Follow our blog to follow our story as we report on exciting developments as the Cultural Center grows.
In modern-day Helsinki, two lonely souls in search of love meet by chance in a local karaoke bar. However, the pair’s path to happiness is beset by numerous obstacles — from lost numbers to mistaken addresses, alcoholism, and a charming stray dog.
selected by the Scandinavian Library
In Finnish with English subtitles | 81 minutes
Saturday, February 10th | 1pm | $10; $5 for SCC&L members | tickets
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.
Opening reception to be held Friday, October 27th | 7pm | free with registration
ABOUT OLES
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
search for truth in architecture.”
— I.M. Pei
In the darkness of a sacred smoke sauna, women share their innermost secrets and intimate experiences, washing off the shame trapped in their bodies and regaining their strength through a sense of communion.
Saturday, February 24th | 1pm | $10; $5 for SCC and Library members | tickets
89 minutes | In Estonian with English subtitles
A North Sea siren blending sparkle and melancholy with a twang of Americana.
Sofia Talvik is a rare artist and an avid storyteller with a voice comparable to giants like Joni Mitchell, or as the Folk/Americana Magazine NoDepression said it ”A singer/songwriter who is able to evoke the essence of Laurel Canyon circa the ‘60s as expressed in the work of Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, Buffy Sainte-Marie and others who were able to paint beautiful tapestries from words and music.”.
Prepare yourself for a unique and intimate evening, not unlike the 70’s coffeehouses and speakeasy’s. You will be up close and personal with a world class act that has played big festivals like Lollapalooza and SxSW and opened for artists like Maria McKee and David Duchovny (X-files, Californication). It is in this kind of setting where she can casually joke and communicate with the audience that her strength as a performer shines the most.
Her delicate songs are performed in an intimate way, showing off Sofia’s angelic voice enhanced only by a tasteful mix of harmonies and delays, accompanied by the steady picking of her acoustic guitar and the rhythm section consisting of her own two feet, bells and a stomp box.
She’s an experienced international touring artist who has toured through 48 U.S states, many of the countries in Europe and far away places like New Zealand.
Her latest album “Center of the Universe” was released in 2023. Throughout the 10 songs on the album, there is a broad range of topics of some of life’s most earnest moments, ranging from the Ukraine War, American women’s rights, the thousands of missing children in the US and the torment of domestic violence survivors across the world. The album went straight into the top 20 on Folk Radio Charts USA in August 2023, with the first single charting in the top 10. The album was considered for a Grammy nomination for “Best Folk album” 2023.
Here’s a list of all the Nordic Christmas Events happening around New England this holiday season:
NOVEMBER:
Saturday, November 18th – Birka Lodge 39th annual Swedish Yule Fair – The Community House (Hamilton, MA) – 10am-2pm
Friday & Saturday, November 24th & 25th – Gift Chalet Black Friday Sale – SAC Park (Shrewsbury, MA) – 9am-5pm
DECEMBER:
Friday, December 1st – Juletrefest – Sons of Norway – Norumbega Lodge (Newton, MA) – 7:30-9:30pm
Saturday, December 2nd – SWEA Boston presents Swedish Christmas at the Museum – American Heritage Museum (Hudson, MA) – 10am-2pm
Saturday, December 2nd – Finnish School of New England Bake Sale- Weston Methodist Church (Weston, MA) – 10:45am- 12pm *cash or check only*-
Sunday, December 3rd – (NOT NORDIC, BUT EXCELLENT) Celebrate Newton Holiday Craft Fair – Newton South Hight School (Newton, MA) – 10am-4pm
Saturday, December 9th – Pepparkakans Dag – Gingerbread Cookies Day – Kaffestugan at the SCC – (Newton, MA) 10am-2pm
Saturday, December 9th – Juletrefest for barn (Children’s Christmas Party – Sons of Norway – Norumbega Lodge (Newton, MA) 1-3pm
Sunday, December 10th – Norsk Christmas Service – Scandinavian Cultural Center (Newton, MA) 11am-1pm
Tuesday, December 12th – SACC-NE Glögg & Holiday Mingle – Scandinavian Cultural Center (Newton, MA) 6-9pm
Saturday, December 16th – Finnish School of New England Christmas Party – Weston Methodist Church (Weston, MA) – 10:45am- 12pm *cash or check only*
Saturday, December 16th – Julehygge for Hele Familien 2023 (Danish Society of Boston) – Scandinavian Cultural Center (Newton, MA) – 1pm-4pm
Join artist Tina Rawson for a Swedish Kurbits workshop. Kurbits painting is a decorative style of painting that was very popular in Sweden between 1780 and 1870, particularly in Dalarna and southern Norrland. Today, people still use and appreciate Kurbits painting, a popular style that pays homage to our Swedish farmer heritage.
