Italienska Palatset and the King of the Palace

So all this time I have been writing about our adventures near and far, about our town and where we live. However, one thing I have yet to write about is one of the main reasons we are here. This reason is Adam and the Italienska Palatset (Italian Palace). Adam has been working as an artist in resident in the city of Växjö. He has been graciously given a studio to work in at the Italienska Palatset, an artist coop. There are many studios in the building, over 25 artists, workshops of all types, a gallery and a community kitchen to share lunch and fika (coffee and snack break). The building has a lot of history because it was an old mental institution that held some of southern Sweden's most insane people. Some people who worked at the institution thought it should be burnt to the ground when it was closed but others decided that it should be saved and turned into something else, something positive. This something else is the art coop that exists today. It is very interesting being in the building (especially in the dark basements) and thinking about what was going on there when it was a mental institution. With all it's history, it is still a very fun place to be, with nice people and a good spread of artist influence. From the beginning, people (some more than others)  have been extremely helpful and welcoming to Adam (and Jasper and I during our occasional visits).

Here is a side look at the main entrance of the building, as well as, the bike parking.

A couple of days after arriving in Växjö, Adam began meeting his contacts from the Palatset and got right to work. When he arrived he found a studio not much bigger than his own at home but with brighter light and taller ceilings. Oh, and it overlooks a lake. It is just enough, with the influence of his travels, to get inspiration flowing. 

Adam goes to the Palatset 5 days out of the week and paints from around 10:00am to 5:00 or 6:00pm. As he is there, he paints, meets other artist and learns about the art that they create. He also practices and attempts to learn more Swedish during their daily lunch meetings. Not only does he work on his art while he is there, he learns a lot about the community and the culture. I know this because of the stories he tells me when he comes home. One story was about an artist who had brought her dog to the Palatset because she was getting her dog ready to go on a doggy date and hopefully make some puppies! Another story I heard was when a man invited Adam into his studio for about 2 hours showing him all the different paintings he was working on and some of his techniques. This seemed to be inspiring for Adam because he started to try one of the artist's techniques on his more recent paintings. These types of invitations are common.

Adam's studio, where the magic happens!

This is a very unique experience for me because Adam is working away from home and I do not travel to his studio often. I am use to seeing all his work in many different stages. Now when I go I am seeing a lot of new work that I did not see him create at all. For the first time in my life I have went to one of Adam's shows without knowing all the paintings that would be in it.

We have been here for a almost two months and Adam has just hung a show. The show is at the Växjö Kommun (city hall) building, in the front entrance. It is very cool because Adam has placed paintings back to back in between window panes so you can see paintings on the outside and on the inside. It's almost like two different shows. The exhibition is full of different extinct animals, birds, Swedish cottages and bicycles. The support from the city has been great! Adam has been published in three different newspapers in Småland, the region containing Växjö. While he was hanging his show he had a group of college visitors from a different city coming to view his work. I know if we stayed here long enough for people to see his work, they would fall in love with it just like home.

This is a view of Lake Trummen that is outside the Italienska Palatset. Adam walks or bikes on this path everyday to work.

This view is of the Italienska Palatset from the path by the lake

This is the gallery outside of Adam's studio. His studio is the one with the open door.

Looking out to the gallery from Adam's studio

Adam at work painting a red cottage and a bike!

Jasper doing his share of Sweden inspired painting!

Here we are checking out a new show that was put up in the gallery when our family visited. You can see Adam's painting that was in it. It is the bright one on the far wall.

One of Adam's pieces that he did for a show to help raise awareness of an old building possibly getting torn down.

One of Adam's pieces with the Koltrast (blackbird) in it, Sweden's unofficial national bird.

Adam's artist statement and info hanging up for his first solo show at the Växjö Kommun.

The inside of the Växjö Kommun building entrance with Adam's paintings in the windows. The paintings are back to back so you can see some inside and some outside. Because the windows are bright and they do not yet have spot lights inside, the paintings are a bit dark. However they are not as dark as they look in the photo.

Some of the paintings from an outside view. They are so full of color that you can not miss them when walking down the more dull winter street.

A farther view of the entrance to the Växjö Kommun building with Adam's paintings in the windows

From now on, Adam will continue to work on more paintings and has begun collaborating with other artists. Adam says that our trip has affected his painting already, but he feels the inspiration will be more present in his future paintings here and when we return home. So, stay in touch with the new paintings he is doing if you would like to see more. Until then, we are about to head on a little adventure touring the province of Skåne for an art tour that happens every year over Easter. Galleries and local artists open up their doors to display all kinds of art for people to enjoy.

Borg: A Castle or Stronghold

Last I wrote we were looking forward to the arrival of Grandma Beth and Grandpa Paul Borg, as well as Great Grandma Diane. Now that visit has come and gone and many adventures have been had which I will now share with you. Our cottage was quite cozy with 5 adults and 1 child, all living together. It suited us very well after a day of adventures when we would come home, light a fire in the stove and group around the table for a nice home cooked meal or some fresh smoked fish.

