By Elle Anderson
Photographs have a way of expressing feelings without verbally saying anything. Photographs can make you feel a certain way or help see a new perspective. In almost every photograph there is a story and this story begins in Iceland. Lynn Fundingsland began taking photographs when he was eight years old and fell in love with the urban landscape during Cub Scouts. “It is challenging and rewarding to interpret a landscape”, says Fundingsland.
Fundingsland graduated from Humboldt State University (Arcata, CA) with a Bachelors Degree in Art with an emphasis in photography. His photographs have been published in Midwest Living, North Country Constitution (Arcata, CA), Fargo Forum, Theatre Arts News and ND Horizons Magazine. He has been represented in art galleries from Fargo, Bismarck, Detroit Lakes, Grand Forks, Minot, Moorhead and Arcata.
While traveling throughout Iceland, Fundingsland was able to capture photographs that show Iceland in a whole new way. Iceland has a smaller population than North Dakota (about 350,000). While staying in Iceland, Fundingsland was supposed to stay at a hostel but the reservations were mixed up. The hostel was full and so he stayed with the owner’s mother. She welcomed them in with open arms and offered space to sleep. In the morning Fundingsland was greeted with smiles and coffee and a view of mist-covered mountains and her pasture of sheep.
In collaboration with the Scandinavian Hjemkomst Festival, the Spirit Room is displaying photographs of Iceland by Fundingsland. The exhibit is open to the public and free to attend. Fundingsland states, “Iceland- This place is unique with its other-worldly landscapes, waterfalls at every turn, a European/Nordic culture and a nice balance of rural and urban settings.”
IF YOU GO
Lynn Fundingsland, Traveling Through Iceland
Reception, Friday, June 24, 4:30-7pm; Gallery Talk, 5pm
The Spirit Room, 111 Broadway N, Fargo
(701) 237-0230
