Showcasing contemporary American artists who create folk art rooted in the Norwegian traditions of blacksmithing, knifemaking, rosemaling, weaving, and woodworking.

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South Bear School is a Fine Arts Folk School in rural Northeast Iowa, committed to passing on the skills and artistic values set down by the Bauhaus and previous artistic masters of that legacy.

Throughout the year, South Bear hosts arts, nature, and cultural events such as music fests, makers markets, studio tours and film showings.

The school’s mission is to teach students the life skills of fine arts, appreciation of nature’s beauty and artistic value, and foster community connection, while also giving students the freedom to branch out and develop their personal artistic vocabulary.

South Bear stands apart for its commitment to tradition, its inspiring natural setting, and its vibrant community of artists and learners. Our lineage traces back to Marguerite Wildenhain and the Bauhaus movement, and before that a lineage of 500 years of the German Potters’ Guild system.

South Bear maintains a profound respect for craftsmanship and functional beauty.

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Kolrosing is a humble decorative Scandinavian folk art made by incising wood surfaces and filling the lines with pigment. In this course, students will learn the basics of kolrosing through good technique and practice allowing them to confidently and joyfully explore kolrosing beyond this class.

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In this course students will learn about the basics of forging a bottle opener. Some of the techniques that will be covered include upsetting, drawing, twisting, bending, cutting, and punching. The design can vary based on student interest and skill level.

Various techniques will be covered but students will not have to use all the techniques in their project to leave with a successful bottle opener.

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Join artist and Instructor James Johnson for a presentation about Tlingit history and the cultural significance of spoons.

Tlingit spoons are constructed from Dall sheep horn, mountain goat horn, and wood. James will talk about feeding our ancestors, cultural practice, and the meaning behind the designs.

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Build your rosemaling skills as you explore the graceful scrolls and floral forms of the Gudbrandsdal style, which mimics acanthus carving.

Using a provided pattern, you’ll practice the classic C- and S-strokes, create shaded petals and leaves, and work with the traditional earthy color palette. Step-by-step instruction will guide you in balancing asymmetrical designs while developing brush control and smooth, confident linework.

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Bill Sherburne (1903-1991) claimed that he could hear a tune once, pick up his fiddle and play it. It’s no surprise then that he had an enormous repertoire.

Beth Rotto learned from him through an Iowa Arts Council apprenticeship program and has continued to research his music in the Mills Music Library in Madison, Wisconsin. Beth Rotto has continued to research his music in the Mills Music Library in Madison, Wisconsin.

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Using a simple needle and wool yarn, nålbinding is a method of making fabric from loops of yarn. Nålbinding, also known as needle looping or knotless netting, is found worldwide and dates back to early Bronze or Iron Age cultures. Fabrics made from wool nålbinding were often felted to create warm, airtight mittens, socks, and hats.

In this class, students will be introduced to the nålbinding technique as they learn to make a neckwarmer, a small bag, and mittens.

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Join woodcarving instructor and Vesterheim Gold Medalist Rebecca Hanna in exploring the art of kroting, cutting lines into wood after it has been painted or stained. Inspired by work in the Vesterheim Folk Art School as well as the instructor’s personal work, students will be taught how to start kroting and given a simple design to try themselves.

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Explore the traditional and beautiful Norwegian decorative painting known as rosemaling. In this beginner-friendly class, you will be introduced to and gain confidence in the essential strokes used in rosemaling. By the end, you’ll have a completed piece that highlights your growing skill and understanding of rosemaling fundamentals.

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Join artist and designer Melanie Abrantes for a presentation about Japanese spoon carving, touching on the art and cultural significance on the spoons of Japan, Melanie will explain how she uses Japanese spoon carving techniques to make her own spoon designs. She will recount her own travels to Japan to work with a company who makes the tools for spoon carving. This presentation will be a great introduction to the art of Japanese spoon carving.

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Join artist and instructor Liesl Chatman for the first in a series of three cross-cultural webinars exploring spoon carving techniques from around the world. This webinar will explore the art and cultural significance of Norwegian spoon carving, using examples from the Vesterheim collection.

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Himmeli-making is a Nordic tradition brought to the U.S. by immigrants from Nordic and European countries. Students will gain experience working with natural material (straw) as they construct a medium sized himmeli mobile. Focus will also be on the cultural and historic significance of this craft found in Finland, Norway, Sweden, the Baltic countries, and beyond.

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Join us for a special knitting class inspired by the work of Norwegian immigrant Albertina Dickson, a skilled tailor and beloved community member known as “Granny.” In this class, you’ll knit a pair of mittens inspired by Albertina’s original design, learning traditional techniques passed down through generations. Celebrate her life, heritage, and craftsmanship while creating your own timeless piece of Norwegian-American history.

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If you know how to knit and are ready for a relatively quick, stylish, and straightforward project, this class is for you! The Danish-based designer of Petiteknit designed the Sophie Scarf, and it has been wildly popular in Scandinavia and beyond! The instructor will show examples of Sophie Scarves that she has knit in a variety of yarns and lengths, and share how this popular scarf gained popularity in Scandinavia and beyond.

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