“Keeping old weaving traditions alive in new contexts: From North House Folk School to Scandinavia to Vesterheim Museum” By Caroline Feyling. The Norwegian American, September 18, 2024

Caroline Feyling recently finished a year as a Folk Art Apprentice at North House Folk School. In this article she describes her Norwegian background, her inspiring research trip to Scandinavia and subsequent work with Norwegian weaving.

MALFRIDUR ADALSTEINSDOTTIR
Stemning / Atmosphere

26 September – 3 November 2024. Format Gallery, Oslo, Norway

Málfríður Aðalsteinsdóttir (born 1960, Iceland) lives and works in the forests of Norway. She combines wool and horsehair in her embroidered drawings, using both the natural colors of different sheep breeds and plant-dyed wool, which is then carded before the desired thread is spun. Older craft traditions that involve a close connection between the hand and the material, respect for natural resources, and the time-consuming aspect of handmade work are fundamental to her practice.

EMMA: Espoo Musuem of Modern Art. “Finnish Ryijy Textiles to Complement Glass and Ceramics of Collection Kakkonen at the End of 2024.”

From the website: “EMMA will mark the two years of the hugely popular Collection Kakkonen exhibition with new additions. The updates will be installed gradually over the autumn season, beginning in September 2024, with the new exhibition ready for public viewing in the last week of November…The new Ryijy Gallery section at Collection Kakkonen strengthens EMMA’s commitment to design, featuring textiles of artistic, cultural, and historical importance. Displayed alongside ceramic and glass objects, the ryijys highlight the interwoven history of these three genres. In his collecting, Kyösti Kakkonen has focused on the works of renowned Finnish ryijy designers. The new display will include around 15 pieces from the 1930s to the 1980s by various artists, including Uhra-Beata Simberg-Ehrström. 

Vibrant Traditions: Scandinavian Weaving in the Midwest 

Norway House, 913 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404
January 31 – April 6, 2025 

This exhibit of traditional and contemporary weavings in Scandinavian techniques will take place in the Mondale Galleri at Norway House. The Scandinavian Weavers Study Group is celebrating almost three decades of collaboration and friendship that has included exhibitions, study group topics, and sharing of expertise. This resulted in a strong community with a shared interest in traditional Scandinavian weaving techniques and commitment to keeping our craft alive — and vibrant. The exhibit will be accompanied by weaving demonstrations, special events, and waffles (available in the Norway House Kaffebar)! Check the Scandinavian Weavers blog in the coming months for details.