Culture and sculpture

CULTURE AND

SCULPTURE Sandnessjøen

The centre of Sandnessjøen is home to a small treasure trove of sculptures. This brochure is intended as a tour guide for those visiting the town centre and wanting to spend 20 – 30 minutes following the sculpture trail, taking in all eight sculptures. We also hope that local residents may be interested in finding out more about the sculptures that we see in our town centre every day.

Enjoy the tour!

8 SHOPS TAXI

2 Sjøbergsgate

POST OFFICE

Helgelandsgate

6

4

5 SHOPS AND RESIDENTIAL UNITS

SHOPS – CAFÉ SHOPPING CENTRE

TOWN CENTRE - PEDESTRIAN ZONE

1

PARK

SHOPS - BANK TOURIST INFORMATION - PIZZA

CAFÉ DEPARTMENT STORE

SANDNESSJØEN HARBOUR

3

Torolv Kveldulvssonsgate

BANK

7

SHOPS

RESTAURANT

GUEST HARBOUR

Skippergt.

TERMINAL

RICA HOTEL

BUS TERMINAL

Torolv Kveldulvssonsgate

KIOSK

HURTIGRUTEN PIER

SANDNESSJØEN TOWN CENTRE

1. Torolv Kveldulvsson

2. Bakersvenden

3. Tassen

4. Petter Dass

5. Sigrid på Sandnes

6. Seileren

7. Skule V. Storheill

8. Anchor cable link

(Skarv)

Suggested starting point

Sculpture

Pavilion

1. Torolv Kveldulvsson

Sandnessjøen has paid tribute to the Viking Torolv Kveldulvsson by naming a street in his honour.

The town also has a sculpture of this well known Viking character.

The Torolv sculpture stands right in front of the post office and the Skansen shopping centre in the pedestrian zone.

Who created the sculpture?

The sculpture was created by Norwegian sculptor Arne Johan Vinje Gunnerud (1930–2007). Gunnerud has created designs both in Norway and abroad. His works can be found at Oslo University Hospital, the University of Bergen and the Norwegian embassies in Tokyo and Lisbon.

About Torolv Kveldulvsson Torolv Kveldulvsson (year of birth unknown)

was married to Sigrid Sigurdsdatter (also known as Sigrid på Sandnes). In Egil’s Saga Torolv is portrayed as a chieftain from a prominent family, and he was King Harald Fairhair’s lendmann – a high-ranking governor. The couple lived at Sigrid’s farm in Sandnes. Torolv was murdered in 890 AD.

2. Bakersvenden - The Baker’s Boy

This is one of two wooden sculptures in the town centre.

“Bakersvenden” can be found outside one of the cafés in the pedestrian zone.

Who created the sculpture?

The sculpture was created by local sculptor, author and painter Ståle Botn (b. 1945). He takes much of the inspiration for both his sculptures and writings from the Viking Age.

About “Bakersvenden” “Bakersvenden” portrays a young Viking boy carrying a basket of bread. Made from Danish elm, the sculpture was unveiled in 2002. Elm is a very hardy material once it has undergone a drying process.

3. Tassen - The Little Boy

By the entrance to Helgeland Sparebank stands a cheerful creature – a little boy. The sculpture is called “Tassen”.

Who created the sculpture?

The creator of “Tassen” is Norwegian sculptor Solveyg Schafferer (b. 1928). The sculpture appeared in Sandnessjøen in 2008.

About “Tassen” The sculpture was originally named “Ut i naturen” (in nature) – perhaps an appropriate name as the boy is wearing a sou’wester

and rubber boots. There are 12 copies of the sculpture “Tassen” in existence, and they can be found outside the bank’s branches in the Helgeland district. “Tassen” symbolises kindness, happiness and optimism. The bank wishes to reward local communities in the form of artworks that can be enjoyed by the public and that have been created by a renowned artist.

4. Petter Dass

At the market square stands a statue of the poet and clergyman Petter Dass.

Who created the sculpture?

Sculptor Skule Waksvik (b. 1927) is the creator of the Petter Dass sculpture. Waksvik has created a number of sculptures in the region. The artist himself has links to the Helgeland region through his mother, who was born in Dønna.

About Petter Dass Petter Dass (1647–1707) was the vicar of Alstahaug from 1689 until his death. He

arrived in Alstahaug while training for the priesthood and was subsequently given the parish, which had its headquarters in the town. He trained at the University of Copenhagen. He was married with two children.

His wife Margaret came from Vefsn. His son Anders took over his father’s position after Petter Dass’ death.

The poetry of Petter Dass has left an indelible mark on Norwegian cultural heritage. He has been a significant influence in Danish/Norwegian literary history.

Information about Petter Dass can be found at www.petterdass.no.

5. Sigrid på Sandnes

In the park stands a statue of Sigrid Sigurdsdatter – also known as Sigrid på Sandnes.

Who created the sculpture?

The bronze sculpture was created by Skule Waksvik.

