Environmental art in Iceland

By ⋅ November 16, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment
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(Photo courtesy of Progresschrome)

For today’s Geo Quiz, we head for the southern-most village in Iceland. This quaint Icelandic village is 100 miles or so south-east of the capital Reykjavik. About 300 people live there, at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.

The town also sits in the shadow of both a glacier and a volcano. Its beaches are covered with beautiful, black volcanic sand. This Icelandic outpost is one of several far-flung settings for an environmental art project called 350 Earth. In each place, artists are creating displays that are big enough to be seen from space.

So, name this southern-most Icelandic town that’s home to Atlantic puffins, black sandy beaches and the Katla volcano.

Geo Answer:

The answer is the village of Vik. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with environmentalist Bill McKibben about a global art project called 350 Earth designed to highlight the impact of climate change around the world, and with artist Bjargey Ólafsdóttir who will create a huge mural of a polar bear in Vik, Iceland. (see video below)

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350 Iceland by Cinematographer Bergsteinn Björgúlfsson from 350Team on Vimeo.

Discussion

2 comments for “Environmental art in Iceland”

  • http://www.maxsinger.com max

    let’s see if i get it: to highlight the issue of the melting icecap the artist will create an outline of a polar bear in tents and then FLY OVER IT IN A HELICOPTER USING GADS OF CARBON DIOXIDE EMITTING FOSSIL FUEL to take a picture of it? Why not sent up a helium ballon with a remote camera?

    • MVee

      Max…Good point…do you have one ??? A remote camera that is, cause we don’t and this action is a volunteer funded one?