Sångshyttan Micro Calendar2024-06-01T15:55:58+00:00

Sångshyttan Micro Season Calendar

Inspired by Japanese tradition and Alexa Firmenich on her blog Lifeworlds, we now create a micro season calendar. We follow life on the farm as it unfolds over the course of a year. It describes different events and important relationships that we have with the more than human world on the farm. Instead of dividing each day into one of four seasons, the Japanese calendar is divided into 72 different sections. Each of these sections lies within one of 24 divisions, all of which have been given descriptively beautiful names. The 72 sections (or kō) only last for about five days each, but still perfectly describe what happens as life blossoms and ebbs.

22 – 27 January / A light in the dark

Just as dusk turns to darkness, I walk from the sauna up to the house where a window shines like a beacon. In the shelter of the lime trees, the Tawny owls begin to prepare for new life. Perhaps the hollow will be populated again in the spring?

16 – 21 January / Moonlit morning ice

Again it has been a few days of thaw and rain. The yard is turning to ice and I need my studded shoes to be able to move freely without slipping. The moon shines its way for me in the early morning.

10 – 15 January / Lynx tracks

The lynx moves around without being seen, only the tracks remain. The big cat is a long-awaited guest, shy and sharp, an important part of the ecosystem.

4 – 9 January / Crispy winter

It is crisply clean like breathing clear crystal. When the sun shines from a clear sky, everything suddenly feels lighter. Winter's heavy curtain of darkness may need to be pulled back sometimes. There have been many dark, foggy, snowy and windy days. The joy is also noticeable around the bird table where Great tits, Blue tits and Bullfinches have a sunflower party.

30 December – 3 January / Ice Astonishing forms i

On New Year's Eve, I take my camera and carefully walk out onto the ice that has formed overnight. It has turned cold again and the rain-soaked ice that almost released its grip has frozen again. I am completely absorbed for a long time. Slowly I move along the shoreline and incredible shapes of all kinds appear in the ice. It is like a spectacle. I have heard on the weather service that it will snow during the evening so I took many pictures. What a joy to be in contact with the ice, the changes, the beauty.

25 – 29 December / Talking to the mother tree

The year is coming to an end. I sit down and feel the power of the big larch tree that stands in the centre of the village. It is old and in touch with the living network underground. I pray for strength, I talk about all the deforestation that is happening around the village, I let both my fear and joy breathe in with the large tree crown and the roughly shaped bark, thick and scarred. I suddenly taste my salty tears.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Subscribe and get updates from Sångshyttan Art.

We don´t Spam! Read Our Privacy Policy for more information.

Go to Top