Heima, which means Home in Icelandic, is a collection of portraits and their corresponding stories created during my residency in Seydisfjordur, Iceland. Inspired by my interactions with the close knit community, with a population under 700, I began to discover home 4000 miles away from my own.
Maggie is a poet and performance based artist. Her performances are layered with levels of complexity as she questions the variety of roles she plays in life.
Cordula lives in Demark while she fixes up her home in Seyðisfjörður. Her house is called Breidablik which has three meanings, my favorite being the light connecting the sky and earth. She works as a carpenter, building most of what she brings to Breidablik in Denmark before transporting it back on the ferry.
Elgur is an offspring from the only stallion her Father has bred. Elgur had been to three different trainers but none of them succeeded. Her Father decided to give it a try, riding him in deep snow so it was less likely he could run away. “He was very closed off and afraid, but curious, and therefore I connected with him. I remember feeling like a hero, 16 years old riding this crazy horse that everyone gave up on. Although he is blind, I still ride him, he's my round up' horse.” Their trust in one another allows Sunna to take Elgur anywhere. “I've fallen off him so many times, but he always stops and waits for me to get back on. He understands me, and I understand him so well. I can't really explain it better, it's just a feeling.”
Nick is a noise performer and is often paying attention to the details of objects that come across his field of vision. He frequently stopped by Heima on his bike to drop off or pick up supplies. We once went dumpster diving at the local market. He stood in the dumpster looking at whatever he found to see what sound it would produce.
When I met Dagrun she was in need of a friend. There is only one other student her age attending school with her. Among the other things bothering her, I imagine that alone could make you feel lonely. Dagrun’s name means secret of the day. I feel she trusts me to keep it that way.
Rhombie Sandoval is a photographer and storyteller from Southern California. Her entry into photography started after receiving a camera as a gift from the Make A Wish Foundation, a gesture arranged on her behalf due to being born with heart disease. With the camera, Sandoval realized she could navigate her shyness and connect with people using the camera as a tool to understand various vantage points, searching for and highlighting the common themes linked to one’s identity and location. Sandoval later studied Photography at Art Center College of Design. She is also the founder of Anywhere Blvd, a platform which features portrait photographers by promoting the narratives of their subjects.