Decorah residents will be able to explore Norwegian-American rosemaling from home this fall through a free online webinar hosted by Vesterheim. The one-hour Cultural Connections program is scheduled for 3 to 4 p.m. Central time Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026.
Registration is required for the Zoom link. Vesterheim has not listed a separate registration deadline, so prospective participants should register before the program begins to receive the meeting link and other connection information.
What the rosemaling webinar will cover
Artist Tara will demonstrate 10 rosemaling designs inspired by plants found in the boreal ecosystem. The presentation will connect Norwegian-American brushwork with contemporary botanical art and examine how established painting techniques continue to develop.
The featured designs are based on Trout Lily, Rowan Berry, Lady’s Slipper, Blue Flag Iris, Wild Rose, Coral Root, Arrowhead, Pipsissewa, Marsh Marigold and Maple Leaf. These plants will serve as the focus of the visual demonstration and the program’s discussion of traditional and contemporary design.
Event information says the session will explore how historic craft methods relate to modern design, including how traditional painting practices can be adapted for contemporary botanical artwork.
Plant art meets scientific history
The webinar will also include a scientific-history component focused on the development of plant classification. It will reference Carl Linnaeus and his apprentice, Anders Dahl, linking the history of scientific classification with plant-centered artwork.
Dahl’s influence also appears in plant terminology: His name is part of the word “dahlia.” That connection provides another link between the scientific history discussed during the session and the plants represented through rosemaling.
Because the program is virtual, participants will not need to travel to Vesterheim or another venue. The event is promoted for Decorah residents, while the online format may also allow people outside the area to attend.
For viewers in Decorah, the webinar offers an opportunity to learn about rosemaling, botanical design and plant history without leaving home while taking part in a program connected to Vesterheim’s cultural offerings.