May 2010

Dr. Anders Åslund speaks about "The Current Situation in Russia and What It Means for Sweden" at a SACU luncheon in Washington

Posted by Susanna at 9:38 AM, May 29, 2010 (Comments)

Category: People

Ingrid Beach and Dr. Anders Åslund

"THE CURRENT SITUATION in Russia and What It Means for Sweden" was the topic of a SACU (Swedish American Cultural Union) luncheon with Dr. Anders Åslund as the speaker on Thursday, May 27.

DR. Åslund, who is a Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University, spoke about the current social, political and economic situation in Russia and the implications that these circumstances have for Swedish foreign policy. He is a respected expert in the economics of Russia and central and eastern Europe, and has served as an economic adviser to the governments of Russia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan.

Dr. Åslund presents his new book - "Russia after the Global Economic Crisis."

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Theater Manager Kjerstin Dellert "Woman of the Year"

Posted by Susanna at 9:35 AM, May 27, 2010 (Comments)

Category: People

Kjerstin Dellert. Photo: Kerstin Alm.

KJERSTIN DELLERT, theater manager of Ulriksdal Palace Theater or Confidencen near Stockholm, has received the award "The Woman of The Year 2010" by SWEA (Swedish Women's Educational Association) International. She is being honored for her extensive work for this historical Swedish palace theater, which otherwise would have been forgotten. The Woman of the Year-award will be presented at SWEA's yearly Sweden dinner August 12. Since 1989 18 Swedish women - who in different ways have been "ambassadors" for Sweden received the honor Årets Svenska Kvinna (Woman of the Year).

KJERSTIN Dellert, who has been a force internationally in the cultural life, rediscovered Confidencen in 1981 two years after she retired from a successful career as an opera singer. She started her singing career at Stora Teatern (The Grand Theater) in Gothenburg, before joining the Royal Opera in Stockholm, where she worked for 25 years. She also toured extensively, with performances in Oslo, Copenhagen, Helsinki, London, Moscow, Warsaw, Hamburg, Bremen, Frankfurt, Munich, Basel, Montreux, Siena, Edinburgh and Montreal, among other places. Kjerstin Dellert has previously received several honors, for example Illis Quorum and Royal Musical Academy's gold medal.

ADDITIONALLY to the work with Ulriksdal Palace Theater or Confidencen, she has also produced a training film, which can be used in old-age care.

CONFIDENCEN is part of the Ulriksdal Palace estate; one of the five official residences of the Swedish Royal Family.

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AFTA celebrates 20th anniversary with tennis tournament at the Swedish residence in Washington, D.C.

Posted by Susanna at 3:29 PM, May 19, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Events

 The winners of the tournament and exhibition players together with the Swedish ambassador Jonas Hafström during the awards ceremony.

AFTA - the Arts for the Aging, Inc. (www.aftaarts.org) - celebrated its 20th anniversary with the annual tennis tournament and benefit. It was a well-attended, very successful event, with semifinals, finals and exhibition matches at the courts on the lawn of the Swedish residence in Northwest Washington, D.C. on Sunday, May 16. Earlier in the day, the tournament started out with round-robin mixed doubles matches at different private courts throughout the Washington metropolitan area.

THE PLAYERS at the exhibition were Elise Burgin, Fred Drilling, Chi Wan Kim, WJLA, Channel 7 lead weatherman Bob Ryan, H'Cone Thompson, Hai-Li Kong and Jordan Portner. Afterwards there was an awards ceremony at the residence where the tournament winners were presented their trophies, and a cocktail reception and a fabulous buffet followed. The honorary chairs of the tournament were Swedish ambassador Jonas Hafström and his wife Eva.

Eva Hafström, wife of the Swedish ambassador Jonas Hafström, and Janine Tursini, Executive Director of AFTA (Arts for the Aging, Inc.).

Gunilla Ramella; Bob Ryan, WJLA, Channel 7 weatherman, Washingtonian of the Year and Emmy Award winning former chief meteorologist of NBC4 News in Washington; and Eva Lamb.

Rhoda M. Septilici and Kristin Guiter

Leighton P. Roper Jr. and Mary Rentschler

Guests at the reception at the Swedish residence

Kuni Matsuda and Ross Peddicord, publisher of Maryland Life.

