worlds most innovative thinkers will be there speaking on Iceland's role in the creative global community. I feel this is the turning point in the story, after this conference we will be coming into this with the vernacular and ideas that make entire nations change their course. I am excited so much so I could jump out of my skin.

Tomorrow we will have pictures and more fun. Stay tuned.

Jam-Jewelry-Jet Plane

2010-09-05T05:59:00.000Z

This is the last time we will be asking for community help for this film. We are about to head off in a couple weeks to finish filming "Blueberry Soup" and are in need of a bit of love. Over the past two years Wilma's Wish has been working their tail feathers off researching, planning, and giving into this labor of love. Kickstarter is a site started to help people with creative ideas reach their funding needs through community support. Just tonight Kickstarter chose our project as their #2 staff pick (out of thousands of projects)!! If you would like some beautiful Icelandic goodies to have as your own and also help us finish our project I ask you to please do so. Thank you and I am sending you a kiss from miles away!

~eileen

Link: http://kck.st/c8c5tl

October is the month of Smiles~!

2010-08-30T06:53:00.000Z

What have the Wilma's Wish chicks been up to for the past couple months? Well let me tell you- inspiration and madness!

We are going back to Iceland October 1st to begin the "meat and potatoes" of Blueberry Soup.

I will be living in a fascinating place. It's an artist residency where a number of Icelandic artists from different mediums live and create under the same roof. I will be sharing a studio and a home with these creatives and blogging about it the whole time.

We made a scary but exciting decision pertaining to the film a couple months ago: taking a large film crew isn't really our style and feels invasive, particularly when it comes to subject matter that is so personal to the people we are interviewing. So... I will be heading to Iceland alone for the first 2 weeks to explore, ask questions, and see where those questions lead us. I am so thrilled to follow this trail and from what we have seen so far I think you are going to be shocked by what is cooking in Iceland right now. Haven't you wondered how a community of people would get out of a crisis if left completely to their own devices? Well buddy, we are going to find out!

So what's in store?? An international music festival, a conference centered around "design thinking" for change, and so much beautiful art, landscapes, sheep yogurt.... did you pee a little right there too?

By week 3 our out of this world award winning cinematographer Steve Whitehead will be joining me and like a lit rocket we will be filming and unturning each and every stone (well.. most). Steve has this incredible way of putting things we may over look in everyday life into a frame that makes life feel like a very magical place to exist in. So to say the least, we are about to make something really lovely.

If you have itchy fingers in your deep awesome pockets and feel like helping, we have some cool Icelandic stuff to give you in return. This Wednesday we will be launching our funding campaign for the little we need to get to this part of our journey.

Join us on the voyage! Once in Iceland I will start posting every other day. I welcome your comments b/c we are like the film, stronger with a sense of community.

See you in Iceland!

Fab Lab !

2010-02-25T20:35:00.002Z

This is just another reason why innovative people rock my socks.

"Fab Lab"- It just sounds wonderful already, doesn't it?

Fab Lab Definition:

A Fab Lab (fabrication laboratory) is a small-scale workshop with the aim to make "Almost Anything".

While Fab Labs have yet to compete w/ mass production and its associated economies of scale in fabricating widely distributed products, they have already shown the potential to empower individuals to create smart devices for themselves. These devices can be tailored to local or personal needs in ways that are not practical or economical using mass production.

The projects they are working on at the Innovation Center range from social experiments to energy issues: Working on a local geothermal heat pump system, preparing instrumentation for scientific projects such as puffin colony measurements, building an interactive model of the part of the town that went under the lava flow, and assisting local individuals and companies with product development and so on.

So in short- This is yet another innovation center built to facilitate and nuture ideas that will help access the use of Iceland's geothermal energy, develops technology that will aid in the preservation of natural resources, and protective efforts for the incredible wildlife that inhabits the surrounding areas.

The FAB LAB is located in Vestmannaeyjar. Vestmannaeyjar is an archipelago (a sea or stretch of water containing many islands) of roughly 15 islands and numerous crags (a steep or rugged cliff or rock face) off the south coast of Iceland, and is home to 4000 people, about 4 million Puffins, and 500 sheep. WHAT?~!

Again! That's :

4,000 PEOPLE

4 Million Puffins!

500 Sheep!!

I grew up on a small dairy farm in Upstate New York. My childhood friends were 40 cats (meow) , 58 cows (moo), 2 pigs (oink), a goat (nayy), and my two sisters (?). Much like Vestmannaeyjar the animals far outnumbered the humans. And I wonder if that attributes to a sensitivity that focuses on the health and safety of species other than your own?

I would like to go here and meet the Innovation Center crew. I want you (yes you with your sleepy computer eyes) whose reading this right now to join us on this discovery. More to come ....

On the Right Path !

