Decorah residents interested in Norwegian-American art will be able to watch a free Vesterheim rosemaling webinar from home on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. The online Cultural Connections program is scheduled for 3 to 4 p.m. Central time, and advance registration is required for Zoom access.
Because the program will be held online, participants will not need to travel to Vesterheim or another meeting location. Vesterheim is promoting the program for Decorah residents, although the virtual format may also allow people outside the area to participate.
What the rosemaling demonstration will cover
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.
The plant subjects will serve as the foundation for a painting demonstration and a discussion of traditional and contemporary design. Viewers will be able to see 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 webinar 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 registration details
The program 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, and Vesterheim will use that link to connect scientific classification with the plant-centered artwork in the demonstration.
Anyone planning to attend must register in advance 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 join.
Participants will need to be online during the scheduled 3-to-4 p.m. Central time window on Oct. 4. The free program combines rosemaling, botanical design and plant history in a format Decorah residents can watch without leaving home.