Agnes Li and Darrell Rico Doss

Professional tennis instructor and former Jugoslavian tennis star Luka Bambulovic

Bruce A. Neal and Cherie Orteza

Andrew Sostek, Heather McCabe and Rhoda M. Septilici

Gerhard Mally and Monique Summers Mally

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Opening receptions at Conner Contemporary Art and Industry Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Posted by Susanna at 9:03 AM, May 18, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Design & Art

Gallery owner Leigh Conner, Conner Contemporary Art, Dakota, and art collector Mera Rubell

CONNER Contemporary Art and Industry Gallery - both galleries located at 1358 Florida Avenue in Northeast Washington - opened new exhibitions on Saturday evening, May 15.

AT CONNER CONTEMPORARY ART two concurrent solo exhibitions are featuring new video and photographs by Janet Biggs (New York, NY) and performance and video by Mary Coble (Washington, D.C.). Nobody Rides for Free is Biggs' first solo exhibition with the gallery; Source marks Mary Coble's third exhibition at the gallery. The two exhibitions will run through July 3, 2010. Conner Contemporary ARt is at 1358 Florida Ave., N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002. Tel. 202-588-8750, www.connercontemporary.com.

New York-based designer Chris Rucker and photographer Maria Catalán. Rucker's solo exhibition "If I told you one time..." opened at Industry Gallery on Saturday, May 15.

INDUSTRY GALLERY hosts "If I told you one time...," which is the first solo U.S. exhibition for New York-based designer Chris Rucker. The exhibition, which will run through July 3, 2010, features 10 limited edition works and one installation all created during the past nine years. Industry Gallery is at 1358 Florida Ave., N.E., Washington, D.C., 2nd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20002. Tel. 202-399-1730, www.industrygallerydc.com.

Model Jennifer Williams and Septime Webre, Artistic Director of The Washington Ballet, at the Conner Contemporary Art opening.

Danielle St. Laurent, Heath and Janie Stockton

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Artist Beth Cartland opens solo show at Susan Calloway Fine Arts in Washington

Posted by Susanna at 3:03 PM, May 15, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Design & Art

Artist Beth Cartland and gallery owner Susan Calloway

THE OPENING OF artist Beth Cartland's solo show - "Multiple Choices" -- at Susan Calloway Fine Arts in Georgetown in Washington, D.C., was held on Friday evening, May 14. The show features a group of abstract paintings that embody the process of painting and illustrates the decision making involved in creating a work of art. Through formal tropes - color, line, composition - the artist builds the surface of a painting by responding to her own actions and surrounding environment.

Lisa and Jeff Franzen

BETH CARTLAND uses a wide range of techniques and materials in her art. She combines classic technique with an innovative view of the world. She is represented by galleries in Washington, D.C. and New York, and has exhibited throughout the United States, in Venezuela and with the International Women's Conference in Beijing, China. She also exhibits with the U.S. Department of State's Art in Embassies program and has shown work in Croatia and Pakistan.

MS.CARTLAND HAS studied in Germany, Texas, California and Rhode Island, and holds an MFA degree in painting from American University. She currently lives and works in Washington, D.C.

Architect Christian Zapatka

THE EXHIBITION WILL be up until June 11 at Susan Calloway Fine Arts, 1643 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20007. Tel. 202-965-4601, www.callowayart.com.

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Science Café on Women's Health at the House of Sweden in Washington

Posted by Susanna at 4:32 PM, May 13, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Events

Eva Hafström, wife of the Swedish Ambassador to the U.S.; Dr. Karin Schenck-Gustafsson, Karolinska Institute in Stockholm; Rear Admiral Susan Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.A.; Dr. Paula A. Johnson, Brigham and Women's Hospital; and Alexandra Charles, founder and chair of 1.6 Million Club.

HEART DISEASE is the leading killer of both men and women today. Even though more men die of the disease than women, females tend to be under-diagnosed, often to the point when it is too late to help once the condition is discovered. Other diseases that are of great concern to women today are breast cancer, osteoporosis, depression and autoimmune diseases.

ON MONDAY evening, May 10, women's health was discussed at the first event in the Science Café series on health and care issues at the House of Sweden in Washington, D.C. Swedish and American speakers presented and discussed important issues when it comes to these important health topics.

