Back in 1903, Norwegian-born socialite and tapestry teacher Berthea Aske Bergh was determined to show Americans the brilliance of Norwegian billedvev, or tapestry. She traveled back to Norway and purchased Sørover (Southward), a tapestry of swans and maidens with shimmering threads from the famous Art Nouveau artist Frida Hansen. Southward was an important, often-displayed monumental...
Join Sons of Norway Nidaros Lodge # 1-001 (west Minneapolis) and former Vesterheim Trustee Dale Goodman! This meeting will be in-person and everyone is invited to attend. In the period beginning in 1825 and for about 100 years following, nearly 40% of the population of Norway – more than 800,000 Norwegians – immigrated to the...
Dr. Maren Johnson, Luther College’s Associate Professor of Nordic Studies and Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies Director, facilitates a regular bokprat, discussing Scandinavian authors and Scandinavian life. In April, she will be joined by best-selling Norwegian author Lars Mytting for a discussion of The Reindeer Hunters, the second book in the acclaimed The Sisters Bell...
Laurann Gilbertson, Chief Curator at Vesterheim, will speak at the Iowa Federation of Handweavers and Spinners! The meeting will be in Decorah, Iowa, on Saturday, April 22, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and she will present "Spinning Wheels from Moi, Norway." Most men in the village of Moi were involved with turning a distinctive style...
The Norwegian Embassy is participating in this cultural family event in Washington, D.C. Vesterheim and Luther College will be there together with rosemalers Marit Nelson and Lise Lorentzen sharing face painting, Norwegian language lessons, and more! During the event, visitors can travel the world as they go from embassy to embassy and experience the food,...
Once upon a time, strange and dangerous creatures known as trolls roamed freely in the mysterious Norwegian mountains and forests. But the trolls only went out at night, in the dark, because there was only one thing that could scare a real troll – sunlight. Gather the family together and join celebrated storyteller Lise Lunge-Larsen...
Fjällräven Polar is an annual event developed to show that with the right knowledge, equipment, and support anyone can learn to appreciate nature – even in arctic winter conditions. For several days each year, participants drive their own dog sled across the vast landscapes of northern Scandinavia, experiencing a world completely different from their own....
Dr. Maren Johnson, Luther College’s Associate Professor of Nordic Studies and Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies Director, facilitates a regular bokprat, discussing Scandinavian authors and Scandinavian life. In May, we will discuss Kristin Lavransdatter (Vol. 1 - The Wreath) by Sigrid Undset. The cycle follows the life of Kristin Lavransdatter, a fictitious Norwegian woman living...
Join folk artist and culture-bearer Hege Nilsen for a conversation exploring the traditional handcraft of the Coastal Sámi. From leatherwork, to pewter thread braiding and embroidery, to mica embellishments, you will learn about the folk art still made by this segment of Scandinavia's indigenous people. Hege Nilsen lives and works in Kåfjord, a village in...
Vesterheim offers free admission the second Saturday of every month. From June through October, there will be an indoor tour of the museum’s Main Building at 11:00 a.m. and an outdoor tour of Heritage Park at 1:30 p.m. Come and enjoy the museum! Free Second Saturdays are supported in part by a generous gift to...
