Decorah residents interested in Norwegian-American art and traditional craft techniques will be able to join a free Vesterheim webinar from home on Sunday, October 4, 2026. The one-hour Cultural Connections program will run from 3 to 4 p.m. Central Time and feature artist Tara demonstrating 10 original rosemaling designs inspired by plants from the boreal ecosystem.

Advance registration is required. Although the online program is free, participants must complete Vesterheim’s registration process before the event to receive the Zoom link and other connection information. The virtual format allows people in Decorah to watch from home without traveling to Vesterheim or another venue.

Ten plants will guide the demonstration

The program will examine how the form and character of each plant can influence decorative painting. Rather than presenting the plants only as subjects to copy, the demonstration will show how traditional rosemaling brushwork can be adapted for contemporary botanical design.

  • Trout Lily
  • Rowan Berry
  • Lady’s Slipper
  • Blue Flag Iris
  • Wild Rose
  • Coral Root
  • Arrowhead
  • Pipsissewa
  • Marsh Marigold
  • Maple Leaf

Rosemaling is a decorative painting tradition associated with Norwegian-American art. Vesterheim’s session is designed for people interested in modern botanical art, established rosemaling techniques and the way traditional craft practices continue to develop through contemporary art.

Webinar links art with plant-classification history

The presentation will go beyond a painting demonstration by making a brief connection between botanical art and the history of plant classification. That discussion 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 bringing together rosemaling, botanical design and Norwegian-American arts, the webinar will explore how plant history and traditional painting can inform one another.

The October 4 program is also open to people outside Decorah, allowing local participants to connect with a broader audience through Vesterheim’s Cultural Connections program. Residents who plan to attend should register before the session begins because registration is necessary to receive the Zoom information.