We are excited to welcome Juliana Gagné for their first exhibit at the SCC&L titled:
The Dream Dimension: Beyond the Veil
This exhibit is largely inspired by Juliana’s Grandfather, Dr Sherman Eddie Nelson. Dr Nelson was a pioneering psychologist and came from a family of Sámi, Nordic and Finnish immigrants. The exhibition explores the themes of: ancestral memory, family stories, immigration and the politics of maintaining or denying your heritage after immigration. This show explores the impact that immigration has on the following generations as well as the study of epigenetics: an area of science that looks at how our ancestors experiences and the environment influence our genetics without changing our DNA structure.
About Juliana:Juliana Nelson Gagné is a multidisciplinary artist and writer with a BFA in Fine Arts from Parsons School of Design (Lenape Land, New York City). Juliana is currently in their first year of graduate school, studying Interdisciplinary Art, Media and Design at OCAD University in Tkaranto (Toronto, Canada) on the land of the Mississaugas of the Credit as well as the Haudenosaunee and Huron-Wendat Nations. Juliana explores various media ranging from: illustration, printmaking, embroidery, photography, sound pieces and installations. Nature is a prominent theme, both in materials, motifs and inspiration: from crushing plants to make photo-sensitive emulsions for anthotypes, or drying plants to create photograms on cyanotype-coated fabric. Juliana’s work typically addresses themes of: the study of epigenetics, family history, immigration, cultural mixing, entropy and the connection between memory and land.
Their art will be on display throughout January and February.
Got Sauna will be at the Scandinavian Cultural Center in Newton, celebrating National Sauna Week, Friday thru Sunday February 21-23, 2025.
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 turn over. You are welcome to book available consecutive sessions for a longer sauna experience.
Sauna Mestari will be on site to provide full orientations to all participants
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.
Each participant must provide their own towels, swimsuits and hydration.
Preregistration is required. An welcome/orientation packet will be sent and a liability waiver must be signed by each participant.
If you have Sauna specific questions Mark@gotsauna.com For more information about Finlandia Foundation Boston www.Finlandiafoundationboston.com This event is supported by Finlandia Foundation National www.Finlandiafoundation.org
Filmmaker Suvi West takes the audience behind the scenes of the museum world, revealing a visual, philosophical, and spiritual realm. Sámi herself, she seeks a connection with her ancestors through old museum objects, eventually arriving at the collective pain points of the Sámi people. How can the damage caused by outsiders be repaired so that collective pains can be left behind?
‘Máhccan – Homecoming’ is set in the changing world of museums and deals with the repatriation of museum objects. In recent years, museums around the world have had to confront their own colonialist burden and consider returning objects taken from oppressed or subjugated nations, often through theft.
Suvi West is an award-winning director and script writer. She has directed several short films and two feature documentaries, Me and My Little Sister and Eatnameamet – Our Silent Struggle. Her films have been screened in film festivals around the world and distributed in European TV channels. In 2019 she was selected to be one of the directors present in Venice Biennale in Finland’s pavilion.
Saturday, February 22nd | 1pm | $10; $5 for members | tickets
In Finnish with English subtitles | Documentary | 76 minutes
Did you know birch trees are an important part of Nordic culture, history, and the environment? They are used for many purposes, including construction, food, and medicine.
Join us for to learn a little about birch in the Nordics and add your own birds to a birch forest print to take home!
Fun for all ages!
Saturday, February 15th | 10-11am | $5; FREE for members | register here
** PLEASE ONLY SIGN UP IF YOU ARE ABLE TO PREPARE A DISH TO SHARE WITH THE GROUP. THE FUN OF IT IS ABOUT THE PARTCIPATION**
DATE CHANGE: February 13th
What’s a cookbook club? It’s the idea is that — like a traditional book club — every month you get together as a group. Instead of talking about a book you will make a recipe from a chosen cookbook, bring it in and the group will sample the recipes and discuss the the recipes and the cookbook. If you love to cook or bake, (especially Scandi recipes) and love sharing food with friends this is the perfect place for you!
