Classes in Decorah
Woodworking
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Scandinavian-Style Figure Carving for All Levels
Sign up for this class by Feb. 19!
Harley Refsal
This is a figure-carving class with all aspects covered, including painting the figure. There may be an additional materials fee.
Level of instruction: All levels.
March 12-14 | $190 members / $240 non-members
Harley Refsal is a Vesterheim Gold Medalist who has taught Scandinavian figure carving throughout the United States and Norway. He was honored by H. M. Harald V, King of Norway, with the St. Olav Medal of Honor for his efforts in reinvigorating Scandinavian figure carving in both the United States and Norway. A professor of Scandinavian folk art at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, he also regularly demonstrates and gives many presentations about Norwegian folk art and traditions. He is the author of several books, including a new one, Art & Technique of Scandinavian Style Woodcarving. Harley is a featured author in Vesterheim magazine, Vol. 3, No. 2, dedicated to woodworking.
Heirloom Rocking Horse Project
Sign up for this class by Feb. 19!
Phil Odden
Young children love to ride a rocking horse. This project makes it possible for parents, grandparents, or friends of a family to make an heirloom-quality rocking horse from basswood. The wood pieces will be cut out and ready for surface detailing and fitting. There will be an opportunity to customize each rocking horse with additional carved or painted ornamentation. Plan to use milk paint or acrylic paint. The goal of the class is to have each rocking horse project finished and ready to use when the class is over.
The instructor will provide the rocking horse kit for a cost of $145. This includes all materials, supplies, and the use of tools and equipment needed. One person can finish the project in the class time, or this project works well as a team project for two people. Vesterheim offers a special “team tuition” for two students working together, with the first student paying full tuition and the second student paying half-tuition for the class.
Level of instruction: All levels. People without woodworking experience will be able to finish the project as long as they have sufficient energy and stay focused.
March 12-14 | $190 members / $210 non-members
Phil Odden is a professional woodcarver and Vesterheim Gold Medalist. He trained at the Hjerleid School in Dovre, Norway, and he and his wife, Else Bigton, have a workshop near Barronett, Wisconsin. Together, they published the book Treskjærerkunsten (The Art of Woodcarving).
Beginning and Intermediate Acanthus Carving
Hans Sandom
In this class, students will learn the basic techniques of acanthus carving, a baroque style of relief carving with scrolls and leaves. The instructor will cover aspects of design and tool use. There will be an additional materials fee.
Level of instruction: Beginner to intermediate.
June 7-11 | $318 members / $368 non-members
Tool Sharpening Session: June 6, evening, $15 fee
Intermediate and Advanced Acanthus Carving
Hans Sandom
This class is for students with some experience in acanthus carving. The instructor will cover design and carving techniques. Students completing Beginning and Intermediate Acanthus Carving are welcome. There will be an additional materials fee.
Level of instruction: Intermediate to advanced.
June 14-18 | $318 members / $368 non-members
Tool Sharpening Session: June 13, evening, $15 fee
Hans Sandom is an immigrant from Folldal, Norway. He began carving 25 years ago and is a Vesterheim Gold Medalist. Influenced by Leif Melgaard, his work has received attention for its perfection of design and precision of craftsmanship. Sandom’s work has been featured in several exhibitions, including Norwegian Folk Art: The Migration of a Tradition, curated by Marion Nelson, former Vesterheim executive director. Hans is a featured author in Vesterheim magazine, Vol. 3, No. 2, dedicated to woodworking.
Intermediate and Advanced Chip Carving
Wayne Barton
Chip carving is a decorative style of carving that is quick and easy to learn. In chip carving, precise cuts are incised into the wood, forming chips of various geometric shape, size, and proportion. One of the unexpected pleasures of chip carving is the discovery of the limited number of tools and materials needed to do truly fine work. Chip carving is versatile in design possibilities and application, and the end result is beautiful. There may be an additional materials fee.
Level of instruction: Students should have some carving experience.
June 28-July 2 | $318 members / $368 non-members
Wayne Barton is a professional woodcarver trained in Brienz, Switzerland. He has authored five popular books on chip carving and is recognized as the pre-eminent authority of this style in North America. His carvings can be found in private collections around the world. Wayne has won both national and international awards for his work and was named “Woodcarver of the Year” in 2005. His carvings were on special exhibition for 18 months at the Swiss National Museum in Zurich, Switzerland. Today, Wayne devotes much of his time to teaching in the United States, Canada, and Switzerland.
Dragonstil Carving
Becky Lusk
The focus of this class is a dragonstil clock. All aspects of dragon-style relief carving will be explored. The clock design includes pierced areas; therefore back-carving will also be covered. There will be an additional materials fee.
Level of instruction: Students should have previous carving experience.
July 10-14 | $318 members / $368 non-members
Becky Lusk is a third-generation folk artist and a Vesterheim Gold Medalist. Her work was included in the exhibition Norwegian Folk Art: The Migration of a Tradition, curated by Marion Nelson, Vesterheim’s former executive director. Becky carves ale bowls, figures, relief scenes, acanthus, and dragonstil. She and her husband have a workshop near Coon Valley, Wisconsin.
Small Tapered Butter Churn in Stave Construction
Richard Enstad
The focus of this project is a tapered stavkinne (stave constructed churn) with a kinnestav (dasher) from the Lesja Valley in Norway. The stavkinne is approximately 24 inches tall. Students will shape the inside and outside of the staves, fit a bottom, install hoops, and construct the dasher. All work will be done with hand tools. Tools and materials will be supplied, and there will be an additional materials fee.
