Posten November-December 2020

POSTEN The American Swedish Institute Newsletter November | December 2020 Volume 39, Number 5

God Jul!

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tories rise up through the ages, shared from generation to generation, to shape our dreams, history, traditions and especially our celebrations. Join the American Swedish Institute this holiday season as we bring stories to life through An extra/ordinary Holiday in Extraordinary Times.

IN THIS ISSUE 4-5 An extra/ordinary Holiday

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in Extraordinary Times

Mansion Musings: Fossils in the Façades

11-14 Jul Shop 2020 16-17 Holiday Event Highlights 18 VIRTUAL: Lucia Choir Concert

Visitors are invited to step into a story trail, an immersive outdoor experience with a series of storytelling stations winding through ASI’s courtyard and around the Mansion grounds.

The stations were designed by community partners from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Finland and, on select dates, the trail will be enhanced with music, bonfires and market stalls with artisan craftspeople offering their wares. Visitors can explore why we tell stories and how these tales impact us.

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ordi nary h o in E lida xtr y aor

Sweden’s story station will build on the famous books written by Astrid Lindgren about the rambunctious Pippi Longstocking and her friends. Traveling to Iceland, the focus shifts to a folk tale about the Yuletide cat – only a gift of clothing can protect a child from this hungry feline. For Norway, storytelling is explored through song, hay barrels, fire and Nissen, the gnome-like protector of farms. In Finland, Fox Fire is generated by arctic foxes running over the frozen tundra, sparking fires that light up the sky. For Denmark, the story of The Fir Tree by famed author Hans Christian Andersen encourages us to live in the moment as we experience a grove of fir trees – one of the most recognized symbols of the holiday season.

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top by and see what’s inside!

Message from Bruce Karstadt, ASI President & CEO

Table of Contents NEWS Message from the President/CEO Call for new ASI Board members ASI Welcomes new Finance Director Nordic American Bulletin Board

2 10 10 10

EXHIBITIONS & PROGRAMS Exhibitions Overview 3 extra/ordinary 3 Family Gallery: Water, sky and me reopens 3 An extra/ordinary Holiday in extraordinary Times 3 Norse Saga Room reopens 3 Papier 3 Julmarknad 2020 16 Magnus Nilsson Virtual Book Launch & VIP Fika Events 17 Drive-Thru Lutfisk Dinner 17 VIRTUAL: Julglädje 17 VIRTUAL: Lucia Choir Concert 19

FEATURES & INFORMATION An extra/ordinary Holiday in extraordinary Times feature story 4-5 Celebrate those close to you this holiday season 6 Mansion Musings: Fossils in the Façade 7 MinnPost interview with Bruce Karstadt reprint 8-9 Jul Shop 2020 insert 11-14 Faces of ASI: The “Secret” Lives of Volunteers, Christine Lane 15 Color your own Jul Market Cart 18 Memorials & Tributes

20 Nordic Happenings

21 ASI Club Meetings & Rehearsals Sweden & Swedish 22 It's lunchtime at FIKA! 23

Minnesota artist activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund, and a grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation Minnesota.

My first day of work at the American Swedish Institute was on a chilly Monday, the day after Thanksgiving weekend in 1990. At the time, I wasn’t thinking I would be serving in this role for one-third of ASI’s 90-year history. But this is what has unfolded, of course, and so I want to use this column to express my gratitude for your unwavering support and for the 30-year privilege of serving this institution and community.

In some ways, that first day at work seems a very long time ago, especially when I think of the memorable experiences and people who’ve been part of our life. There have been great ceremonial moments, such as dedicating the new Nelson Cultural Center in 2012 (with the help of Their Majesties Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden) made possible by the generosity of so many. Our campus has hosted many touching family moments ranging from memorial services to weddings. I can’t begin to list all of the distinguished artists, musicians, writers and culinary leaders who have performed, presented or exhibited here. These years have brought our share of board, volunteer and staff changes; lutfisk dinners; capital campaigns; hopping like little green frogs around the Midsommar majstång; and ghost sightings in the mansion (true!).

But in another sense, it seems like yesterday when, on my second day of work, I wandered into ASI’s warm, aroma-filled kitchen to discover a group of grandmotherly ladies, some speaking Swedish, baking cardamom rolls. They were having a joyous time as they shared stories and baking tips. After introductions, I stayed for a while (lucky me was named honorary taster). On their way out, they came by my office with a half-dozen rolls and to share with me how grateful they were to have a place where they could enjoy each other’s company and volunteer for a greater good.

What I felt that day and what has remained constant is the deep affection and gratitude that so many have for ASI. Some have found great satisfaction volunteering here. Others have enjoyed our language or craft classes, or they were part of our Lucia choir in their childhood (and later joined our staff). Others are fascinated with the Turnblad Mansion and

appreciate our care of its incredible craftsmanship.

