Blixtvisit i Framtidsdalen

Tog bilen upp till Framtidsdalen i Dalarna. Det associationsrika namnet gavs till den tillväxtarena som skapades för några år sedan i Borlänge kring Högskolan, Teknikdalen, Trafikverket och Kupolen och i dag sysselsätter tusentals personer. Inget av detta fanns på den tid jag gick gymnasiet och bodde där. Jag var inbjuden att delta i invigningen av utställningen "Textil i Rullning" på Vägverkets museum i den sk Pylonen, som manifesterade gamla textilföretaget Alice Lunds nystart och samverkan med textilkonstnären Helena Hernmarck, ullspinneriet Wåhlstedts mm. Träffade också ledningen för Leksands Folkhögskola och kommunen för att tala inkommande japanska formturister. Ett kvickt besök hos driftiga Gävle Dala Designlab för att tala Milano och höra om deras pågående match making projekt mellan företag och designer mm. For sen förbi framgångsrika plastmatteföretaget Pappelinas huvudkontor och lager och lärde mig om deras tillverkning och distribution, och avslutade dagen hos min kära mamma i Björbo. Hon har just kommit hem efter några månader på sjukhus, och jag måste säga att jag är imponerad av den omsorg som kommunen kan bidra med för att hon ska kunna få ha en så bra tillvaro som möjligt i sitt eget hem. Och alla hjälpmedel - här finns många designutmaningar. Bilresorna t o r Stockholm var effektivt utnyttjade i telefonen om Milano som där nu sista pusselbitarna läggs.

Drove up to Dalarna  to visit Borlänge Science Park, the valley of the future, and as always when I go on regional visits I am impressed by the collaborations between the public and the private sector, between culture and business and the fighting spirit. A real energy boost. I was invited to attend an  exhibition opening on Textile in Motion at the museum run by the public transport authority. It is inspiring to see how such an authority can open up its doors to interesting cultural and public activities. The museum was packed with people in the middle of the day in a weekday, the Governor was there to inaugurate, and the famous Swedish Textile Artist Helena Hernmarck, who produces most of her large textiles in Dalarna had flown in for the occasion. The exhibition also marked the rejewenation of the traditional textile company Alice Lund and the collaboration with Wåhlstedt wool factory, near my home village. Continued with meetings all day, and ended in my village Björbo to stay for a night with my mother. Throughout the visit, constantly on the phone to finalize the Milano plans.

Anki Gullback and Mats Svensson of Leksands Folkhögskola - Bo Pettersson representing the Leksand Municipality - they continue their longstanding relations and exchange with Japan and their sister city Tobetsu. Now ready to introduce summer courses in craft and slow lifestyle to Japanese participants. Go Leksand go! I helped with some contacts, am happy to support this work.

The Museum Director Jan-Olof Montelius opens the exhibitions while violinists play music from Dalarna. Alf Tangnäs and colleague.

Lots of people joined the inauguration in the middle of a week day in Borlänge

Textile Artist Helena Hernmarck tells the story of her long 30-year long relation with the textile and yarn producers Alice Lund and Wåhlstedts in Dalarna

The Dalarna Governor Maria Norrfalk inaugurates the show by cutting a yarn ribbon with a sheep cutting pair of scissors

The Museum director Jan-Olof Montelius, Helena Hernmarck, the director of Trafikverket, Governor Maria Norrfalk, and Maria from the Museum, curator of the exhibition.

Helenas brother Calle Hernmarck came to celebrate his sister by blowing hornes from the north of Sweden

Helenas woven textile piece "Mossklyftan" for the Museum

New generation takes over Alice Lund - Anders Nygårds, here with Ingrid Moldin of Borås Textilhögskola and Ulla Schedin

Anna Hodell in her wheel chair, today 103 years, started to work at Alice Lund in the 30's and has a lot to tell. Here with Helena Hernmarck and Frida Lindberg, enthusiastic and strong co-owner of Alice Lund.

Alice Lund and her visions are presented in the exhibition as well as the story of the Wåhlstedt family and their yarn production below. 

Nils Wåhlstedt, of the yarn factory family, once upon a time my class mate

In the display also a fascinating story of the textiles that have been in our travelling history. In the trains, in the planes, in the old Volvo cars.

For many years the Wåhlstedt family company produced all the wool uppholstry for the SAS plane chairs.

 Public procurement at Teknikdalen with contemporary Swedish Design

Good Design is being promoted and projects developing the region are initiated by these strong ladies Zanna Rudh and Anna Olson of GävleDala Designlab

Designers Anna Olsson and Frida Prästings have helped Teknikdalen to furnish the lobby

 A quick visit to the headquarters of Pappelina - however the founder and designer Lina Richardsson herself was away on a well deserved vacation

I took the opportunity to go home and see Mamma of course in Björbo where I slept the night. 

Impressed at how the service functions locally for care of the elderly in their homes. I will write more about that another time.