Decorah residents interested in Norwegian-American art can attend a free Vesterheim Cultural Connections webinar from home on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. The one-hour online program is scheduled for 3 to 4 p.m. Central Time and does not require participants to travel to the museum or another venue.
Advance registration with Vesterheim is required. People who register will receive the Zoom meeting link and other connection information. The supplied event information does not list a separate registration deadline, so residents who plan to attend should register before the program begins.
What viewers will see
Artist Tara will demonstrate 10 rosemaling designs inspired by plants found in the boreal ecosystem. The presentation will connect traditional brushwork with contemporary botanical design and explore newer interpretations of plant forms through established rosemaling techniques.
The plants featured in the demonstration are:
- 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 simple subjects for viewers to copy. The webinar will show how traditional painting practices can be adapted for contemporary botanical art, giving viewers a look at how established craft techniques continue to develop through modern design.
Program also covers plant classification
In addition to the painting demonstration, the webinar will include a discussion of botanical art and the history of plant classification. The program will reference Carl Linnaeus and his apprentice, Anders Dahl.
Dahl’s name remains part of the word “dahlia,” creating a link between the history of classification and the plant-focused artwork featured in the session.
The event is promoted to Decorah residents, although the online format also allows people outside the area to participate. For local viewers, the virtual program can be watched from home rather than requiring a trip to Vesterheim.
Residents interested in modern botanical art, traditional rosemaling or the relationship between craft and plant studies should register with Vesterheim in advance to obtain the Zoom information.