Collections from Lapua, Finland – working on / mapping ideas….
Jan 2017 – Artist residency at Vanha Paukku kulttuuri- ja yrityskeskus, Lapua, Finland
I took part in a two week residency in Cultural Centre Vanha Paukku, Lapua in Finland. Vanha Paukku is an arts complex with galleries, a museum, artist residency building with studios, visitors centre, library, artisan shops, cafeteria and a movie theatre. During the two weeks, I had a studio in the main residency building. I made great connections there and also spent some time in Helsinki.
The Vanha Paukku building was previously The State Cartridge Factory established in 1923, a significant employer and important part of Finnish history. In 1976 an explosion in the loading department took the lives of 40 factory employees, a significant national tragedy for Finland. Their museum in the complex focused on local histories, their famous tragedy and traditions including wartime Finland. I learned of its communist connections and saw artifacts and interesting imagery and logos associated with it. There is also a shooting range in Vanha Paukku where a local marksman Arvi (who worked in the new Nammo Lapua Ammunition factory) practices. He showed me the Lapua bullets and memorabilia he collected and even taught me to shoot a rifle. He gave me a few bullet shell mementos that have Lapua impressed on them. I want to use the documentation I took of his office, memorabilia and the Lapua bullets to make some new prints. I have a collection that I started in America of old gun prints which I can now develop more with the Lapua bullet collection and imagery. The town’s crest also has very striking imagery of a man with a club riding a polar bear.
Collected items from Wanderlust and Fantastic Oddities
Shooting a gun with Lupua bullets
Lapua coat of arms
Mid Winter Sun – the view from our apartment – in little lockdown residency
Christmas trees – end of winter folklore, St Knut’s Day etc
Snow piles, coming from somewhere with not enough snow for this I always love seeing these snow piles. I got used to them after living part of my time in Oslo in 2017 & 2018 just after this residency. A fake snow pile could look great in an exhibition.
Lapua Gun museum in the old factory
Suomi items
Johanna Leech 