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.