Yet others have multigenerational ties. Their stories include, “My parents always brought us here for the holidays,” or, “I came here as a little kid for Svenska Skolan and loved to roam the castle,” or, “I moved here from Sweden recently, and ASI helps me cope with homesickness.” And for our surrounding neighbors, many who’ve come from other parts of the world, ASI is the friendly neighborhood castle that shares its space for Head Start graduation and naturalization ceremonies for new citizens, which I consider a tribute to the immigrants of a century ago who built this very institution.

Now, as we draw a close to our 90th-anniversary year, we find ourselves in uniquely challenging times. I believe we are called upon not to pull back, but to give our best to you and to our community as we strive to fulfill our vision: to be an inclusive place where we connect our pasts to our shared future, understand our heritage in relation to others and live together as neighbors and global citizens. My creative colleagues are shaping virtual programs and activities that will delight, educate and inspire. We offer safe opportunities for you to be on campus, like our outdoor holiday Story Trail. It’s lovely to see people here returning now to enjoy the mansion, museum shop and Fika café.

I am grateful for your steadfast support of ASI, which has never wavered these past 30 years.

I am hopeful that you recognize this is now a moment when we are even more reliant upon your contributions. Your generosity makes much possible. I’m eagerly looking forward to continuing to work with you in the future as we undertake a major rehabilitation of the Turnblad Mansion, create new interpretive exhibitions and continue to build bridges within our community and with our friends in Sweden and the Nordic region.

I wish you and your families good health and happiness in the days ahead. God Jul och Gott Nytt År!

Bruce Karstadt, ASI President & CEO

THANK YOU

To all of the donors and members who make the work of the American Swedish Institute possible.

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is the bimonthly membership publication of the American Swedish Institute. To update a subscription or become an ASI member, call (612) 871-4907 or e-mail info@asimn.org. Jon Dahlin, Karen Nelson and Emily Krumm, Editors.

The American Swedish Institute is a gathering place for all people to share experiences around themes of culture, migration, the environment and the arts, informed by enduring links to Sweden. Founded in 1929 by Swan J. Turnblad.

Accorded royal patronage by H.M. Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.

Exhibitions extra/ordinary

Through Sunday, January 10, 2021 Discover artifacts from ASI’s collection and the untold stories that make them truly extraordinary in this exhibition inspired by the book A to Zåäö: Playing with History at the American Swedish Institute (U of MN Press 2019) featuring artwork by Tara Sweeney and Nate Christopherson — now extended into 2021!

An extra/ordinary Holiday in Extraordinary Times

Opens Saturday, November 14 This year, the Holiday Exhibition will look a little different as we all share the stage as storytellers.

Explore popular tales from the five Nordic countries — Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Finland — through film and an immersive outdoor, story walk experience. Enjoy a festive Mansion decorated for the season from head to toe with the exhibition extra/ordinary as a backdrop.

Family Gallery: Water, sky and me

Reopening on Saturday, November 14 Water, sky and me was developed and designed in collaboration with Swedish illustrator and author Stina Wirsén and features original artwork of trees, ocean creatures and other elements by the artist created especially for you and ASI. Be inspired to tell your own stories about the world around us.

Norse Saga Room

Reopening on Saturday, November 14 ASI’s Norse Saga Room, in the lower level of the Turnblad Mansion, will reopen in conjunction with the holiday exhibitions on Saturday, November 14.

Papier

Opens Saturday, February 6, 2021 In a land between art and fashion, these two Swedish artists meet in a mutual love for handcraft and the common material of paper. This traveling international exhibition marries Bea Szenfeld's spectacular sculptural paper-fashions with Stina Wirsén’s zestful illustrations.

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An extra/ordinary Holiday in Extraordinary Times

Andrea Rugg Photography

November 14, 2020 – January 10, 2021 Stories rise up through the ages, shared from generation to generation, to shape our dreams, history, traditions and especially our celebrations. Join the American Swedish Institute this holiday season as we bring stories to life through An extra/ordinary Holiday in Extraordinary Times.

Visitors are invited to step into a story trail, an immersive outdoor experience with a series of storytelling stations winding through ASI’s courtyard and around the Mansion grounds. The stations were designed by community partners from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Finland and, on select dates, the trail will be enhanced with music, bonfires and market stalls with artisan

4 American Swedish Institute

craftspeople offering their wares. Visitors can explore why we tell stories and how these tales impact us.

experience a grove of fir trees — one of the most recognized symbols of the holiday season.

