The Swedish North Star, continuously published since 1872. Volume 146 No. 7, May 01, 2018. Price per copy $3.50.
Multitalented artist and designer Gudrun Sjödén at work in her Stockholm studio.
With color as trademark
Gudrun Sjödén, known as the godmother of Swedish fashion, is a renowned textile designer and entrepreneurial force whose boldly feminine collections are inspired by nature and Swedish folk motifs. As a watercolor painter, Sjödén’s ideas for the colorful, bold prints and florals she is known for begin with her paintings and textile designs. These paintings are unique in their own right, and now, after 40 years of successfully inspiring clothing and textile designs, her creativity is being recognized in a special exhibit that’s coming to the U.S. / P12
Year of Bergman continues
Ingmar Bergman intended Fanny and Alexander to be his swan song, intentionally making it far different from anything he had ever written. A friend had asked him why he always made such gloomy films when in fact he was a lover of life; and now, with Fanny and Alexander, he was ready to display his lighter side – but it came at a time when he was actually finding life rather difficult to bear. “Fanny and Alexander is like a summing up of my entire life as a filmmaker,” Bergman said of the semi-autobiographical script. / P12
Ascension’s secular significance is better known in Sweden. / p5
w/ord encounters (and recipe) with the venerable, vulnerable jordgubbe / p11&15
Beloved Swedish singers leave their mark on hearts and history /p22
Page 15
Finding Sweden in Scotland
How Swedish can you get in Scotland? Our traveling contributor found a cozy bar in Edinburgh that proves you can get very Swedish there. He met with the owner of Akva, one of six sites run by the Boda Swedish Bar and Restaurants company, which found instant success with their Swedish theme when they opened the first site in 2004. Akva, advertised as a Swedish bar, cafe and party venue, really is Swedish in its welcoming way, making people feel comfortable - and well fed. / P19