Decorah residents interested in Norwegian-American art will be able to explore traditional rosemaling, botanical design and plant history from home during a free Vesterheim Cultural Connections webinar on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. The online program will run from 3 to 4 p.m. Central Time, giving local participants an opportunity to attend without traveling to Vesterheim or another event venue.
Advance registration is required. People who plan to attend must register in advance to receive the Zoom meeting link and other connection information. The event details do not list a separate registration deadline, so prospective participants should complete registration before the program begins.
What the Vesterheim webinar will cover
Artist Tara will demonstrate 10 rosemaling designs inspired by plants found in the boreal ecosystem. The one-hour presentation will show how traditional Norwegian-American rosemaling brushwork can be applied to contemporary botanical art and how established painting techniques continue to evolve.
The featured plant-inspired designs will include:
- 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 models for viewers to copy. The webinar will examine the relationship between historic craft methods and modern design, giving participants a chance to consider how traditional painting practices can be adapted for contemporary botanical artwork.
Art demonstration will connect to plant science
Vesterheim’s program will also connect the art demonstration with the history of plant classification. The discussion will reference Carl Linnaeus and his apprentice, Anders Dahl, adding scientific history to the session’s broader look at plant-centered art.
Dahl’s influence remains visible in plant terminology: his name is part of the word “dahlia.” That connection links the development of scientific classification with the plants represented through rosemaling.
Because the program is online, local viewers can study rosemaling, botanical design and plant history from home. Although the webinar is promoted for Decorah residents, its virtual format also permits people outside the area to participate.