2010-01-24T21:44:00.000Z

   Wilma's Wish has had a whirl wind past 2 months. After the car accident in August I reclused myself into a world of TED talks and good coffee. I sat down with all the information we had collected up to date and the new found inspiration I had found through one impaticular TED talk from a designer named Tim Brown from this "think tank" called Ideo. He talked about a global movement towards "design thinking". This means taking innovation and applying it to our everyday lives not just to make things prettier but to make them more accesable. Well out of being a nerd, I wrote Mr. Brown and the lovely people that make up Ideo.
After a mind blowing Skype conference , Ideo is now working on Blueberry Soup with us!
Second wonderful blast of sunshine is this- many of you may remember an earlier post of ours on a conference we attended while in Iceland called "An End is a Start". If not then scroll down, you gots some catching up to do...
Gannaca found the blog and asked what Blueberry Soup is all about and now we get to say with smiles spread widely, we are now in partnership with Gannaca as well in making this film! Both of these amazing groups are known globally for understanding "you don't have to be afraid of change, change is the new constant"and "that design is human centered". So we are literally experiencing a nation re-designing it's social/political/economically foundation. How amazing! Innovation through participation.
Wilma's Wish is documenting an epic movement and has been granted access to sit smack dab in the epicenter of history in the making.


   Things are wildly connecting and our minds are spinning from all the new discoveries. We are ON THE RIGHT TRACK!

What are your thoughts on this Mr./Ms. reader?

Until next time, let me just leave you with this. Icelandic Pickled Rams’ Balls- Enjoy

avoid getting hit by cars

2009-10-28T19:03:00.002Z

Time to upkeep the narrative of Wilma's Wish's Icelandic experiences

We have been writing letters, attending voices of experience, joining up with screening events. it's funny how it is such a consistent part of our dailies. There's heavy anticipation. As we want to make this film, we also attempt active in the political knowledge of our global world. Social reform is riddled with questions and conversations continue. From these considerations, we have ideas for art installations. We will update on this as well once we get underway.

Vagueness aside, Eileen and I attended the Múm concert at the Opera House in Toronto last night. Smiles were on our faces the entire streetcar ride home. Open this song in a new tab to listen as you read. (i wish i was more web savvy than giving internet cave-person instructions)

Opening acts can be a pain in the heels. For the time it takes to wait in line for a good spot(especially at general adm shows) and the two hour wait before the main act, one's feet can start to feel impatient. Some people show at concerts right when the main act begins, bypassing the openers completely. When openers are good, it is fucking fantastic. Last night, at Múm's show, there was instrumental sounds from three members of Múm. SET CHANGE. There's three mics and Eileen turns to me, jaw open. "That's Sidri!" I look and he is tuning his guitar. How wicked, we had no idea. In June, we flagged down Sea Bear for a chance to interview, and we see Sidri again in a band of his own.

I like to seek out experimental music to see what chances people are taking. At times, experiment only works for a one-time novelty listen. It takes a certain type of resilient confidence in a musician to keep on making music that not many people would enjoy. To me, Sidri, or under the pseudonym of Sin Fang Bous, thrives and succeeds in sound-play. His live performance hooked up nerves in between the pillar of the neck and ears and inversed them towards the toes. What sensory magic! Alternating between three mics, his songs imprint a memory.

So unexpected and great. Hellos, how are you and safe touring travels wishes were exchanged. See soon, maybe?

Múm exceeded expectations. Ongoing joy, hip rocking and pivotal vocals. All of them have such talent, able to alternative between blow keyboards, whistles, harmonicas and vocal ranges. And the drummer hit percussion with innate precision. Great great show. Crema on the coffee:: a song along as the last song. A woman carried out bright bristol boards to prompt the audience. Beautiful handwriting Múm, I have typography envy. All this morning, I have been singing an abridged version of that song.

so beautiful. so fucking beautiful. sing along to songs you don't know.

Catch them on tour if you can! http://www.myspace.com/mumtheband

Music Video's and Lemon Cake

2009-09-03T23:28:00.004Z

I just love life. And that may
sound a bit too "Mary Poppins"
but .... that can't be so bad.

Over the past two months I have been looking at the research and filming we did in Iceland this summer.
Video's like this remind me (loudly) that there is a resounding enchantment to these expressions from this Island of 300,000.
Icelandic Animated Music Video (CLICK ME)

I want you to think about your favorite music video. Did it make you love the song? Did you love the song and so you can't help but love the video? Now think about a time when the video RUINED the song! Now that we have gone through a range of emotions, please turn on your Itunes, next play a song at random, now imagine from start to finish what the video would look like for this song.

We are so alive.

keeping on

2009-09-02T04:17:00.003Z

sunshine demands you to be outdoors, absorbing.

in the wind-down, the mind picks up.

Reminders like this video shakes stagnant.

this gent is Olafur Arnalds.

An End is A Start

2009-07-21T04:22:00.004Z

Early into our stay in Iceland, we went to a lecture by Christopher Patrick Peterka called "The End is the Start". I was so inspired by this lecture that my pen wouldn't even write as fast as the great quotes were coming. Peterka is not Icelandic but he has a huge interest in helping Icelanders feel empowered by the crisis rather than dampened. And from what we have seen and heard from the Icelanders we met, they are not going to be steam rolled by the economic hardships.

He called Iceland "The new Global Think Tank". Iceland not only produces incredible artists but it also has made leaps in the field of technology and networking communities. We went to the Ministry of Ideas (which is a building dedicated to housing cubicles of brilliant groups and nurturing their ideas to fruition. HOW INCREDIBLE!!!Mission statement ;Ministry of Ideas is the people's movement in Iceland. It inspires the country and the rest of the of the global village for a new world model.-

Peterka did say one thing that stayed with me without even looking at my notes; he said "change cannot happen without mobility, to move forward you must be willing to leave behind everything you were attached to."( I took this to mean the surge of cars, second homes, and fancy toys bought in the boom -previous to the collapse).

