What's going on in Swedish America?

Finishing up February with some fun events in Swedish America (and let us know what else is out there by submitting to our online calendar at www.nordstjernan.com/calendar)

Hans Öhman's exhibit of contemporary Swedish folk and haiku paintings offers many opportunities for learning and exploring, like during this weekend's children's and families programs at the Swedish American Museum in Chicago.
Friday, February 23
CHICAGO, IL
9 a.m. - 12 p.m. - Start with Art: Children’s morning program based on the current exhibit of contemporary Swedish folk and haiku paintings by Hans Öhman. Swedish American Museum, 773.728.8111 / www.swedishamericanmuseum.org
4 - 6 p.m. - Family Night: Program based on current exhibits, plus visit with artist Erika Råberg. Swedish American Museum, 773.728.8111 / www.swedishamericanmuseum.org
Saturday, February 24
CHICAGO, IL
10 a.m. - Clergymen and Witches in Sweden: Genealogy Research into Priestly Records: Swedish American Genealogical Society program with Kerstin Nicholson. Swedish American Museum, 773.728.8111 / www.swedishamericanmuseum.org
NEW YORK, NY
11 a.m. - 12 p.m. - Saturday Art Workshop: Wearing Meaning - arts and storytelling for children. In this workshop we’ll delve into Scandinavian jewelry and its many forms and ancient meanings. We’ll create our own meaningful pieces of art that we can wear with materials such as wood, feathers and clay. Scandinavia House, 212.779.3587 / jennifer@amscan.org / www.scandinaviahouse.org
PORTLAND, OR
6:30 - 8:30 p.m. - Gangspil Concert: Sonnich Lydom (accordion, harmonica) and Kristian Bugge (fiddle) take us on a fresh and exciting journey through the traditions of Danish folk music. These lively musicians perform dance tunes and songs from every corner of Denmark. An unforgettable experience spiced up with humor and stories from their many years on the road, this year they'll be performing with Norwegian folk guitarist Vidar Skrede. $20/ members, $25/non-members at Nordic Northwest, 971.533.3570 / laila@scanheritage.org / www.scanheritage.org/upcoming-events
FARGO, ND
7 - 10 p.m. - The Nordic Gala: Theme Mysigt-Cozy-Hygge - the annual silent auction raises funds for the Scandinavian Hjemkomst Festival. It will feature an auction, live music, and traditional Scandinavian food (the featured country is Sweden). Food will be generously provided by Hornbacher's and prepared by the Swedish Society. Tickets $25/advance, $30/door. Nordic Culture Club, 218-299-5452 / valleyinc@msn.com / www.nordiccultureclubs.org
Monday, Feb. 26
NEW YORK, NY
6 - 7 p.m. - Nordic Book Club: This month we’re reading They Know Not What They Do by Jussi Valtonen, a psychological novel, set in the near future. It focuses on a man struggling to protect his new family from violence. It grapples with the role technology plays in our relationships—for better and worse. It was the winner of the 2014 Finlandia Prize, Finland’s highest literary honor. Scandinavia House, 212.779.3587 / jennifer@amscan.org / www.scandinaviahouse.org
Ongoing
NEW ORLEANS
Exhibit: The Artistry of Carnival | Bror Anders Wikstrom: Bringing Fantasy to Carnival, is on view now through April 1.
Born in Sweden in 1854, Wikstrom came to New Orleans in 1883, and it wasn’t long before he was elevating the extravaganza of Mardi Gras through his fantastical designs for early krewes; he served as the chief designer behind 20 floats and hundreds of costumes. He also founded the New Orleans Artists Association in 1885, one of the civic groups that sparked the Delgado Museum of Art (NOMA) in 1910, and was a popular landscape and marine painter and sculptor. New Orleans Museum of Art, 504.658.4100 / www.noma.org/exhibitions