Calendar of Events

For information about Vesterheim's education programs and a folk-art class list go to Vesterheim Lifelong Learning.

 

Vesterheim announces Free Thursdays, sponsored by Decorah Bank & Trust Co. The museum will be open until 8:00 p.m. with free admission all day. There will be special events at least once a month. Check back regularly for a schedule.

May 1, 2009
Open Air Division Opens—Museum Hours Change
Summer museum hours: Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

May 7, 2009
"Free Thursdays" events - A Taste of Vesterheim
From 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.Vesterheim’s volunteer hospitality committee will serve up delicious treats.

May 11-17, 2009
Vesterheim’s Featherlite Pioneer Immersion Program Projects Exhibition
Westby-Torgerson Education Center, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, free.

May 11, 2009
Exhibition Opens—Augustus Fr. Sherman: Ellis Island Portraits, 1905-1920
Main building, third floor.

May 14, 2009
"Free Thursdays" events – Exhibition Reception for Vesterheim’s Featherlite Pioneer Immersion Program Projects
Westby-Torgerson Education Center, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

May 16, 2009
Opening reception for Augustus Fr. Sherman: Ellis Island Portraits, 1905-1920 exhibition, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

May 16, 2009
Reunion—Coastal Voyage 2008 Tour to Norway
Reception at 4:30 p.m.

May 16, 2009
Exhibition Opens—Sami
Main building, second floor.

May 16 and 17, 2009
Syttende Mai Celebration
Free museum admission both days, children's parade and activities on Saturday the 16th.

May 21, 2009
"Free Thursdays events" - Guatemalan Day
Craig Ede, of Decorah, displays his drawings of Guatemalan immigrants in northeast Iowa. Presented in connection with the exhibition Augustus Fr. Sherman: Ellis Island Portraits, 1905-1920.

May 28, 2009
"Free Thursdays events" - Asian Day, Part One
4:00 and 6:30 p.m.—Brian Caton, of Decorah, presents “A Very Short Introduction to Asian Immigration”
4:00 to 6:00 p.m.—Hands-on activities and demonstrations, including henna painting
4:30 p.m. —Storytelling with Sandhya Purohit Caton, of Decorah
Presented in connection with the exhibition Augustus Fr. Sherman: Ellis Island Portraits, 1905-1920.

 

June 4, 2009
"Free Thursdays events" - Russian Day
From 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. enjoy traditional Russian folk music by Laurie Iudin-Nelson, Pine Wilson, and Andi Beckendorf. Dance and sing along.
Vesterheim’s volunteer hospitality committee will serve up Russian treats.
Presented in connection with the exhibition Augustus Fr. Sherman: Ellis Island Portraits, 1905-1920.

June 11, 2009
"Free Thursdays events" - Asian Day, Part Two
5:00-6:00 p.m.—Food Samples provided by Cho Sun Restaurant and the Lee family!
4:00 to 6:00 p.m.—Hands-on activities and demonstrations. Learn how to wear a sari.
4:30 p.m.—Storytelling with Sandhya Purohit Caton
6:30 p.m.—Panel conversation “From Asia to Decorah: Stories from Current Immigrants” moderated by Scott Hurley, of Decorah.
Presented in connection with the exhibition Augustus Fr. Sherman: Ellis Island Portraits, 1905-1920

June 18, 2009
"Free Thursdays events" - Czech Day
Friends from the Czech Heritage Partnership in Spillville will share their culture!
3:30-7:00, greeters in kroja (traditional Czech costumes) welcome visitors at the front entrance
4:00-6:30, Museum lobby features a display of traditional embroidery and information about Czech cultural events. Jim Busta, the Strolling Concertina, will provide music in and around the museum.
4:00-5:00, Hands-on crafts and demonstrations of kraslice egg painting
4:00, Michael Klimesh, of Spillville, presents “Origins of the Bohemian Settlers”
4:30, Five Seasons Chamber Players, of Cedar Rapids, perform Concertino by Prague composer Erwin Schulhoff (1894-1942)
5:00, Steve Klimesh, of Spillville, presents “Around Historic Spillville”
5:00-6:00, food samples available in the museum lobby (poppyseed cake and zelinky), along with a demonstration of noodle making
5:30, Five Seasons Chamber Players, of Cedar Rapids, perform Concertino by Prague composer Erwin Schulhoff (1894-1942)
6:30 Jan Stoffer, director of operations and education at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, presents “Pack Your Bags: The Journey to America from the Czech Perspective”
Presented in connection with the exhibition Augustus Fr. Sherman: Ellis Island Portraits, 1905-1920.

