SCC Spring Catalog 2015 by Scandinavian Charitable Society

The Scandinavian Cultural Center

SPRING 2015

Image: Icelandic band Árstíðir - see inside for concert details

Scandinavian Cultural Center 206 Waltham Street West Newton, MA 02465 617.795.1914 www.scandicenter.org

A Message from SCC Director Christina Mealey I’m proud to share another season of Nordic culture with you, including the return of our popular Young Artists Series along with the SCC’s first theatrical event, presented in partnership with the Scandinavian Library and hopefully among a growing number of programs offered for families. Also of note is a collaboration between two SCC-affiliated artists to be premiered this May as part of ArtWeek Boston and the Newton Festival of the Arts. This June, the SCC is teaming up with the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce of New England (SACC-NE) to bring back the Center’s long-loved Midsummer tradition, and later that month we’ll welcome Icelandic band Árstíðir as the Boston stop on their US tour. Please join me for the closing reception of our April/May exhibition THE BAY STATE: A Multicultural Landscape, Photographs of New Americans which will include an artist talk by photographer Mark Chester followed by a lecture about immigration in America by Westy Egmont.

THE SCANDINAVIAN LIBRARY

NORDIC FILM SERIES

Save the date for this year’s Smörgåsbord Nordic Food Festival - Saturday, 9/12. Last year’s event sold out, so you’ll want to purchase your tickets early if you plan to attend!

OUR SPRING SEASON AT A GLANCE: APRIL 4, 11, 18, 25 - Kaffestugan (Café) 18 - Scandinavian Library Nordic Film Series - Love Is All You Need 23 - Young Artists Series - Jazz Trio from New England Conservatory 25 - Reception, Artist Talk by Mark Chester, Immigration Lecture by Westy Egmont THE BAY STATE: A Multicultural Landscape, Photographs of New Americans MAY 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 - Kaffestugan (Café) 7 - Reception, Sommar Solace - Anna Kristina Goransson & Maria Finkelmeier 23 - Scandinavian Library Nordic Film Series - Aatsinki 31 - Light Nights - Stories, Songs, Sagas from Iceland JUNE 6, 13, 20, 27 - Kaffestugan (Café) 20 - Scandinavian Library Nordic Film Series - The Last Sentence 20 - Midsummer Picnic (presented by the SCC and SACC-NE) 28 - Icelandic band Árstíðir

Films are free and begin at 1:30pm in the Nordic Hall.

April 18th | Love Is All You Need (2013) Directed by Susanne Bier

A romantic comedy set in Sorrento, Italy. Philip (Brosnan), an Englishman living in Denmark, is a middle-aged widower and estranged single father. Ida (Dyrholm) is a Danish hairdresser who’s just been left by her husband for a younger woman. The fates of these two souls are about to intertwine as they embark on a trip to Italy to attend the wedding of Patrick and Astrid, Philip’s son and Ida’s daughter. It’s a story about seeking love and having the courage to change your life – even when you think it’s too late. 110 minutes. In Danish, English and Italian with English subtitles.

May 23rd | Kon Tiki (2012) Directed by Espen Sandberg & Joachim Roenning

Brothers Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl (Pål Sverre Hagen) crossed the Pacific Ocean in a balsa wood raft in 1947, together with five men, to prove that South Americans already back in pre-Columbian times could have crossed the sea and settle on Polynesian islands. After gathering financing for the trip with loans and donations, they set off on an epic 101 day-long journey across 8,000 kilometers, all while the world was watching. KON-TIKI tells about the origin of Heyerdahl’s idea and the events surrounding the group’s voyage. 118 minutes. In Norwegian with English subtitles.

June 20th | The Last Sentence (2014) Directed by Jan Troell

Set against the backdrop of WWII, The Last Sentence is based on the life of crusading journalist Torgny Segerstedt, editor-in-chief of one of Sweden s leading newspapers, highlighting his one-man battle against Nazism and his country s policy of appeasement to Hitler. 126 minutes. In Swedish with English subtitles.

UP THE GOLDEN STAIRS: DREAMS OF BEING AMERICAN

A TALK WITH WESTY EGMONT

Saturday, April 25th Nordic Hall

YOUNG ARTISTS SERIES

A JAZZ TRIO FROM NEW ENGLAND CONSERVATORY

Exhibition Reception A Multicultural Landscape

Join outstanding jazz undergraduate and graduate students Shane Simpson, Simon Wilson and Dor Herskovits from New England Conservatory for a performance of music by celebrated jazz legends, such as Duke Ellington and John Coltrane, along with original compositions by members of the ensemble.

Thursday, April 23rd 7pm | $15 Nordic Hall Free for SCC Members Tickets at www.scandicenter.org

2–5pm

Artist Talk | 2:30pm Photographer Mark Chester

President Kennedy wrote A Nation of Immigrants in 1958. For all the controversy around immigration, we are still a young nation, joined by nearly one million newcomers each year. The nation remains a land of dreams for many and this lecture will explore the history and current story of those who started life again in the States and made America the ‘nation of nations’ we know.

