An exclusive exhibition featuring the acclaimed architectural illustrator P. Stevenson “Steve” Oles.
The exhibit, running from October 27-December 31, is inspired by Oles’ award-winning illustration of the soon-to-be-completed veranda at the Scandinavian Living and Cultural Center.
Considered one of the world’s premier architectural illustrators, Paul Stevenson (Steve) Oles FAIA worked as an independent architect, professor, author, and illustrator in the Boston area for over 40 years.
Early in his architectural career he worked at Cambridge Seven Associates and taught architectural drawing at the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD), the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Yale University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from the 1970s until 2004. He served as MIT campus architect from 1969 through 1971 and was a Loeb Fellow at Harvard in 1982. He cofounded the American Society of Architectural Illustrators (ASAI) in 1985 and as an illustrator himself has created a legacy that ranges from hand drawing to digital imagining, with highly nuanced combinations of both.
Oles is celebrated for his collaborations with many renowned architects, most notably I.M. Pei and his iconic Louvre Pyramid design. Oles’ skillful illustration of the Louvre Pyramid played a pivotal role in obtaining approval from the City of Paris, showcasing the transformative power of architectural illustration in bringing visionary projects to life. Drawings of Boston’s Moakley Federal Courthouse, the Washington National Cathedral, and Maya Lin’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial are included in our show.
In addition to teaching, writing, and executing commissioned drawings for other professionals, Oles practiced as an independent architect, winning three regional design competitions in the fields of elderly housing, energy-efficient residential, and bridge design. His rendering of the Scandinavian Living Center received the 2022 Award of Excellence from the ASAI. He is a former recipient of the High Ferriss Memorial Prize, the ASAI’s highest honor.
Oles’ books include Drawing the Future, Architectural Illustration: The Value Delineation Process, Hands: Fifty Photographs by Paul Stephenson Oles, and the just published Santa Fe Vignettes.
“Steve Oles is an architect/artist who perceives the intellectual substance
in the design intent and skillfully, rigorously, and with fidelity investigates
design implications through drawings. He is a valued collaborator in the
Sweden’s Sandwich Cake Day is November 13th, we think that’s cause to celebrate.
The Smörgåstårta is a dish of Swedish origin popular in Sweden, Estonia (called “võileivatort”), Finland (called “voileipäkakku” and “smörgåstårta”) and Iceland (called “brauðterta” [ˈprœyːðˌtʰɛr̥ta]). Smörgåstårta is a traditional Swedish Sandwich Cake enjoyed year round, especially during special celebrations like Midsommar, birthday parties and weddings.
Our quick & easy homemade Swedish Sandwich Cake features a “savoury icing” made up of mayonnaise and sour cream. The interior is layered with bread slices, shrimp salad, smoked salmon and dill. The Swedish entrée is then topped with sliced vegetables, fresh dill, eggs and lemon slices.
Come in and try this delicious Swedish creation in the Kaffestugan!
Saturday, November 18th in the Kaffestugan from 10am-2pm*
**No reservations necessary. While supplies last. Full menu will also be available for order**
Join us for an afternoon of musical mastery with Norwegian guitarist Tim Johnson and Swedish bass player Bruno Råberg!
Their improvisational skills and deep connection to music promise an afternoon filled with rich melodies, spellbinding harmonies, and entrancing rhythms.
Saturday, November 4th | 1pm | $15; $7 for SCC members | tickets
Eric is an artist of Finnish descent who lives in Vermont. He studied at the Central School of Art and Design in Vermont. He has a BFA from the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston and did postgraduate work at the Institute of Art and Design in Lahti, Finland.
Eric Aho is known for his immersive paintings of the natural world, using color and form to bridge the way we experience nature in totality. His canvases occupy a zone of perception between sober realism and ecstatic abstraction. He has been called “one of the leading painters of landscape and the environment of his generation.”
His works have been exhibited and collected widely in the United States and abroad and can be found in the permanent collections of many art museums including the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco; The Metropolitan Museum of Art; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; and the Oulu Museum of Art, Finland, among many others.
In his presentation, Eric will describe the role Finland has played both in his imagination as a child and in his daily life as an artist. He will introduce the audience to his Finnish grandparents, aunt and uncle and share the story of his work. The audience will find his presentation engaging and very inspiring.
Sunday, November 5th | 2-4pm | this event is free with registration | register here
What began as a 19th century treat enjoyed on the ferries between Sweden and Denmark, the shrimp sandwich is now a Swedish icon. The sandwich still maintains its connection to traveling and is often enjoyed in airports. So, in 2009, Arlanda Airport in Stockholm started celebrating Räkmackans dag to honor this popular sandwich.
Our Kaffestugan wanted to get in on the fun so come on out during regular hours (10-2) on October 14th to enjoy one of our open-faced shrimp sandwiches and shrimp salad sandwiches!
A warm, soft-spoken and close encounter with the importance of play and fantasy in childhood, and how playing is vital for the well-being of children. Childhood tells a crucial story about children’s needs, in a time when playing is increasingly marginalized.
Childhood is a full-length feature film about children and how they play on their own terms. An observational documentary that follows the children in Aurora Kindergarten throughout a year. These are children from one to seven years old. It is a quiet and close, life-affirming film, at the same time it will be deeply provocative because it draws up a whole different perspective on what children truly need than what is the current norm.
Saturday, October 7th | 1pm | FREE with registration | register here
Norumbega Lodge #3-506, Sons of Norway, will be offering an advanced level Norwegian language class on Wednesdays, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m., at the Scandinavian Library, beginning on October 18th through December 13th (NO CLASS on November 22). The focus will be on reading and discussing excerpts from Norwegian literature, history, language history, current events, etc.
The course will be taught by Luana Marie Jøsvold, M.A., Scandinavian Languages and Literature. Please let Luana know if you plan to attend. The size of the room will dictate the number of students we’ll be able to accommodate.