Decorah residents interested in Norwegian-American art, botanical design or traditional craft techniques can take part in a free online Vesterheim program from home this fall. The one-hour Cultural Connections webinar is scheduled for Sunday, October 4, 2026, from 3 to 4 p.m. Central Time.
Artist Tara will lead the online demonstration, showing how 10 original rosemaling designs can be inspired by plants from the boreal ecosystem. The program is open to people outside Decorah as well, but everyone planning to attend must register in advance.
Ten plants will shape the demonstration
Viewers will be able to follow how traditional brushwork can be adapted to reflect the distinctive form and character of each plant while remaining connected to established rosemaling techniques. The featured plants are:
- Trout Lily
- Rowan Berry
- Lady’s Slipper
- Blue Flag Iris
- Wild Rose
- Coral Root
- Arrowhead
- Pipsissewa
- Marsh Marigold
- Maple Leaf
Vesterheim’s session is intended for people interested in modern botanical art, traditional craft techniques and the established rosemaling tradition. The demonstration will examine how the shapes and characteristics of plants can influence contemporary decorative painting.
Registration is required for the Zoom link
There is no charge to attend, and participants will not need to travel to Vesterheim or another venue because the program is online. However, advance registration is required to receive the Zoom link and other connection information. Access details are expected to arrive before the October 4 session.
For local residents, the online format makes it possible to watch from home while connecting with a broader audience. Vesterheim’s event information directs attendees to the museum’s wider schedule of Cultural Connections programs.
Webinar connects art with plant-classification history
The program will go beyond the painting demonstration with a brief connection between contemporary botanical art and the history of plant classification. That background will include 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 combining rosemaling, botanical design and Norwegian-American arts, the webinar will show how traditional craft practices continue to develop in contemporary art.
Decorah residents who want to participate should complete Vesterheim’s registration process ahead of time. That step is necessary to receive the Zoom information for the October 4 program.