At the end of the year

At the end of the year, it is good to look back and reflect.

Unfortunately, we did not manage to open the exhibition this year, as construction work was delayed due to a complicated application process and bad weather. I may have been overly optimistic at the start of the year, but it is optimism that drives us forward – isn’t it?

I therefore had more time to prepare the exhibition, which turned out to be beneficial, as the project is larger than I initially envisioned.

I would like to highlight some of the key things that were done in 2024 in preparation for the exhibition.

In January, a dedicated section was opened on the website where stories about dogs were uploaded. Stories can be added at any time, and I encourage you to send me stories if you would like to share something about Icelandic sheepdogs – your own or others. Stories you have heard or read are also welcome. Including photos, if available, is always a bonus.

In February, we brought in a film crew to record material (photos and videos) for the exhibition. This work was supported by a grant from the Development Fund for Northwest Iceland.

In the spring, we invested in a beautiful house (pre-cut but unassembled) and began preparing the foundation. 

Most of the summer’s work focused on construction, and photos of the process can be seen on the project's Facebook page.

In July, I attended an event at Glaumbær on Icelandic Sheepdog Day and was invited to present the project to visitors. The collaboration with the Skagafjörður Heritage Museum is very dear to me, and I look forward to continuing this partnership.

In the autumn, I purchased several old pictures, primarily copper engravings of Icelandic sheepdogs. I found these treasures in antique shops in Europe and the United States, and they will be on display at the exhibition.

I applied for additional grants to complete the preparation and installation, and I received positive responses from both the Ministry of Culture and Business Affairs and the Cultural Fund of the Skagafjörður Co-op. I am deeply grateful for this support.

The autumn was also dedicated to continued reading, research, and writing. I now feel ready to take the final step, and I hope to be able to open the exhibition in April or May.

Just before Christmas, we hosted an event on our farm and opened our turf house. Visitors also had the chance to peek inside the new building, even though it is not yet fully completed.

We set up various items to provide insight into the upcoming exhibition, and the film material recorded in February was shown for the first time, which was very well received by our guests.

I bid farewell to this year with immense gratitude to everyone who has supported me in this project, worked for me, encouraged me, given me a pat on the back, sent me books, stories, pictures, or other interesting materials.

Last but not least, I thank my family for their patience and belief in my ideas, which I rarely tire of developing and bringing to life.

Attached to this post is a photo taken in Glaumbær in February when we were allowed to record material there.

Thank you for following along, and I wish you all a happy and peaceful new year.