Sep11

unexpected situations can be avoided.

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Icelandic Writers Union sent its members an email about this Artists Residency in an uninhabited island in Åland. There is no running water, no electricity, and apparently another issue. But they promise that “as long as you are aware of this, unexpected situations can be avoided”

Källskär Artist in Residence

Källskär was the residence of free lord Göran Åkerhielm in the years 1958-1983. Åkerhielm transferred his part of the island to the government of Åland in 1984.

On Källskär there is a log house designed by architect Reima Pietilä and a magnificent garden surrounded by stone walls created by hand, as well as some smaller cabins at the harbor on the south side of the island.

One of the cabins in the southern port of Källskär is today used as an artist in residence and is administered by the Åland Cultural Delegation.

The artist in residence is primarily given to performing artists and cultural workers in all art areas and journalists who in their creation can be expected to have a special benefit from the environment the facilities offer, but who also can offer Åland new experiences and inspiration in the cultural field. A residence is usually granted 1 or 2 weeks during the period end of May-September.

The cabin of about 30 square meters holds two beds, has a gas stove and refrigerator but no electricity. Here you live according to motto simplicity. With the help of solar panels you can charge mobile phones and laptops, and can connect to the network via a telephone modem. There is also a fixed telephone connection in the residence.

The artist must bring linen and towels and food for the stay. Food can be purchased on the main Kökar island or in Mariehamn. The supervisor arranges for water in the residence.

Theres is no indoor toilet but an outhouse. The dishes are done outdoors at the sink located on the back wall of the residence. If necessary, there are three extra beds in the small boathouse next door.

There is a small fee that each residence guest must  pay in advance to cover the costs of gas and waste disposal. You also pay an extra fee for accompanying family member.The artist pays for the travels to and from the residence.

There are quite a lot of snakes on Källskär but if you move carefully and on the walking paths and as long as you are aware of this, unexpected situations can be avoided.

question: what might those unexpected situations be?

asking for a friend.

noooooo…

—

 ‘if you do not expect the unexpected, you will not find it,

for it is not to be reached by search or trail”

.- Heraclitus,  ancient Greek philosopher

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61 responses »

  15. This post would have been worthwhile without the Heraclitus quotation, but that moved it to another level altogether, beth! Twenty-plus years ago, friends and we rented a cabin that had no electricity. We had to use a pump to get water. We all enjoyed it, including our dog…but there were no snakes!!

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  21. That sounds like our first summer cabin in northern Sweden. Åland belongs to Finland but they speak Swedish there. About the “unexpected situation”, my guess is that it is stepping on a “Huggorm”, a viper in Scandinavia, the proper name in English is Common European Adder.

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  24. Sounds like an absolutely wild (and slightly snake-infested) adventure! The whole “unexpected situations” bit makes me laugh and also gives me flashbacks to working with some family law lawyers recently, talk about navigating unexpected situations! At least in my case, no snakes were involved… I think.

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  25. Um that’s a big NO! Outhouse?? one of the big No’s but with the addition of possibly a snake down there coming up to greet you at the most inopportune time? NOOOO WAY in a million years! :))

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  27. Snakes, no problem. I love them. No electricity isn’t too bad, except how will I make coffee in the morning? I got used to an outhouse at summer camp as a child; no problem. I could deal with this, but would it help me write?

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