Decorah residents can join Vesterheim from home this fall for a free online art program connecting Norwegian-American rosemaling with botanical design. The museum’s live Cultural Connections webinar is scheduled for 3 to 4 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, October 4, 2026.
The one-hour program will take place on Zoom, so participants will not need to travel to Vesterheim or another venue. The event is also open to people outside Decorah, but everyone who plans to attend must register in advance.
Artist will demonstrate 10 plant-inspired designs
Artist Tara will present 10 original rosemaling designs inspired by plants from the boreal ecosystem. During 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 says the session is designed for people interested in modern botanical art, traditional craft techniques and the established rosemaling tradition. The presentation will show how the shapes and characteristics of plants can influence contemporary decorative painting.
Free event requires advance registration
There is no charge to attend the webinar. However, participants must complete Vesterheim’s registration process before the program to receive the Zoom link and other connection information. Registering ahead of time allows the access details to arrive before the October 4 session.
The online format gives Decorah participants the choice to watch from home while allowing people elsewhere to take part as well. Vesterheim’s event information directs attendees to the museum’s broader schedule of Cultural Connections programs.
Program also includes plant-history background
The webinar is planned as more than a painting demonstration. Vesterheim will 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 connection between the webinar’s plant-focused 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. For anyone who wants to attend, completing the advance registration is the next step for receiving the Zoom information.