Each month we will choose a different cookbook from a Scandinavian country and pick out 15-20 recipes for people to choose from. On Feb 13th, 2025 we will be trying out multiple Swedish recipes from the The Little Swedish Kitchen by Rachel Khoo.
Presented as the Library’s February film pick in honor of National Saami Day: Je’vida (2023)
A black-and-white film, Je’vida is an emotional portrait of a woman unwittingly confronting the past she struggled to bury after abandoning her family and community decades earlier. It is a language drama film written and directed by Katja Gauriloff.
Saturday, February 8th | 1pm | $10; $5 for members | Tickets
in Finnish Skolt Sámi with English subtitles | 103 minutes | Drama
Norumbega Lodge March Cultural Meeting includes meeting author S. J. Taylor.
Madsi the True by S. J. Taylor
A new fantasy book inspired by Norwegian folklore… Twelve-year-old Madsi loved the tales that her bold sister, Lisbet, told… until Lisbet became a story, stolen away by the Northern Lights.
When Madsi begs the Lights to free her sister, another girl falls to Earth. Torin demands that Madsi find a witch who can put
her back into the Lights. If Madsi takes Torin to the witch’s mountain, maybe she can get Lisbet back.
As they endure the wilds and face monsters Madsi has only heard about in tales, she learns the old stories sometimes don’t tell the truth about the wider world. Can she also find the truth of what’s happened to Lisbet?
Meet the Author! When: Sunday, March 2nd, 2025 @ 3:00 PM at the Scandinavian Cultural Center. This event is free to attend.
S. J. Taylor will share a brief presentation about weaving traditional folklore into modern children’s fiction. There will also be time for Q&A. A book signing will follow. Copies of Madsi the True will be available to purchase at the event.
About the Author:S. J. Taylor writes stories steeped in folklore and magic where young protagonists tackle big adventures and bigger questions. Although she grew up in Arizona’s desert, her heart yearns for her ancestral Nordic lands. When she’s not writing, she can often be found knitting yet another sweater (sweater weather is the best weather).
The Nordic countries have a deep-rooted love affair with mustard! With a history that stretches back to the Viking era, mustard was cherished not just for its bold flavor but also for its potential medicinal properties. Over the centuries, it has become a staple of Scandinavian cuisine, finding its way into sandwiches, sauces, marinades, and more.
Though each Nordic country has its own take on this versatile condiment, their shared passion for mustard is undeniable. Join us to celebrate this tangy tradition!
Each ticket includes a sampling of various Nordic mustards with Nordic style hotdogs, sausages and pretzels led by Ken Zuckerman. Ken, based in Arlington, MA, serves as the Board Member & Marketing Chair of the National Mustard Museum.
At the February 2nd Cultural meeting at 3:00 PM, we will see the movie “Amundsen the Greatest Expedition”. It is about Roald Amundsen, one of the greatest Norwegian explorers of all time. The first man to the south pole and first to sail through the North West Passage. This movie details the life of Amundsen and takes you with him on some of his greatest achievements.
Sunday February 2nd | 3pm
In Norwegian with English subtitles | History/Drama | 125 minutes
Duo Råmark” is a mix of Bruno Råberg and Oskar Stenmark’s last names, loosely meaning ”bare ground”. The duo is finally coming back to SCC&L after a couple of years of touring and releasing new albums. The music will give you a hint of folk and jazz, electronics add an exciting dimension to well known melodies, improvisation and soundscapes that will surely take you back to the forests of Värmland and Dalecaria – with a twist of the eastern seaboard.
BRUNO RÅBERG (playing double bass and electronics) is an internationally renowned bass player and composer. Since coming to the US from his native Sweden in 1981, he has made 12 recordings as a leader, about 30 as a sideman, and has performed with numerous world-class artists.
OSKAR STENMARK (playing horns and electronics) was born and raised in Gothenburg, Sweden. He is a Yamaha Artist, trumpet, cornet & flugelhorn player, recording artist, composer/arranger and educator. Oskar, tenth generation musician, has a Master’s degree in Jazz Arts from the Manhattan School of Music and continues to develop his playing and artistic vision while being based in New York and Sweden.
Saturday, February 1st | 1pm | $20; $10 for members | Tickets
About the Author: 
