Vesterheim Open House Features Luther Student Folk Art

Posted: January 16, 2020

DECORAH, Iowa — Be inspired by budding folk artists and Scandinavian traditions at Vesterheim, the national Norwegian-American museum and heritage center, during an open house for students from the “Scandinavian Fine Handcraft” January Term course at Luther College. This free community event will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 28, in the museum’s Main Building.

During the open house, students from the class will demonstrate carving and exhibit their class projects. Refreshments will be served.
The class is taught by Harley Refsal, Luther professor emeritus of Scandinavian folk art. Refsal is a Vesterheim Gold Medalist who has taught Scandinavian figure carving throughout the United States and Norway. He was honored by Norway’s King H. M. Harald V with the St. Olav Medal of Honor for his efforts in reinvigorating Scandinavian figure carving in both the United States and Norway.

Vesterheim, the national Norwegian-American museum and heritage center, in scenic Decorah, Iowa, showcases the best in historic and contemporary Norwegian folk and fine arts, and explores the American immigrant experience. This national treasure includes world-class exhibitions and 12 historic buildings. It is also a center for folk-art education, offering a wide variety of classes in authentic Norwegian folk art every year. For more information on the museum’s exhibitions, classes, events, membership opportunities, and ways to donate, check Vesterheim’s website at vesterheim.org, call (563) 382-9681, or write to Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, 502 W. Water St., P.O. Box 379, Decorah, IA, 52101-0379
A national liberal arts college, Luther offers an academic curriculum that leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree in more than 60 majors and pre-professional programs. For more information about Luther visit the college’s website: www.luther.edu.
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