Join us for an opening reception for Hilde-Kari Guttormsen’s exhibit, Portals.
Guttormsen was insired by the cave drawings found in Northern Norway, now a UNESO site. The drawings feature showcasing Stone Age hunter-gatherer life with carvings and rare paintings depicting showcasing Stone Age hunter-gatherer life with carvings and rare paintings depicting reindeer, elk, boats, humans, and hunting rituals.
Come see Guttormsen’s stunning interpretations.
Reception: January 24th, 2026 | 12-2pm | FREE with registration
On display through February.
Artist Bio:
I was born in Bergen, Norway, where I grew up pursuing my love for medicine and science (M.D., Ph.D.). I came to Boston to become a research fellow at Harvard Medical School in 1993 and stayed on as faculty. However – I have always loved music and visual art – both as performer/artist and listener/viewer – which led me to Massachusetts College of Art and Design to study studio art. I had four exciting, thought-provoking, and inspiring years at MassArt obtaining a BFA in painting, and in sculpture in 2015. I have worked as a full-time studio artist since graduation, first at Fountain Street Studios in Framingham, and since the fall of 2018 as a member of the Lincoln Studios in Waltham, Massachusetts.
To me, the essential nature of art and science are closely linked. My art practice is about seeing, questioning, and examining the relationship between biological evolution and cultural evolution, between nature and humans, and the fluidity of nature and of the human condition.
I have for many years reflected over relations and connections – especially the liminal space in-between. Exploring the relationship between us and our surroundings – close and far – in distance or time. The idea for the Portal exhibit came to me when I read a scientific report on newly discovered 2,000-8,000 years old Scandinavian stone carvings in Western Norway. Most of the carvings were of animals, hunters and weapons. However, a photograph of a rubbing of a 1” x 2.5” carving depicting a female animal with a little standing miniature animal inside caught my eye. The baby was proudly standing inside the mother’s belly – the baby ’s head was the heart of the mother – and the baby looked like it was on the way out. I used this image for several works of art – I transposed the artwork from carving in stone to a soft additive technique where I added soft materials like thread (silk, wool or mercerized cotton) and linen – later I also used canvas thread on canvas and acrylic yearn on fleece. The series of artworks consists of images of life I would want to leave behind.
Excited to spend a morning with your current craft project,
Or need inspiration for a new one?
If the answer to any of the above is YES, head to the Scandinavian Cultural Center & Library on Saturday, March 7th from 10am to noon for our Nordic Knit & Craft Gathering! Bring some supplies, whether it’s something you’ve been working on or something brand new. If you’re looking for ideas, we will have available some knitting patterns for hats, socks, and mittens with traditional Norwegian designs. Feel free to chat with other crafters, or turn your attention to the screen: we will be playing “National Knitting Eve,” a Norwegian speed-knitting competition that begins with shearing the sheep to create the yarn that will become sweaters!
Saturday, March 7 | 10am-12pm | free with registration | donations to support free programming are welcome
Abundance Sauna will be at The Scandinavian Cultural Center — Saturday and Sunday, March 14 & 15, 2026.
St. Urho is an unusual character. We celebrate and remember him every year on March 16th. As legends have it, the saint chased the grasshoppers out of Finland shouting at them, “Grasshoppers, Grasshoppers, Go to Hell!” But why did he want grasshoppers to disappear from Finland? This was so the wine vineyards could be saved from destruction. He also wanted to save the grapes and the worker’s jobs, all while feeding on only sour milk and fish soup. Thanks to his noble deeds, he became a hero.
There are many sessions available each day, starting as early as 10:00am. The session cost is the same regardless of the number of people in your party. The sauna comfortably accommodates 3 people at once. Ten minutes of each session is allotted for turnover. You are welcome to book available consecutive sessions for a longer sauna experience.
Daring souls are invited to experience the thrill of thermal extremes with a dip in the cold plunge tank, or snow angels, if Mother Nature and Ol’ Man Winter are still in cahoots. Afterwards relax around the fire pit to share stories of sauna adventure while enjoying tasty snacks.
Sauna Mestari will be on site to provide a full orientation to all participants.
Preregistration is required. A welcome/orientation packet which includes a liability waiver which must be signed by each participant. Participants provide their own towels, swimsuits and hydration.
If you have specific questions about this event, email Mark@Gotsauna.com
Abundance Sauna will be celebrating National Sauna Week at the Scandinavian Cultural Center, Friday through Sunday February 20-22, 2026.
There are many sessions available each day, starting as early as 10:00am. Choose between 60 minute and 90-minute sessions. The session cost is the same regardless of the number of people in your party. The sauna comfortably accommodates 3 people at once. Ten minutes of each session is allotted for turnover. You are welcome to book available consecutive sessions for a longer sauna experience.
Daring souls are invited to experience the thrill of thermal extremes with a dip in the cold plunge tank or, if Mother Nature supports us… some snow angels. Afterwards, relax around the fire pit to share stories of sauna adventure while enjoying tasty snacks.
Sauna Mestari will be on site to provide full orientations to all participants.