Sweden’s story station will build on the famous books written by Astrid Lindgren about the rambunctious Pippi Longstocking and her friends. Traveling to Iceland, the focus shifts to a folk tale about the Yuletide cat — only a gift of clothing can protect a child from this hungry feline. For Norway, storytelling is explored through song, hay barrels, fire and Nissen, the gnome-like protector of farms. In Finland, Fox Fire is generated by arctic foxes running over the frozen tundra, sparking fires that light up the sky. For Denmark, the story of The Fir Tree by famed author Hans Christian Andersen encourages us to live in the moment as we

Indoors, ASI will continue its 40-plus year tradition of decorating the entire Turnblad Mansion, extending the bright colors and featured objects of the extra/ordinary exhibition with playful, contemporary decorations. An array of handcrafted hanging hearts collected from ASI members and neighbors will greet guests as they arrive.

Although the holiday season will be celebrated differently this year, the reasons we celebrate remain the same. We honor family, friends and loved ones, treasure our shared traditions and forge ahead with new memories that shape stories with hope for a brighter tomorrow. ASI is forever grateful

1932, which describes the cat and the fear it instills. Come Christmas Eve, when children opened their gifts of new shoes or mittens, they were beaming with gratitude (and relief). To this day, people in Iceland make sure that kids get at least one “soft package” for Christmas and use the tale to encourage thoughts of those less fortunate around the holidays.

gnome-like creatures that protect farms and secretly act as guardians. If they are treated well, they keep the farm safe and bring good luck! Nissen (creatures/beings/figures/ sprites) are particularly fond of porridge or grøt. In På låven sitter nissen, the nisse is cozily enjoying his julegrøt. Several mischievous rats decide they would like the julegrøt and begin to tease and dance around the nisse.

He becomes so angry with the rats who would dare steal his delicious julegrøt that he threatens to send for the barn cat! Luckily, this scares the rats away and the nisse is allowed to enjoy his porridge in peace. På låven sitter nissen is sung throughout the Jul season in Norway and is especially beloved by children.

Finland

Denmark

for the ongoing support of a wonderful community and proud to be a gathering place for all. We look forward to welcoming you in person and online to learn, laugh, share joy and to experience An extra/ordinary Holiday in Extraordinary Times.

Sweden After a season of longing for the gingerbread and candies on the tree, the Swedish tradition of Julgransplundring (Christmas tree plundering) means that the tasty treats may finally be enjoyed. These annual children’s parties on January 13 mark the end of the winter holiday season and conclude with dancing the tree out of the house. In Pippi Longstocking’s version, all children are invited to Villa Villekulla at dusk. There they find the monkey Herr Nilsson with a note instructing them to follow a candy trail (and eat it along the way!), which leads them to a tree full of presents, sweets and other delights. Beside it, they discover Pippi in a candle-lit snow fort filled with loads of cakes and a giant vat of hot cocoa. When Pippi heads out to grab more, she sees a new boy lingering in the shadows. He asks to join and promises not to touch anything. To which she replies, “Of course not! You may only come in if you promise to eat more than anyone else.”

As the lump in his throat is replaced by the warmth and sweetness filling his belly, Pippi has let another child know that he belongs.

Iceland Icelandic folklore has it that on dark evenings before Christmas, a large, ferocious Yuletide cat who lived up in the mountains would pursue children who did not get a new piece of clothing for Christmas. The hungry feline either stole all their food and gifts or, worse, ate them! To avoid that fate, everybody on the farm worked hard to get the wool cleaned, spun and woven, knitted or crocheted into clothing before Christmas. The ASI story station recreates the feeling of a small, dark baðstofa, a living room of the past, where it was easy to let your imagination run wild and believe that scary things were lurking in the shadows. The station also takes inspiration from a beautiful poem by Jóhannes úr Kötlum, published in

The Yuletide Cat

One of Finland’s most iconic stories is that of the Fox Fires, or the Revontulet, otherwise known as the Northern Lights. It is said that the auroras are created by arctic foxes running over the frozen tundra creating sparks that light fires in the sky. Ancient Finns were also known to call their magic spells revontulet, which suggests enduring magical and mystical interpretations of the Northern Lights. In the middle of winter, when the sun barely breaks the surface, light is one of the most revered aspects of the holidays. Tree lights, candles and gathering around fires are echoes of the larger, magnificent lights that dance above, cutting through the darkness, connecting us to something bigger and more expansive than ourselves. Such stories and myths connect to ancestors and the wisdom of the earth. This Finnish story will translate to a sculptural pavilion that emulates the spirit of the Revontulet. Sit or lay on the benches below the structure to momentarily reflect on the wonder of being in the moment and imagining the Northern Lights.

