Decorah residents interested in Norwegian-American art will be able to join Vesterheim’s free, one-hour Cultural Connections webinar from home on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. The online program is scheduled for 3 to 4 p.m. Central Time.
The event 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, offering viewers a look at how traditional brushwork can be used to create contemporary botanical art.
How Decorah residents can attend
The webinar will be held online, so participants will not need to travel to Vesterheim or another venue. The program is promoted to Decorah residents, although its virtual format also allows people outside the area to attend.
The webinar is free, but advance registration with Vesterheim is required. Registered participants will receive the Zoom meeting link and other connection information. The supplied event information does not identify a separate registration deadline, so residents planning to watch should complete the registration process before the Oct. 4 program.
Ten plants featured in the demonstration
Tara’s designs will draw on 10 plants associated with the boreal ecosystem:
- Trout Lily
- Rowan Berry
- Lady’s Slipper
- Blue Flag Iris
- Wild Rose
- Coral Root
- Arrowhead
- Pipsissewa
- Marsh Marigold
- Maple Leaf
The plants will serve as more than subjects for viewers to copy. According to the supplied event information, the presentation will explore newer interpretations of plant forms through established rosemaling techniques and demonstrate how traditional painting practices can be adapted to contemporary botanical design.
Art program also explores 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 session will reference Carl Linnaeus and his apprentice, Anders Dahl.
Dahl’s name remains part of the word “dahlia,” providing a link between the history of plant classification and the webinar’s focus on plant-inspired artwork. By bringing together rosemaling, botanical design and Norwegian-American arts, the program 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.