Walsh Kunkel Plays Winter Lights Festival in Iceland

Stages Instructor Walsh Kunkel recently had the opportunity to travel to Iceland with some members of the band Animal Collective & friends (Abigail Portner, Ellicott Hooligan, David Portner, Mikey Powers, Shane McCord, Brian Weitz and Deakin), where they had the honor of entertaining Icelanders for two nights in Reykjavik and two nights in Seydisfjordur as part of a Winter Lights Festival, merging interactive displays of light and sound. 

Every year the award-winning List í Ljósi festival celebrates the return of the sun to a remote, East Iceland fjord. During the final two days of darkness, the town of Seyðisfjörður turns off all of its lights and welcomes a selection of international and national artists to illuminate the wild landscape with contemporary artworks on a thrilling scale. 

Alongside the unique outdoor exhibition, this renowned, free festival attracts visitors and participants from across the globe to experience a program of film screenings, performances, and events to both generate and gather a creative community.

The project was the brainchild of Abigail Portner, a visual artist and production designer who creates large-scale interactive installations, videos and sculptures. Her goal with this project is to reflect her appreciation for her time in Iceland, which she credits as being a “healing and positive break” that brings her positive energy, even in dark times.

Check out these captivating photos from Walsh’s Iceland travels.