Through the Roaring Twenties and the first half of the Great Depression, the Swedish-born landscape painter Gunnar Widforss (1879-1934) focused his discerning eye and passionate energy on the national parks of the American West. Because of Widforss’ untimely death at only age 55, and
because the rise of modernism in the early-twentieth century consigned many highly skilled realistic painters to obscurity, Widforss’ legacy is largely unknown today. The amiable Swede led a bohemian life in search of beautiful landscapes to paint. Widforss dressed formally as he worked and always attracted wonder-struck onlookers when he painted in Yosemite Valley, on the rim of Grand Canyon and the other locations he favored in the national parks. Park Service friends such as Ansel Hall and Stephen Mather as well as tourists marveled at the accuracy of his painting and the way in which he was able to capture the dramatic landscapes. Widforss never resorted to sentimental or romanticized depictions, so prevalent in depictions of western subjects. He very well may be viewed as one of the greatest artists to paint the West and his obscurity is a paradox. The story of Widforss’ life and work is one of great triumph in realistic painting, and the tragedy of his anonymity and death is a compelling story of a Swedish expatriate who fell in love with the landscapes of the American West.
Today, Widforss’ work is known only to a small number of dedicated collectors, the descendants of his family and friends, and those who discover his gem-like paintings when they visit the national parks he depicted.
Curator and author Alan Petersen has published a catalogue raisonné of Widforss’ works and is nearing completion of a monograph on the artist’s fascinating life and work.
Sunday, October 16th | 1pm | $8 suggested donation | register here
ABOUT ALAN: Alan recently published a catalogue raisonné of works by Swedish-American artist Gunnar Widforss that currently lists nearly 1,300 paintings. He is continuing work on a monograph on Widforss’ fascinating life and art. Alan has also published a number of articles on the artist and in 2018 co-curated an exhibition of the artist’s work in Ljungby, Sweden.
Alan recently retired from a faculty position at Coconino Community College in Flagstaff where he taught art history, drawing, painting, and courses pertaining to the Colorado Plateau for thirty years. His own paintings have their source in the light, space and landforms of the Colorado Plateau, and explore the formal relationships between color and pictorial space. He is also engaged in a major project that involves mapping and drawing the geological sources of uranium within Grand Canyon.
Enjoy this wonderful introduction to slow stitching which draws inspiration from the Japanese boro and Indian kantha techniques. Working with a basic running stitch, we’ll explore the use of different fabrics, colors and pattern. Create a fabric collage to display or use the techniques to embellish jeans or other clothing. This a wonderful way to upcycle used clothing and linens.
A selection of fabrics will be available as well as needles and a selection of embroidery thread. Please bring a pair of scissors and a bag for transporting items.
No experience necessary and beginners are welcome!
Saturday, October 8th from 10am-1pm | REGSTRATION CLOSED
ABOUT ANN As a graduate of Tufts University, Ann took numerous art classes at The School of The Museum of Fine Arts. While doing a semester at The American College in Paris she immersed herself in studio art classes through the Parsons School of Design. Ann’s day job is raising funds for a non-profit but she has taught courses on embroidery,
Beware of Children traces the dramatic aftermath of a tragic event in a middle class suburb of Oslo. During a break in school 13 year-old Lykke, the daughter of a prominent Labour Party member, seriously injures her classmate Jamie, the son of a high profile right-wing politician. When Jamie later dies in hospital, contradicting versions of what actually happened risks making a difficult and traumatic situation worse. Was it only innocent play behind? Liv, the school’s principal and the secret lover of Jamie’s father, must find the strength to confront a community in distress, and her own highly conflicted emotions.
presented as part of the Scandinavian Library’s monthly film series
Saturday, October 8th | 1:30 | $10; $5 for members | tickets here
A special Halloween presentation of this Swedish silent film from 1922.
Grave robbing, torture, possessed nuns, and a satanic Sabbath: Benjamin Christensen’s legendary silent film uses a series of dramatic vignettes to explore the scientific hypothesis that the witches of the Middle Ages and early modern era suffered from the same ills as psychiatric patients diagnosed with hysteria in the film’s own time. Far from a dry dissertation on the topic, the film itself is a witches’ brew of the scary, the gross, and the darkly humorous. Christensen’s mix-and-match approach to genre anticipates gothic horror, documentary re-creation, and the essay film, making for an experience unlike anything else in the history of cinema.
Music from the 1922 Danish premiere, arranged by film-music specialist Gillian B. Anderson and performed by the Czech Film Orchestra in 2001.
Sunday, October 30th, 2022 | 7pm | $10; $5 for SCC and Library members | tickets here
Voting for the upcoming Swedish Parliamentary will be held in person in the Nordic Hall on:
Saturday August 20 10 AM-1 PM
Saturday August 27 10 AM-1 PM
As from July 28th, 2022 one can begin voting by mail and the Consulate can provide mail voting material – boston@consulateofsweden.org. All ballots must reach Sweden by September 11.
