Decorah residents interested in Norwegian-American art and traditional craft can join Vesterheim from home this fall for a free online rosemaling webinar focused on botanical design.
The one-hour Cultural Connections program is scheduled for 3 to 4 p.m. Central Time on October 4, 2026. The event will take place on Zoom, so participants will not need to travel to Vesterheim or another venue. Advance registration is required to receive the connection information.
Ten plants will shape the designs
Artist Tara will present 10 original rosemaling designs inspired by plants from the boreal ecosystem. The demonstration will explore how traditional brushwork can be adapted to reflect the individual forms and character of each plant while remaining connected to established rosemaling techniques.
The featured botanical subjects are Trout Lily, Rowan Berry, Lady’s Slipper, Blue Flag Iris, Wild Rose, Coral Root, Arrowhead, Pipsissewa, Marsh Marigold and Maple Leaf.
During the live brushwork demonstration, attendees will be able to see how the plants’ shapes and characteristics inform contemporary decorative painting. The session is designed for people interested in modern botanical art, traditional craft techniques and the established rosemaling tradition.
Registration is required for the free Zoom event
There is no charge to attend, but participants must complete Vesterheim’s advance registration process before the program to obtain the Zoom link. Vesterheim’s event information also points attendees toward the museum’s broader schedule of Cultural Connections programs.
For people in Decorah, the online format makes it possible to participate from home. The program is also open to participants elsewhere, although everyone who wants to attend must register in advance.
Program connects art with plant-classification history
The October webinar will include more than a painting demonstration. Vesterheim plans to briefly connect contemporary botanical art with the history of plant classification, including background on Carl Linnaeus and his apprentice Anders Dahl.
Dahl’s name remains part of the word “dahlia,” providing a historical link between the program’s botanical subject matter and the development of plant classification.
The webinar may appeal to people following Norwegian-American arts, rosemaling, botanical design or the ways traditional craft practices continue to develop in contemporary art. Residents who want to take part should register ahead of time so they receive the Zoom information before the October 4 program.