ICELAND. Land of Fire, Ice, and Art. August 7-14, Member Travel Department at (312)

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1 ICELAND Land of Fire, Ice, and Art August 7-14, 2015 This travel program is specially designed for Art Institute members. For more information or to become a member, please phone the Member Travel Department at (312)

2 Dear Friends, I m thrilled to invite you to join fellow museum supporters on our upcoming one-of-a-kind cultural journey to Iceland, created exclusively for the Art Institute of Chicago. Sitting astride North Atlantic currents and transport routes, Iceland is most famous for its fascinating natural wonders. It is the world s youngest country geologically speaking, with active volcanoes, powerful geysers, towering cliffs, and immense waterfalls creating a raw, primitive natural wonderland. This tour certainly pays homage to those incredible sites, from Strokkur geyser to Gullfloss waterfalls to the black beach of Reynisfjara. The people of Iceland have also created their own share of wonders, and our specially designed itinerary will allow you to discover the historical and contemporary artists, sculptors, and craftspeople who have developed remote Iceland s remarkable cultural heritage. You will spend a day visiting prominent Reykjavik artists in their studios and learn about Iceland native and art dynamo Olafur Eliasson while taking a VIP private tour of the beautiful new Harpa concert hall. You will encounter unexpected elegance at the President s residence, the Hallgrimskirka Cathedral, and a lovely outdoor sculpture garden. We have gone out of our way to also provide authentic tastes of Iceland with great meals at contemporary and traditional restaurants, encounters with important literary figures, accommodations at a great city-center hotel with classic streamlined Nordic design, and special experiences such as testing the waters at the outdoor Blue Lagoon spa and baking hot spring bread using Iceland s natural geothermal energy. I hope that you will join us in Iceland next summer for a week of unforgettable cultural exploration! Sincerely, Aleksandra Matic Associate Director of Member Travel ART INSTITUTE STUDY LEADER Annie Morse, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Museum Education and its liaison to the academic community, coordinates leads public gallery talks, coordinates an annual Graduate Student Seminar, and teaches at the School of the Art Institute and the Hyde Park Art Center. Annie graduated from the School of the Art Institute s Master s program in Modern Art History, Theory, and Criticism and earned a Master s in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is also an independent curator who has worked with the Contemporary Arts Council, the Hyde Park Art Center, and Columbia College Chicago. For information, call International Seminar Design, Inc. at (202) or the Art Institute s Member Travel Department at (312)

3 I CELAND Custom Art Institute Itinerary Friday, August 7 Departure Depart on independent flights to Reykjavik. Saturday, August 8 Reykjavik Arrivals Upon arrival in Reykjavik, board a group transfer to the Alda Hotel, perfectly located in the center of downtown. After a group breakfast at the hotel, set out on an orientation tour of the city. See the presidential residence at Bessasta ir and its beautiful church. Continue to the Pearl, a glass dome and modern building built on top of the water tanks of Reykjavik, and enjoy stunning panoramic views of the city from its balcony. Admire Hallgrímskirkja Cathedral, designed by Iceland s most beloved architect Gu ón Samúelsson. Finish the morning at the Einar Jónsson sculpture garden and museum, also designed by Samúelsson. After lunch with the group, check in to the hotel and enjoy free time to relax or explore more of Reykjavik on your own. Rejoin the group this evening for a festive welcome dinner. Alda Hotel (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) Sunday, August 9 Iceland s Natural Wonders Set out for Gljúfrasteinn, home and workplace of Halldór Laxness, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1955 and the only Icelandic Nobel laureate. Continue to Thingvellir National Park, the ancient site of the world s first parliament and a jewel of nature, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the village of Laugarvatn, dig up and taste newly baked hot spring bread baked over 24 hours in the warm earth, and experience how Icelanders have been harnessing geothermal power, long before energy power plants came into existence. See Iceland s most active geyser, Strokkur, and the beautiful Gullfoss Golden Waterfalls. Alda Hotel (Breakfast, Lunch, Tasting) Monday, August 10 Iceland through the Ages Travel through the Hellishei i plateau and stop at the quaint geothermal village of Hverager i. Continue along the south coast and admire the surrounding fertile farmlands and numerous glacial rivers en A Winter Moon Rises over the Pearl route to the Seljaland waterfall. After lunch at a local farm-guesthouse, continue to the quaint village of Skógar. Visit the folklore museum in Skógar to see how Icelanders lived through the centuries. Continue along the glacier of Solheimajokull, an impressive and majestic sight, before stopping at the black beach of Reynisfjara to admire the gorgeous vistas. Surrounded by the ocean, glaciers and cliffs, this beach is one of the most beautiful in the country. Return to Reykjavik for an independent evening. Alda Hotel (Breakfast, Lunch) Tuesday, August 11 Sagas and Waterfalls Drive along the stunning scenery of Hvalfjör ur fjord and marvel at its steep cliffs and varied landscapes. This particular fjord is one of the largest whaling stations in Iceland, and also served as a naval base for the British and American navies during World War II. Continue to Borgarnes, where the Icelandic sagas are brought to life by walking in the footsteps of the Vikings. Visit Bjorgafjordur, on the trail of Viking warrior and poet Egill Skallagrimsson and Reykholt, home of poet, saga author, and medieval scholar Snorri Sturluson. At the Icelandic Settlement Centre, learn how Viking sailors conquered the open ocean, and why they left their homeland of Norway. En route back to Reykjavik, stop at a local farm for a tasting of seasonal traditional Icelandic dishes. Alda Hotel (Breakfast, Lunch, Tasting) Wednesday, August 12 Reykjavik Begin with a private guided tour of the new Harpa Conference Centre, designed by Henning Larsen Architects in cooperation with Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Photo by O Palsson