After the lecture was over we were all instructed to reach under our seats and pull out the first thing we were going to do to participate in positive change. I was concerned about old gum or other foreign stickyness but to my happy surprise I found a glow stick. The old raver in me felt like it was party time but my patience let me see that it was all part of a message on the wall. We snapped our glow sticks as the entire room of people (including members of Sigur Ros) with their illuminated plastic tubes jumped up and made these words peacefully and powerfully exist. I love how this entire crisis is being interpreted by Icelandic "creatives". It seems to have lit a fire under their creative tushes and I am honestly in absolute awe in what has developed in this short amount of time to combat what has devastated their economy.

So it's late as I write this, very late. . . just as magical as I find this nation and its people to be- we are going to see some equally imaginative and magical things in the next year come out of Iceland. Stay tuned.

To read more on the "And End is a Start" lecture visit our friends at Iceland Review

Hidden People

2009-07-17T23:32:00.010Z

Iceland is "known" for a number of things that are whimsically ethereal;

Sigur Ros: Bjork:
Puffins:
Hákarl: Rotten Shark Meat

And Trolls- When I asked about the tale of trolls I was told "They are called Hidden People". There are dozens of articles, podcasts, books, and films about the belief of the hidden people in the mysteriously beautiful landscapes of Iceland. "I think it's something we feed to tourists" - one man said when asked at our hotel. So that night I went out by myself to the dock. It was 1AM but was as bright as the late afternoon. I am not going in with any preconceived notions of fantasy esc. creatures going on this trip. And given the amount of attention the world wide press gives to it, I am just turned off all together from asking more than a small handful of people if they "believe" (on a side note, no one said no).
Back to the dock: I was taking a time lapse and i kept hearing someone running up to me. You know that scuffing sound your feet make when they are on the cement? So I would look up quickly and pretty freaking scared. Nothing. This happened well over a dozen times and I even pretended to keep taking pictures to see if I could catch what ever the noise was. The thought came to me "oh my god, the hotel manager said this was the town where the hidden people live, they are pissed I am up so late." So I ran back to my hotel like a goat on fire.
So all to say, I am not sure if there are Hidden People in Iceland but I can tell you. They don't give a care if I believe or not.

Good Night.

Iceland Votes Yes To EU

2009-07-17T05:30:00.003Z

Today Iceland's Parliament voted in favor for Iceland's application to join the European Union.
During our time in Iceland we interviewed a number of people ranging from artists, government officials, think tank go-getters, to students of economics; all feeling differently about the upcoming vote concerning Iceland joining the EU.

I found this graph to be a helpful breakdown of the varying interests with in the political parties:
Political parties' stances towards membership

Group		Position	Main argument as stated on party websites
Government	Social Democratic Alliance	Yes	"We want to apply for an EU-membership and start negotiations. We will seek a national unity in this matter and use the national referendum as the highest court."^[35]
Government	Left-Green Movement	No	"EU-membership would diminish the independence of Iceland even more than the EEA Agreement does and jeopardise Iceland's control over its resources."^[36]
Opposition	Independence Party	No	"The Independence Party holds that Iceland’s interests are best secured by remaining outside of the EU while conducting a close healthy relationship with it based on the contract for the European Economic Area, which opens up the internal market of the EU. A complete membership would threaten to take control over Iceland’s biggest national resources, such as the fisheries."^[37]
	Progressive Party	Yes	"..if personal and business rights were protected, especially in regard to fishing and agriculture; and if the accession talks were open and democratic."^[38]
	Citizens' Movement	Yes	^[39]
No seats in the parliament	Liberal Party	No	EU stance was decided in a party members' poll in January 2009.^[40]

This is all part of our research- We will be going back to Iceland in 6-8 months to re-examine and document the changes that occur within decisions like joining the EU.
While interviewing the editor of a number of successful Icelandic publications, Benedikt Jóhannesson; he said, it is hard to say right now how the crisis has effected the general public. Changes like these take a bit of time to be implemented and their effects can take months to really be seen.

So we (Wilma's Wish) are going to bookend what we saw, heard, found on our last trip with what happens to Iceland after this massive collapse a year later. How fascinating to see what will be a historic moment not only for Iceland but also for the world.

http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/daily_news/?cat_id=16567&ew_0_a_id=336820

On The First Day ...

2009-07-05T04:22:00.006Z

On the first day we arrived smack dab in the middle of National Day! It ironically was the last day of the Viking Festival as well but we will get back to that...

Zoom- our plane arrives
Beep- we are rushed to the hotel

Oops- we went to the wrong hotel and wrong city
Ahhh- arrive at hotel
Huh- vikings with swords running in front ya rd
Hello, hello- meeting, greeting hotel manager
Oh no- We are not in the city we need to be and Johanna (Prime Minister and the reason we rushed to get here on th is day is speaking in one hour!!)
BEEP- cabby please take us to the city center as fast as you can (and yes you can give vague directions like that in Iceland b/c most everyone knows everywhere)
Look!- Right as the cab pulls up we leap out, a para de of scouts start the event off, formal elegant members of society follow.
Not Allowed In- Where do we stand? You must have a press pass! Well we do but we left it ummm... somewhere? Please let us in. Hmmmmm...... ok
Steve there She is- It seems like it takes forever for Johanna to emerge from the beautiful church to her podeum. She stands up straight and walks with confidence. The speech was in Icelandic (understandably) certain things transended language and the crowds roars made me feel we got here for something very important (a celebration of boyancy).
Stay tuned for the what happened next....