Eeppi Ursin is a New York -based platinum-selling, award-winning singer, songwriter and pianist originally from Finland. Ursin is known for her angelic-strong voice and exceptional skill set ranging from top-class performance to writing music for various groups.
Eeppi has performed all over the world, with acclaimed artists such as American trumpeter Leroy Jones and Spirit of New Orleans, and has taken the stage at the Shanghai Concert Hall, Helsinki Music Centre, Pori Jazz Festival and more.
She was invited in 2018 by the New York Songwriter’s circle as the first Finnish artist.
In a desperate attempt to cure his midlife crisis, Martin has fled his family to live high up in the Norwegian mountains. Hunting and gathering like his ancestors did thousands of years ago before supermarkets and smartphones ruined everything. But Martins self-actualization project is turned upside down when he meets Musa. A drug runner, lost deep in the woods, injured and bleeding after a car accident. The odd couple must join forces, as they are chased through the wilderness by the local chief of police, Musa’s rivals and Martin’s unknowing wife.
Ann attributes her love of textiles to her mother who grew up in Finland, a country where beautiful design is greatly revered. She always had a project — an embroidered pillow, a cross-stitch wall-hanging, a traditional Rya rug or a patch on Ann’s favorite pants. When her sons were little she focused on paper collage as a creative outlet. In a happy twist, Ann’s youngest came home with an embroidered piece he’d made in art class, and subsequently started embellishing a shirt and jeans. Ann’s interest in fabrics was reignited and not long after she’d started stitching, a friend gave her some upholstery samples. There was no looking back. Ann became obsessed with finding and using “found fabric,” taking inspiration from layering of colors and patterns. Look close at Ann’s pieces and you may see snippets from an old dishcloth, a loved Boden skirt, the now-too-tight Old Navy sundress or Marimekko fabric which she inherited from her mother. Several years ago Ann was inspired to stop buying new clothes in response to the waste and environmental impact of the fashion industry. She took to shopping at thrift stores, mending pants (thanks Mom!) and reading up on boro stitching which has its roots in Japan. Reuse of even the smallest scraps of fabric and visible mending are characteristics of boro and can be found in my fabric collages and other pieces. Ann often employs a simple running stitch which adds texture and color. The process itself is slow and meditative. Her Mom would be proud!
ABOUT ANN As a graduate of Tufts University, Ann took numerous art classes at The School of The Museum of Fine Arts. While doing a semester at The American College in Paris she immersed herself in studio art classes through the Parsons School of Design. Ann’s day job is raising funds for a non-profit but she has taught courses on embroidery, meditative stitching, mending and more at the Arlington Center for the Arts, Arlington Community Education and the Belmont Gallery of Art. Ann typically participates in West Medford Open Studios as well as Arlington Open Studios.
Catch Norwegian guitarist and composer Timothy Johnson with fellow jazz artists Anastassiya Petrova (organ), and Gen Yoshimura (drums), performing a set of beautiful originals and jazz arrangements in the classic organ trio format.
Saturday, November 5th, 2022 | 1pm | $15; free for SCC and Norumbega Lodge members | tickets
Timothy Johnson is a Norwegian guitarist, composer, and educator, based in NYC. He has performed at world-renowned jazz clubs like Dizzy’s Club (NYC), The 55 Bar (NYC) Scullers Jazz (Boston), Smalls (NYC), and at festivals like the Buenos Aires Jazz Festival (Argentina), as well as clubs in Japan and Norway. Additionally he has appeared alongside jazz luminaries Damien Sneed, Melissa Aldana, and Neal Smith, and most recently has also performed in the award winning musical, Once on this Island.
He completed his Bachelors degree at the Berklee College of Music on scholarship, and recently completed his Masters degree at the Manhattan School of Music on scholarship, studying with guitarist Mike Moreno. He has received many prestigious awards along the way, such as the Berklee Jimi Hendrix Award, the NAMM Innovation Award, the Juvenarte composition award, placed runner up in Lee Ritenour’s Dreamcatcher Competition, and most recently was a scholarship/fellowship recipient of the Norway-Amerika Association. He appears on recordings by the award winning composer Eri Chichibu, as well as singer April Varner’s upcoming release, and is currently set to record his debut album later this year.
Two living legends of Icelandic comedy Edda Björgvinsdóttir (Hófí) and Þórhallur ‘Laddi’ Sigurðsson (Pétur) unite in Grandma Hófí. Hófí and Pétur are fed up with the conditions of the retirement home that they’re living in so Hófí decides to buy an apartment. When Hófí finds out that the money she has squirreled away has been poorly invested so that she does not have enough money to buy an apartment, she decides to rob banks with Pétur. With hardened career criminals after them and inept policemen tracking them down, can these two senior citizens finally get the apartment they deserve?
Saturday, May 13, 2023 | 1:30 | $10; $5 for SCC and Library members | tickets
Today, Widforss’ work is known only to a small number of dedicated collectors, the descendants of his family and friends, and those who discover his gem-like paintings when they visit the national parks he depicted.