4 Land of Fire, Ice, and Art Photo by gamene Photo by Ragnheiður Sveinsdóttir Photo by CaptainOates Bridge over Blue Lagoon Bessasta ir - Gömul hús Inside Harpa, the new Reykjavík Concert Hall Eliasson. Walk to the Kraum Gallery, which hosts many Icelandic designers, both established and up-and-coming, and showcases works ranging from jewelry and clothes to furniture and decorative objects. Finish the morning with a private guided tour of Iceland s art history at the National Gallery of Iceland. After free time for lunch, spend the afternoon at the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, located in a lava field on the Rykjanes Peninsula. Finish the afternoon with a harbor cruise and admire the colorful birdlife of several nearby islands. Return to Reykjavik for an independent evening. Alda Hotel (Breakfast) Thursday, August 13 Reykjavik s Local Art Scene Spend the morning visiting with several local artists in their workshops. Visit a painter at her studio, which is housed in an old fisherman s hut. Hear an Icelandic jewelry designer describe his creative process. Visit a local gallery and meet with artists who have a studio on site. Continue to the Reykjavik Art Museum for a private guided tour of its contemporary collection. After free time for lunch and to prepare for tomorrow s departures, rejoin the group for an Icelandic farewell feast at the Grill Market, run by a member of the National Icelandic Team of Chefs. Alda Hotel (Breakfast, Dinner) Friday, August 14 Depart for the United States Board a group transfer to Reykjavik s international airport for flights back to the United States. (Breakfast) View from Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavik Photo by Christine Zenino For additional information, phone ISDI at (202) orthe Art Institute s Member Travel Department at (312) Cover Photo: Thinkvellir by Johan Wieland

