Vesterheim Museum Announces 2005 Folk-Art Class Schedule

DECORAH, Iowa — Every year, Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum brings instructors from all over the United States and Norway to teach folk-art classes. "Over 300 students come to our folk-art classes," said Angie Reynolds, Vesterheim’s education assistant. "To keep connected to the roots of Norwegian folk arts, we invite the best possible instructors, and we delight in helping our students find their heritage and develop their talent," she continued.

Among the many experienced instructors at the museum this year, four will travel from Norway—one rosemaler, one knifemaker, and two woodworkers. Each of them will teach two classes, one class the week of July 16-20 and one class the week of July 23-27.

Torunn Rød Farsund will teach "Rosemaling in Os Style." Farsund descends from an unbroken line of five generations of rosemalers. Her great-grandfather was Annanias Tveit, one of the most outstanding rosepainters in Norwegian history. She resides in Os, which has been a center for rosemaling in western Norway since 1850 and is one of only two areas that sustains an unbroken tradition. Farsund has exhibited and demonstrated at the "Kulturminnedag" (Cultural Memory Day) sponsored by the Department of Culture in Os.

Oddvar Rødven will teach "Making a Knife Handle and Sheath." Rødven is from Tana, Norway. His training was at Statens Lærerskole i Forming in Notodden and Rauland Folkekunstakademi in Rauland. He has taught crafts and art for 30 years.

Torgeir Lirhus will teach "Horse Head Ale Bowl." Lirhus is from Voss, Norway. He received his training at Norsk Kunsthandverksskule under instructors Sven Valevatn and Olav N. Dolve. Lirhus has been working with wood as a carpenter and folk artist for 32 years, and has been a teacher for 10 years at Voss Folkehögskule.

Leif Ottar Flaten will teach "Kolrosing." Flaten lives in Drangedal, Norway. He began his artistic career in rosemaling. At age 17, he had his first competition in Seljord, Norway, where he successfully competed against many established rosemalers. Beginning as a painter, his real interest became woodworking. He has a degree in design, furniture making, and teaching. Flaten is best known for his revival of the old art form of kolrosing, a decorating technique in which the woodworker uses a knife to make shallow cuts in wood and then fills the cuts with finely ground pine tree bark dust.

Vesterheim’s full schedule of classes in Norwegian folk art is now available on-line at www.vesterheim.org or by contacting Carla Scott at 563-382-9681. The schedule this year includes classes in rosemaling, fiber arts, woodworking, knifemaking, baking, and basketry.

Vesterheim embodies the living heritage of Norwegian immigrants to America. By sharing this cultural legacy Vesterheim seeks to inspire people of all backgrounds to celebrate tradition.

From November 1 – April 30, Vesterheim is open Tuesday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and from May 1 – October 31 daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information consult Vesterheim’s website at www.vesterheim.org, or call (563)382-9681.