Vesterheim will bring traditional rosemaling into a modern botanical setting with a free online webinar scheduled for October 4, 2026. The Cultural Connections program will run from 3 to 4 p.m. Central Time on Zoom, giving Decorah-area residents and other participants a way to attend without traveling to a venue.
Registration is required to receive the free Zoom link. The program is designed to examine how traditional rosemaling can be reshaped as contemporary botanical art rather than treated solely as a historical craft.
Ten designs inspired by boreal plants
During the presentation, artist Tara will show 10 original botanical designs inspired by plants from the boreal ecosystem. 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.
Participants will also see a demonstration of how traditional rosemaling brushstrokes can be reimagined to reflect the distinct forms and character of those plants. The focus offers an introduction to contemporary botanical design while retaining a connection to established rosemaling techniques.
Art program includes plant-classification history
The session will briefly connect contemporary botanical art with the history of plant classification. That background will include Carl Linnaeus and his apprentice Anders Dahl. Vesterheim’s program notes that Dahl’s name continues in the word “dahlia.”
Those interested in Norwegian-American arts, traditional craft techniques or botanical design can register for the October program through Vesterheim’s event information. The event listing also directs attendees to the museum’s broader schedule of Cultural Connections programs.