Join celebrated Swedish carver and weaver Kerstin Neumüller as she examines heddles from Vesterheim's collection! Used in bandweaving, heddles were often carved by men as a courting gift for women. Because of this, many historic heddles are ornately decorated with everything from hearts to dates to initials. Throughout the discussion of Vesterheim's collection of heddles,...
Dr. Maren Johnson, Luther College's Associate Professor of Nordic Studies and Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies Director, facilitates a monthly bokprat, discussing Scandinavian authors and Scandinavian life. In February, Dr. Johnson is joined by author Aleta Chossek to discuss her 2019 book Kristine, Finding Home. Kristine, Finding Home: Norway to America is the story of Kristine Kristiansen Hjelmeland,...
The Scandinavian American Cultural and Historical Foundation Nordic Spirit Symposium features Scandinavian Design in 2023. Vesterheim Chief Curator Laurann Gilbertson will present Scandinavian Modern Design in Norway during this in-person symposium. Norway’s contributions to the Scandinavian Modern Design movement were many, but the artists and products were not as well known as their Danish, Swedish,...
Celebrate the season of friendship and love with stories and crafts for Valentine's Day. Children of all ages are invited to hear stories and make their own crafts to take home. Vesterheim offers free admission the second Saturday of every month! Come enjoy the museum and have fun with various planned special activities. Free Second...
Old Norse philologist Eirik Storesund, host and creator of the Brute Norse podcast, has translated a curated selection of charms, spells, and sorcerous recipes from Norwegian grimoires and vernacular tradition on the topic of love and romance. Learn about everything from Norwegian "black books" to bowl inscriptions as he discusses folk magic and shares some terrible ideas and (mostly)...
Goldsmith and folk-art instructor Liz Bucheit is a 2021 recipient of the American Scandinavian Foundation’s Scandinavian Folk Arts and Cultural Traditions in the Upper Midwest Fellowship. Liz traveled to northern Norway to research and study Sámi silver work in order to broaden her knowledge of historic design, tools, and techniques unique to the Sámi culture....
This documentary by Norwegian film maker Frode Fimland will be shown in Decorah as part of the Oneota Film Festival, which runs the weekend of March 2-5, 2023. After the film, a pre-recorded panel discussion with Frode Fimland will be shown. The discussion was organized by Oneota Film Festival and includes Vesterheim President/CEO Chris Johnson....
Meet silver experts from the Sylvsmidja company in Voss, Norway, on March 4 at Vesterheim! Anne-Kari Salbu, co-owner of Sylvsmidja, and Norwegian goldsmith Anders Fagerthun will be available in the Museum Store from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. to talk with visitors about Sylvsmidja jewelry and demonstrate silver cleaning and care techniques. We're so excited to welcome...
Meet silver experts from the Sylvsmidja company in Voss, Norway, on October 1 at Vesterheim! Co-owner of Sylvsmidja Anne-Kari Salbu, Chairman of the Sylvsmidja Board Heidi Hjellestad, and Sylvsmidja designer Svanhild Strom will be available in Vesterheim Commons from 2:30-3:30 p.m. to give a presentation about their new Sagastad collection and talk with visitors about...
Bodil Petterssen Meleney will give an online presentation on Saturday, March 4, at 3:00 (CT) about beloved dollmaker Rønnaug Petterssen. Petterssen's dolls are featured in Vesterheim's exhibition, Dolls: Playing with Identity. Rønnaug Petterssen was born in 1901 into a rural fishing community in Eidsfjorden in Vesteralen, Norway, north of the Arctic Circle. Growing up, time...
Dr. Maren Johnson, Luther College's Associate Professor of Nordic Studies and Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies Director, facilitates a monthly bokprat, discussing Scandinavian authors and Scandinavian life. Join us in March for a discussion of Ibsen's play Ghosts. First performed in 1882, Ghosts is the controversial and tragic play by the famed Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. Scandalous in its...