Decorah residents interested in Norwegian-American art can join Vesterheim’s free online Cultural Connections webinar from home on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. The program is scheduled for 3 to 4 p.m. Central time and will focus on rosemaling, botanical design and the history of plants.
Advance registration is required. People who register will receive the Zoom link and other connection information needed to attend. Since the program is online, participants will not need to travel to Vesterheim or another meeting location.
What the online program will show
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 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 webinar is designed to connect Norwegian-American brushwork with contemporary botanical art. Along with showing how recognizable plant forms can become decorative designs, the presentation will explain how traditional methods relate to newer artistic interpretations.
Plant history and how to register
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 link to connect 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. The source does not list a separate registration deadline, so prospective attendees should register before the program begins to obtain the Zoom meeting details.
Participants should plan to be online during the scheduled 3-to-4 p.m. Central time window on Oct. 4. For people in Decorah, the free program offers a way to explore rosemaling, botanical design and plant history without leaving home.