✦ Project Description

“JääValo” pays homage to the long-held Finnish winter solstice tradition of families gathering together and crafting himmelis by reinterpreting the traditional himmeli shape through a contemporary lens. The himmeli symbolizes the connections that exist between earthly and celestial realms. Himmelis are traditionally crafted during the holiday season to pay homage to the night sky during the winter solstice as well as to ensure good crop yields for the upcoming years.

Being from the tight knit Finnish immigrant community of Thunder Bay, Ontario, this work serves as a reflection of the artist’s cultural identity and celebrates both Finnish paganism and Canadian modernity while also serving as a visual representation of their family’s journey of cultural integration. The piece not only honors the rituals of past generations but also speaks to the evolving ways in which we celebrate and share our cultural traditions in a globalized world.