Scary Birds are Everywhere!

2009-06-30T21:31:00.005Z

Bria and I had a meeting last week with the Film Centre in the center of the city. The building was this massive glass structure and the inside made me feel like the Jetsons would go zooming by any second. Everyone there was well dressed, which seems to be a common theme in Icelandic businesses, super slick attire. This sculpture was on the wall and Bria gazed at it with her "designers daughter like awe". Art is just everywhere in this country and maybe I need to look harder but it seems much more concentrated here than anywhere I have seen before. Have you ever wondered what hell looks like? Well take a gander at this painting. In hell all the creatures would look like this bird (I am guessing here).

I thought maybe when I left Iceland that it would feel empty and maybe I would even tear up a bit. This was such an important first step towards our journey so maybe I understood that and took in all that had happened and how lucky we were to even get this chance to be witness to how this nation is going to make change out of crisis.

Field of Art

2009-06-29T22:51:00.004Z

I am not really a person that can think linearly... thoughts come in blips and bleeps.
I sit here with my "bush fire" iced tea from a last minute cafe before Bria and I leaped back to the hotel. There are so freaking many strange and beautiful coincidences that happened in this adventure. So ... throughout this next week. I will indulge in the memory banks and hopefully you will find it as magical as it was to experience.

Anna Torfadottir, a native Icelander, amazing print maker (website), and great friend to us during this production took us to this site... The artist (I am looking for his name and will post it up when I recover it) had so many of these aluminum sculptures that he donated them. So imagine this; you are driving down what seems to be a pretty everyday type of road with grassy fields then you come over this hill and POW, a hillside of massive silver shapes!

I loved this.

Grab your attention, vona

2009-06-29T14:21:00.006Z

We are home now, in somewhat unfamiliar-scapes. Let us reflect our last three days.

Thursday, oh busy day.

After trying to *#&%^# figure out a way through this shopping center (our last hotel is in a concrete wasteland, highlighted by bare neon signs) to the bus, we take a taxi cab. At Café Paris, we meet a gent from Iceland's Ministry of Ideas.

Ministry of Ideas?

When presented with a crisis, change is synonymous. Required are generators, facilitators and make-it-happen-ors. Through surveys, group collaboration and thoughtful task segments, a new society design is possible. A touch socialist, thankfully erring on the edge of optimism.

Noise takes us out of the cafe and nearby the North West harbour to a raw warehouse. Offices developed on one side, white walls everywhere else and toes echo here.

Grateful for the interview, we shake hands with designers, thinkers, artists and general playmakers. Next, to Gogogic, a video game development company.

Lovely lady greets us and offers us water: sparkling or pure? Both varieties are dispensed from the same spout which clues us in on how high tech these people are. Our interviewee, CEO Jonas, is held up in a prolonged meeting so we get a tour of the Mac infested space. We meet a beefy gent with a combed blond mohawk. He is working on the designs for a brand new viking game set for Facebook. As the images flick through his computer, he explains characters, amenities and the supreme goal of the player, which is to create the greatest viking empire on Facebook. This is called Vikings of Tule. It. Is. Awesome.

A great interview with Jonas is followed by another excellent interview with Iceland Review Online Editor, Eyglo. She was endearingly nervous for the camera, and super eloquent in her observations. This marks six straight hours of interviews and $35 in cab fare. Food please.

We do some hotel stuff to meet a very Transylvania-esque hotel manager. I saw a white lab puppy that I wanted so badly to scoop up and run for the hills with. TV dinner time lulls us to sterile sleep.

Breakfast is the usual - toast with orange/blueberry marmalade. So yummy that complaints aren't necessary. We do a fair bit of hotel business before trekking downtown for a day off. Eileen and I munched and hung out on a third storey patio doodling in our haggard sketchbooks. So many memories to retain, hopefully not lost in story-telling.

With lava beads in hand, we realize it is our last night. Night life in reykjavik is a must-do. So we chat with a handsome barista and sit on benches with strong capps in hand. People watching. There is a girl wearing happy yellow heels, drinking fine wine from a bag, looking up and trailing a ciggarette to her friend. Live music is everywhere and pours between round/angular geometric architecture. There is no exclusivity here. Warm faces and hearty drinks makes for a fine time. Blink and Atlantic reflects the sun at eleven in the evening.

We watch a horrible reality television show with a lady sign interpreter in the bottom right corner of the screen. My insides clenched as we watched her make facial expressions in jest of the television host. Oh, priceless.

Michael Jackson.

Last day in Iceland.
With heavier bags due to gift baggage, Steve, Eileen and I wait for our friendly shuttle bus driver, Conrad, or Konni. He offered to drop us off at the Blue Lagoon as a complimentary detour on our way to the airport, which is very much out of the way. This helps make it much more affordable for us to see a part of Iceland's natural assets. Otherwise, I'm not sure if we would have gone. As we drive, we see clouds of steam hovering over black lava rocks. The water IS blue. The name is not joking. It is relatively empty; whew, less tourists.

