Vesterheim Blog

Vesterheim is pleased to announce the 2022 National Norwegian-American Folk Art Exhibition ribbon winners and Gold Medalists! Congratulations to everyone who participated.

Each year, artists enter their pieces in the exhibition and are awarded Blue, Red, and White Ribbons representing points that accumulate over successive years toward a Gold Medal. Judges also present Honorable Mention and Best of Show Awards. Visitors are invited to vote for People’s Choice Awards.

Ribbon winners and Gold Medalists are announced in conjunction with Nordic Fest, Decorah’s city-wide celebration of Norwegian heritage, which is held the last full weekend of July.

The exhibition is made possible thanks to generous support of the Vesterheim Annual Fund from Decorah Bank & Trust; the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs; and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Knifemaking

Blue Ribbon

Jeff Ward
Dover, MN
“Bruksniv III”

Red Ribbon

Jeff Ward
Dover, MN
“Bruksniv I”

Honorable Mention

Jon Lindquist
Duluth, MN
“Viking Seax”

Best of Show

Jeff Ward
Dover, MN
“Bruksniv III”

People’s Choice

John Drewes
Red Wing, MN
Kraken Knife

Knifemaking Judges

Scott Johnson
Jon Roisen

Metalworking

Blue Ribbon 

James Austin
Oakland, CA
Norwegian Hewing Axe Head 

Red Ribbon 

Paul Nyborg
Fairchild, WI
Nordic Style Door Handle

White Ribbon 

Kjetil Groven
Rapid City, SD
Tang File/Rasp 

Honorable Mentions 

Gary Hill
McGregor, MN
Kitchen Utensils 

Paul Rohrbacher
Scotch Grove, IA
“Bergmannsstav” Axe 

Best of Show 

James Austin
Oakland, CA
Norwegian Hewing Axe Head 

People’s Choice 

Gary Hill
McGregor, MN
Kitchen Utensils 

Metalworking Judges 

Tom Latane
Andrew Townswick 

Rosemaling

New Gold Medalists
Mary Hanson
Nancy Odalen 

Blue Ribbons 

Lisa Anderson
Nelsonville, WI
Vest-Agder-Style Plate 

Mary Hanson
Dousman, WI
“Fall” Telemark-Style Cabinet  

Tonya Mandy 
Rapid City, SD
Telemark-Style Bowl 

Red Ribbons 

Lise Lorentzen
Bel Air, MD
Hallingdal-Style Wall Pocket 

Tonya Mandy 
Rapid City, SD
Telemark-Style Trunk 

White Ribbons 

Judith Ewing
Big Lake, MN
Hallingdal-Style Large Painted Trunk

Mary Hanson
Dousman, WI
“Summer” Telemark-Style Cabinet  

Nancy Odalen
Stoughton, WI
Ryfylke-Style Box 

Nancy Odalen
Stoughton, WI
Agder-Style Tine (Blue) 

Jeaneen Staples
Star Prairie, WI
Telemark-Style Ambar 

Sally Stromseth
Decorah, IA
American-Rogaland-Style Kransekake Box

Honorable Mentions 

Kristine Myhre Barton
Afton, MN
Telemark-Style “Andrew’s Trunk” 