We took adventures into town and traveled the countryside to the famous kingdom of crystal and the quaint, old seaside town of Kalmar. We did this in our trusty minibus! (which at some points seemed larger than our cottage)

When we arrived in Sweden, Adam and I could not help but notice that the name Borg was incorporated into business names, neighborhoods, castles and street names. So as you imagine when the Borgs (or mostly Borgs) arrived, it was not hard for them to get interested as well. On our adventure we found out that the word Borg means castle or stronghold. That name also explained a lot about what we did during our travels. No matter where we went there was always a castle or a castle ruin to see. Some were very old and falling apart and others were magnificent and still being used. We discovered what the word borg meant and had traveled to a lot of castles and were thus inclined to notice other things with the name of Borg on them. One of these things we found, which happened to line up with one of our favorite past times, was a brand of beer called Tuborg, the beer of Danish kings. As the adventures continued with the family, that theme continued to keep our interest. We traveled out into the country and also into the big city of Copenhagen, Denmark. Copenhagen was full of beautiful buildings, old traditions, people, bicycles, beers and boats. Plenty of things to help a person enjoy a well rounded cultural experience!

And since our adventures had many laughs, a few struggles and was overall a whirlwind of a time, I will let the photos below explain the rest!

Jasper showing Grandma Beth and Great Grandma Diane our local duck friends on their day of arrival

We toured Adam's art studio at the Italian Palace

The Teleborg castle which is located near the Italian Palace. It is now a restaurant and motel.

Here, Jasper is looking at the complex gears that operate the clock in front of the castle.

Sitting down in our cottage to a good bowl of lentil soup and a salad that was prepared by all!

This is the front of the Kronoberg Castle ruin. This castle ruin is on an island connected by a long bridge to the main. This ruin is just 5km north of the Vaxjo city center.

Crossing the ice to reach the side of the Kronoberg Castle ruin. We were happy that it was winter when we visited so we could use the ice to get across. If there had been no ice then we would not have been able to explore around the entire castle.

Looking inside one of the windows of the Kronoberg castle ruin. There was some kind of wooded piece of equipment inside but we were not sure what it was.

Adam, coming out of one of the back gated entrances of the Kronoberg's castle ruin

 Papa Borg and I on the castle wall. It was really neat to see the vegetation growing on top of the castle. It has become a "natural" part of the earth once again. It will be more interesting to see what it looks like in many years to come.

The whole family in the front of the castle ruin.

Jasper watching glass blowing at Kosta Boda. This is the biggest and oldest, still operating glass factory in the crystal kingdom. The province of Sweden we live in is called Småland and it is famous for glass blowing. They let you walk into the factory and watch them work, up close and personal.This is just one of the many groups of people in this same room working on different shapes of blown glass.

Another glass blowing crew at Kosta Boda glass factory.

Here we are in the city of Kalmar. It is on the east coast and surrounded by the Baltic Sea. After a good meal we headed toward a very old part of town with cobblestone streets and quaint little houses.

Some of the houses on one of the streets in gamla stan (old town) in Kalmar. You can see my dad strolling in the street ahead.

A nice side entrance going into one of the houses in gamla stan. I loved all the different colors in the neighborhood. Notice the nice stone walkway, red painted flowers on the white fence and yellow door with a colorful painted face next to it.

I really liked the look of this house. It was actually up kept very well even though it does not look so right away. I liked the old wood showing from under the stone wall siding.

The Kalmar castle. This castle is also built up on an island with a long bridge connecting it to the mainland.

A sunset view from the bridge walking to the castle

Another view from the bridge walking to the castle.

Leaving the entrance of the castle and heading back to the town.

Jasper and Grandpa starting a fire after a long day of adventuring. It is a good view from above.

Downtown Växjö doing some browsing and shopping

Here are a few of our old Swedish friends that hang around in our cottage with us, helping us prepare for our journey to Copenhagen, Denmark.

On the train to Copenhagen

Jasper, hanging out by some bicycles as we wait for a table at a restaurant in Copenhagen. Still, bicycles everywhere!

My dad looking at some locally brewed beers (in the bottle) made with grains that are grown in the area. I tired the IPA and it was very good. It was a nice change from all the lagers in Sweden. This was our first night adventure in Denmark.
 

Frk. Barners Kaelder was the name of the restaurant we went to, serving traditional Danish cuisine.

Two royal guards doing their job guarding the Queen of Denmark's home. We went to watch the changing of the guards which happens every day around 12 noon. There is a very long ceremony that happens which includes a lot of music and marching.

Here we are in the middle of the square, where the changing of the guards happens. (Jasper, Adam, Me, my mom Beth, Grandma Diane, my dad Paul)

The guards marching before the changing of the guards

Guards waiting during the changing of the guards

The family arriving at one of the canals in the city.

This canal was full of culture and amazing colors

Bicycles and boat, what a great combination!

More of the canal

and more

Here we are having a beer outside one of the cafes. All of the cafes had just set up their outside seating with outside bars. It was so great because they supplied everyone with a blanket so you could be cozy warm, enjoying a refreshment outside, even if it was not so warm.

My mom and dad enjoying a drink outside and my dad supporting his recently bought NORWEAR sweater.

We continued our journey to a nice park near a harbor in search of the little mermaid. This is a awesome church that was made of all kinds of stones. In front you can see my Grandma walking towards it supporting the Danish flag on her shopping bag!
 

A closer look at the church doors and stone work around on it

The park we walked through to get to the little mermaid.

After only two days of adventuring in Copenhagen, we escorted the family to the train station and sent them on their way back to the states. Hej då!

Jasper, Adam and I decided to stay in Copenhagen for a while longer and went to the National Museum where Jasper had turned into a medieval Knight!
 

After a long journey we are headed back home to Växjö

Two of our other friends, welcoming us back to our cottage on the lake.

Now, after a week of touring the countryside and cities, we are back to our "normal" life in our cozy city and cottage. I am sure Jasper and I will find some more fun kid adventures and Adam will be painting and getting ready for his show at Växjö Kommun (City Hall)!