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...
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...
Join Sons of Norway Washington D.C. lodge and Vesterheim Chief Curator Laurann Gilbertson! 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, and Finnish counterparts. During the presentation, Laurann will introduce some of the most important designers of the mid-twentieth...
Join us for a conversation with 2021 Vesterheim Folk Art Apprentice and Kurtich Foundation scholarship recipient Marit Nelson about her travels, studies, and current work as a rosemaler. With topics ranging from spending time with Norwegian artists including Anne Hesvik and Mona Erlandsen to how Marit shares rosemaling with online audiences through creating social media videos applying traditional rosemaling...
Gather the family and join Kristi as you make two classic Scandinavian cookie recipes together: Raspberry Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies (Hallongrottor) and No Bake Chocolate Oat Balls (Chokladbollar). These are two fun, family-friendly sweet treats you will want to make again and again! Kristi Bissell is the founder of True North Kitchen, a Nordic food blog designed...
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...
