Decorah residents interested in Norwegian-American art can join Vesterheim’s free online Cultural Connections webinar from home on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. The one-hour program will be available virtually, so participants will not need to travel to Vesterheim or another venue.
The webinar is scheduled for 3 to 4 p.m. Central Time. Vesterheim’s program will focus on rosemaling, a decorative painting tradition associated with Norwegian-American art, and will feature artist Tara demonstrating 10 original designs inspired by plants from the boreal ecosystem.
Registration is required for Zoom access
The online event is free, but Decorah residents must register in advance for the Zoom program. Completing Vesterheim’s registration process is required to receive the meeting link and other connection information.
Because the presentation is virtual, participants can watch from home. Although the program is promoted to Decorah residents, its online format also allows people outside the area to participate, connecting local viewers with a broader audience through Vesterheim’s Cultural Connections program.
Ten boreal plants will inspire the designs
During the demonstration, Tara will use 10 plants from the boreal ecosystem as inspiration for rosemaling designs. The featured plants are:
- Trout Lily
- Rowan Berry
- Lady’s Slipper
- Blue Flag Iris
- Wild Rose
- Coral Root
- Arrowhead
- Pipsissewa
- Marsh Marigold
- Maple Leaf
The presentation will examine how traditional rosemaling brushwork can be adapted for contemporary botanical design. The plants will not simply serve as subjects to copy; the session will connect established painting techniques with newer interpretations of plant forms.
Webinar links art and plant history
Alongside the painting demonstration, Vesterheim’s webinar will include a brief discussion of botanical art and the history of plant classification. The presentation will reference Carl Linnaeus and his apprentice, Anders Dahl.
Dahl’s name remains part of “dahlia,” creating a historical connection between the plant-focused artwork and the development of plant classification. By bringing together rosemaling, botanical design and Norwegian-American arts, the program will explore how plant history and traditional painting can inform one another.
The webinar is intended for people interested in modern botanical art, established rosemaling techniques and the continuing development of traditional craft practices through contemporary art. For Decorah residents planning to attend, registering with Vesterheim before Oct. 4 is the step needed to obtain the Zoom information.