Salt | Sandhornøy (NOR) | By Emma Harrison

Located in the mountainous Sandhornøy to the north of Norway, Salt is a nomadic festival that explores and raises awareness of the lifestyle, environment and challenges faced by the people in the far northern reaches of the globe. Opened in late August on a quiet and largely untouched slice of land, Sandhornøy is a prime example of natural landscape and living on the Arctic periphery; an abundance of fish at the outskirts of the Gulf stream has meant that habitation is possible despite the challenging conditions posed by the region. Indigenous people have developed inventive methods of food preservation to endure the unforgiving winters and Salt celebrates this perseverance through architecture whilst promoting the benefits of environmental conservation through talks and cultural happenings. 

The traditional methods of food preservation used in Sandhornøy have inspired the portable structures that now grace the shores of the Arctic sea. Using the fish rack (fiskehjell) as a starting point, local firm Rintala Eggertsson Architects designed the sites around guest accommodation. The Gildehallen (middle right) is constructed from tall slender poles and will play host to a programme of film, clubbing events, parties and dining over the next year. Nearby is the Amphisauna, an insulated fish rack that functions as an amphitheatre and sauna, using heat from four large wood burning stoves alongside various pine cabins to house guests.

Salt will host a programme until September 2015, when it will relocate to another northern destination. Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Ireland, Scotland, Spitsbergen, Alaska and Russia are all on the list.

Patagonia presents Damnation | Ventura, California (USA) | By Lee Fleming

A influential film documentary, Damnation aims to highlight the mayhem and negative ecological factors caused by these hulking and obsolute structures. Federally governed dams such as the Ice Harbor Dam, the Lower Monumental Dam, the Little Goose Dam and the Lower Granite Dam have been named as the most harmful in the US as they provide minimal value and cost millions to maintain yet actively harm public safety, ecosystems, fisheries and tribal culture.

This short film by Ben Knight and Travis Rummel (Felt Soul Media Production) is one of sheer natural beauty, impressive cinematography and unexpected discoveries. It focuses solely on the rivers, landscapes and cultural change altered by dams and is presented by outdoor specialist Patagonia and the company’s founder, environmentalist and Executive Producer, Yvon Chouinard. Alongside co-director Travis Rummel, co-producer Matt Stoecker (Stoeker Ecological ) also provided the underwater cinematography for the film which will be screened across the world, having started on Monday 8th September at Rosebud Theater, Wauwatosa (Wisconsin). All the screenings of Damnation are listed on the website.

A petition to ‘crack down on deadbeat dams’ has been created in conjunction with the Damnation documentary film and is backed by supporting partners Patagonia and Save Our Wild Salmon. The petition aims to raise awareness and change America’s national attitude by calling on President Barack Obama to intervene and take action.

Fogo Island Studios | Newfoundland (CA) | By Emma Harrison

Hidden away twelve miles off the northeast coast of Newfoundland, Canada is Fogo Island, an area of breathtaking, uncultivated and windswept beauty. Home to a population of just 2,500 and with a dwindling cod fishing industry, Canadian charity The Shorefast Foundation set about reviving the island by creating Fogo Island Arts, a residency-based contemporary art venue established in 2008.

Four years later, the organisation commissioned native and Norway-based architect Todd Saunders to design six remote studios scattered across the island with the aim of housing a rotating programme of artists and writers in residence. The six studios (Long Studio, pictured) vary in size (18 sqm-111sqm) and were completed over a period of two years. Each site is autonomous and uses sustainable methods of heat retention and water management to ensure minimal environmental impact. With outstanding views from all angles, the studios are strategically placed and project the occupant towards the Atlantic Ocean via an obliquely slanted, full-height window that frames the horizon or shoreline.

In 2013, Saunders completed work on the Fogo Island Inn, a five star luxury retreat with 29 guest rooms. To enquire about residency programmes or book a stay, visit the Fogo Island Arts website.

'Looking at my father' by Jiro Konami | Tokyo (JAP) | By Lee Fleming

'Looking at my father' is a moving photobook by photographer Jiro Konami who documents his father’s life on a remote island off Toyko. The book was published by Tycoon Books, a Tokyo based independent publisher established by Taro Serikawa and Yosuke Watanabe in 2009 with an aim to discover emerging talent both locally and internationally.

'Looking at my father' captures the daily life of Konami’s father over an eight year time period and through the delicate compilation of photographs, time elapses and the subject ages gracefully. The photobook showcases many tender, humorous and sad moments- Konami’s father posing in front of the camera with bewildered expressions and gestures, stolen glimpses and gradual illness.

View more of Konami's photography by visiting his website. You can find his 'Looking at his father' photobook at Albam Clothing (London, UK).

IDMC° Playlist No.002: Trove | Manchester (UK)

The second instalment in our IDMC° Playlist series is courtesy of Marcus and Katy Saide of Trove, a cafe and bakery based in Levenshulme, South Manchester. Borne out of a shared passion for good food made from scratch, Trove's playlist of mellow tones is exactly what's needed when enjoying their locally sourced menu and freshly baked bread on a chilled afternoon.

I - James Blake - The Wilhelm Scream | II - Laura Marling - Rambling Man | III - Sleeping States - Gardens Of The South | IV - Beenie Man - Dude | V - Wild Nothing - Chinatown | VI - Peter Broderick - With The Notes In Mt Ears | VII - Beach House - Astronaut | VIII - Seapony - Go Away | IX - Bibio - Jealous Of Roses | X - Bon Iver - Holocene | XI - Brothertiger - Real Life | XII - Mumford & Sons - Babel | XIII - The HEad And The Heart - Down In The Valley | XIV - The Lumineers - Ho Hey | XV - Lykke Li - I Follow Rivers | XVI -Two Door Cinema Club - Something Good Can Work XVII - Local Natives - Warning Sign XVIII - Daughter - Youth XIX - Youth Lagoon - Afternoon

Listen to IDMCo Playlist No.002: Trove by Marcus and Katy Saide