About Sigrid på Sandnes Sigrid is one of the very few women men-

tioned in Snorre’s kings’ sagas. She lived around the year 850. Her father, Sigurd Herse, was a well-off and prominent man at the time and owned the Sandnes manor on the island of Alstenøya. This gave Sigrid high status in political circles. She was the sole heir to the manor, where she lived with her husband Torolv Kveldulvsson. Sigrid was twice married and twice widowed.

6. Seileren - The Sailor

This is the second wooden sculpture in the town centre. It is named “Seileren” and can be found outside the Coop department store and the Fjord Brygge office building.

Who created the sculpture?

The sculpture was created by Ståle Botn.

About “Seileren” “Seileren” was unveiled in 2005 and was designed for the Fjord Brygge office complex.

The sculpture is inspired by Viking sailors and explorers.

7. Skule V. Storheill

On the pier outside the Coop department store stands a bust of Skule Valentin Storheill (1907–1992). Storheill was a navy officer during WWII. The local division of the Norwegian Reserve Officers’ Federation wanted to honour Storheill’s memory and had a bust of him erected.

Who created the sculpture?

The bust was created by Skule Waksvik.

About Skule V. Storheill Storheill was born and raised in Brønnøysund. He took part in the allied landings in Normandy in 1944 with the destroyer “Stord”. After the end of the war he served as the chief of the Royal Norwegian

Navy and made a significant contribution to developing the defence of northern Norway. He has held a number of international military positions. From 1958 he was Commander-in-Chief of northern Norway.

He finished his military career as director of the Norwegian Defence University College (1967–69). Storheill was awarded the Krigskorset military medal for his contribution.

8. SKARV – Anchor cable link

This sculpture is located in the guest harbour in Sandnessjøen.

It is an anchor cable link placed on a low plinth.

Who created the sculpture?

The idea for the sculpture originated at the annual boat fair in Sandnessjøen. The anchor cable link was treated and prepared as a sculpture by Ruukki Construction’s division in Sandnessjøen.

About the anchor cable link The sculpture was a gift from the oil operator BP. It was unveiled in 2010 during the

opening of the boat fair. The anchor cable link belongs to the anchor cable onboard the production vessel “Skarv FPSO”, which produces oil and gas. In August 2011 the brand new production vessel arrived at the oil field Skarv, around 160 kilometres off the coast of Helgeland. It is anchored in the oil field and will continue to produce oil and gas there for many years to come.

Sandnessjøen has even more sculptures on offer, including: “Vindenes hus” – The House of Winds Next to route 17 (FV 17) approaching Sandnessjøen you can see “Vindenes hus” next to the first picnic site after the Helgeland bridge. The sculpture is part of “Skulpturlandskap Nordland”, an outdoor collection of sculptures across the county of Nordland. “Vindenes hus” is a 5-metre tall circular sculpture made out of concrete. It was unveiled in 1994 and was created by Sissel Tolaas (b. 1959). As its name suggests, the sculpture is all about the wind and has 12 propellers catching the wind from all directions. The forces of nature are preserved in a hermetic unit, according to the artist.

“Elgen” – The Elk “Elgen” is a life-sized bronze sculpture. It is also located next to route FV 17, at Horvnesåsen around one kilometre after “Vindenes hus” on the approach to Sandnessjøen. The sculpture has tricked many a late-night traveller into thinking that it is a real elk that is gazing across the landscape. The creator of “Elgen” is Skule Waksvik.

“Skipet” – The Ship Outside the Øyvindsenteret office complex at Sandnes, right next to route FV 17, you can see the monument “Skipet”. The design depicts a Viking ship and is around 8 metres wide, 4 metres tall and made from stone. The creator of “Skipet” is Ståle Botn.

Sculpture outside Alstahaug town hall Boasting great views of the Alstenfjorden, Alstahaug town hall is located in Stamnes, around 1.5 kilometres from the town centre. It is home to a sculpture created by Arne Johan Vinje Gunnerud. Gunnerud also created “Torolv Kveldulvsson” in the pedestrian zone in the centre of Sandnessjøen. The town hall sculpture is thought to be without a name.

Dr Ragnvald Bakke In the entrance lobby of the Helgelandssykehuset Sandnessjøen hospital stands a bust of Dr Ragnvald Bakke (1886–1973). Dr Bakke was a revered and popular doctor who showed great commitment in his work at the hospital. He is described as a knowledgeable and visionary physician. The bust was unveiled in 2007 and was created by Skule Waksvik.

Definitions

Sculpture: - from the Latin sculpere, which means to carve. In an artistic context it is a three-dimensional artwork.

Statue: - from the Latin statua, meaning a sculptural depiction of a creature – usually a human or animal.

Statuette: - a small statue.

Bust: - a sculptural depiction of a head.

Layout: Balto Media & Design - www.baltodesign.no

• Produced by: HALD IKS (2011) With support from the municipality of Alstahaug.