From Helsinki to Pulju, via Kitila

We flew Finnair from Helsinki to Kittila, rented a car, and drove to Pulju where our log cabin sits in the middle of nowhere. High above the actic circle every thing is clean with fresh air.  We plan to drive farther north to Alta in Norway and look at the Arctic Ocean.   

Reindeer Safari, Shooting with a 16mm, SLR, Zoom Lens

 Reindeer in the rain.  The camera is weather sealed, so I wasn't concerned about a few drops.

We drove north about 15 miles from our cabin and found a reindeer farm.  There also were a group of wild ones wandering along the road.

Design Museum, Helsinki

The glass show was extensive. The most impressive technique was used to layer cut rims of multiple colors.  The discs were stacked and fused togeather.

These blown glass goblets were produced in 1969!

World Design Capital, 2012

These banners are hung throughout the city.

 The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design announced, that the appointment of World Design Capital 2012 has been conferred to the City of Helsinki.  Design is an effective tool for social, cultural and economic development. 



Kemp Galleria, Helsinki



 Helsinki Design includes well-known global brands, such as Nokia, Kone and Marimekko, popular events, like the annual Helsinki Design Week, outstanding education and research institutions, such as the University of Art and Design Helsinki, and exemplary architects and designers such as Eliel Saarinen and Alvar Aalto.




marimekko

 

Design Museum

A major force in Nordic design, Kaj Frank 1911-1989 was founding designer of the hugely influential Finnish glass industry. He designed for Iitalia and Arabia.

Sufraget City, The Helsinki City Museum

Gail is meeting some of Finland's most influential women's rights activists.

Finland was first in many areas of women's rights. Finland was then the first country where women could fully exercise their voting rights and eligibility to stand for elective office in 1906.

Artek Store, Helsinki

artek is a Finnish company founded in 1935 by four people: architect Alvar Aalto and his wife Aino Aalto, visual arts promoter Maire Gullichsen and the art historian Nils-Gustav Hahl.  They believed in combining art and technology, emphasizing technical expertise in production with high quality materials.  This credo echoed the main ideas of the Bauhaus, a German art / design school, and the International Style of architecture.  Historically based design with ornamentation was considered frivolous and taboo.