The 18th of May is Gunnar Gunnarsson's birthday. Today there are 123 years since he was born at Valþjófsstaður in Fljótsdalur valley. This year there will be 100 years since Gyldendal publishing house published the first volume of Guest the One-Eyed, the work that made Gunnar Gunnarsson famous. The National Library has opened access to digitized edition of the first Icelandic translation of the work that was published in Reykjavík in 1915 to 1918, translated by Jakob Jóhannesson Smári. This digital edition is part of Icelandic contribution to a European project of cultural heritage. Access to the book: www.baekur.is

Today is the 1st of May. Warm wind from the south brings us the summer and the willows around Gunnarsson's home become greener everyday. From now on until mid-September the Culture Centre is open everday. In May it will be open from 12.00 to 17.00 but after 1st June from 10.00-18.00. In gallery Klaustur is the exhibition Flow or Flæði by the local artist Lóa. And upstairs you can learn about the Lagarfljot lake monster along with the story of the writer and this fabulous building. Klausturkaffi café offers local food for lunch and coffee time and on week-ends you can enjoy their buffets.

Salka has published a book of photography called Advent in the Highlands by Sigurjón Pétursson and Þóra Hrönn Njálsdóttir. The book is part of a project inspired by the classical novella Advent (The Good Shepherd) by Gunnar Gunnarsson. The couple spent days and night in the highlands of Myvatn taking pictures of the winter landscape where Benedikt the shepherd struggled against the weather. The photographs were exhibited in November and December 2011 at Skriduklaustur but another exhibition opened at the National Museum in Reykjavik the 21st April.  The book is published in Icelandic, English and German. More information at Salka website where you can order the book.

The Culture centre will be open every Sunday in April 12.00 - 17.00. It will also be open on the First day of Summer the 19th April at same time. Lunch and cake buffet at Klausturkaffi. And in  galleri Klaustur is an exhibition by Lóa. Along with regular exhibition of the monastic ruins and Gunnar Gunnarsson is an exhibit about the world famous lake monster, the Lagarfljotsormur. Don't miss that!