Decorah residents interested in Norwegian-American art can watch a free Vesterheim webinar from home on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. The online Cultural Connections program will run from 3 to 4 p.m. Central time and will focus on rosemaling, botanical design and the history of plants.
Advance registration is required. Those who register will receive the Zoom link and other connection information needed to join the virtual program. Because the event is online, participants will not need to travel to Vesterheim or another meeting location.
What the Vesterheim 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.
The plants will serve as the foundation for a 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.
The program 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 registration details
Vesterheim’s 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 the museum will use that connection to link scientific classification with the plant-centered artwork in the demonstration.
Vesterheim is promoting the webinar for Decorah residents, although the online format may also allow people outside the area to participate. No separate registration deadline is listed, but prospective attendees should register before the program begins to obtain the Zoom meeting details.
Participants should be online during the scheduled 3-to-4 p.m. Central time window on Oct. 4. The free program offers Decorah residents a way to explore rosemaling, botanical design and plant history without leaving home.