All materials are included in the workshop fee. All you need to bring is your imagination!
Saturday, April 27th | 11am-1pm | $40; $30 for members *advanced registration required. Space is limited.* | Register
image by Lani Schumway Photography
ABOUT TINA: Tina Rawson took up the bold decision in 2021, amidst the protracted COVID-19 pandemic, to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a painter.
Studying art in college at the University of Pittsburgh helped prepare her for work as an artist, and travels throughout Europe and across the United States inform her work. Her memories of people and places also provide artistic inspiration. She sees beauty in the everyday and hopes to relay it through bright colors, movement and texture.
Her many exhibits include a recent solo exhibit “Creative Connections: Contemporary Art” at the Newburyport Art Association, a show at Coastal Living Gallery in Little Compton RI, and a museum show at The Wenham Museum in Wenham, MA entitled “My Essentials.” She is a proud member of The Art Queens, The Newburyport Art Association; and a gallery member of the Little Compton Cafe in RI and the Portsmouth Historical Society’s Gift Shop in NH.
Tina works as an artist and educator in Amesbury Massachusetts and visits her native Sweden annually. She owns Start 2 Art, where she teaches young children through adults the joy of making art and kurbits, a Swedish folk art style which she studied in Sweden.
Celebrate Gingerbread cookie day, Pepparkakans dag, with us. Instituted on December 9 in 1996 in Sweden by the company Annas Pepparkakor as a way to promote this Holiday staple.
We’re celebrating by setting up a decorating station where you can decorate your gingerbread cookie ($3 per cookies) with icing and sprinkles.
To really amp up the Holiday spirit we’ll also have traditional rice porridge. Choose if you want it topped with sugar, cinnamon and cold milk or sugar, cinnamon and butter. There will be a hidden almond and whoever finds it gets the prize.
Of course we’ll also have saffron buns, hot glogg and our regular menu.
Saturday, December 9th | 10a,-2pm | while supplies last, no reservations
SACC-NE Christmas Holiday Mingle 2023
Join us for a festive evening filled with holiday cheer at the SACC-NE Christmas Holiday Mingle 2023! This in-person event is the perfect opportunity to connect, network, and celebrate the joyous season with fellow professionals. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at 6:00 PM and get ready for an unforgettable evening of laughter, music, and delicious treats.
Whether you’re looking to expand your professional network or simply want to enjoy a fun-filled evening with friends, this event is not to be missed. With a relaxed and informal atmosphere, you’ll have the chance to mingle with individuals from various industries, sharing ideas and forging valuable connections.
Sponsored by IKEA and Nantasket Sweets by Swedes, there will be a wide selection of Glögg, Finger Foods, and traditional Swedish Christmas treats!
Tuesday, December 12th | 6-9pm | Advanced ticket purchase REQUIRED; $35 | tickets
N.B. that the SACC-NE Christmas Holiday Mingle 2023 is a highly anticipated event, so be sure to secure your spot early. Stay tuned for further updates and details regarding the venue, ticketing, and any additional surprises we have in store for you. We can’t wait to celebrate the holiday season with you at this joyful gathering!
