News

DECORAH, Iowa — With the completion of a new forging studio at 418 W. Water St., Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School, begins an exciting new chapter in metalworking and forging education in Decorah. There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new studio on Friday, May 16, at 9:00 a.m. at the forge, followed by a reception in Vesterheim Commons. Everyone is welcome! Stay for Vesterheim’s Syttende Mai (Norwegian Constitution Day) celebration after the reception.

Photo: Vesterheim Folk Art School instructor Paul Nyborg tries out the new forges in Vesterheim’s forging studio.

The new forging studio includes four propane-fueled forges that accommodate a total of eight students, safety shut-off switches, and a ventilation system that will pump air up and out the west side of the building to ensure that it doesn’t simply recirculate back into the building. There is also a large garage door that opens to a green space behind the building so students can take advantage of being outside.

Knifemaking and forging have always been part of Norwegian and Norwegian-American culture and handcraft. For decades, Vesterheim has worked to ensure that these historic handcrafts are practiced and handed down to future generations by offering classes.

Andrew Ellingsen, Director of Folk Art Education at Vesterheim, said, “We are excited to see the traditional Scandinavian handcrafts of metalworking and forging move into their new home – their own safe forging studio! We have missed offering on-site forging classes over the past several years and look forward to welcoming international instructors and students back to campus.”

Vesterheim is hosting some fantastic instructors from all over the country with classes beginning in May 2025. Registration is now open at vesterheim.org. Upcoming classes include:

• Forging Fundamentals: Wall Hooks with Paul Nyborg – May 16-18
• Forged Tool Making with Cody Myers – May 29-June 1
• Early-Style Laminated Knife Blade with Tom Latané – July 21-23
• Viking-Style Padlock with Tom Latané – July 28-30
• Forging Fundamentals with Paul Nyborg – September 12-14
• Crafting the Pjål with KJ Groven and Fred Livesay – September 25-28

The building that houses the new studio was purchased by Vesterheim in 2024 and is ideal for a forging classroom because of the poured concrete floors, walls, and ceiling in the basement. Over the past several months, work has been done to raise and level the floor, replace the stairs, update the exterior access, and outfit the space with equipment.

Contractors working on the project are from the local area and include architect Keith Koch, Finholt Construction, Caspers Plumbing & Heating Inc., and Decorah Electric. All plans were approved by the Decorah City Planning and Zoning Commission.

The bulk of the construction was achieved with the help of two anonymous grant sources and multiple generous donors.

Vesterheim will continue to make plans for renovation of the first floor of the building at 418 W. Water St.

Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School, welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds to engage in the conversation of the American immigrant journey through the lens of the Norwegian-American experience. Vesterheim offers innovative and interactive exhibits, classes, and programs, both at the dynamic campus and park in scenic Decorah, Iowa, and online at vesterheim.org and Vesterheim social media. For more information on exhibits, classes, programs, tours, membership opportunities, and ways to donate and volunteer, connect at vesterheim.org, (563) 382-9681, and Vesterheim, 520 W. Water St., P.O. Box 379, Decorah, IA, 52101-0379.

Lauren Gunderson’s historical drama illuminates the indomitable power of friendship between two extraordinary scientists 

(Lanesboro, Minn.) The Commonweal Theatre Company launches its 37^th season with Lauren Gunderson’s exploration of history, science, and friendship in The Half-Life of Marie Curie. Previews begin on April 5, opening night is April 12, and the production runs until July 5.

Single tickets and season passes are available at www.CommonwealTheatre.org or by calling the box office (800) 657-7025. All performances are at the Commonweal Theatre, 208 Parkway Ave N., in downtown Lanesboro, MN.

In the play, chemist and physicist Marie Curie is about to accept a second Nobel prize for her pioneering work in radioactivity when a public scandal forces her to seek refuge. She retreats to the seaside home of engineer and suffragist Hertha Ayrton. There, the two friends explore what it means to be mothers, wives, scientists and thought leaders in a changing world on the verge of war.

“A lot of people recognize [Curie] as the scientist who discovered radium and polonium,” says director and company member Jaclyn June Johnson. “But they may not know that she was this incredible war hero. You get to see more of her legacy beyond the height of her name and the real human experiences she went through and fought through to be a person and living life on a public stage.”

Playwright Lauren Gunderson blends sharp humor, crackling dialogue, and deep empathy to examine big ideas on an intimate scale. Previously, the Commonweal has produced Lauren Gunderson’s play about 19th-century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt Silent Sky (2018) and last season’s holiday charmer Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley (co-written with Margot Melcon). Since 2015, Gunderson has been one of the most prolific and oft-produced playwrights in the country, topping the list three times including the 2022/23 theatre season. Many of her plays examine the lives of women in the sciences.

“I think science is incredibly stage-worthy. It’s riveting. It’s emotional. It’s intellectually thrilling. So I always go back to it,” said Gunderson in an interview for Science Friday. “Scientists are people. They’re not just brains. They are bodies and hearts. And it is not what we expect of this certain scientist—of Marie Curie. And I found that to be a really thrilling alchemy to put onstage: rich emotion, high stakes, and you know, it becomes a story about this incredible, unstoppable friendship that defines both of these women and, frankly, changes the world as well as saved their own lives.”