Ingrid Beach, Solveig Ternström, Swedish actress, director and congress woman, and a colleague.

AMONG THE SPEAKERS were Alexandra Charles, founder and chair of the 1.6 Million Club for Women's Health (www.1.6miljonerklubben.com); Dr. Paula A. Johnson, Brigham and Women's Hospital; Dr. Karin Schenck-Gustafsson, Karolinska Institute; and the moderator was Rear Admiral Susan Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.A.

THE EVENT, which was followed by a reception, was part of the Embassy of Sweden's "Health & Care" seminar series running at the House of Sweden until June 6. For more information: www.swedenabroad.com.

Swedish actress, director and congresswoman Solveig Ternström and Gunnar Bjursell of the University of Gothenburg and Stena A. Olssons Stiftelse för Forskning och Kultur, Gothenburg, Sweden, participated in the seminar on Culture and Health at the House of Sweden on Tuesday, May 11.

THE MAY 11 seminar on Culture and Health was a collaboration between the Embassy of Sweden, the Centre for Culture and Health at the University of Gothenburg and the Swedish Parliamentary Committee on Culture and Health, Swedish Arts Council. Amazing medical discoveries regarding aging, rehabilitation and well being were discussed at the seminar.

Alexandra Charles, founder and chair of 1.6 Million Club; Rear Admiral Susan Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.A.; Eva Hafström, wife of the Swedish Ambassador to the U.S.; Dr. Karin Schenck-Gustafsson, Karolinska Institute in Stockholm; and Dr. Paula A. Johnson, Brigham and Women's Hospital.

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Economic crisis didn't seem to hurt the popularity of the "Shortcut to Europe" in Washington

Posted by Susanna at 8:47 PM, May 12, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Events

Steven Brodd and Kerstin Henriksson performed traditional Swedish music at the House of Sweden during the European Union Embassies' Open House Day

"SHORTCUT TO EUROPE" - European Union Embassies' Open House Day in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, May 8 - came in the middle of a financial crisis that has hit the EU country Greece severely, but didn't seem to affect the festivities too much this beautiful sunny day in Washington. This year the EU highlighted the theme GREEN EUROPE: GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY AND THE ENVIRONMENT. Thousands of visitors were shuttled by free buses from one embassy to another. Somewhere between 1,500 and 2,000 people, for example, visited the Swedish Embassy. The countries also showcased their culture and food. The French offered wine, the Germans beer, the British whisky and the Swedes "kanelbullar" (cinnamon rolls).

Welcome to Sweden...

Coffee break...

Nothing beats the view from the rooftop of the Swedish Embassy and the House of Sweden!

Fjällräven backpack was formed as the Swedish flag at the House of Sweden.

Outside the House of Sweden -- with the fantastic view of the Potomac River.

Visitors waiting to be taken by bus to the next embassy.

The Greek Festival at Santa Sophia Cathedral in Washington will soon be here.

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"Exchanges of energies" in artwork at Hamiltonian Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Posted by Susanna at 8:48 AM, May 9, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Design & Art

Gallery owner Paul So, and founder of Hamiltonian Artists (www.hamiltonianartists.com), and gallery director Jacqueline Ionita of Hamiltonian Gallery in Washington, D.C. (www.hamiltoniangallery.com).

HAMILTONIAN GALLERY in Washington, D.C. is presenting a new three-person exhibition of paintings and installations by Hamiltonian Fellows Magnolia Laurie, Lina Vargas De La Hoz and Leah Frankel. By presenting physically binary relationships such as inside/outside and construction/destruction, each artist investigates exchanges of energies, and the ebb and flow of natural and social forces. The opening reception was held on Saturday, May 8.

THE EXHIBITION runs from May 8 through June 9. 1353 U Street, Suite 101, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009. Tel. 202-332-1116, www.hamiltonianartists.org and www.hamiltoniangallery.com.

Artists Leah Frankel (www.LeahHFrankel.com) and Lina Vargas De La Hoz

Matt Schneider and Aleid Ford (www.headforart.com)

Steven Krensky of Light Street Gallery in Baltimore (www.lightstreetgallery.com)

Elena Isella, Bipin Badhe and Eric Brewer

Lina Vargas De La Hoz's work "Pull Over 2" is composed of repurposed knit sweaters sewn together and stretched tauntly across the gallery so that the neck and armholes are intact.