Konni leads us into the Blue Lagoon desks and before we know it, he had signed off a visa. "Have fun kids and see you at three!" A quick scamper and our heart-jaws are wide open. What amazing generousity.

It was lovely geothermal bliss. It is a pool of naturally hot seawater that is considered to be one of the world's top ten medicinal spas. The steam coaxes your eyes close and the water holds you at ease. Clay on your face (facemask), waterfalls, cave-like saunas and a juice bar. A worthy relaxation. If you can avoid the busfulls of tourists, stress is absent.

Oh friends of Iceland, we were sorry to board the airplane. But your words and generousity have inspired us. Until we come back...

Neat interview

2009-06-24T23:00:00.000Z

iced pond drink

2009-06-24T21:31:00.014Z

from a rad vintage store in downtown

Complaints from our readers demand more pictures. And images you will have!

How to sum up today?

In Sea Bear's studio to Indian food (the northmost restaurant for India!) They were very thoughtful and nice people. Music in their country comes from an innate community. Someone knows another who plays this and another with that intrument. They meet for sounds and talent builds.

Last night, people rolled naked down dewy hills. We missed the tradition! Maybe it might have been a bit uncomfortable....

HIGH FIVE.

At the Kaffibarn, we meet Olafur Arnalds. We get this amazing private setting to interview him and it looks like he will be laying the soundtrack down for our doc.

There are so many people kite sailing today. I wish I could join!!

Last night, we all walked into mountains at midnight. This below photo is taken literally at midnight. Wild horses were there; pat pat pat....

Blue Lagoooooon - here we come.

How is it possible to be on the same page?

Wha-aht?

Two Holes in my Teeeshirt

2009-06-23T22:15:00.002Z

Yesterday was a day of speak.

The cool part about documentary filmmaking is as follows:

Spend months, reading about complex pathways of a culture you barely know about. Then, follow the daily news, hearing about names and guessing people's reactions. Then, meet people in the culture and piece together your ideas. Comes the day to meet an eloquent gentleman who very clearly summarizes different facets of culture to explain the situation in one neat package. As if someone was telling your mind to the camera.

Aw hells yeah.

This happened when we spoke with Bendict from Iceland Review. We were so lucky to meet him and few of the staff at the office. Clarity comes by the day.

Then we get down to the nitty gritty of economics with a fellow named Andreas.

Hungry bellies chase us to the One Woman Restaurant, a veggie restaurant right downtown (VEGGIE ALERT! RECOMMENDED!) Hit the roads and hit the bad-dunks.

Today, we reunited with Inga over coffee and cakes. Familiar faces in a new country makes ease.

We randomly run into Sea Bear. Picture Eileen all giddy, telling me that we have to run up a hill. Without question, we jog in heels, trying not to sound creepy and grab their attention. With as much respect and muted excitement we can muster, we agree to meet tomorrow at their studio. How great! Live music with some of the world's talented musicians.

We meet with an Icelandic production company and found some excellent news. Keep posted.

One more time to One Woman Restaurant and we hit home. A day of business and less of sights.

Oh mountains, waterfalls, and bridges away from cities.

Meeting of the sirius clouds

2009-06-21T22:52:00.016Z

I may be prone to interject random quotes/moments. That is just the way memory works.

For instance: "I am going to save these for someone who hates life." - Eileen after eating salty star candy that were thought to be sweet.

Some left over pictures from yesterday....

This was from a funky vegan cafe in downtown Reykjavik.

Early morning - we booty our fine selves to pack and out of the Viking Hotel in Hafnarfjordur to meet the ravishing Anna. She is a resident artist (namely printmaker). She was lovely enough to drive us through many scenic parts of Iceland. There really is more to the country than Reykjavik. After checking out some killer aliminum sculptures, she takes us to her studio. An association of artists in Iceland have refurbished a dairy barn into work spaces for wood/print/paint/miscellaneous. Hers used to be cow stalls. Common areas are in beautiful closed in outdoor patios, or in coffee shops lined with large arch windows. A little slice of private heaven.
By the groccery store, she pointed out a chair that was for sale for 130.000 KR which equals to about $1,300 CAD. Dinky little chair for far too much. That's the Iceland economy.
We sat down for a lovely lunch of open face sandwiches and excellent french press coffee with Anna and Gunnar. Gunnar is an artist and a teacher. We hear from them their thoughts on the current situation and the general mood. It seems as though there was a great deal of political and financial corruption that may have been premeditated, or forwarned of. As a result, Icelanders are unfairly responsible for a massive debt. It is understandable how there are feelings of simply anger. It can be the hopeless version, the determined kind, the optimistic engine, or resulting in a carefree attitude that roots from hybird reactions. While both were eloquent in their reflections, they declined to be on camera. Gunnar did, however, recommend a respected economist that we should speak to. One leads to another.
The remaining afternoon was spent pouring over sketchbook, (Anna visited Auburn, NY, where Eileen went to university and where they have a mutual friend, Jane) driving to a lighthourse (where agressive birds will make your forehead bleed), getting close to the main harbour and massive whaling ships and finally to Hotel Laxnes (named after Nobel Prize winner author, Laxnes).

Steve just got back from a long walk and found some awe-worthy sights. Guess we already know what's on the roster for tomorrow!

