Decorah residents interested in Norwegian-American art will have a chance to learn about rosemaling from home during a free online program hosted by Vesterheim on Sunday, October 4, 2026. The one-hour Cultural Connections webinar is scheduled for 3 to 4 p.m. Central Time.
Artist Tara will demonstrate 10 original rosemaling designs inspired by plants from the boreal ecosystem. Because the program is online, local participants can attend without traveling to Vesterheim or another venue.
How to register for the online program
The webinar is free, but registration is required. Participants must complete Vesterheim’s registration process before the session to receive the Zoom link and other connection information. Anyone planning to attend should register before the program begins.
Although the event is promoted to Decorah residents, people outside the area may also participate. The virtual format will connect local attendees with a broader audience through Vesterheim’s Cultural Connections program.
Ten plants will inspire the designs
The demonstration will feature rosemaling designs based on the forms and character of 10 plants:
- Trout Lily
- Rowan Berry
- Lady’s Slipper
- Blue Flag Iris
- Wild Rose
- Coral Root
- Arrowhead
- Pipsissewa
- Marsh Marigold
- Maple Leaf
The presentation will show how traditional rosemaling brushwork can be adapted for contemporary botanical design. Rather than presenting the plants only as subjects to copy, the session will connect established painting techniques with newer interpretations of plant forms.
Art, plants and classification history
Vesterheim’s presentation will also include a brief 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 “dahlia,” providing a historical link between the plant-focused artwork and the development of plant classification.
By bringing together rosemaling, botanical design and Norwegian-American arts, the webinar 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.
Rosemaling is a decorative painting tradition associated with Norwegian-American art. For Decorah residents who want to attend the October 4 session, completing Vesterheim’s registration process is the next step for receiving the Zoom information.