The production features Commonweal ensemble members Laurie Roberts (playing Curie) and Stela Burdt (playing Ayrton). Roberts joined the Commonweal in 2022, and her most recent roles have been Jess (Ugly Lies the Bone) and Chris (Rumors). She also serves as the apprentice advisor and is a development associate with a focus on grant writing for the company. Stela Burdt has been a company member since 2001, and this year marks her 25^th season with the Commonweal. She currently serves as the Director of Administration. Recent on-stage roles include Kacie (Ugly Lies the Bone), Liz (Women in Jeopardy!), along with music direction (Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley and A Christmas Carol).

“I’m blown away by these women every day in the rehearsal room,” says director Jaclyn June Johnson. “Both the women they are portraying and the women performing.” Johnson has been a Commonweal company member since 2020 where she directs, acts, and serves as the Director of Production.

The creative team for The Half-Life of Marie Curie also includes the following Commonweal company members Hal Cropp (dialects), Sara Hueser (props design), Isabella Anastasia Leigh (rehearsal stage manager) Synth Manuel (intimacy and sound design), and Alex Schlesinger (projections design and rehearsal/performance stage manager). The production also features returning guest designers Paul Epton (lighting) and Kimberly K. Murphy (costumes). Making his Commonweal debut as scenic designer is Twin Cities-based artist Greg Vanselow.

For more information about the 2025 season, visit www.CommonwealTheatre.org. To check availability and to reserve tickets, contact the box office at (800) 657-7025. This production contains strong language and adult themes.

ABOUT THE COMMONWEAL THEATRE COMPANY

Since 1989, the professional artists of the Commonweal have brought to life soulful stories told with honesty and creativity. Located in the heart of southeast Minnesota’s bluff country, Lanesboro (pop. 720) is home to the company’s theatre in its historic downtown. Under the leadership of producing artistic director Hal Cropp, the company boasts a distinctive organizational model with resident ensemble members (who have come from all over the country to make their home in the area) fulfilling the day-to-day artistic and operational needs of the company as artist/administrators.

For more information, visit www.commonwealtheatre.org.

Photo by Peterson Creative Photography and Design

Lanesboro Arts is excited to invite Minnesotan artists in any stage of their career to submit work for the upcoming exhibition: Our Bright Unfolding. The jury will prioritize applicants from Minnesota who identify as LGBTQIA+, Two-Spirit, BIPOC, and/or disabled as well as rurally located artists (including those in southeast Minnesota). The theme of this exhibition embodies interconnectedness in motion, a much needed light uplifting the power of artistic expression as a tool of practice for societal change. Our Bright Unfolding seeks artwork reflective of personal and collective growth, resilience, radical acts of joy, and the power of unapologetic existence. In a time of profound upheaval when marginalized communities are increasingly under threat, this exhibition seeks to serve as a necessary reminder to lean on community, roots of resistance, and visions for change.

Artists are invited to bring the present moment, lived experiences, cultural histories, and collective movements to the forefront of their work as a means of provoking thought, inspiring action, and inching toward personal and collective empowerment through the creative process.

Submissions can include, but are not limited to, visual art, sculpture, multimedia works, and interactive art. Direct representations as well as more abstract expressions are welcome and encouraged.

This exhibition will be curated by an advisory committee made up of LGBTQIA+, Two Spirit, BIPOC, and disabled artists involved in the Gallery Equitable Systems Change Program. Lanesboro Arts launched the Gallery Equitable Systems Change Program as a commitment to a thorough review and change of current systems and processes, with the goal of further aligning practices with equity values and more deeply serving marginalized artists.

To apply, artists may complete the online application available on the Lanesboro Arts website. From the homepage of lanesboroarts.org, click on ‘Artist Opportunities’ on the sidebar, and then on ‘Our Bright Unfolding Application’. To complete the application, artists are asked to submit images via Google Drive or Dropbox. All visual arts media are eligible – both 2-D and 3-D. For those who prefer, you may submit a video application to gallery@lanesboroarts.org, with the subject line “Our Bright Unfolding Application”.

Wall pieces chosen will need to be framed and include a hanging wire in the back; all work in the exhibition will be for sale as per consignment agreement (40% gallery, 60% artist). This show will include up to ten artists and each accepted artist will receive a $500 stipend for exhibition costs. Transporting the work to and from Lanesboro will be the responsibility of the artist; however, for this show, we are able to offer a mileage/shipping stipend for those who request it up to $250. The deadline for work delivery will be May 30, 2025.

Our Bright Unfolding will open on Saturday, June 7, 2025, with an artist reception from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Lanesboro Arts Gallery. The organization provides year-round arts programming and serves as a regional catalyst for artistic excellence and educational development, by providing diverse art experiences for people of all ages. The Lanesboro Arts Gallery is located at 103 Parkway Ave. N. in Lanesboro, Minnesota. For more information, visit www.lanesboroarts.org.

