We’re pleased to welcome photographer and board member Magnus Snorrason to Nordic Hall with his exhibition Animals Amongst Us, on view through April. Stop by and take a look.
ARTIST STATEMENT: My decade-long daily photographic project has gradually shifted from a traditional exploration of street photography to a study of parallel worlds. 3,359 (so far!) consecutive days of observation have revealed a truth obscured by the city’s noise: We do not inhabit this space alone.
Animals Amongst Us documents the non-human residents of our concrete landscape. From the domestic companions who mirror our routines to the wild opportunists who thrive in our shadows and in the air all around us, these creatures exist in a complex spectrum of symbiosis, apprehension, and indifference.
My images capture moments of unforeseen symbiosis and resilience:
• a swan navigating a flooded parking lot as if it were a natural lake
• a pug mirroring the stoic patience of its owner
• a three-legged cat staring back with uncanny awareness
This visual census of the urban wild invites the viewer to look closer at the other citizens whose lives are woven into the fabric of our cities.
ABOUT: Magnus started photography at an early age. Growing up in Iceland, he bought his first SLR camera at age 12. At 13, one of his photos won him a year’s supply of Ilford black and white photo paper and chemicals. Later in life, he moved on to digital, but his approach has never wavered: Shoot what you see. Focus on composition, wit, and beauty. Treat your subject with honesty and don’t force it into becoming a statement (all art is definitely not political).
He is now on year ten of a photo-a-day project. Carrying a camera everywhere and ending each day by editing the day’s photos has become a way of life, and a unique way to show followers glimpses of daily rhythms of life. The world is endlessly inspiring, if you keep your eyes open and your mind tuned to visual opportunities.
Gather round for a story! Our library volunteer Maya will be reading in the Children’s Library starting at noon on Saturday. One story will be read in Norwegian and another in English. You don’t have to understand Norwegian to attend–the pictures and engaging presentation will be sure to entertain your little ones.
Our children’s library is a cozy space downstairs, decorated with trolls and many picture books in both English and the five Nordic languages. We have signs directing you there, but any of the librarians in our main library (next to the front desk) would be happy to show you the way.
Story time is free to enter, and you’re welcome to check out any books you’d like to take home with a free library membership. Since space is limited, we recommend reserving a spot by pre-registering using the link below.
We are proud to host Analog By Choice for a presentation of their concert Break Away.
All of us have traditions, customs, and values that we’ve grown up with. How do we decide as we grow and change which ones we hold on to and which ones we change? Just like our personal growth, composers must often balance a respect for music traditions of the past while adding their own voice and creating something new. In this concert, we have three composers who have taken different approaches to this balance and managed to come up with really incredible results.
About the music: Florence Price was the first African-American Woman to have her symphony played by a major orchestra in the US, breaking into a tradition that was dominated by white composers without sacrificing her own musical voice. Jessie Montgomery is one of today’s biggest names in the classical music world. Her piece, Break Away pushes combines traditional written notes with improvisational elements. Carl Nielsen was a Danish composer who chose to reject the popular musical waves of his time and focused instead on what he thought were the most important parts of musical tradition.
Come ready to create with your hands, reflect on your own traditions, and create the biggest effect with the fewest tools!
Musicians: Peter Paetkau and Thomson Wang – Violins, Maureen Sheehan – Viola, Nicholas Johnson – Cello
Saturday, April 25th | 1pm – 2:30pm | $25, $15 for members | Tickets
EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders receive free admission. To reserve free tickets, email caroline@scandicenter.org
Crooked Lines of Beauty – My Grandfather the Architect Carl Nyrén April 18 at 1:00 PM | Nordic Hall
Join us for a special screening of this intimate and visually rich documentary by filmmaker Sven Blume. Crooked Lines of Beauty offers a deeply personal portrait of renowned Swedish architect Carl Nyrén, weaving together archival footage, family history, and reflections on a life devoted to design. Through Blume’s lens, the film moves between the private and the professional, revealing both the humanity and complexity behind a celebrated body of work.
Both poetic and quietly moving, this film invites audiences to experience architecture not just as form, but as memory, legacy, and lived experience.
