Decorah residents interested in Norwegian-American art will have a free way to explore rosemaling from home on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, when Vesterheim presents an online Cultural Connections webinar. The program is scheduled for 3 to 4 p.m. Central time, and participants must register in advance to receive the Zoom link and other connection information.
Because the event is virtual, residents will not need to travel to Vesterheim or another meeting site. Vesterheim is promoting the webinar for Decorah residents, while the online format may also make participation possible for people outside the area.
What viewers will see
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 plants will provide the foundation for both a painting demonstration and a discussion of traditional and contemporary design. Viewers will see how established rosemaling techniques continue to develop, as well as how historic craft methods can be adapted for modern botanical artwork.
The webinar is designed to connect Norwegian-American brushwork with contemporary botanical art. Along with showing how recognizable plant forms can become decorative designs, the demonstration will explain how traditional methods relate to newer artistic interpretations.
Plant history and how to register
Vesterheim’s program will also explore 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 the museum will use that connection to link scientific classification with the plant-centered artwork featured in the demonstration.
There is no separate registration deadline listed for the program. However, prospective attendees should register before the webinar begins so they can obtain the Zoom 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 brings together rosemaling, botanical design and plant history in a format Decorah residents can watch without leaving home.