Selárdalur in the Westfjords - Samúel Jónsson

WORK/PROJECT: SEEDS Volunteers will be working for the seventh year helping and supporting the restoration of the artworks of Samúel Jónsson, an Icelandic folk artist, who lived in Selárdalur. We will be restoring an old church made by the artist himself and its surroundings.

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.

The restoration works will include carpentry, concrete wall building and light maintenance work in the church, like oiling the wood, etc. We will help finish building a fence around the area and prepare a grill fire place.

During his years of artistic production he produced unique concrete statues using sand of a local beach. SEEDS will continue supporting this project, as the buildings have been decaying since the artist’s death in 1969.

ACCOMMODATION: The volunteers will be hosted in a local house, in sleeping bag accommodation with mattresses on the floor. Please bring you own sleeping bag.

Food supplies will be provided and a kitchen will be available, volunteers will share the different duties of cooking and cleaning. Do not forget some traditional/typical food from your country for an international evening.

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.

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 altar, 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!

Samúel Jónsson could first fully devote himself to creative activities after his retirement as a farmer and then he began building palaces and sculptures. Samúel built a grotesque but charming resemblance to the lion’s fountain in the Alhambra-palace in Granada, Spain, and sculptures of seals and other animals as of figures from Icelandic history like Leif the lucky who found America.

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 organizations 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.

The distance from Reykjavik to Selárdalur is about 500 km (8-9 hours drive) via the Whale Bay tunnel; it is perhaps one of Iceland's most remote areas and a very peaceful and beautiful place to enjoy.

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

TERMINAL: Closest International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF).

SEEDS organises a “minibus option”, a shared transport from Reykjavík & back. Apart from being cheaper and convenient, it allows participants to meet and have a relaxed trip, while stopping on the way for interesting sites.

Departure from Reykjavík will be at 7:00 am in the morning of July 1 from SEEDS office. After the camp, we will arrive back to Reykjavík in the evening of July 15.

EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS: Participation fee EUR 200 (Euros). Please note that the fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic crowns.

The participation fee does not include the transportation from Reykjavík to the camp and back but we estimate the costs about EUR 75 each way.

Volunteers need to be prepared for physical work, to experience all kinds of weather and bring warm clothes as the project takes place outside and the weather can be cold.   SEEDS and/or our hosting partner will organise free time activities in the area. This will include sightseeing, hiking, swimming in natural hot pots, etc.

Age: 18+