Bulldozed homes and Last day at the Viking

2009-06-20T23:47:00.008Z

What a strange adventure today.... The manager of the hotel took us for a personalized tour of the town.
There are these purple flowers that are so pretty but to find out they are weeds and they are taking over the island and no one knows how to get rid of them.
The day was very much like the cold windy late October days we get in Toronto/New York.

While driving we heard that the day we arrived in Iceland, there was a man who has been one of the many that has had their home repossessed by the bank (from the crash). So on Iceland's Independence Day he rented a bulldozer and bulldozed the house down. Here is the aftermath...

Horses are a big here: Bria found out that the horses are so special here that many are exported but they can never return b/c they may taint the native horses. How sad...

iron wrought eyes

2009-06-20T00:27:00.009Z

We slept in and missed breakfast.

We tried to hitchhike to Krysuvik; no dice. (found out it may have taken a day to walk there)

We met a Canadian artist who moved to Iceland 16 years ago and hasn't left.

That is all.

Bean boobs

2009-06-19T00:07:00.009Z

Eileen just burped, breaking my long-built up concentration...

Everybody slept hard. We tried to be the responsible ambitious production crew by waking 7:30 in Iceland to get a pep in our day going. 8:30 rolls around and we rolled back into bed. Healthy alert bodies are important, no? I think the hotel puts some sort of sleeping air in our ventilators; our sleep was so deep and wonderful. I think for 8 hours, I didn't move, resulting 8 lbs of my magnificent skull resting on the joint of my jawbone. Oh tender left cheek for the rest of the day.

As soon as I wake up again, I get an email from the Icelandic Film Council. We have a meeting in two hours. So we assemble and take a 20 min bus into the capital to meet this well-dressed man. He advised us and cautioned us of individuals. He gave us a series of networks for us to build off of. Now we have a big ol' list of phone numbers to
call tomorrow. Eileen and I went to find Steve on the coast, where he was willingly abandoned to capture some time lapses. He got the type of moving footage that makes you realize how pretty nature really is, if you frame it and speed it up just a tad.

We went to the house where Regan began peace talks with Gorbatsjov at the beginning of the Cold War. Slice of irony, no?

We come across a great cafe that had images of women with coffee bean boobs. We get used to the downtown, see some graffiti, and then attend a lecture at the Rekyjavik Art Museum. We listened to Christopher Patrick Peterka and it got our idea engines rolling. Being here gives us vita: a juice for our creativity, our ideas, and philosophies on how to roll on. Some main ideas that resonated: crisis and change are one and together; creative people are the future; grassroots discussions with the goal of larger accomplishments is the best model instead of large systems implementing; don't plan to the bone, just go. Shut up and surge.

My hair will be blonde for when I get back; sunshine all the time. It rotates all around the Icelandic sky.

On a concluding and practical note: for those who will travel at some point

to Iceland: pack warmly
anywhere: pack dried soup, food, jerkies, cookies and granola bars if you can! they are lifesavers (thank you eileen)

Please, some 99 Cent soup

2009-06-17T15:50:00.009Z

It seems that when we go on these abroad/documentary trips, we don't allot sleep time. Right now, we have been awake for 30-something hours and probably wont hit the sweet soft cushion of bed until midnightish in Iceland time.

Hit back to pre-departure. Eileen calls for an iced coffee and we meet at Manic for iced espresso. Once our coffee bellies are happy, we pick up Steve, and head to the open lands of Toronto Airport. After eating a deep fried veggie burger (ack), sushi and fries, out comes the camera equipment to compare lenses. Steve brings out his fancy lighting toys and I am all too impressed.

We are all separated on the airplane. I got stuck beside a mole-ish looking man with grey dreadlocks that smelled funky. Every now and then, he'd flip 'em, and I would inch closer to my window. We take off at 9:30pm, the flight will be 4 1/2 hours long, arrive in Iceland at 6:35 am.

Icelandair has this great touchscreen option where you can watch different facts about your flight. For instance, 2 hours in, , we were going 875km/hr at an altitude of 3,400 m high. The screen displayed this groovy contour coloured, and range respecting map of our route. Over the heads of Montreal and Newfoundland we did go. Greenland too; an eye-captivating view.

The closer north we got, the wider and brighter the horizon became We are heading to a region that is staring at the sun dead in the eyes. The sun isn't supposed to set in Iceland during our stay. Eye-masks are a packing recommendation. Greenland has these fine detailed mountainous peaks interlaced with silky cloud ribbons. Cumulus clouds overtook the space between the land and plane until water was visible. Once the aisle seat passenger in my row left for the washroom, I jumped over sleeping dreadlocks, receiving strange looks from the other passengers. With a shrug, I found Eileen and suggested we trade spots. Totally worth it. She managed to get this amazingly long still image sequence of the sky turning from cloud to water, to coast, to runway, to Icelandic landscape.

Making it through the Keflak airport was a breeze and we come across our kind driver who has the sign "Wilma's Wish Productions." I always wondered who would be looking for a sign like that at airports. We load into the van and drive on the Ringroad to reach our hotel. The drive was amazingly peaceful. The land literally expands everywhere into these epic hills and waters. Pavement uncurled before us as if it would never end.

We find our hotel at Hotel Viking. After figuring some logistics out, we are welcomed for breakfast. Perfect. It was buffet style with all these natural foods, such as homebaked bread accompanied with sweet jam or marmalade. This orange marmalade was good enough to eat, wear, and body soak in. Yum. Coffee or Kaffi, comes in two options: Regular or Strong. Strong coffee is a good choice.

