Decorah residents can explore Norwegian-American art from home this fall when Vesterheim presents a free online webinar combining traditional rosemaling with botanical design. The one-hour Cultural Connections program is scheduled for 3 to 4 p.m. Central Time on October 4, 2026.
The program will be held on Zoom, so participants will not need to travel to Vesterheim or another venue. Although the webinar is open to people elsewhere, advance registration is required for everyone who plans to attend. Those who register will receive the Zoom connection information.
Ten plants will guide the designs
Artist Tara will present 10 original rosemaling designs inspired by plants from the boreal ecosystem. The live demonstration will show how traditional brushwork can be adapted to reflect each plant’s individual form and character while remaining connected to established rosemaling techniques.
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.
During the presentation, attendees will be able to watch how the plants’ shapes and characteristics influence contemporary decorative painting. Vesterheim says the session is intended for people interested in modern botanical art, traditional craft techniques and the established rosemaling tradition.
Free registration is required
There is no charge to attend the October webinar, but participants must complete Vesterheim’s advance registration process to receive the Zoom link. Residents who want to take part should register before the October 4 program so the connection information arrives in time.
The online format gives Decorah participants a way to join from home while also allowing people outside the area to attend. Vesterheim’s event information also directs participants to the museum’s broader schedule of Cultural Connections programs.
The program connects art with plant history
The webinar is designed to go beyond 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,” creating a historical link between the webinar’s botanical subject matter and the development of plant classification.
The October program may appeal to people following Norwegian-American arts, rosemaling, botanical design or the ways traditional craft practices continue to develop in contemporary art. Anyone interested in attending should complete the required registration process ahead of time to obtain the Zoom information.