Four Decorah residents earn honors at Vesterheim

Ruth Green won the People's Choice Award in rosemaling for a plate painted in the Rogaland-style

Four Decorah artists have received awards from Vesterheim Museum's annual "National Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition."

Ruth Green won the People's Choice Award in rosemaling for a plate painted in the Rogaland-style.

Betty Rikansrud Nelson won a White Ribbon in weaving with a table runner in Doubleweave technique.  With this award she earned enough points to receive a Vesterheim Gold Medal.

Sandra Somdahl won a Blue Ribbon in weaving with "Fall Morning," a wall hanging in Krokbragd technique.

Stan Finholt won a Red Ribbon in woodworking with a turned cherry bowl.

The exhibition, which has some of the most outstanding examples of decorative and folk art to be seen in this country, was established as the rosemaling exhibition at the first Decorah Nordic Fest in 1967. Weaving, woodworking, and knifemaking were added in later years.  There were over 150 pieces of art submitted for this year's exhibition.

Judges this year for rosemaling were Luther College Assistant Professor of Art and Art Gallery Coordinator David Kamm, Vesterheim Gold Medal Rosemaler Irene Lamont from Eau Claire, Wisconsin; and Gold Medal Rosemaler Nancy Schmidt from Waukesha, Wisconsin.

Judges this year for weaving were weaver Marta Klove Juuhl from Arna, Norway; and former Luther College art Instructor Linda Elkins.

Judges this year for woodworking were Gold Medal woodworker Judy Ritger from River Falls, Wisconsin; and former Luther College art Instructor Linda Elkins.

Betty Rikansrud Nelson won a White Ribbon in weaving with a table runner in Doubleweave technique.

Sandra Somdahl won a Blue Ribbon in weaving with "Fall Morning," a wall hanging in Krokbragd technique.

Stan Finholt won a Red Ribbon in woodworking with a turned cherry bowl.