At 9:30 am, with our gear in hand, we take a cab to the downtown where Prime Minister Johanna will be speaking to honour Independence Day (Iceland had just gained it's independence from Denmark in 1944). We managed to squeeze into the press arena without passes. Among other reporters, photojournalists and shooters, we engage in the game of "getting that great shot." Everyone was fluid: Steve got crisp and idiosyncratic footage, Eileen manouevered between still images, sound and camecorder work, while I balanced mini equipment tasks and observing the crowd. We spot a threesome holding black flags. We watch them. And as the formal ceremony wrapped up, this trio began to shout at the officials leaving. They were so impressively loud and expressive in their chants. We felt so lucky to get it all on camera.

Eileen and I recall our conversation with Kristin, Inga's daughter. She told us of a woman that we needed to meet; she usually has a turban around her head. Here she was, carrying a black flag. Eileen runs to catch up with her when the group leaves the ceremony. The woman with the turban said that she heard that we were coming, and that yes, she would talk to us. She scribbled her number on scrap paper and Eileen promised to call.

We are left wondering who this woman really is and why a small group was protesting at the Independence day event.

We trek home, taking turns napping on the other's shoulder. We come to our hotel right in the middle of a Viking festival. Little ones play as viking warriors, with capes and wooden swords. Once slain, each young one would collapse in feigned agony. Steve hung back to catch the drama on camera. Now I am here updating you all back at home. Eileen has joined Steve to film the festivities. It's a big thing, apparently.

I've lost my camera here, already. Maybe some mini viking warrior will return it?

I think a nap time is in order. A Viking battle, by professionals, will be taking place in 2 hours. Rest eyes, so you can see.

37 sleepless hours. Happy/tired.

Halló :: Bless

2009-06-11T15:57:00.006Z

Hello :: Goodbye in Icelandic

Rumors are true: flights are booked and hotels are reserved. Wilma's Wish Productions is on our way to Iceland starting June 16th.

Up to this point, we have been updating events and thoughts that are leading up to Iceland and less about our ideas and findings. This is because we were so set determined to get enough money together to do this film ourselves. Through our conversations with people, we get a chance to hear questions that people are asking. Every dialogue pushes us forward; it is a breathing filmmaking process.

On June 2nd, Eileen and myself (Bria) met with acclaimed Icelandic poet Ingibjörg Haraldsdóttir (Inga) and her daughter in a therapeutic clown's home. With fresh coffee and open ears, we were able to learn, oh much more, about conditions Icelanders face and their reactions. Stories of artists, protestors, Pots and Pans Revolution, determined folk, hardship, and citizen revelery circulated around our table. In three hours, we experienced people; an empathy that is and was absent in our seven months of reading and research. This shows an importance of being there.

side note: Untitled 1 from Sigur Ros' ( ) is now playing (music player is on shuffle)

We will meet with Inga again on this trip. In our conversation, she said something that stuck with me. I asked her if she still writes poetry. Her response was "It's not practical right now." In the resonance of her words, I see in my head a quote I read once, "In all cultural epochs of the past, economic circumstances have determined development of art as a whole and left a distinct mark on it."

1989
A woman is missing who/left home in days of yore/scantily clad, with flaming/fires in her eyes

"Nú eru aðrir tímar"
"Times have Changed"

Ingibjörg Haraldsdóttir

Lookin' Back at Great Nights

2009-06-07T23:34:00.013Z

Blueberry Soup Collage Party!!
Glue+Scissors+Creativity= Community

Join us in our Prep

2009-06-07T17:31:00.002Z

Did you know Icelandic is known as the hardest language in the world to learn? Try your luck at it:
ICELANDic 101

2009-06-01T04:37:00.003Z

"You don't know the bAsiC assumptions of your culture if your culture is the only culture you know."

Alan Watts

Lately I've Been Glaring in the Mirrors

2009-05-31T04:11:00.003Z

As a collective of strong female minds and a real sense of sisterhood. Wilma's Wish was born out of a true desire of my grandma (Wilma Jerrett) to appreciate this life and to be ever thankful for all those that offered their patience, forgiveness, and friendship.
I went to a screening of a film called Grief Walker last night and following the film Stephen Jenkinson said "we so carelessly throw around the term, friend. ex) After breaking up with someone we say "let's just be friends" as if it were some consolation prize". I thought of my grandma and Jenkinson's words in combo with my own strange twist on reality and understood that it has taken a village to bring this film to fruition and Wilma's Wish in fact thrives on the hugs, visions, and true grace of... others..... friends.
I invite you to pressure (pull it out of them with force) your own friends into voicing what makes them extremely happy, sad, freaked out, inspired because we go silent far too often.

JUNE 3RD 7 PM

2009-05-27T03:07:00.011Z

Wednesday June 3rd, 7 PM
MERCHANTS OF GREEN COFFEE

GETTN' CREATIVE COLLAGE FUN-RAISER 2.