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Swea founder Agneta Nilsson nominated for prestigious Ellis Island medal

Posted by Susanna at 11:39 AM, May 7, 2010 (Comments)

Category: People

Kate Novak; Agneta Nilsson, who will receive the 2010 Ellis Island Medal of Honor; Eva Hafström, wife of the Swedish ambassador to the U.S.; and Anne Marie McGowan at a reception at the House of Sweden, which started the SWEA World Meeting in Washington, D.C. in 2009.

AGNETA NILSSON, the founder of the Swedish Women's Educational Association (SWEA) (www.swea.org), is set to receive the 2010 Ellis Island Medal of Honor. The medal is awarded by the National Ethnic Coalition and Mrs. Nilsson will join the roster of distinguished American citizens who have already received this honor. The Ellis Island Medals of Honor was established in 1986 and pays tribute to the ancestry groups that comprise America's unique cultural mosaic. Both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Honor as one of the United States' most prestigious awards.

THE MEDAL WILL BE presented on Saturday, May 8, at a ceremony on Ellis Island in New York harbor. The event, in which all branches of the United States Armed Forces traditionally participate, is full of pageantry, grandeur and emotion. Dancers in their native costume add to the international flavor of the celebration. A gala dinner in the historic Great Hall on Ellis Island follows the moving ceremony. As a grand finale, a majestic fireworks display illuminates the sky and America's symbol of freedom, the Statue of Liberty.

Agneta Nilsson (to the right) together with photographer Kerstin Alm at the SWEA World Meeting in Washington, D.C. in 2009.

THE MEDALS ARE awarded to U.S. citizens from various ethnic backgrounds who exemplify outstanding qualities in both their personal and professional lives, while continuing to preserve the richness of their particular heritage. Since NECO's founding in 1986, more than 1,700 American citizens have received Ellis Islands Medal of Honor, including six American Presidents, several United States senators, Congressmen, Nobel Laureates, outstanding athletes, artists, clergy and military leaders. Mrs. Nilsson will be the third woman born in Sweden to receive the medal.

THE FOUNDING OF the National Ethnic Coalition was based on the conviction of its founders that the diversity of the American people is what makes the nation great. Its mission is to honor and preserve this diversity and to foster tolerance, respect and understanding among religious and ethnic groups.

FROM 1890 until 1954, Ellis Island was the gateway through which more than 12 million immigrants passed in their quest for freedom of speech, religion and economic opportunity. The Ellis Island Medals of Honor celebrate the richness and diversity of American life, honoring not only individuals, but the pluralism and democracy that have enabled the country's ancestry groups to maintain their identities while becoming integral parts of the American Way of life.

MRS. NILSSON founded SWEA, Swedish Women's Educational Association International, Inc. SWEA is a nonprofit global network with more than 8,000 members in 74 chapters across 34 countries. SWEA is the largest Swedish organization outside Swedish with the purpose to protect the Swedish language and provide information about the Swedish culture and traditions. Each year SWEA awards scholarships totaling about $300,000.

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Key stakeholders from Sweden and the U.S. Come Together to Discuss 'Sustainable, Affordable and Safe Health Care' at the House of Sweden

Posted by Susanna at 9:38 AM, May 6, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Events

A SEMINAR TITLED, "Sustainable, Affordable and Safe Health Care" and organized by the Embassy of Sweden, Swecare Foundation, Nashville Healthcare Council, the Swedish Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, and other partners will be held Thursday, May 20, 2010, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the House of Sweden, 2900 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. Lunch will be served.

EXPERTS AND stakeholders from Sweden and the United States will discuss how everything from architecture, medical equipment, treatment management and IT can be used to achieve sustainable, affordable and safe health care worldwide.

Among the speakers at the seminar will be:
Jonas Hafström, Ambassador of Sweden to the United States; Karin Lind-Mörnesten, Managing Director of Swecare Foundation; Jeff Goldsmith, President of Health Futures, Inc.; Johan Calltorp, Professor at the Nordic School of Public Health; Johanna Adami, Head of the Health Division for the Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation System; Jim Jirjis, Chief Medical Information Officer, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Trevor Gunn, Director of international relations, Medtronics, Inc.; Andrew Quirk, Senior Vice President of Healthcare Center of Excellence, Skanska USA Building, Inc.; Daniel A. Buehler, Vice President for Facilities Management and Construction, AmSurg Corp.; James Jorgensen, Chief Pharmacy Officer, Clarian Health; Susanna Svahn,Director of Uppsala Care, Uppsala University Hospital; Robert Saltman, Emory University/European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies; Lars Gatenback, Chairman, Swecare Foundation; and T.R. Reid, Health Care journalist.

