Scandinavian Arts at the Institute

As we waited in line to enter the American Swedish Institute's Cocktails at the Castle we were entertained by these folks

Th gentleman was playing the saw

while his accordion waited patiently.

There was a lot going on between the grounds of the Nelson Cultural Center and the Turnblad Mansion. The Going Ons was to celebrate Europe Day. "Across the pond, May 9 is known as Europe Day - an international celebration of peace, unity, and the European Union. Institutions across the continent are opening their doors, embracing the moments that make each country unique while sharing the culture and arts that connect people to one another despite political and geographic boundaries."

We enjoyed music, street food, roaming performers, a juggler, and 

a runic fortune teller

Hubby chose the rune representing words.

There were artisan exhibits on the third floor of the mansion.

Artist Ian Ward Garlant discussed his sculptural reliefs with visitors

This wall sized piece incorporates ancient Norwegian language

with modern patterns

His work was part of a display "Love Norway X"

In celebration of the 200th anniversary of

Norway's Constitution Day

A piece of hardanger on display

Hardanger uses white thread (usually) to embroider on 

white even-weave cloth.

Papercut! The Incredible Psaligraphy of Karen "Bit" Vejle was also on exhibit

A 3-D papercut piece of art

I think there were 10 wall sized pieces similar to this one

All done by hand

A video was playing to show how Karen Vejle creates

her paper works of art

She sat on a chair with a small scissors in her hand

and snipped and cut and turned and flipped

creating a story from one continuous piece of paper.

Her work was playful, detailed, and stunning.

Her exhibited works were beyond incredible!

Karen is a Danish-Norwegian artist

Psaligraphy is the Danish art of papercutting

Sonja Peterson shared some of her works "Entangled Introductions"

Sonja "builds networks of negative space into large-scale,

intricate cutouts whose mazes of quiet colors and soft

shadows add depth and whimsy to the simplest of mediums:

paper."

Sonja Peterson is a Minneapolis artist

Metallic acetate pieces were displayed on another wall.

Don't know the artist, but I liked the spider-web creations.

The volunteer called this "30 bobbin lace."

Handcrafted lace created by twisting and braiding 

strands of thread wound on bobbins

creating intricate patterns and designs.

This tapestry was on the wall in the Nelson

Cultural Center

It was HUGE

I thought of my weaving friend Nancy

when I saw the wall hanging.

It was impossible to miss!

Our night at the castle