Decorah residents will have a chance to explore Norwegian-American rosemaling from home when Vesterheim presents a free online Cultural Connections webinar on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. The one-hour program will run from 3 to 4 p.m. Central time and will be available online rather than at Vesterheim or another in-person venue.
The format means local participants can watch the demonstration without traveling. The program is promoted for Decorah residents, although the online event may also be accessible to people outside the area.
Ten plant-inspired rosemaling designs
Artist Tara will demonstrate 10 rosemaling designs based on plant forms. The featured subjects are Trout Lily, Rowan Berry, Lady’s Slipper, Blue Flag Iris, Wild Rose, Coral Root, Arrowhead, Pipsissewa, Marsh Marigold and Maple Leaf.
Those plants will serve as the basis for both the painting demonstration and a discussion of traditional and contemporary design. The presentation will show how established rosemaling techniques continue to develop and how historic craft methods can be adapted for modern botanical artwork.
For viewers interested in decorative painting, the demonstration will connect Norwegian-American brushwork with contemporary botanical art. Participants will be able to see how recognizable plant forms are transformed into decorative designs while learning how traditional methods relate to newer artistic interpretations.
Webinar also explores plant classification
The program will go beyond painting techniques. It will also examine the history of scientific plant classification, with references to Carl Linnaeus and his apprentice, Anders Dahl.
Dahl’s role gives the subject an additional connection to plants because his name is part of the word “dahlia.” The webinar will use that link to connect the history of scientific classification with the plant-centered artwork featured in the demonstration.
Registration required for Zoom access
Registration is required to receive the Zoom link and other connection information. Vesterheim has not listed a separate registration deadline, so prospective participants should register before the webinar begins to obtain the meeting details needed to attend.
The Oct. 4 session brings rosemaling, botanical design and plant history together in a free cultural program for Decorah residents. Anyone planning to participate will need to complete registration in advance and join online during the scheduled 3-to-4 p.m. Central time window.