Vesterheim’s 2017 Folk Art Benefit Auction raised $16,075. Fantastic! Thank you to all the wonderful artists who donated pieces, to Viking Cruises, and to everyone who bid.
This annual auction is your chance to own one-of-a-kind pieces of rosemaling, woodworking, fiber arts, and more by the best artists working in the Norwegian tradition. Watch for information in 2018 about Vesterheim’s next Folk Art Benefit Auction.
Proceeds from the auction will benefit Vesterheim’s Folk Art School, which has provided classes since 1967 in fiber arts, woodworking, painting, cooking, jewelry, blacksmithing, knifemaking, and more. At the Folk Art School, students and instructors create a community of learning and experience the joy of making something by hand.
The folk-art experience at Vesterheim doesn’t end with classes. Artists develop their skills to enter pieces in an annual judged competition, “The National Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition.” Pieces in the exhibition are awarded Blue, Red, and White Ribbons representing points that accumulate over successive years toward a Gold Medal.
Many of the pieces in Benefit Auction are donated by Vesterheim Gold Medalists and exhibition ribbon winners. There are beautiful examples of rosemaling (Norwegian decorative painting) in a variety of styles, a woven rug, tapestries, woodcarvings, and more.
Vesterheim is very grateful to everyone who donated to this auction and thanks to Bill Wild of Decorah, who volunteered his services as photographer of all of the artwork for the auction.