SCREENING OF ORIGINAL COLLAGE DOCUMENTARY
CUT & PASTE
featuring Candy Lewis, New York Collage Artist

ENDLESS SUPPLY OF COLLAGE MATERIALS

ICELANDIC MUSIC
Múm, Sigur Rös, Bjork, Parachutes, Olafur Arnalds... to name a few

GREAT SILENT AUCTION ITEMS
featuring
Painting from Celeste Keller
Items from Mongrel Media
Photo Sessions from Shelbie Vermette
Private Yoga Lessons with Anastasia Watson
Print from Global Aware
Original Jewelry Design from Tank Studios
Original Stenciled handbag from The Rage
Print from artist Chris Brett

UPDATES DAILY

wowed. ready for a repeat?

2009-05-26T16:18:00.004Z

GeTtN cReAtIvE was a smashing success. People arrived early and left late, and the crowd was in cuttn bliss. We were so blown away by the response, that we decided that we have to host another. We are still making progress to raising funds for our June trip (20 days away...). Besides, this kind of fun needs repeat, repeat, repeat.

Oh, also, the cupcakes were bluishly divine!

We were so damn impressed by the innovative collages people put together. Some had handdrawn illustrations to accompany magazine cuttouts, some were on vynl records, others were on unique shapes of wood, one was a composition of watercolour temperment.

Whether it's the hunt of the images, or the final work itself, everybody revealed their imaginations. So. Cool.

We do have pictures to post, which will come later this week. In the meantime, take a look see at the heartwarming comments people left. Thank you, those who made these comments. It is you that encourage us to have another event! Get ready for Gettn Creative 2!

If you haven't heard already, go to www.wilmaswish.com, under "In Production," to find out more information about how you can donate. $25 and up recieves a tax receipt, and $50 and up will receive a personalized postcard sent from Iceland! If you know somebody who would love to be a cultural innovator, let them know about
Blueberry Soup!

no more scurvy

2009-05-20T17:31:00.003Z

Yellow,

This is Bria reporting.

Sunshine is necessary to us. Biological molecules aside, and vitamin D without, sunshine is heavily missed in the winter days.

Lucky for us, we get to film in 24 hours of sunshine. In the middle of our visit in Iceland, June 21, Summer Solstice takes place. Reading about this while working from my basement makes this day look pretty darn exciting!

Taken from a few touristy sites, here are some ways for us to join the sun-filled day!

Go to Fjorukrain.

Attend one of the summer solstice bonfires.

Gather about 3 hours after sunset when the sun rises again for the celebration of the new Viking year.

Brave the cold like the locals, and take a naked roll in the fresh morning dew on midsummer day to celebrate the solstice.

Research is boring...? nuh uh.

On and On and On

2009-05-19T03:02:00.004Z

There is a definite reason for all of this to happen. Don't you see it?
What's the film going to be about?

Let's just get there !

2009-05-17T19:28:00.002Z

Sometimes (just sometimes) I am floored and brought to tears by the generosity of others and their ability to know exactly what you need w/o you- saying- a- word.

This painting was donated to be auctioned off at the collage fun-raiser by a beautiful artist named
Celeste Keller

Economic Crisis Smisish

2009-05-13T03:36:00.005Z

During the Collage Making Party planning out came older images and treatments of films of Wilma's Wishes past. Because it seems pretty fitting it's been decided that we are going to screen one of our first documentaries at the fun-raiser. The film is called "Cut & Paste" and it's a short film on the collage artist (Candy Lucas) whom started "collage nights" in her own home. She's freaking awesome!

Candy wrote yesterday just to check in and she mentioned how she will be taking the next four months off of work to create. She is like this, jobs are just a thing to put food on the table but the magic is in your head down to your hands. Has everyone else been noticing how this economic crisis is actually bringing us closer to our basic desires as humans?

Bear with us:
If the money isn't there, we have to get creative on how we spend our time. We get excited about making stuff again, cooking at home, and recycling what we already have. Call us crazy hippies but maybe we are onto something good. Can we get a heck yeah?!

We have this idea...

2009-05-13T02:16:00.005Z

For over a year I (Eileen) have been moderating two kinds of social groups. One is a coffee meetup and the other is a collage group. It's a straight-forward as it sounds. The collage group has picked up steam and now includes people from all walks of life. Customers that just walk into the cafe to get their daily buzz look around at the dozens whittling away at their master pieces and say "wow, what is this"?

Bria and I are throwing a collage making party. I used to attend them at this amazing artists house (Candy Lucas) when I lived in New York but we now carry the torch over to May 22nd. It's the best feeling to see people making forgiving art. No ones an artist; everyones an artist.

If you live in Toronto you should come out of your shell and do something collaborative with a bunch of strangers. To reserve a spot wa-yyy ahead of time and save some moola RSVP at
www.meetup.com/torontocollage

4:44

2009-05-06T17:24:00.002Z

I don't wish to be everything to everyone, but I would like to be something to someone
...Javan

Eileen Jerrett, hailing from New York, has crazy red hair and a badass sense of humour.

Bria Cole, slumming in Toronto, has a penchant for funky jewelry and brings nothing but spunk.

Amanda Feder, escaping from Montreal, has a kickass jacket and is a devout cinephile.

Here we are, putting together the radest project of the year, a trip to Iceland to get to the crux of how this economic crisis is affecting Icelanders. We are not in danger of boredom. To accompany this fact, we are hosting one ingenious fun-raiser on May 22nd. At the Merchants of Green Coffee, we are hosting Gettn' Creative Collage Fundraiser.

Watch here for the party aftermath (look here about two days after... give us some recovery time)