Preregistration is required. A welcome/orientation packet will be sent, and a liability waiver must be signed by each participant. Each participant must provide their own towels, swimsuits and hydration.
If you have sauna specific questions, email Mark@gotsauna.com
Join us at the Scandinavian Cultural Center & Library for a screening of the extraordinary and deeply moving documentary The Painter and the Thief. When two of Czech artist Barbora Kysilkova’s paintings are stolen from a gallery in Oslo, she seeks out one of the thieves—not for revenge, but for understanding. What unfolds is an unexpected, tender, and profoundly human friendship that explores art, trauma, forgiveness, and connection in ways that linger long after the credits roll.
An unforgettable story of empathy and transformation, this award-winning film invites us to consider how we see one another—and what it truly means to be seen.
Special Screening: Lewerentz – Divine Darkness With Director Sven Blume in Attendance
Join us for a special screening of Lewerentz – Divine Darkness, an evocative documentary that explores the life and legacy of Swedish architect Sigurd Lewerentz—one of the most enigmatic figures in modern architecture.
The afternoon will begin with an introduction by the film’s director, Sven Blume, whose deep personal connection to Lewerentz’s work brings rare insight into the architect’s creative process and spiritual vision. Following the screening, Sven will join us for a Q&A session, offering audiences a chance to discuss the film, Lewerentz’s architectural philosophy, and his enduring impact on Nordic design.
Synopsis: A treasure trove of film and sound recordings of the ageing Sigurd Lewerentz was discovered in a cellar in Lund, and these previously unseen materials form the basis of this documentary. Through this rare archival footage—combined with interviews and a deep dive into his built works—the film offers a unique portrait of a man who shunned the spotlight yet produced architecture of haunting power. Classicism and modernism converge in his designs, and the documentary reveals how his aesthetic of “darkness” and material subtlety still resonates in Nordic architecture today.
Saturday, February 28th | 1pm | $15; $7 for members | tickets
Sven Blume is a Stockholm-based documentary filmmaker whose work bridges art, architecture, and personal storytelling. He graduated from the Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts in 2013 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Documentary Film.
Since then, Blume has directed several notable documentaries, working across fine art, architecture, music videos and dance. His films have been exhibited at festivals, galleries and broadcasters in Europe and the U.S.
Join us for a special screening of Sentimental Value, a critically acclaimed Norwegian drama from director Joachim Trier (The Worst Person in the World).
Selected for Official Competition at the Cannes Film Festival, Sentimental Value explores the complicated emotional terrain of family, memory, and artistic inheritance. The film centers on a fractured family brought back together through the legacy of a long-abandoned family home, where old wounds, unspoken truths, and competing desires surface with both tenderness and sharp insight.
With its quiet intensity, nuanced performances, and Trier’s signature blend of intimacy and restraint, Sentimental Value offers a deeply human portrait of love, resentment, and the stories we tell ourselves about the past.
This screening is part of SCC&L’s ongoing commitment to showcasing contemporary Nordic cinema and bringing award-recognized international films to our local community.
Content note: Adult themes; recommended for mature audiences.
Friday, February 13th, 2026 | 7pm | $12; $5 for members | tickets
A young teacher, Ester, hides her Sami identity to avoid being exposed to racism. After finding herself drawn to demonstrations against a big dam development in Alta, a personal journey out of the shame she has carried for so long begins.
Oskar invites you into a world of music and stories, spanning over decades. Dating back to 1762, Oskar’s family has been active in the traditional folk music scene for a long time. Melodies have been passed onto him from his grandmother, Elsie, who came to the U.S. on a tour with a group of fiddlers back in 1956. 70 years later, join us for an afternoon of music and footage from the tour, mixed with Oskar’s modern approach to folk, jazz and improvisation.
Saturday, February 7, 2025 | 1pm | $20; $10 for members of the SCC&L | tickets
Abundance Sauna will be at the Scandinavian Cultural Center on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, January 16th-18th 2026. Join us for a traditional, wood fired sauna experience!
Daring souls are invited to experience the thrill of thermal extremes with a dip in the cold plunge tank, or snow angels, if Mother Nature and Ol’ Man Winter cooperate. Afterwards, relax around the fire pit to share stories of sauna adventure while enjoying tasty snacks.
Sauna Mestari will be on site to provide a full orientation to all participants. Participants provide their own towels, swimsuits and hydration.
Preregistration is required. A welcome/orientation packet which includes a liability waiver which must be signed by each participant.
For specific sauna questions, email Mark@Gotsauna.com
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I was born in Bergen, Norway, where I grew up pursuing my love for medicine and science (M.D., Ph.D.). I came to Boston to become a research fellow at Harvard Medical School in 1993 and stayed on as faculty. However – I have always loved music and visual art – both as performer/artist and listener/viewer – which led me to Massachusetts College of Art and Design to study studio art. I had four exciting, thought-provoking, and inspiring years at MassArt obtaining a BFA in painting, and in sculpture in 2015. I have worked as a full-time studio artist since graduation, first at Fountain Street Studios in Framingham, and since the fall of 2018 as a member of the Lincoln Studios in Waltham, Massachusetts.
