Decorah residents interested in Norwegian-American art can join Vesterheim’s free online Cultural Connections webinar from home on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. The one-hour program will run from 3 to 4 p.m. Central Time and will focus on rosemaling, a decorative painting tradition associated with Norwegian-American art.
Artist Tara will demonstrate 10 original rosemaling designs inspired by plants from the boreal ecosystem. Since the program is online, participants in Decorah can attend without traveling to Vesterheim or another venue.
Registration is required for the Zoom program
The webinar is free, but attendees must complete Vesterheim’s registration process before the session. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link and other connection information, making it the next step for anyone planning to participate.
Although the program is promoted to Decorah residents, the virtual format also allows people outside the area to attend. Local participants will be able to connect with a broader audience through Vesterheim’s Cultural Connections program.
Ten plants will shape the demonstration
Tara’s presentation will feature 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 webinar will show how traditional rosemaling brushwork can be adapted for contemporary botanical design. The plants will not be treated only as subjects to copy; the session will connect established painting techniques with newer interpretations of plant forms.
Program links art with plant-classification history
Along with the painting demonstration, Vesterheim’s presentation will 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,” creating a historical connection between the plant-focused artwork and the development of plant classification. By bringing together rosemaling, botanical design and Norwegian-American arts, the webinar will explore 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 residents who want to attend on Oct. 4, completing Vesterheim’s registration process is the way to receive the Zoom information.