Decorah residents interested in Norwegian-American art will be able to watch a free Vesterheim webinar from home on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. The one-hour online Cultural Connections program will run from 3 to 4 p.m. Central Time and will feature artist Tara demonstrating 10 rosemaling designs inspired by plants of the boreal ecosystem.
Because the program is virtual, participants will not need to travel to Vesterheim or another venue. The format gives residents a way to take part from home while exploring the relationship between traditional Norwegian-American painting and contemporary botanical art.
Registration is required for the Zoom link
The presentation is free, but Decorah residents must register with Vesterheim in advance. Registration is required to receive the Zoom meeting link and other connection information, so residents who plan to attend should complete the process before the Oct. 4 program.
Although the webinar is promoted to Decorah residents, its online format also allows people outside the area to attend. The source does not provide a registration deadline beyond the requirement that participants register before the program.
Ten plants will shape the rosemaling demonstration
During the session, Tara will demonstrate original rosemaling designs based on 10 plants: Trout Lily, Rowan Berry, Lady’s Slipper, Blue Flag Iris, Wild Rose, Coral Root, Arrowhead, Pipsissewa, Marsh Marigold and Maple Leaf.
The demonstration will show how established rosemaling brushwork can be adapted for contemporary botanical design. The plants will not simply serve as subjects to copy. Instead, the program will explore newer interpretations of plant forms through traditional painting techniques.
Art demonstration includes plant-classification history
In addition to the painting demonstration, Vesterheim’s webinar will include a brief discussion of botanical art and the history of plant classification. The presentation will reference Carl Linnaeus and his apprentice, Anders Dahl.
Dahl’s name remains part of the word “dahlia,” linking the history of plant classification with the webinar’s plant-focused artwork. By bringing together rosemaling, botanical design and Norwegian-American arts, the program will examine how plant history and traditional painting can inform one another.
The program is intended for people interested in modern botanical art, established rosemaling techniques and the continuing development of traditional craft practices through contemporary art. For Decorah viewers, advance registration is the practical next step for obtaining the Zoom information.