Workcamp Details

Description: SEEDS Volunteers will be working for the tenth year helping and supporting the restoration of the artworks of Samúel Jónsson, an Icelandic folk artist, who lived in Selárdalur. During his years of artistic production he produced unique concrete statues using sand from a local beach. Sadly, Jónsson passed away in 1969, leaving his creations without a caretaker. The land and the statues looked like they were simply going to be abandoned to nature in the out-of-the-way valley. However independent and government organisations have worked together with the support of SEEDS volunteers to preserve the site, which still remains for any visitors who would like to see the world through one Icelandic farmer’s eyes.

Type of Work: This year the main tasks of the SEEDS volunteers will be to work on and maintain the walking paths from the Samúel Jónsson Museum to the shore (Leifur-path). There will also be work on the trails on the site, some fencing, gate making and restoring the water intake at Uppsalir (the house of Gísli O. Gíslason), where a museum is in preparation. Inside work, if the days are cold and wet, we will do light cleaning and wall and ceiling painting. The association for the renovation of Samúel Jónsson's art museum in Selárdalur has been working on the restoration of Samúel's statues and buildings for some years. SEEDS volunteers will be working hand in hand with a well known sculpture artist; who has dedicated several years to this project.

Study Theme: Jónsson constructed at his farm in Selárdalur a folk art environment that consists of a sculpture garden and two built structures: a chapel and a museum with his paintings and other small works. The story related with the chapel says that Jónsson had made an altarpiece, he wanted to donate to the local church, an offer that was rejected however. So to provide a place for the artwork, Jónsson constructed his own chapel!

Accommodation: The volunteers will be hosted in a local house, in sleeping bag accommodation with mattresses on the floor. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Food supplies will be provided and a kitchen will be available, volunteers will share the different duties of cooking and cleaning. Remember to bring some traditional/typical food, drinks, recipes, music, games or movies from your country for the intercultural evening. Please be aware some items or ingredients may be expensive in Iceland and you will need to buy them yourselves or bring them from your country.

Language: English will be the official language in the camp; high proficiency is not a requirement.

Requirements: It may be very cold and/or rainy, so we recommend bringing warm and waterproof clothes (underlayers, overcoats, scarves, gloves and hats), good walking shoes, as some of the activities take place outdoors. Volunteers need to be prepared for physical work, to experience all kinds of weather as the project takes place outside.

Approximate Location: This camp is located in Selárdalur on the west side of Arnarfjörður, in the Westfjords, which are among the most breathtakingly beautiful places in Iceland, with its high mountains and dramatic fjords cutting deep into the landscape. The Lonely Planet put the area on its top 10 list of regions in the world to visit in 2011.

Notes: Participation fee EUR 250 (Euros). Please note that the fee can either be transferred in advance via bank transfer, or paid for on arrival. The participation fee does not include the transportation from Reykjavík to the camp and back, which will cost EUR 75 one way or EUR 150 both ways.