Deer. In the wilds of of Finland, in the myths of Valhalla, the reindeer in Lapland. The history of the animal is deep in Nordic history. Visit a collection of vibrant deer by Newton Art Association member Ann Marie O’Dowd in her exhibit My Deer.
On display through April.
ABOUT ANN MARIE: Ann Marie O’Dowd is an experienced artist living in the Greater Boston community who specializes in bright acrylic depictions of people, animals, and still lives on canvas. After graduating from Mass Art with a degree in photography, Ann Marie took a hiatus from her artistic career in order to raise her three daughters. After returning to art, Ann Marie shifted her focus from black and white manual photography to acrylic painting. Working from a large supply of black and white photographs from her past, Ann Marie began creating her own colors and patterns to fill these vintage photographs with new life. Over 15 years have passed since Ann Marie began painting, and she is now a well-established artist with exhibits and clients both local and abroad. From billy goats to chihuahua’s, children to adults, Ann Marie brings life to her paintings through unique patterns and a bold and lively palette, creating a telling portrait in every work of art. Ann Marie describes how the physical qualities of both paint, and painting, make the experience and outcome of her work so gratifying. When asked how she came to create her recognizable style Ann Marie states her motto: “it’s only paint!”. A saying which serves as a daily reminder that it is OK to be daring, try new things, and make mistakes with paint. more
Join Fjällräven, Malden Reads, and the The Scandinavian Cultural Centerfor an evening on Scandinavian Culture! We will be discussing the book, “A Man Called Ove” by Swedish Author Fredrik Backman. Learn more about the Scandinavian culture referenced in this New York Times Best Seller! Drinks, in-store promotions, and more!
Thursday, May 25th | 7-9pm | Fjällräven, 63 Church St, Cambridge, MA
FREE with RSVP
This visually breathtaking film tells the story of a young army officer who gives up everything – his family, career, social standing – to embark on a passionate affair with a beautiful circus performer. Despite their hopeless love, they live a life of lighthearted carelessness and do not realize they are heading down an irreversible path to tragedy. Gorgeous cinematography and music by Mozart and Vivaldi add to the charm of Bo Widerberg’s exquisite 1967 film.
91 minutes. In Swedish and Danish with English subtitles.
Free; donations accepted.
Films start at 1:30pm. Refreshments for attendees are served at 1pm. Lunch (not included) is available in the Kaffestugan, which is open until 3pm every Saturday.
After their public showing movies in our film series become part of the Scandinavian Library’s collection of DVDs available for borrowing by Library members.
The 72-year-old Finn Esko Ketola is a four-times world champion weightlifter, and before the strong-as-an-ox senior resigns and leaves the stage to younger forces, he plans to take the first prize at a last World Cup. But the road to the podium and to the final triumph takes more than just discipline and hard training, and it is paved with events that even the stubborn Esko could not have predicted! Finnish deadpan meets ‘Rocky’ in an offbeat and different film about stopping while you are on top of the game –accompanied by Scandinavia’s answer to the soundtrack of a relaxed spaghetti western, recorded by the two directors Janiv Oskar and Terhi Romo themselves. The charming Iron Grandpa is both unmistakably Scandinavian in tone and fundamentally human in its narrative.
Don’t miss the New England premiere of The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki, winner of Un Certain Regard prize at the Cannes Film Festival and 8-time Jussi award winner, including Best Picture.
The true story of Olli Mäki, the famous Finnish boxer who had a shot at the 1962 World Featherweight title. Immensely talented and equally modest, Olli’s small town life is transformed when he is swept into national stardom and suddenly regarded as a symbol of his country. There’s only one problem: Olli has just fallen in love. Directed by Juho Kuosmanen (Finland, Germany, Sweden, 2016).
“So gracefully does The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki sidestep the formulaic mold of struggle, perseverance and simple victory or defeat that it could almost be considered an anti-fight picture.” —Hollywood Reporter
Saturday, April 21st | 1pm | $10; free for SCC Members
In a secluded Icelandic valley sheep farmers Gummi and Kiddi live side by side but have not spoken in four decades. When a lethal disease suddenly infects their ancestral sheep stock, they need to stave off disaster in their own ways. As the authorities close in, the brothers will need to come together to save the special breed of sheep passed down for generations, as well as themselves, from extinction.
93 minutes. In Icelandic with English subtitles.
Free; donations accepted.
Films start at 1:30pm. Refreshments for attendees are served at 1pm. Lunch (not included) is available in the Kaffestugan, which is open until 3pm every Saturday.
After their public showing movies in our film series become part of the Scandinavian Library’s collection of DVDs available for borrowing by Library members.
The indigenous, Samí rapper Nils Rune Utsi – aka SlinCraze – lives with his mother in Máze, a nearly abandoned town in the Arctic Highlands of Norway. His dream is to make a living from his music and maybe even become world famous. The only problem is that less than 20.000 people speak his endangered language.
Saturday, June 24th | 2pm | tickets $8 | free for SCC Members
70 min. | In Norwegian and Northern Sámi with English subtitles
Drop in for the next installment of our Nordic Kids Series. This month we make paskris. We will decorate branches with brightly colored feathers in a Swedish tradition to bring the sunshine inside and symbolize the coming of spring.
Space is limited. Advanced registration suggested.
Sunday, April 9th | 12:30 pm
Admission $5; Free for SCC Members
ABOUT ANN MARIE: Ann Marie O’Dowd is an experienced artist living in the Greater Boston community who specializes in bright acrylic depictions of people, animals, and still lives on canvas. After graduating from Mass Art with a degree in photography, Ann Marie took a hiatus from her artistic career in order to raise her three daughters. After returning to art, Ann Marie shifted her focus from black and white manual photography to acrylic painting. Working from a large supply of black and white photographs from her past, Ann Marie began creating her own colors and patterns to fill these vintage photographs with new life. Over 15 years have passed since Ann Marie began painting, and she is now a well-established artist with exhibits and clients both local and abroad. From billy goats to chihuahua’s, children to adults, Ann Marie brings life to her paintings through unique patterns and a bold and lively palette, creating a telling portrait in every work of art. Ann Marie describes how the physical qualities of both paint, and painting, make the experience and outcome of her work so gratifying. When asked how she came to create her recognizable style Ann Marie states her motto: “it’s only paint!”. A saying which serves as a daily reminder that it is OK to be daring, try new things, and make mistakes with paint. more