Westy Egmont | 3pm Reservations at www.scandicenter.org Join Westy Egmont in this fascinating talk during the reception for the SCC’s March/April exhibition THE BAY STATE: A Multicultural Landscape, Photographs of New Americans, a moving and powerful exhibit of more than 300 newly naturalized U.S. citizens who are residents of the Commonwealth. Mark Chester’s inspirational photographic portraits create a visual archive celebrating the diversity of Massachusetts’ citizens from 160 counties around the globe. A Multicultural Landscape enriches the viewer by sharing the vast cultural resources and rich ethnic heritage of the Bay State’s 351 towns and cities.

KAFFESTUGAN A WEEKLY POP-UP CAFÉ Saturdays 11am – 3pm September through June

Join us for our weekly pop-up Kaffestugan offered September through June. Enjoy pastries from the Danish Pastry House on the first Saturday of each month, and Swedish pastries from Crown Bakery on subsequent Saturdays, along with waffles, open-faced sandwiches and coffee. Visit the Kaffestugan page on our website (www.scandicenter.org) to view a complete menu.

SCANDINAVIAN LIBRARY

BOOKS, AND FILMS IN ALL FIVE NORDIC LANGUAGES FOR ALL AGES Saturdays 11am – 3pm September through June

The Library has a collection of more than 6,000 books by Nordic authors in the original languages or about the Nordic countries and cultures, an extensive collection of children’s books in all five Nordic languages and a collection of DVDs available for borrowing. Most materials can be borrowed for one month. New members always welcome!

THE SCC AND THE SCANDINAVIAN LIBRARY PRESENT

LIGHT NIGHTS

STORIES - SONGS - SAGAS FROM ICELAND

SOMMAR SOLACE

AN INTERACTIVE INSTALLATION BY ANNA KRISTINA GORANSSON WITH MUSIC BY MARIA FINKELMEIER Presented as an official event of Newton’s Festival of the Arts and ArtWeek Boston, artist Anna Kristina Goransson and musician Maria Finkelmeier collaborate to create an interactive multimedia installation inspired by the sights and sounds of summer in Sweden. The installation will remain on display through June in the Nordic Hall. Nordic Hall Gallery hours vary. Call 617-527-6566 for availability before planning your visit.

This program was made possible through funding from the Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation.

Reception: Thursday, May 7th 5:30–7:30pm* Nordic Hall | Free Refreshments will be served. *Talk and performance at 6:30pm

Leading actress Kristín G. Magnus will tell you about historical events, mysterious folkstories such as the Hidden People, the Seal who turned into a Human Being, and a spine-tingling ghoststory, complete with Icelandic music and chanting of old rhymes. Geared for adults and children age 7 & up. This is a charity performance to support “Vildarbörn” Icelandair’s Special Children Travel Fund.

Sunday, May 31st | 3pm Nordic Hall Children $5, Adults $15 $25 cap for families Free for SCC Members Tickets at www.scandicenter.org

THE SCC AND THE SWEDISH AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF NEW ENGLAND (SACC-NE) PRESENT

A MIDSUMMER PICNIC

Experience the summer solstice Swedish-style! Join us for a picnic and settle in for a party steeped in tradition yet universal in appeal – food, drink, live music and fun for all ages. 1:30–3:30pm 3:30–5pm

5–7pm

ÁRSTÍÐIR Saturday, June 20th Rain date: Sunday, June 21st

1:30pm–7pm on the Center grounds

Outdoor games and activities for children Picnic lunch for all on the lawn Indoor film screening and fun for children Live music and dancing on the lawn

IN CONCERT

This schedule is subject to change. Visit www.scandicenter.org in June to confirm.

Intricate songwriting from Iceland transports you to a world of restless, driven guitars, intimate piano, and mountainous string arrangements. But don’t let the lush atmosphere deceive you. The delicate, acoustic vocals are so powerful that your heart will never break the same again.

Sunday, June 28th | 7:30pm Nordic Hall $20 | $15 SCC Members Tickets at www.scandicenter.org

VISIT THE SCC:

206 Waltham Street West Newton, MA 02465

NORDIC HALL GALLERY:

Visitors welcome! Call 617.527.6566 to ensure availability. SCANDINAVIAN LIBRARY:

Open Saturdays 11am – 3pm (September through June) New members always welcome! KAFFESTUGAN:

Open Saturdays 11am – 3pm (September through June) Waffles and open-faced sandwiches Pastries and breads from Danish Pastry House & Crown Bakery

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.scandicenter.org

Be sure to sign up for our e-mail list!

The Scandinavian Cultural Center is proudly operated by the Scandinavian Charitable Society of Greater Boston.