From handicrafts to artistic creativity

Visually striking and beautiful is the result you get when traditional folk costumes meet the art of Guy Frisk in the summer exhibitions at the Cultural History Museum of Åland and Åland Island Art Museum.

Folk costumes always create a festive atmosphere. Tradition meets handicrafts in distinctive clothing, with unique patterns, colours and details that are specific to each municipality and region. The result is a boldly designed celebration of cultural heritage and a wonderful exhibition to visit.

The Cultural History Museum of Åland is hosting the exhibition “Folkdräkt: One hundred years of organised national costume work” in cooperation with Brage, a Finland-Swedish cultural association that works to preserve and spread information on Finnish folk costumes. The museum is contributing local folk costumes and stories to the exhibition. Indeed, every municipality in Åland has its own folk costume, with 16 different costumes represented. From Mariehamn, which is one of the few cities in Finland to have its own folk costume, to Sottunga, Finland’s smallest municipality.

As with society and culture in general, traditional Ålandic handicrafts offer a splendid fusion of Finnish and Swedish culture. In practice, this means a slightly more decorated, ornate style than found on the mainland, but not quite as ornate as the handicrafts found in Sweden.

ARTIST GUY FRISK (1943-2022) plays a central role in the Åland Island Art Museum summer exhibition. Frisk was born in Lovisa, moved to Åland in 1961 and became a well-known artist in Åland and the Nordic countries.

Frisk’s artistic range includes everything from watercolours, oil paintings and graphics to collages, drawings and self portraits. He worked in bright colours, often adopting new motifs and techniques. His paintings are enchanting, and his landscapes and figures have an almost desolate, still quality. His work is methodically built upon an architectonic structure.

In the Guy Frisk summer exhibition, the Åland Island Art Museum presents a prodigious and driven artist, thus providing museum visitors with a glimpse into his fabulous imagination.

In its other rooms, the Åland Island Art Museum is showing works from its collections under the theme Summer.

ARTS AND CRAFTS TO SEE

GULDVIVA and SALT in the Maritime Quarter. VIKTOR CRAFTS & DESIGN in Mariehamn. GALLERIET in Mariehamn. ELE & KELE in Mariehamn. STICKSTUGAN in Järsö. LUGNET KERAMIK in Hammarland. JUDYS KERAMIK in Finström. MIA ENGLUND in Smakbyn. ECKERÖ POST & CUSTOMS HOUSE in Eckerö.

Welcome to the Middle Ages and Kastelholm Castle

Completed in the 1380s, Kastelholm Castle is Åland’s only medieval castle. It is situated in a naturally beautiful setting, standing majestically remote at the foot of the Slottssundet sound. The golden age of the castle came about due to King Gustav I of Sweden and the role it played as part of the Swedish realm. However, the castle later declined in importance, eventually falling into ruin. Today, Kastelholm Castle has been restored to its former glory and is open as a living museum from spring to autumn. An exciting array of family activities, guided history tours, theatre productions and concerts bring in visitors from near and far.

Experience the many faces of Kastelholm

Kastelholm – an historic settlement in a naturally beautiful setting. Come by sea in your own boat or by road and savour the delicious food, play a lovely round of golf and see the many sights.

Kastelholms slott www.kastelholm.ax +358 457 3500 558, +358 18 25000

Vita Björn – A positively captivating museum

When the Vita Björn Crown remand prison was closed in 1975, so ended the centurieslong remand and prison tradition in the Kastelholm area. Today, the building serves as a prison museum, where you can learn about the evolution of incarceration, from the late 1700s all the way to 1950. From a time where chains and shackles were part of the prisoner’s everyday life to a more humane treatment of those behind bars. The Vita Björn Prison building is the oldest one of its kind in Finland and was opened as the first official prison museum in the country.

Jan Karlsgården – An open-air museum full of Ålandic traditions

The Jan Karlsgården open-air museum provides an idea of what life was like on a farm in Åland in the late 1800s. Today, there are some 20 buildings that have been moved here from all over Åland. Together, they offer the visitor a wide-ranging look into the building and farming culture of Åland, presenting the settings in which Ålanders lived and worked once upon a time. There are activities for the whole family at the museum.

Golf on world-class courses by the sea!

Slottsbanan, top ranked among Finnish golf courses, hosted the 2022 Ladies European Tour, and the golfers all agreed that it was one of the best courses they had played during the year. Slottsbanan is a unique golf experience! Golfers should also try Kungsbanan for a change of pace and an outstanding challenge, no matter what their skill level.

Handmade, old-fashioned candies with modern flavours

At Ålands Karamelleriet in Smakbyn, you can watch natural raw ingredients be transformed into tasty, colourful candies and lollipops right up close. Every candy is made by hand with passion. You’ll find everything from the classic “polkagris” peppermint candy to the gin tonic candy. And, we absolutely love giving out taste samples!

Smakbyn – an experience like no other

At Michael Björklund’s Smakbyn, guests can enjoy good food and drink. Smakbyn is much more than just a restaurant, where you can have lunch, dinner or a coffee. Here you’ll find a bakery, a shop filled with Smakbyn’s own products and those made by other talents, along with a pottery workshop, wine cellar and candy workshop.

Åland Distillery – an innovative institution

Just opposite Smakbyn, in the old Jan Karlsgårdens Wärdshus, is Åland Distillery. Here, we produce our gin and rosé gin, along with our long drinks. We organise guided tours in the distillery and taste tests of our drinks in our restaurant and bar, where you can also get a bite to eat or have a coffee. Åland Distillery is open every day during the summer, but we do accept reservations all year round.