Ephraim was founded in 1853 by a small group of courageous Norwegian immigrants. Additional immigrants from the Scandinavian region and Europe would settle in Ephraim in the coming years, bringing old traditions to their new home. The folk art classes held at the Ephraim Historical Foundation are rooted in this Scandinavian heritage and offer participants a chance to interact with these historical crafts in a meaningful setting. Three separate classes will be offered this summer at the Ephraim Binkhaven estate, all taught by award-winning rosemalers Carol Bender and Pam Rucinski. Details and registration information can be found below!
This one-day class will introduce students to Swedish folk painting. Students will paint a canvas tote bag with a Dala horse and kurbit motif. A tour of Binkhaven and presentation on Swedish folk art will be provided as well as lunch and fika.
$165/person ($140/EHF member)
Includes:
equipment, supplies, and materials
lunch and fika
tour of Binkhaven estate
Class schedule: Friday, June 26th - 9am-5pm
In order to apply discount, members should call to receive discount code. 920.854.9688 ext. 3.
This two-day class is designed for newer rosemalers. Students will paint a door crown in the Hallingdal technique. This class includes a brush kit that students can take home with them to continue the craft. A tour of Binkhaven will be provided as well as lunch and fika both days.
$380/person ($330/EHF member)
Includes:
take-home brush kit
supplies and materials
lunch and fika both days
tour of Binkhaven estate
Class schedule: Monday, August 10th - 10am-5pm
Tuesday, August 11th - 9am-5pm
In order to apply discount, members should call to receive discount code. 920.854.9688 ext. 3.
The intermediate class is a two-day class. Students will paint a traditional mangle board (mangletre) complete with horse handle in the Hallingdal technique. A tour of Binkhaven will be provided as well as lunch and fika both days.
$320/person* ($270/EHF member*)
Includes:
supplies and materials
lunch and fika both days
tour of Binkhaven estate
*Optional take-home brush kit can be purchased for $60. If students wish to bring their own, a list will be provided after registration.
Class schedule: Thursday, August 13th - 10am-5pm
Friday, August 14th - 9am-5pm
In order to apply discount, members should call to receive discount code. 920.854.9688 ext. 3.
“Absolutely wonderful two days at magical Binkhaven. The instructors were excellent and delightfully helpful and fun. I am not an artist so I struggled a bit, but came away with a greater appreciation for the art of rosemaling. I enjoyed hearing about the history of the Binkhaven home and artists that created the fabulous rosemaling throughout!”
Interested? Register for the Ephraim Historical Foundation Folk Art Email List:
Rosemaling since her 20s, Carol has taken many classes with Vesterheim Gold Medalists and Norwegian rosemalers. She has taught rosemaling locally through Chestnut Center for the Arts, Wisconsin State Rosemaling Association, Coon Region Rosemalers, and Terrace Hills Rosemalers. Since 2003, she has been the rosemaling instructor for Masse Moro, the Sons of Norway District 5 Youth Heritage camp. Over the years, she has received awards for her rosemaling, including two Best of Shows at the Wisconsin State Rosemaling Association competition. Through the Wisconsin Arts Board Apprenticeship Program, she studied the Gubrandsdal style of rosemaling with Pam Rucinski, Vesterheim Gold Medalist, from 2015-2017. In 2018, she traveled to Norway and Sweden on Vesterheim folk-art tours.
Carol has been awarded two Folk Arts and Cultural Traditions Fellowships through the American Scandinavian Foundation in 2019 and 2023 to study folk art painting in Sweden and Norway. These fellowships were shared jointly with Pam Rucinski. This fellowship deepened her skills as an artist and created connections to museum curators, authors, and folk art painting artists both in Sweden and Norway.
A Residency with Vesterheim in 2023 gave her the opportunity to study Vesterheim’s beautiful chest painted by Sebjorn Kverndalenn of Numedal. Since then, she has done more research on her own and has connected with Even Traen from Numedal who has given her more leads.
Pam Rucinski has been rosemaling since 1974. She teaches all over the United States, has taught in Japan, and has traveled to Russia for folk art studies. Pam received her Vesterheim Gold Medal in 1995, in part for her Gudbrandsdal painting. She has developed her own subtle variations over the 20+ years she has painted this style, looking to Jacob Klukstad and baroque wood carving for her inspiration. Through the Wisconsin Arts Board, Pam has worked with four apprentices concentrating on the Gudbrandsdal style. In 2019, Pam was awarded an American Scandinavian Foundation Fellowship. In June 2019, she and co-fellow, Carol Bender, spent three weeks in Sweden, studying folk art with artists who are using the traditional techniques and materials of the 1700-1800s. She and Carol Bender were recently awarded a second fellowship through American Scandinavian Foundation and will travel in August and September of 2023. This time, they will study Swedish folk arts and Gudbrandsdal rosemaling, especially the work of Jakob Klukstad.