The World's only Pispala Gallery
History of Pispala
Pispala is named after the House of Pispa, which had the obligation to house the bishops during their travel. Pispala was all farming land until as recently as 1869. As Tampere was industrialised Pispala grew without a unified local development plan, resulting in unique building styles and solutions.
Specifically factory and construction workers resided there with most of them being originally from Tampere or the nearby areas such as ostrobothnia. The area was joined to the City of Tampere 1937. It is a periurban area or urban village and many of the features of the place echo this aspect.
Culture of Pispala
Many well-known Finnish artists and celebrities have lived and live in Pispala. These include Lauri Viita, Olavi Virta, Mikko Alatalo, Hannu Salama, Seela Sella, Keith Armstrong, Aaro Hellaakoski. The only Finnish writer awarded with the Nobel Prize in Literature, F. E. Sillanpää located his novel Hiltu ja Ragnar (1923) − which the author considered his best work, in Pispala.
Rajaportin Sauna
Pispala houses the oldest still active public sauna in Finland. Rajaportin sauna began its operation in 1906 and is currently owned by the City of Tampere. However it is run by a local Pispala Sauna Association (Finnish: Pispalan saunayhdistys ry.).
Hirvitalo Art Centre
Pispala currently houses the Pispala Centre of Contemporary Arts at Hirvitalo which organises various events both outdoors in various places around the suburb and within their gallery situated upon “moose street,” Hirvikatu. It is run by the Pispala Cultural Association.
Community Library
Pispala Library is a community library locals founded in 2001 when the Tampere City Library closed its branch library in Pispala. It contains an anarchist bookshelf, computers and small gallery space and is involved in various community arts outreach projects.
Pumpkin House
Also found in Pispala is Kurpitsatalo (“Pumpkin House”) a community gardening project that celebrates the cycle of the year with traditional pagan festivals, music and also has various allotments.
Today's Pispala
Today Pispala has a vibrant artivist atmosphere and has much in kin with other bohemian arts areas such as Užupis, Montmartre, Greenwich Village or Freetown Christiania (source: Wikipedia). Please enter the world of extraordinary Pispala.
Spirit Of the Winter Lake VII (Garden Chair)
A garden chair, found from the lake. Pispala, lake Pyhä (Holy), Tampere Finland.
Spirit Of the Winter Lake VIII (Garden Chair)
A garden chair, found from the lake. Pispala, lake Pyhä (Holy), Tampere Finland.
Waiting For An Adventure XVI (Wooden Rowing Boat)
Wooden rowing boat at winter, waiting for an adventure. Pispala, Tampere Finland.
Spirit Of the Winter Lake VI (Garden Chair)
A garden chair, found from the lake. Pispala, lake Pyhä (Holy), Tampere Finland.
Waiting For An Adventure XIV (Wooden Rowing Boat)
Wooden rowing boat at winter, waiting for an adventure. Pispala, Tampere Finland.
Waiting For An Adventure XV (Wooden Rowing Boat)
Wooden rowing boat at winter, waiting for an adventure. Pispala, Tampere Finland.
Waiting For An Adventure XIII (Wooden Rowing Boat)
Wooden rowing boat at winter, waiting for an adventure. Pispala, Tampere Finland.
Waiting For An Adventure XII (Wooden Rowing Boat)
Wooden rowing boat at winter, waiting for an adventure. Pispala, Tampere Finland.
Waiting For An Adventure XI (Wooden Rowing Boat)
Wooden rowing boat at winter, waiting for an adventure. Pispala, Tampere Finland.
Waiting For An Adventure X (Wooden Rowing Boat)
Wooden rowing boat at winter, waiting for an adventure. Pispala, Tampere Finland.
Spirit Of the Winter Lake V (Garden Chair)
A garden chair, found from the lake. Pispala, lake Pyhä (Holy), Tampere Finland.
Spirit Of the Winter Lake IV (Garden Chair)
A garden chair, found from the lake. Pispala, lake Pyhä (Holy), Tampere Finland.
Spirit Of the Winter Lake III (Garden Chair)
A garden chair, found from the lake. Pispala, lake Pyhä (Holy), Tampere Finland.
Spirit Of the Winter Lake II (Garden Chair)
A garden chair, found from the lake. Pispala, lake Pyhä (Holy), Tampere Finland.
Spirit Of the Winter Lake I (Garden Chair)
A garden chair, found from the lake. Pispala, lake Pyhä (Holy), Tampere Finland.
Waiting For An Adventure IX (Wooden Rowing Boat)
Wooden rowing boat at winter, waiting for an adventure. Pispala, Tampere Finland.
Waiting For An Adventure VIII (Wooden Rowing Boat)
Wooden rowing boat at winter, waiting for an adventure. Pispala, Tampere Finland.