Decorah residents interested in Norwegian-American art can watch a free Vesterheim webinar from home Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. The one-hour online Cultural Connections program will run from 3 to 4 p.m. Central Time and will focus on rosemaling, botanical design and the history of plant classification.
Artist Tara will demonstrate 10 original rosemaling designs inspired by plants of the boreal ecosystem. Because the program is virtual, viewers will not need to travel to Vesterheim or another venue to participate.
Registration is required for the Zoom link
Although the webinar is free, Decorah residents must register with Vesterheim in advance. Registration is required to receive the Zoom meeting link and other connection information.
The supplied event information does not identify a separate registration deadline. Residents who plan to attend should therefore complete the registration process before the Oct. 4 program. The event is promoted to Decorah residents, but its online format also allows people outside the area to attend.
Ten plants will shape the demonstration
The designs will draw 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 presentation will examine how established rosemaling brushwork can be adapted to contemporary botanical design. The plants will not simply be presented as subjects to copy. Instead, the demonstration will explore newer interpretations of plant forms through traditional painting techniques.
Webinar links painting with plant history
Along with the painting demonstration, Vesterheim’s program will include a brief discussion of botanical art and the history of plant classification. The session will reference Carl Linnaeus and his apprentice, Anders Dahl.
Dahl’s name remains part of the word “dahlia,” creating a connection between plant-classification history and the webinar’s plant-focused artwork. By combining rosemaling, botanical design and Norwegian-American arts, the presentation will consider 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, registering with Vesterheim in advance is the stated next step for obtaining the Zoom information.