Multidisciplinary NYC artist Meg Frank brings
mixed media art quilt project to Lanesboro
as Artist-In-Residence April 14 – May 11

Lanesboro Arts is thrilled to welcome New York City-based artist Meg Frank as the Lanesboro Arts Artist-in-Residence from April 14 – May 11, 2025. During their residency, Meg will invite Lanesboro area residents to explore art quilts, drawing, painting, and art documentation through a series of free events.

For their residency in Lanesboro, Meg will create mixed media art quilts that document Lanesboro citizens and places they cherish; as well as hosting public art education classes on quilting, drawing, and painting. Once completed, the quilts would be donated to the community for display and educational use.

The general public is invited to participate in a series of free public art education classes, starting with a Welcome Potluck on Thursday,  April 17^th.  Community members can nominate subjects for the mixed media art quilts at Lanesboro Arts’ website. Meg’s residency will culminate in a Capstone event on Friday, May 9^th.

Residency Events

• Thursday, April 17, 6:00 – 7:30 pm: Welcome Potluck at the Sons of Norway Lodge
• Saturday, April 19^th, 10 – 12 pm & 2 – 4 pm: Drawing Workshop at St. Mane Theatre 2^nd Floor Studio
• Saturday, April 26^th, 10 – 12 pm & 2 – 4 pm: Painting Workshop at St. Mane Theatre 2^nd Floor Studio
• Saturday, May 3^rd, 10 – 12 pm & 2 – 4 pm: Documentation Workshop at St. Mane Theatre 2^nd Floor Studio
• Friday, May 9, 6 – 8 pm: Residency Capstone at the Sons of Norway Lodge
• Open Studio Hours: 6 – 9 pm on April 21, April 23, April 28, April 30, May 5, & May 7 at Driftless Fiber Arts Collective

About Meg Frank

Meg Frank is a multidisciplinary artist, living and working in New York City. Originally from Minnesota, Frank has spent the last decade working to combine painting, sewing, and weaving in work that examines the psychological spaces that surround our homes, community, and dreams. Their current body of work explores the iconography of science fiction and wayfinding signage as scaffolding for the mind space held by those without a specific cultural background searching for community. Their art is held privately and publicly across the United States and Europe and can be found at megfrank.com.

About the Lanesboro Early Career Artist Residency Program

Supported by the Jerome Foundation, the Lanesboro Artist Residency Program awards two to three residencies per year to early career artists with projects that activate the people and places of Lanesboro while instigating positive change. The program’s place-based and community-engaged focus is geared toward early career artists that are driven to explore ways in which their work can be applied to the community and how Lanesboro’s rural community can inform their work. For more information, visit lanesboroarts.org or call 507-467-2446.

Lanesboro Arts is thrilled to partner with Sarah Peterson to present the first Spring Songwriters Showcase of 2025 on Saturday, April 12 at 7:00 at Lanesboro’s historic St. Mane Theatre. This unique acoustic concert experience features regional songwriters Jill Burkes, Audrey Robinson, Jason Chaffee, and Sarah Peterson.

Audience members will be immersed in this intimate concert setting, where four singer-songwriters will share their original songs, along with the inspirations and stories behind them. Each concert in this series is presented in a Nashville-style round robin format, which removes the usual distractions of a normal gig, and allows the audience to be drawn into the emotional heart of each song. The Spring Songwriters Showcase will feature

About the Artists:

Jill Burkes is a singer songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Hibbing, MN. She began studying the violin at age 7 and performed with various string ensembles through childhood and young adulthood. Jill is currently fronting the folk rock band Morningbird; their debut album “Echoes in the Meadow” was released in May 2024. Audrey Robinson is a singer-songwriter originally from Waterloo, Iowa, and now based out of Rochester MN. She has been playing and writing for pert near 20 years now, and has been performing throughout the Midwest for about 15 years. With a folk/punk style, her lyrics and songs are honest and straightforward. Jason Chaffee is an award-winning composer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer whose music exists in the space between notes—where emotion lingers and inspiration resonates. Now, Jason is preparing for his most ambitious project yet—a double album release on July 18, 2025. The first, a folk-rock/pop album, and the second, an ambient album. Sarah Peterson has written with other songwriters all over the world. Recent success include a song on rotation on Sirus XM radio (If Country Was a Town) and two songs in rotation on Malaysian Radio Stations (Glitter and Gold, Together). From her home base in Lanesboro she developed her first artist project last year, releasing four singles and the full six song EP ‘Singing to the Angels’.

In addition to performing together on stage that evening, songwriter Sarah Peterson will lead a songwriting workshop earlier in the day, called “Songwriting through Inspiration, Intuition & Practice.” The workshop will take place at 2 pm on April 12^th at the St. Mane Theatre upper level studio. Participants at any experience level can register for the workshop for only $5.

Tickets are on sale online now for an Early Bird price of $15 if purchased by Saturday, April 5^th, 2025. The regular ticket price after April 5^th is $20. Tickets at lanesboroarts.org. Seating is general admission.

Songwriters Showcase concert and workshop series is presented by Sarah Peterson in partnership with Lanesboro Arts. Sarah Peterson is a fiscal year 2025 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.