Paulson is a master woodcarver who has been trained in the Norwegian folk art tradition. During 2017-2022, he was the recipient of four grants awarded through the North Dakota Council on the Arts for the Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program. He completed original artwork involving a variety of Norwegian ale bowls, and several examples of Norwegian Stave Church carving. His pieces incorporated a range of carved ornamentation including acanthus, chip carving, dragon style carving, and he mastered carving flat panels and curved elements for portals. In 2020, he completed artwork involving carving architectural size pieces of a portal (doorway) that were his renditions of the portal carving at the Gol Stave Church in Norway. The portal carvings depicted intertwined serpents and mythical creatures with tendrils, wings, and heads chewing on each other. He has made trips to document the features of Stave Church carving at the Scandinavian Heritage Park in Minot and at the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead, MN. In 2021, his artwork was inspired by the Urnes Stave Church in Norway. His art pieces then involved flat panels that featured mythical creatures with intertwined tendrils, but in an even more delicate and flowing form than his earlier Gol Stave Church carving. All of those carving experiences have deepened his skills of designing, carving, and painting Stave Church carvings and Scandinavian ale bowls. Jim’s carving work over the last several years has included online and in-person research to enhance his appreciation of the tradition of Stave church carving and ale bowls in Nordic culture. Trips to Vesterheim, Decorah, IA, to spend time with the chief curator were invaluable, to investigate library resources, and to examine and photograph antique ale bowls and other carved pieces in their archives.
Jim became a folk artist fellow in 2019/2020 with the American Scandinavian Foundation through an Award to perpetuate the tradition of Scandinavian ale bowl carving in the Upper Midwest. He has recently taught about Norwegian woodcarving to church groups, the Northeast North Dakota Heritage Association, St. Joseph Catholic School (Devils Lake), the Lake Region Woodcarvers Club, and through his giving presentations to different organizations, like at a County Fair, in the public schools, and for the Boy Scouts, Kiwanis, Rotary, Sons of Norway, and the Pioneer Daughters. The Fellowship with ASF supported him in offering teaching experiences in North Dakota and Minnesota. Jim has also given demonstrations on primitive woodworking technology using a pole lathe and on using all sorts of antique woodworking tools at historic sites in Upstate New York, in the Midwest, and more recently in eastern North Dakota. In 2020/2021, ASF provided a Public Programs Grant to St. Olaf Lutheran Church, in Devils Lake, a 501c3, where Jim, as their pastor and a woodcarver, would teach their confirmation age youth and interested parents about the Norwegian folk art carving tradition. Through the grant, he taught about the sacred symbols, wording, and cultural appreciation of handmade wooden artifacts, like ale bowls, and how those things were connected to religious practice in Scandinavian homes. In July of 2021, Jim taught a carving workshop during the Leed’s Day event and several adults created a miniature ale bowl in the Norwegian folk art tradition. In August of 2021, Jim taught workshops for confirmation age youth from St. Olaf to carve and paint a miniature bowl. In March and April of 2022, he taught workshops at Leeds Lutheran Church for 7th grade confirmation age youth so they could also carve and paint a miniature bowl. As a recipient of a grant under the American Rescue Plan in November 2021, Jim taught a carving workshop for the Maddock Chapter of the Sons of Norway. The one-day workshop provided the members with the experience of carving and painting a miniature bowl in the Norwegian tradition of folk art. Another project under the same grant was the completion of artwork for the community. This artwork involved a carved bench inspired by the carving work at the Gol Stave Church in Minot, ND. In the Spring of 2021, Jim received a commission, through Partners for Sacred Places, to produce a couple pieces of folk art for the Hallson Church in the Icelandic State Park (Cavalier, ND). The folk art entailed producing a large baptismal bowl and a dipper. These were made in the Norwegian tradition and the design featured acanthus carving and depictions of the baptism of Jesus, which were inspired by sculptured scenes of Jesus’ baptism on stone fonts from the 12th century. These art pieces, along with the work of other artists, were dedicated on July 24, 2022. In July and August of 2019, Jim offered an ale bowl carving class in Devils Lake, ND, through the LRWC. Through the fellowship with ASF, he was to teach a similar class over 3 days at the Milan Village Art School (Minnesota) in July 2020, but due to COVID-19 it had to be postponed until the summer of 2021. Jim has taught ale bowl carving classes at MVAS in July of 2021 and 2022. Jim will be teaching again at MVAS in 2023. Jim finds that the designing, shaping, and carving of Stave Church portals, adding carving to furniture pieces, and carving ale bowls wonderfully connects him with his dad’s Scandinavian ancestors. He looks forward to exploring opportunities and giving back for his blessings of learning Scandinavian folk art through the generosity of folk-art programs with the NDCA, ASF, and Partners for Sacred Places Program. 
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SAVE THE DATE: June 26th, 2022, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
2nd Annual - Lefse and Lemonade
Free-Will Lunch Served: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Lecture & Music: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Lecture: Kristin Anderson will speak @ 1:00 p.m. about altar painting artist, Sarah Kirkeberg Raugland followed by tour of 3 local churches with Raugland paintings
Kristin Anderson is a Professor of Art at Augsburg University in Minneapolis. Her courses include art history and architectural history surveys as well as more specialized offerings such as American Art, Scandinavian Art, and Women and Art. She also teaches a popular course, The Designed Environment, about the architectural and urban history of the Twin Cities. The class meets at a different location for each session, bringing students face-to-face with the buildings and spaces they study.
