Hamrahlíð school celebrates 60 years with alumni arts programme

Menntaskólinn við Hamrahlíð, an upper secondary school, marked its 60th anniversary with a day of events on Saturday, mbl.is reported. The anniversary fell on Thursday, 60 years after then-principal Guðmundur Arnlaugsson first opened the school in autumn 1966.

Former students were invited to find their old tables in Matgarður, the school dining hall, and reminisce. The Sómalía catering service served dishes associated with school days, including oxtail soup, hard-boiled eggs, shrimp sandwiches and Fílakaramellur sweets.

Guided tours of the school began every hour. One teacher, who had also attended the school, led each tour alongside a current student, and both shared stories from their school years.

An art exhibition ran from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the lower floor of the new school building and elsewhere. Former students who are now artists curated the exhibition. Works were by Agnes Ásta Guðmundsdóttir, Alex Hellsing, Björn Ingi Baldvinsson, Elísabet Úa Þórhallsdóttir, Eva Claire Sæmundsdóttir, Gríma Valsdóttir, Halldór Hrafnkell Thorlacius, Hera Katrín Karlsdóttir, Hildur Margrét Bolladóttir, Hjaltalín Hanný Aspar, Hulda Biering, Illugi Vilhelmsson, Ingibjörg Þórðardóttir, Ingunn Eyja, Irma Sara, Jóhanna Júlíusdóttir, Jórunn Elanóra Haraldsdóttir, Konráð Bjartur Bryndísarson Torfason, Kristjón Karl Guðmannsson, Lára Stefanía Guðnadóttir, Mirra Þórhallsdóttir, Nína Þorbjörg Árnadóttir, Ollie Birki Sánchez-Brunete, Saga Eldarsdóttir, Steinunn Vikar Jónsdóttir, Tómas Van Oosterhout and Þórhallur Runólfsson.

In the school’s north basement, poets known as Hamraskáld, both past and present, read from their work. Participants included Gerður Kristný, Þórunn Erla Valdimarsdóttir, Fríða Ísberg, Bergur Ebbi, Yrsa Þöll Gylfadóttir, Brynja Hjálmsdóttir, Nína Sólveig Svavarsdóttir, Þórdís Dröfn, Margrét Lóa, Embla Karen Egilsdóttir and Andrejs Macanovs.

A panel discussion, titled The Art School at Hamrahlíð, examined the school’s role and influence on Icelandic arts. Speakers were Berglind María Tómasdóttir, dean of music at the Iceland University of the Arts; Páll Valsson, editor and publisher at Bjartur; Auður Jörundsdóttir, exhibition project manager at the National Gallery of Iceland; and Nína Hjálmarsdóttir, lecturer in the university’s performing arts department.

Former students who are now musicians performed at a concert in the evening. The line-up included Páll Óskar and Benni Hemm Hemm, Snorri Helgason, Ragnheiður Gröndal, Meðaltal, Svigrúm, Gammósíur, Tommi G, Unnsteinn Manuel, Lára, Litlasveit, Salsakommúnan and Baggalútur.