June 25, 2009
"Free Thursdays events" - Ghana Day
4:00 p.m. - Novian Whitsitt, Associate Professor of Africana Studies and English at Luther College, will speak to children about the culture of Ghana. Children will learn about the relevance of Ghana and other African countries to the American experience, talk about the importance of Ghana to black Americans, and hear Ghanaian folktales, specifically those of Anansi, the trickster spider.
Presented in connection with the exhibition Augustus Fr. Sherman: Ellis Island Portraits, 1905-1920

 

July 12, 2009
Exhibition Opens—Knitting Along the Viking Trail, Main Building, third floor
Opening Reception and Gallery Talk with Elsebeth Laavold, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., Main Building, third floor.

July 18-25, 2009
Exhibition—National Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition
A competition and sale of works by contemporary artists in the Norwegian tradition.
Hauge Gallery, Westby-Torgerson Education Center.

July 23-August 31, 2009
Exhibition—Flashback: Norwegian Landscapes in Retrospect
Photographs comparing historic and contemporary Norwegian landscapes.
Museum's Main Building.

July 24, 2009
Folk-Art Banquet
Celebrate Norwegian folk art at the Hotel Winneshiek. Reservations required, contact Katie Lawless at Vesterheim, 563-382-9681, for more information.

July 24-25, 2009
Vesterheim events at Decorah's 43rd Annual Nordic Fest
One of America's premier ethnic festivals, featuring Scandinavia's finest foods, music, arts, crafts, and a great deal more. Special Vesterheim events include the National Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition, Viking Encampment, Living Heritage Demonstrators, storytelling, an original children's theatre production, live music, and more. Opening ceremonies 7:00 p.m., July 23. Check the festivals website www.nordicfest.com.

 

September 3, 2009
"Free Thursdays events" Opening reception—Woven Women: Representations of the Female in Norwegian Weaving
A juried exhibition of contemporary artwork depicting female figures.
Westby-Torgerson Education Center

September 10, 2009
"Free Thursdays events" Weaving demonstrations
Westby-Torgerson Education Center

September 17, 2009
Barnetimen (Children's Hour)
From 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the Amdal-Odland Heritage Center, free.

September 18, 2009 to February 21, 2010
Exhibition—Sacred Symbol, Ceremonial Cloth
Explores the pre-Christian function of symbols in textiles: good luck, fertility, protection, and the spiritual link.
Main Building.

September 22-26, 2009
Exhibition of Projects—Rya Study Group
Westby-Torgerson Education Center

September 25-27, 2009
Conference on Norwegian Woven Textiles
Including Norwegian and American speakers, special exhibitions, study group displays, pre- and post-conference classes, and more!

September 27, 2009
2009 Grace Rikansrud Memorial Lecture
Mary Kelly will speak on Finding Sacred Symbols: A Life of Textile Travel, 2:00 p.m. in Vesterheim’s Bethania Church

 

October 9-11, 2009
Northeast Iowa Artists’ Studio Tour
Vesterheim hosts artists as part of this popular regional arts event. For more information, visit the tour website, www.iowaarttour.com.

October 15, 2009
Barnetimen (Children's Hour)
From 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the Amdal-Odland Heritage Center, free.

 

November 1, 2009
Open Air Division Closes—Museum Hours Change
Winter museum hours: Open Tuesday-Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

November 15, 2009
A Mystical Journey of Symbols and Fiber Art By Pamela J. Davis, 2:00 p.m., Amdal-Odland Heritage Center.

November 19, 2009
Barnetimen (Children's Hour)
From 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the Amdal-Odland Heritage Center, free.

 

December 5-6, 2009
Norwegian Christmas Weekend
This festive celebration features a variety of music, demonstrations, food, and hands-on experiences.

December 17, 2009
Barnetimen (Children's Hour)
From 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the Amdal-Odland Heritage Center, free.

December 23, 2009
The Fabric of Life: Textiles and the Rites of Passage By Dr. Kathleen Stokker 2:00 p.m., Amdal-Odland Heritage Center.