Kristen Birkeland
Salt Lake City, UT
Telemark-Style Yarn Hod  

Kristen Birkeland
Salt Lake City, UT
Telemark-Style Kaketine 

Elizabeth Estep
Tacoma, WA
Agder-Style Ambar 

Joyce Fulford
LaCrosse, WI
Telemark-Style Bowl 

Lise Lorentzen
Bel Air, MD
Os-Style Tine 

Jill Willems
Iola, WI
Hallingdal-Style Bowl 

Best in Show 

Naoko Seto, Gold Medalist
Irvine, CA
Hallingdal-Style Bowl  

People’s Choice

Jerry Johnson
Stoughton, WI
Green Man Plate

Rosemaling Judges 

Rachelle Branum
Sallie DeReus
Trudy Peach 

Weaving

New Gold Medalists in Weaving
Sandra Somdahl
Wendy Stevens 

Blue Ribbons 

Kathleen Almelien
Washington, IA
“Granddaughter’s Confirmation” Handwoven Band 

Wendy Stevens
Decorah, IA
“Firestorm Sunrise” Tapestry Wall Hanging 

Lisa Torvik
Saint Paul, MN
“Hordaland 3rd Gen” in Transparent Inlay Technique 

Red Ribbons 

Kathleen Almelien
Washington, IA
“Oseberg Endless Sign” Handwoven Band 

Carol Culbertson
Evansville, WI
“Chris’s View” in Krokbragd Technique 

Sandra Somdahl 
Decorah, IA
“Stars and Rosettes” Rutevev Wall Hanging 

White Ribbon 

Helen Scherer
Shawnee, KS
“Skiis and Rails” Wall Hanging in Skillbragd Technique 

Honorable Mention 

Carol Culbertson
Evansville, WI
“Diamonds Galore” in Danskbrogd Technique 

Best in Show 

Lisa Torvik
Saint Paul, MN
“Hordaland 3rd Gen” in Transparent Inlay Technique 

People’s Choice
Laura Demuth
Decorah, IA
“Two Long Winters” in Rutevev Technique

Weaving Judges 

Rachelle Branum
Robbie LaFleur
Mary Skoy 

Woodworking

New Gold Medalists in Woodworking
Charles Banks
Charlene Lynum
Cecil Parker 

Blue Ribbons 

Charlene Lynum
Eau Claire, WI
“The Perspective” Chip-Carved Plaque 

Charlene Lynum
Eau Claire, WI
“Fan and Rosette” Chip-Carved Tine 

Charlene Lynum
Eau Claire, WI
“The Dutchess” Chip-Carved Box 

Doug Pauls
Cedar Rapids, IA
Chip-carved Wedding Chest 

Red Ribbons 

Roger Abrahamson
Minneapolis, MN
Hand Turned and Wood Burned “West Coast Ale Bowl” 

Greg Akre
Waukesha, WI
Dragon Style “Viking Chair” 

Charles Banks
Litchfield, MN
“Fair Isle Fjordsman” Carved Figure 

Cecil Parker
Wales, WI
“Hello in There… Hello” Hand Turned Bowl 

White Ribbons 

Greg Akre
Waukesha, WI
“Lovebirds” Chip-carved Plate

Paul Anderson
Minneapolis, MN
Hand-carved Birch Bowl 

Charles Banks
Litchfield, MN
“Harley and Norma” Carved Figures 

Mike Hughes
Burnsville, MN
“Acanthus Cartouche” Carved Plaque 

Taylor Johnson
Cashtoon, WI
Acanthus Style Kubbestol

Cecil Parker
Wales, WI
Hand Constructed Staved Bowl

Cecil Parker
Wales, WI
Hand Constructed “Sculptor’s Stol” 

David Susag
Lanesboro, MN
Hand Turned Blue and Yellow “Varaskål/Jealousy Bowl” 

David Susag
Lanesboro, MN
Hand Turned Cherry Ale Bowl

Jeff Ward
Dover, MN
Hand Constructed Bruksniv-Style Spreader with Kolrosing

Honorable Mentions 

Katherine Chuliver
New York, NY
“Julekompiser” Carved Figures 

Phillip Holtegaard
Lanesboro, MN
Dragon-style Carved “Dragons and Vines II”  

Lyn Rein
Faribault, MN
Hand Turned Pine Bowl

Best in Show 

Todd Pasche, Gold Medalist
Minneiska, MN
Hand Carved Acanthus-Inspired Carousel Horse

People’s Choice 

Todd Pasche, Gold Medalist
Minneiska, MN
Hand Carved Acanthus-Inspired Carousel Horse

Woodworking Judges 

Kim Glock
Rebecca Hanna
David Kamm