THE SEMINAR IS a part of the "Health & Care" Spring Program being presented at the House of Sweden in Washington, D.C., from March 25 through June 6.

THE PUBLIC is invited to attend. Please RSVP at: RSVP-hos@foreign.ministry.se.  

FOR MORE information, visit: www.swedenabroad.com/washington or http://www.swecare.se/default.asp.

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Swedish Classical Guitarist Celia Linde performs in Washington

Posted by Susanna at 10:24 AM, May 5, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Events

Swedish classical guitarist Celia Linde after the performance in House of Sweden

ACCLAIMED SWEDISH classical guitarist Celia Linde performed a unique variety of music from Swedish folk tunes and contemporary Latin American music and Spanish music, to her own classical compositions on Sunday, April 25, at the House of Sweden in Washington, D.C. Ms. Linde is known for her personal style, her captivating temperament and for her wide range of musical interpretations.

CELIA LINDE IS a former student of Andrés Segovia and one of Scandinavia's most prominent guitar soloists. She won the first Prize in the International Segovia Fellowship Competition in New York 1986. At the time Segovia wrote about her: "Her technique is excellent and her musicianship exact, noble and expressive."

DURING THE OLYMPICS in Barcelona in 1992, Celia Linde was honored by being chosen to play a solo performance for heads of state, including the Kings and Queens of both Spain and Sweden. The Swedish Rikskonserter and The Art Foundation have commissioned works for her. Among Swedish composers who have created works for Linde are Sven-David Sandström, Tommie Haglund and Reine Jönsson.

CELIA LINDE PERFORMS standard works for guitar and orchestra, and tours frequently as a soloist throughout Europe, the United States, Canada and Turkey. Recently she was invited to perform in Japan and Korea, and she is often featured as a solo artist on National Swedish Radio-Television, and has also been profiled on the BBC, Denmark's Radio, Turkish Radio-Television (TRT) as well as New York's WNYC and other international radio stations.

IN 1988, Celia Linde entered the international concert circuit with a brilliant U.S. debut to a sold-out house in the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. She has recorded for labels such as Blue Bell, RCA and Caprice. Her own composition "Episodes on a Journey" is due to be released by Naxos/Proprius in August 2010. For more information, visit: www.celialinde.com.

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"Arts in Foggy Bottom" opens in Washington

Posted by Susanna at 1:05 PM, May 3, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Design & Art

Artists Gunnel Gyllenhoff and Sam Noto

IN CONJUNCTION with the "2010 Foggy Bottom Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit" in Washington, Watergate Gallery & Frame Design presented an exhibition of sculpture by selected sculptors, photographers and painters and hosted an opening reception on Saturday evening, May 1. The "2010 Foggy Bottom Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit" in Washington's Foggy Bottom area continues until October 23.

THE EXHIBITORS at the Watergate Gallery are Richard Binder, Alan Binstock, Mike Brining, Jeff Chyatte, Chas Colburn, Pattie Porter Firestone, Nancy Frankel, Seth Goldstein & Paula Stone, Don Herman, Mariah Josephy, Shirley Koller, Craig Kraft, Philippe Mougne, Sam Noto, Craig Schaffer, Mike Shaffer, Pamela Soldwedel, Garrett Strang, Swedish painter Gunnel Gyllenhoff, Richard Barrett and Jaime Rodriguez.

THE EXHIBITION at the gallery goes on until June 5. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The Watergate Gallery is located at 2552 Virginia Ave., N.W. Tel. 202-338-4488, www.watergategalleryframedesign.com.

Swedish artist Barbro Eriksdotter Gendell, Cecilia Gyllenhoff and Valerie Shubik

Inka Reilly and Ingrid Beach

Ulla Magnusson, Ingrid Beach and Inka Reilly in front of one of artist Gunnel Gyllenhoff's work.

Artists Gunnel Gyllenhoff and Sam Noto

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