5 Space is limited, so register today! Tour Cost: Land Only: $4,495 Single Supplement: $995 Tour price is per person based on double occupancy, with a minimum of 20 paying participants. Land prices are calculated as of December 2014 and are subject to change. Dates: August 7-14, 2015 Activity Level: Moderate; city walking tours Deposit & Final Payment: A deposit of $1,000 per paying participant is required to guarantee participation in the program. This deposit may be paid by check or by Visa or MasterCard. Final payment will be invoiced and is due on April 29, 2015 by check only to International Seminar Design, Inc. Registrants will be accepted beyond this date on a space-available basis with payment in full by check only. Flights: Airfare is not included in the tour price. Participants are responsible for all aspects of their round-trip air arrangements into and out of Reykjavik, Iceland. Terms & Conditions: International Seminar Design, Inc. (ISDI) acts only as an agent for the participant with respect to transportation, accommodations, and all other services relating to this tour. ISDI, the Art Institute of Chicago, and/or their agents assume no responsibility or liability for any act, error or omission, or for any injury, loss, accident, delay or irregularity, which may be caused by any defect in any aircraft, ship, train, bus, or other carrier, or through neglect or default of any subcontractor or other third party, which may be used wholly or in part in the performance of their duty to the participants of the tour. ISDI and the Art Institute of Chicago reserve the right to cancel any tour prior to departure for any reason including insufficient numbers of participants, as well as the right to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the tour at any time. If bookings fall below the minimum required, passengers will be advised of additional costs or itinerary alterations before departure date. Cancellations & Refunds: All cancellations must be received in writing by ISDI, and are subject to a non-refundable administrative fee of $500 per person. Written cancellation received by ISDI on or before April 29, 2015: full refund minus $500 per person administrative fee. Written cancellation received by ISDI between April 30 and June 23, 2015: 50 percent of tour cost per person. Cancellations received on or after June 24, 2015: no refund. After the tour has commenced, it is not possible to issue any refunds. No refunds for any unused portion of the tour including, but not limited to, occasional missed meals or any missed sightseeing tours. Costs for promotion, staff, and other group expenses are not refundable. In the case of cancellation, substitutions are not accepted. The tour cost is non-transferable. If ISDI or the Art Institute of Chicago cancels the tour, active registrants will receive a full refund of all tour payments. A package of cancellation, baggage, and medical insurance is strongly recommended. Travel Insurance: All tour participants are strongly encouraged to purchase travel insurance, regardless of present good health. Should one need to cancel participation in this travel program, trip cancellation insurance may be the only source of reimbursement. ISDI must strictly abide by the cancellation terms outlined above. Purchasing travel insurance is the best way to protect your financial investment in the trip against unexpected complications. A travel insurance brochure will be sent upon receipt of registration and deposit. Waiver and Release In order to participate in this travel program, you will be required to complete an Art Institute of Chicago Waiver and Release form that will be provided to you prior to departure. Tour Price Inclusions: 6 nights at the Alda Hotel; breakfast daily, 4 lunches, 2 tastings, 2 dinners, wine at dinners; Art Institute of Chicago study leader; services of an ISDI Tour Manager; entrance to all visits on itinerary; land transportation by private coach; 1 group transfer to/from the Reykjavik airport upon arrival and departure; gratuities to local guides and drivers. Tour Price Exclusions: Airfare, airline taxes, and fuel surcharges; individual transfers to and from the airport for individuals not using the group transfers; excursions, activities, or meals marked optional on the itinerary; personal items; personal services; travel extensions; personal insurance for health, baggage, and tour cancellation; any other items not specifically included in the itinerary International Seminar Design, Inc. / CST Name (as listed on passport) Name (as listed on passport) Address ROOMING OPTIONS: (please select) Double Occupancy ( We prefer separate beds) Single Supplement ($995) I will share a room with I would like a roommate but will pay the price of the single supplement if one cannot be found. SIGNATURE / DATE SIGNATURE / DATE Birth date Birth date City State Zip Daytime Telephone / Cell Phone Address please send mailings to my to receive information more quickly / $ Number of Persons / Amount Enclosed DEPOSIT BY: Card Number ICELAND: Land of Fire, Ice, and Art August 7-14, 2015 VISA or MASTERCARD CHECK (payable to ISDI) / / Exp. (mm/yy) Billing Zip Code (if different from above) The undersigned has read the tour itinerary and recognizes and accepts any risks therein. The undersigned also understands and hereby agrees for and on behalf of his/her dependents, heirs, executors, administrators and assigns to abide by the conditions set forth in the terms and conditions listed in this brochure and to release and hold harmless the Art Institute of Chicago and International Seminar Design, Inc. (ISDI) and any of their officers, trustees, agents, licenses, or representatives, from any and all liability for delays, injuries, or death or for the loss of and/ or damage to his/her property however occurring during any portion of, or in relation to, this tour. EACH PARTICIPANT MUST SIGN Registration invalid without signature Complete and return to: International Seminar Design, Inc Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 101 Washington, DC Fax: (202) / info@isditravel.com

6 Iceland: Land of Fire, Ice, and Art August 7-14, 2015 Enjoy accommodations at the superior Hotel Alda, located in the center of Iceland s vibrant capital and near the city s finest cultural attractions and best restaurants. Meet with local artists and artisans in their workshops and galleries. Visit the sculpture garden and museum dedicated to the works of Einar Jónsson, Iceland s first sculptor. Tour Highlights Art Institute of Chicago Member Travel 111 South Michigan Ave Chicago, IL PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID ABR Take a guided tour of the new Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Center, whose stunning glass façade was designed by renowned visual artist Olafur Eliassson. Discover Iceland s natural beauty, from fjords and geysers to beaches and waterfalls. Photo by O Palsson Photo by Stuart Chalmers Photo by jayneandd Sculpture by Einar Jónsson The Blue Lagoon Take a dip in the world-renowned Blue Lagoon and revel in the healing powers of the mineral rich geothermal spa. Gullfoss Waterfall