In 2005, Kristin received the Distinguished Contributions to Teaching and Learning award for Excellence in Teaching.
Kristin's current writing and research is focused on sports architecture, and she is co-authoring a book on the history of sports facilities in the Twin Cities for the University of Minnesota Press. Other research interests include Scandinavian-American immigrant folk art and the altar paintings tradition of the Norwegian-Americans. A popular speaker in community and church settings, Kristin also gives tours and presentations at Target Field, focusing on architecture, sustainability issues, women in baseball, and art at the ballpark.
From 2013 until 2018, Kristin served as the president of the Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians (MNSAH), and she was the local co-chair for the 2018 Society of Architectural Historians International Conference in St. Paul. She is the chair of the Minnesota State Review Board for National Register of Historic Places designations.
A graduate of Oberlin College, Kristin has master's degrees in art history (University of Minnesota) and church history (Luther Seminary) as well as a PhD in American Art, Architecture, and Popular Culture from the University of Minnesota.
Kristin Anderson' s Website
2nd Annual - Lefse and Lemonade
Free-Will Lunch Served: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Lecture & Music: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Lecture: Kristin Anderson will speak @ 1:00 p.m. about altar painting artist, Sarah Kirkeberg Raugland followed by tour of 3 local churches with Raugland paintings
Kristin Anderson is a Professor of Art at Augsburg University in Minneapolis. Her courses include art history and architectural history surveys as well as more specialized offerings such as American Art, Scandinavian Art, and Women and Art. She also teaches a popular course, The Designed Environment, about the architectural and urban history of the Twin Cities. The class meets at a different location for each session, bringing students face-to-face with the buildings and spaces they study.
In 2005, Kristin received the Distinguished Contributions to Teaching and Learning award for Excellence in Teaching.
Kristin's current writing and research is focused on sports architecture, and she is co-authoring a book on the history of sports facilities in the Twin Cities for the University of Minnesota Press. Other research interests include Scandinavian-American immigrant folk art and the altar paintings tradition of the Norwegian-Americans. A popular speaker in community and church settings, Kristin also gives tours and presentations at Target Field, focusing on architecture, sustainability issues, women in baseball, and art at the ballpark.
From 2013 until 2018, Kristin served as the president of the Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians (MNSAH), and she was the local co-chair for the 2018 Society of Architectural Historians International Conference in St. Paul. She is the chair of the Minnesota State Review Board for National Register of Historic Places designations.
A graduate of Oberlin College, Kristin has master's degrees in art history (University of Minnesota) and church history (Luther Seminary) as well as a PhD in American Art, Architecture, and Popular Culture from the University of Minnesota.
Kristin Anderson' s Website
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About the Waddington BrothersFrom south western North Dakota, the Waddington Brothers have been performing together since 2004. In the past they toured the United States and Canada with their family as The Waddington Family. They have performed with such notable artists as The Kruger Brothers, Ron Block and Bobby Hicks. The Waddington Brothers are a versatile acoustic group with a musical style that ranges from traditional hard driving bluegrass to the mellow sound and dynamic western harmonies reminiscent of Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers.
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Save the Date: July 11th, 2021 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Lefse and Lemonade
Ruth Dramstad, Hardanger Fiddler.
Guest musician during the first annual open house and tour.
Grue Norwegian Lutheran Church, Rural Buxton, ND
Ruth is very proud of her entire family, which has North Dakota roots in Griggs County, and Norwegian roots in far-north Vardo, and Dramstad (south of Oslo), with a sprinkling of kinfolk in Lillehammer and Bergen. Hardanger Fiddle is considered the national instrument of Norway. In 1970, there were only about 20 known Hardanger fiddlers in America, and two-thirds were over age 70. We owe much gratitude to those of the younger generation who are interested in carrying on the old traditions.
During religious revivals in the 1800s many fiddles (regular and Hardanger) were destroyed or hidden both by fiddlers and laypeople who thought "that it would be best for the soul that the fiddles be burned,” as it was viewed as a "sinful instrument that encouraged wild dances, drinking and fights." This happened in Norway, as well as other parts of Europe, and until the 20th century playing a Hardanger fiddle in a church building was forbidden. Some fiddlers, however, played on, in spite of all condemnation, and thus, valuable traditions remained intact.
Future events will start around phased-in renovations.
A Grand Opening is projected to coincide with Norway's 2025: National Jubilee of the Bicentennial of Norwegian Emigration.
Up Coming Collaborations:
Partnership Programming
Genealogy Workshops
Keynote Lectures and Panels
Music Performances
Curated Exhibitions
Historical Sessions
Mancur Olson Recognition Events
Sarah Raugland Recognition Events
Grounds with Gardens Events
Youth Programs
Book Clubs and Reading Groups
Chorales and Campanology
Partnership Programming
Genealogy Workshops
Keynote Lectures and Panels
Music Performances
Curated Exhibitions
Historical Sessions
Mancur Olson Recognition Events
Sarah Raugland Recognition Events
Grounds with Gardens Events
Youth Programs
Book Clubs and Reading Groups
Chorales and Campanology
Up Coming Events:
Fundraisers
Picnics
Lecture
Private Services
Bell Concert
Receptions
Rentals
Reunions
Bicycling to Grue
Lemonade and Lefse
Tours and Memories
Fundraisers
Picnics
Lecture
Private Services
Bell Concert
Receptions
Rentals
Reunions
Bicycling to Grue
Lemonade and Lefse
Tours and Memories