Four tapestries, woven in traditional Norwegian billedvev or “picture weaving,” for the historic Valley Grove Stone Church in rural Nerstrand, Minnesota, will be on exhibit in the Vesterheim Commons while the church is closed for the winter.
The Valley Grove Preservation Society commissioned Vesterheim Gold Medalist Robbie LaFleur of Minneapolis, Minnesota, to design and weave the tapestries to depict and honor the history of the church, surrounding nature, and community.
Traditionally, Norwegian tapestries illustrated stories from the Bible, such as the Adoration the Magi, the presentation of gifts by the three Wise Men to the Christ child. Rather than relate biblical tales, the tapestries for Valley Grove tapestries focus on plants and animals of Rice County in southern Minnesota, the church buildings, and the Lutheran church community of Norwegian immigrants.
One tapestry depicts Reverend Nils A. Quammen, who served Valley Grove from 1867 to 1908. Quammen was born near Bergen, Norway, and came to Wisconsin with his family when he was eight years old. He attended public school in Madison, Wisconsin, Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and Concordia College in St. Louis, Missouri. In the early years, he traveled by skis between his home and Valley Grove Lutheran Church and when he visited parishioners. LaFleur has woven Quammen on skis under a starry and snowy sky. The angels in the corners are also seen on old Norwegian tapestries.
LaFleur’s tapestries also honor the golden age of tapestry in Norway (roughly from 1600-1750) with her use of flat, abstracted images, yarn from the spelsau breed of sheep, and use of a vertical loom.
