Rosemaling exhibit is at Decorah Library

A rosemaling exhibit is on display at the Decorah Public Library through the end of March. The exhibit is the work of the Nisse Rosemalers, a Decorah group which includes Mary Althouse, Wilma Anderson, Carol Goettler, Beverly Gruhn, Barbara Hagelie, Corrine Landsgard, Margie Landsgard, Beverly Schrandt, Jean Schutte, Madonna Stumme, Norma Wangsness, Diane Weston and Karen Morse Winter.

Formally organized in 1977, the Nisse Rosemalers were initially comprised of a small group of area women who began painting by taking an adult education class at the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah. The group has expanded and now also works with other Norwegian arts including basket making, hardanger, klostersom, kolrosing wood and chip carving and wheat weaving.

Rosemaling originated in the 1700s in Norway as a way to decorate churches, homes, furniture, trunks and utensils. Each region of Norway had its own distinctive style, such as Telemark, Hallingdal, Valdres, Rogaland, Os, Gudbrandsdal, and Vest Agder.