Classes in Decorah
Knifemaking
Register early with your $50 deposit. A minimum number of registered students is required for a class to be held.
The classes held in April are in conjunction with Coming Out of the Woodwork: a Vesterheim Symposium on Norwegian Folk Art
Birch / Reindeer Antler Filet Knife
Mike Schelmeske, assisted by Harley Refsal
This is a new knifemaking course for Vesterheim. Students will make their own
custom filet knife, featuring an elegant stacked Scandinavian-style birch,
birchbark, and antler handle. The project will be topped off with a handmade
birchbark protective blade cover. Class times will be Friday evening from
6:00 to 9:00 p.m. and all day Saturday and Sunday. This class will require
an additional fee for materials.
Level of instruction: all levels.
January 11-13, 2008 | $135 member/$170 for non-members
Michael Schelmeske, a highly versatile craftsman from Grand Marais, Minnesota, designs and creates canoe and kayak paddles, as well as a wide variety of Scandinavian-inspired utensils, tools, and woodenware for the home. Mike’s assistant during this course will be Harley Refsal, woodcarver and Scandinavian handcrafter from Decorah.
Knifemaking for All Levels
Olav Mortensen - Norwegian Instructor
In this class, students will make a traditional Telemark working knife.
That is a knife with a half-tang, three-layer, hand-forged blade and a one-piece
wooden handle. The handle may be straight, or with a bend on the top. Students
may also make a sheath in two ways, either on a wooden last, or directly
on the knife. Olav will also teach the “pauting” technique. This class will
require an additional fee for materials.
Level of instruction: all levels.
April 14-17 | $315 members / $395 non-members
Advanced Knifemaking
Olav Mortensen - Norwegian Insructor
The theme of the class will be to make a Telemark knife, one that has
great traditions in Norway. Each student will decide what style of knife
that
they want to make. The Telemark knife has many varieties of size, decoration,
and the amount of silver used. Most commonly, the sheath is decorated
with acanthus carving and the silver has engraved acanthus patterns.
Discussion of design, composition, and lines will also be included.
This class will
require an additional fee for materials.
Level of instruction: advanced.
April 21-25 | $395 members / $495 non-members
Olav Mortensen was born in Drangedal, Telemark, Norway, and now lives in Skein, Norway. He has taught knifemaking in Norway and Denmark and at Vesterheim. He has judged knife competitions, demonstrated knifemaking in many countries, and written articles for Knivebladet, the Norwegian knifemaking magazine. Olav is a master knifemaker, specializing in the Telemark style. Olav is a specialist in clinical psychology by occupation and has taught psychology for 18 years at various colleges and communities in Norway.
Norwegian Knifemaking
Gene Tokheim
Norwegian knifemaking is a rich tradition that has been kept alive
by many Norwegian smiths and knifemakers. The tollekniv (whittling knife)
acquired
its present form in the early Iron Age (400-800 AD). In this course
students will work wood, metal, and leather to create a finished Norwegian
knife
and sheath under the tutelage of master knifemaker Gene Tokheim. The
instructor will provide all necessary tools. There will be a minimum materials
fee
of $110 paid to the instructor. Silver and Damascus blades available
at extra cost. A similar class will also be offered on July 12-16, if this
class fills.
Level of instruction: all levels.
July 19-23 | $300 members / $350 non-members
Gene Tokheim has been teaching since the 1980s in the United States and Norway. His work has been exhibited in shows at the University of Minnesota, the American Folk Art Museum in New York City, and the Hedmark Museum in Hammar, Norway. Gene graduated with a studio arts degree from Southwest Minnesota State University. He is a Vesterheim Gold Medalist.