Decorah residents interested in Norwegian-American art can take part in a free Vesterheim webinar from home on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. The virtual Cultural Connections program will run from 3 to 4 p.m. Central Time and is designed to connect traditional rosemaling with botanical art and plant history.
Because the event is online, participants will not need to travel to Vesterheim or another venue. The program is promoted to Decorah residents, although its virtual format also allows people outside the area to attend.
Registration is required for Zoom access
The one-hour presentation is free, but Decorah residents must register with Vesterheim in advance. Registration is required to receive the Zoom meeting link and other connection information. Residents planning to watch from home should complete the registration process before the Oct. 4 program.
Ten plants will inspire the designs
Artist Tara will demonstrate 10 original rosemaling designs inspired by plants from the boreal ecosystem. 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 demonstration will show how traditional rosemaling brushwork can be adapted for contemporary botanical design. The plants will serve as more than subjects to copy; the session will explore newer interpretations of plant forms through established painting techniques.
Art demonstration also includes plant history
In addition to 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 the word “dahlia,” providing a historical link between the plant-focused artwork and the development of plant classification. By bringing together rosemaling, botanical design and Norwegian-American arts, the program will examine how plant history and traditional painting can inform one another.
The program 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 viewers, advance registration is the practical next step for obtaining the Zoom information.