Level of instruction: All levels, some previous experience in stave construction is helpful.
July 17-21 | $318 members / $368 non-members
Richard Enstad is a Vesterheim Gold Medalist who became a “born-again Norwegian” in 1983. Richard has been on two Vesterheim-sponsored folk-art tours. A frequent demonstrator of Norwegian-inspired woodworking crafts, he returns annually to Nordic Fest in Decorah, Iowa, and Norsk Høstfest in Minot, North Dakota. In 2003 Richard and wife Nancy were honored as Minnesota Science Museum Volunteers of the Year for their involvement with the Smithsonian Institution’s traveling Viking exhibition. Richard is the co-author, with Harley Refsal, of the lead article in Vesterheim magazine, Vol. 3, No. 2, dedicated to woodworking.
Scandinavian Woodturning
Jim Sannerud
This course will include an introduction to turning on an electric lathe. Students will begin by learning lathe anatomy, maintenance, and safety, as well as basic cuts and tool sharpening. Skills will be developed through a variety of exercises and projects such as krumkake forms and spinning tops. Once students gain confidence in the basic skills, they will learn to form a wooden bowl. Other topics will include processing your own wood and sharpening tools. With access to Vesterheim’s vast collection of wooden bowls, students will explore technique, form, and design. Once the bowls are turned, students will let nature air-dry the wood to create the beautiful sweeping line of a Norwegian ale bowl. Students will have the opportunity to decorate bowls with milk paint, pyrography, and carvings if desired. Students are required to bring a full-face shield. Tools, equipment, and lathes will be provided, but students can bring their own. There will be an additional materials fee. (This class is limited to six students.)
Level of instruction: All levels.
August 9-13 | $375 members / $425 non-members
Jim Sannerud has been a life-long woodworker. He discovered woodturning seven years ago, which released a “no rules, liberating” creative element for him. He has coordinated small group sessions for the Minnesota Woodturners Association and has hosted the club’s hands-on sessions for the last four years. After studying with various woodturners from around the country, Jim began teaching woodturning in Ham Lake, Minnesota. In 2007, The American Associaton of Woodturners recruited Jim to begin a pilot program teaching woodturning to children in orphanages in Ukraine. He currently has a studio in St. Paul, Minnestoa.
Figure Carving
Harley Refsal
This is a figure-carving class with all aspects covered, including painting the figure. There may be an additional materials fee.
Level of instruction: All levels.
September 10-12, Friday evening, Saturday,and Sunday |
$190 members / $240 non-members
Harley Refsal is a Vesterheim Gold Medalist who has taught Scandinavian figure carving throughout the United States and Norway. He was honored by H. M. Harald V, King of Norway, with the St. Olav Medal of Honor for his efforts in reinvigorating Scandinavian figure carving in both the United States and Norway. A professor of Scandinavian folk art at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, he also regularly demonstrates and gives many presentations about Norwegian folk art and traditions. He is the author of several books, including a new one, Art & Technique of Scandinavian Style Woodcarving. Harley is a featured author in Vesterheim magazine, Vol. 3, No. 2, dedicated to woodworking.
Spoon Carving and Kolrosing
Judy Ritger
Learn how to carve a small decorative spoon and how to do kolrosing (incised line decoration) on a flat wood surface. There will be an additional materials fee.
Level of instruction: All levels.
October 16-17 | $128 members / $178 non-members
Judy Ritger is the first artist to be a Vesterheim Gold Medalist in two media—rosemaling and woodcarving. In painting, she is well known for her interpretation of the flame-like character of the Gudbrandsdal acanthus.
Ale Bowl Carving
Becky Lusk
A kane is a two-handled boat shaped ale bowl. This project is based on an original piece from the medieval times. Students will start with a precut blank and will carve the outside and inside of the bowl with hand tools. Students will draw out their own exterior decoration, or use the instructor’s pattern. There will be an additional materials fee.
Level of instruction: Students should have previous carving experience.
November 5-7 | $190 members / $240 non-members
Becky Lusk is a third-generation folk artist and a Vesterheim Gold Medalist. Her work was included in the exhibition Norwegian Folk Art: The Migration of a Tradition, curated by Marion Nelson, Vesterheim’s former executive director. Becky carves ale bowls, figures, relief scenes, acanthus, and dragonstil. She and her husband have a workshop near Coon Valley, Wisconsin.
Holiday Figure Carving
Harley Refsal
All aspects of figure carving will be covered, including painting the figure. The figure will have a holiday theme. There may be an additional materials fee.
Level of instruction: All levels.
November 5-7, Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday | $190 members / $240 non-members
Harley Refsal is a Vesterheim Gold Medalist who has taught Scandinavian figure carving throughout the United States and Norway. He was honored by H. M. Harald V, King of Norway, with the St. Olav Medal of Honor for his efforts in reinvigorating Scandinavian figure carving in both the United States and Norway. A professor of Scandinavian folk art at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, he also regularly demonstrates and gives many presentations about Norwegian folk art and traditions. He is the author of several books, including a new one, Art & Technique of Scandinavian Style Woodcarving. Harley is a featured author in Vesterheim magazine, Vol. 3, No. 2, dedicated to woodworking.
Metalworking and Knifemaking Classes