Saturday, April 18 | 1pm | $10; $5 for members of the SCC&L | tickets
EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders receive free admission. To reserve free tickets, email caroline@scandicenter.org
Join us for an inspiring afternoon of Icelandic cinema, featuring Iceland’s first officially certified sustainable film production. The Mountain (Icelandic: Fjallið) is a coming-of-age story of family, fate, and the cosmos.
Teacher and amateur astronomer María (Sólveig Guðmundsdóttir) plans a trip with her family into the highlands to photograph a comet she thinks she’s discovered. On the day, her husband Atli (Björn Hlynur Haraldsson) and daughter Anna (Ísadóra Bjarkardóttir Barney, daughter of Björk) cannot go with her. A twist of fate ensues that upends their lives and leads them in another orbit. We join a father and daughter in a stunning adventure through Iceland’s highlands, in a journey that explores how a family can heal from grief.
Icelandic with English subtitles; runtime 1 hour 30 min.
Saturday, May 9th | 1pm | $10, $5 for members | tickets
Free admission for anyone who qualifies for WIC, EBT, or ConnectorCare. Email caroline@scandicenter.org to reserve a ticket free of charge.
Join us for a festive morning of Nordic Easter crafts and traditions! This event is open to all ages (and egg-painting skill levels) and will invite you to explore a variety of Scandinavian traditions to celebrate one of the region’s most beloved holidays.
Activities will include…
Making påskris (Swedish Easter trees), twigs embellished with colorful ribbons and feathers, that symbolize the end of the cold season and the beginning of spring
Dressing up as Easter witches (påskkärringar/påskhäxor) a tradition where children (or children at heart) dress up as witches and exchange drawings and cards for treats
Creating yellow candles, which decorate Scandinavian homes during the season
Bring your creativity, your friends, and maybe a smock or two—get ready to make some crafts to take home and relish in the påskestemning (a Norwegian word to describe the festive Easter atmosphere)!
Ages: Recommended for ages 6 and up (younger kids welcome with adult help)
Space is limited, so reserve your spot early!
Saturday, April 4th | 10am – 12pm | $20pp; $10 for members | Tickets
Join us for a moving and powerful afternoon of cinema as we present Never Alone (Finland, 2025), a gripping historical drama based on true events.
Set during World War II, Never Alone tells the remarkable story of Jewish refugees seeking safety in Finland as Nazi influence spreads across Europe. At the center is Finnish-Jewish businessman Abraham Stiller (Ville Virtanen, Bordertown), who risks everything to protect the refugee community. This deeply human film explores courage, moral conviction, and the enduring fight for hope in the face of overwhelming adversity.
From acclaimed director Klaus Härö — known for the Oscar-shortlisted The Fencer and Golden Globe-nominated My Sailor, My Love — comes a powerful and timely story of resilience, compassion, and quiet heroism.
Saturday, April 11, 2026 | 1pm | $10; $5 for members | tickets
Finland · 2025 | Drama · Finnish with English subtitles | Running time: 85 minutes
Food available for purchase in our Kaffestugan from 10am-2pm
During our weekly Kaffestugan we will be celebrating the Swedish tradition of Våffeldagen. Swedes have enjoyed waffles in some form since the 1600’s and they remain popular today. So much so they celebrate them every March! Often covered with cream and jam instead of syrup, these are sure to delight. Come on out for lunch and a waffle or just a waffle on it’s own! We won’t judge. The standard Kaffestugan menu will still be available.
Saturday, March 21st | 10am-2pm
**no reservations. There will be extra seating in the Nordic Hall**
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
Join us for a compelling afternoon of Danish cinema with The Kiss, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Bille August.
Set in the early 20th century, the film follows Anton, a young cavalry cadet, who becomes entangled in a complicated relationship with Edith, the disabled daughter of a wealthy baron. As Anton struggles to distinguish love from pity, honor from desire, he is drawn into a moral dilemma that tests his sense of duty, class expectations, and the emotional cost of compassion.
Loosely based on Stefan Zweig’s novel Beware of Pity, The Kiss is a nuanced and beautifully crafted drama that explores the fragile line between kindness and harm.
In Danish with English subtitles | 100 minutes
Saturday, March 14th | 1 PM | $10; $5 for SCC&L members | Tickets
