Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Boggs
Hi Erin, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been writing since I was a teenager, but it was primarily a creative exercise for myself, it was my therapy. I had never really felt a strong desire to publish or exhibit my work. That all changed when I went to Iceland for the first time in March 2022. As I say in my poem Exit to Iceland, “It began with a concert, and a meeting in a gallery…”
Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz) is partially responsible for all of this. He was performing at Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavik and was the catalyst for me going to Iceland for the first time. So, I booked my trip, and while planning what else to do in Iceland, I was curious to see Einar Örn’s art. I’ve known Einar’s work since I saw him perform with the Sugarcubes in 1989 and I also follow his art via Instagram. I reached out to him to ask if he was exhibiting and as luck would have it, he responded “yes.” I met him at a gallery in Reykjavik and was impressed by his “sorry no break” exhibition. I was so inspired by Einar’s work and my overall experience in Iceland that I began writing immediately. When the idea to create an immersive art experience came to mind, I reached out to Einar to ask if he wanted to collaborate and again, he responded “yes.” The idea behind this project was to create a coffee table book and an immersive art experience incorporating Einar’s art, my poetry, and music by Icelandic musician Kaktus Einarsson. Two and a half years later, Einar and I launched A Journey of Iceland- From Darkness to Light at the Listamenn Gallery in Reykjavik on November 2, 2024 and will exhibit at the Dublin Arts Council in Dublin, Ohio March 8 – April 25 2025.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
This journey has been an incredible learning and growth opportunity. For A Journey of Iceland, the creative process was smooth, and collaborating with Einar and Kaktus has been such a rewarding experience. Einar and I have a playfully antagonistic relationship. He’s notorious for saying something off the cuff during interviews just to razz me. I’m convinced we were siblings in a past life.
But there were some struggles in the execution of the project. The biggest hurdles we had to get over were finding gallery spaces that were a right fit for the immersive art exhibition and a publisher for the book. While Einar is recognized globally for his work, I am relatively unknown. Convincing galleries and publishers to accept our project was a lengthy and tedious process. I remember waking up on my birthday to the news that our proposal had been rejected by two different galleries. You definitely learn how to accept rejection and carry on. It all worked out in the end because we’re exhibiting in at least two countries and I’m hopeful we’ll find a US or European publisher who is interested in the book so we can expand distribution.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a writer, poet, and creative collaborator. My immersive projects incorporate writing, art, and music. A Journey of Iceland- From Darkness to Light is based on my visit to Iceland and interactions with Icelandic artist Einar Örn and Icelandic musician Kaktus Einarsson. What sets this project apart is the collaborative approach to incorporating different art forms to create a conversation. A Journey of Iceland is primarily a conversation between me and Einar. I write about my experience of Iceland from the perspective of an alien, a foreigner, and Einar responds as a local Icelander. Kaktus joins the conversation with the soundscapes that he created to help set the tone..
This is just the beginning for me. A Journey of Iceland is the first in a series that I will create based on different countries that I have visited. The purpose of my projects is to create a human connection through immersive art experiences and so the A Journey of series allows me to combine my love for travel with my passion for writing, art and music. If my words or the project as a whole resonates with people, then I consider it a success.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
It took a village to bring A Journey of Iceland- From Darkness to Light into the world. First and foremost, I am grateful to Einar and Kaktus for their collaboration. I am also grateful to Ámundi for his brilliant book design, to Magnea Matthíasdóttir for translating my poems from English to Icelandic, to Smekkleysa SM for publishing the book, to Listamenn Gallery for the Reykjavik exhibition in November 2024, to Dublin Arts Council for the Ohio exhibition in March 2025, for the team at Tvist for managing PR in Reykjavik, for Meredith Liepert at Rising Star Publicity for managing PR for the Ohio exhibition, to my cousin Jessica Swank for her unconditional love and encouragement, and to my friends and family for all of their support along the way.
Pricing:
- $70-A Journey of Iceland book available at Dublin Arts Council during the exhibition March 08 – April 25 2025
- 9,800 Icelandic krona (approx $70)- A Journey of Iceland book available via Smekkleysa.net
- $2,000- A Journey of Iceland art will be sold at Dublin Arts Council during the exhibition March 08 – April 25 2025. Each piece includes charcoal on paper art drawn by Einar Örn and poem by Erin Boggs written in English and Icelandic
Contact Info:
- Website: https://erinboggs.art/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinboggs.art/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erinboggs.art/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-boggs-435a7b337/
- Other: https://smekkleysa.net/shop/smekkleysa-books/a-journey-of-iceland-from-darkness-to-light/
