Decorah residents will be able to explore Norwegian-American rosemaling from home when Vesterheim presents a free online Cultural Connections webinar on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. The 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.
Because the event is virtual, participants will not need to travel to the museum or another meeting site. The program is promoted for Decorah residents, while the online format may also allow people outside the area to attend.
What the webinar will feature
Artist Tara will demonstrate 10 Norwegian-American rosemaling designs inspired by 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 plant subjects will provide the foundation for the painting demonstration and a discussion of traditional and contemporary design. Viewers will see how established rosemaling techniques continue to develop and how historic craft methods can be adapted for modern botanical artwork.
For people interested in decorative painting, the program will connect Norwegian-American brushwork with contemporary botanical art. The demonstration will show how recognizable plant forms can become decorative designs while explaining how traditional methods relate to newer artistic interpretations.
Plant history and how to join
The webinar will also examine the history of scientific plant classification, including the work of Carl Linnaeus and his apprentice, Anders Dahl. Dahl’s connection to plants is reflected in the name of the dahlia. Vesterheim will use that link to connect scientific classification with the plant-centered artwork featured in the demonstration.
Advance registration is required to receive the Zoom link and other connection information. Vesterheim has not listed a separate registration deadline, so prospective attendees should register before the webinar begins to obtain the meeting details needed to join.
Participants will need to be online during the scheduled 3-to-4 p.m. Central time window on Oct. 4. The free cultural program brings together rosemaling, botanical design and plant history in a format that can be watched from home.