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All Iceland Selárdalur Valley

Selárdalur Valley

A "simple-hearted artist" turned an isolated Icelandic valley into his own art museum.

Iceland

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Rachel James
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Samúel Jónsson’s chapel, built to hold altar he built for the local church.   Flickr User: karawho
Samúel Jónsson’s chapel, built to hold altar he built for the local church.   Flickr User: karawho
Another angle of the sculpture garden.   Flickr User: Maya
  Flickr User: karawho
The replica of the Alhambra Lions Fountain.   Flickr User: nik
The museum that houses the rest of Jónsson’s work.   Flickr User: nik
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About

Farmer-turned-Folk artist Samúel Jónsson never managed to make much of a living as a painter, but after he retired the "simple-hearted artist" devoted his last years to churning out as much creativity as possible.

The untrained artist started in earnest in 1954 while in his 70's, turning his isolated valley at Brautarholt in Selárdalur into a crude but impressive sculpture garden and self-made showcase. His concrete creations include animals of both land and sea, a replica of the Alhambra Lions Fountain, and a comic-like statue of Leifur Eiriksson. Apart from the large outdoors sculptures, Jónsson also constructed a chapel and his own museum to showcase his numerous works and paintings.

Much like the museum, the chapel was created to house an already existing peice of art—an altar made for a local church that turned down his generous gift. Undaunted by the church's rejection, Jónsson just built his own chapel with a small tower on top, and the altar was officially home. 

In 1969, the passionate artisan died, and the harsh Icelandic weather wreaked havoc on his creations. In 1998 it was decided that his work should be restored, a project that went into effect in 2004. The association in charge of the restoration is hoping to finish the site with a visitor's center, an artist complex complete with studios and apartments, and exposition facilities. 

 

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Art Outsider Art Statues Sculpture Gardens Sculptures
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Added By

Rachel

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Doctor Peg, aribrown

  • Doctor Peg
  • aribrown

Published

March 18, 2013

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Sources
  • http://stuckiniceland.com/westfjords/the-art-gallery-at-the-edge-of-iceland/
  • http://outsider-environments.blogspot.com/2012/12/samuel-jonsson-chapel-museum-and.html
Selárdalur Valley
Ketildalsvegur
Iceland
65.778611, -24.003611

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