Norway The Norway room is designed around the classic Norwegian Christmas tune På låven sitter nissen (På låven meaning “in the attic”). The lyrics were written by Margrethe Munthe and tell the story of a nisse and his julegrøt (Christmas porridge). Nissen are small

It’s been said that the present is a gift. In this day and age it can be difficult to remember that. But it may be hard to imagine that it was also true in 1845 when Hans Christian Andersen wrote The Fir Tree. The story is of the “pretty little fir-tree” wanting so desperately to be bigger, taller and to have the adventurous life that comes with it. All the while not enjoying the life it leads day in and day out until, eventually, it achieves its wish only to be again disappointed and to long again for the days in the forest. Many of us in the cold Northern climes have learned this lesson as we embrace our surroundings and seasons, extolling the days when the air is cold but the sun still beams down to warm our hearts.

ASI’s holiday season is supported by Karin Larson, Mike and Barb Nelson, and ASI’s members and donors.

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Celebrate those close to you this holiday season

Make a gift to the American Swedish Institute in honor of someone or something bringing joy to your life and helping to shape your story.

There’s a secluded garden on our grounds featuring the statue of a storyteller, Selma Lagerlöf, who in 1909 became the first woman to win the prestigious Nobel Prize for Literature. As a young child, she grew up in the care of a grandmother who nurtured her imagination with stories of water-sprites, trolls and enchanted maidens lurking in the mountains and dark forests surrounding their home.

Her most popular book was The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, the story of a naughty 14year old boy who is transformed into a tiny being and travels throughout Sweden flying on the back of a wild goose. Initially quite lazy and disrespectful, Nils’ encounters with others on his magical journey changes him for the better as he learns respect for others and for nature.

Nils’ journey was a fairytale but there is much about it that reveals basic truth about

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life. Our experiences and the relationships we make and maintain in our journeys over the years shape us in profound ways.

Connections to family, friends, the places we visit and the activities we enjoy together, each of these help us grow into ourselves.

We write the stories of our lives together with those closest to us.

We invite you to make a gift this holiday season to sustain the work of the American Swedish Institute. Consider making a gift in honor of someone or something that has brought joy to your life and helped shape your story. Make it known that these people are important to you through a gift to ASI and have that gift recognized in an upcoming edition of Posten magazine.

It is only a few times each year that we reach out in this way to invite you to support ASI so that we can continue to bring value to your life and to serve our community. This year, amid a pandemic, your support is even more vital. Until

COVID-19 precautions are lifted and people can once again gather safely in large groups at ASI, we rely more heavily than ever on contributions from individuals like you to keep ASI in solid financial health.

With your help, ASI shall remain a gathering place for all people to share stories and experiences around culture, migration, the environment, and the arts, informed by enduring links to Sweden.

Make a gift to the American Swedish Institute today, or join or renew your membership this holiday season. Visit ASImn.org/giving.

Or contact Christy Stolpestad at christys@asimn.org, Eric Wilson at ericw@asimn.org, or Eleanor Beaird at eleanorb@asimn.org.

Mansion Musings: Fossils in the Façade

Explore the Turnblad Mansion’s carved stone exterior and some of its most unique features in the second episode of Mansion Musings.

Ginny Lackovic shades her eyes from the sun as she gazes up at a carved stone gargoyle perched on the Turnblad Mansion.

A Historic Preservation Specialist and Project Architect at HGA Architects and Engineers, Ginny has contributed to the preservation of some of Minnesota’s most iconic structures – from the Minnesota State Capitol to Fort Snelling, the Orpheum Theatre to Northrop Auditorium. Her eyes now turn to the Turnblad Mansion where she spearheads a range of activities that will preserve the building for future generations.

“That’s really the whole point of historic preservation. To conserve and protect facets of our collective history that are truly irreplaceable.”

When the Turnblad Mansion was first constructed, masonry experts Herman Schlink and Albert Corwin carved the building’s façade and its unique features out of a sedimentary rock known as Bedford Limestone. Quarried from a narrow geologic formation in south-central Indiana, and used in some of the nation’s most

Curt Pederson and Ginny Lackovic

iconic structures including the Empire State Building, this high quality stone is formed from the accumulation of shell-bearing marine organisms. Small fossils and fossil fragments — from the Mississippian age, 340 million to 335 million years ago — are still visible to the public on the Mansion’s exterior.

series that explores some of the many untold stories and unique features of the Turnblad Mansion. In this episode, Ginny and Curt explore some of the Mansion’s iconic stoneworks, and discuss what steps can be taken — with the support of the community — to preserve the building’s irreplaceable character for the future.

Among many other features, the fabulous Horse Head carving is an example of Schlink and Corwin’s exceptional craftsmanship.

Relocated during construction of the Nelson Cultural Center, this work of art underwent conservation treatment and now remains accessible to ASI visitors thanks to support from a generous anonymous donor. It now overlooks the inside entrance to the museum adjacent to the Carriage House doors.

Watch all episodes of Mansion Musings here: ASImn.org/mansionmusings If you are interested in contributing to the preservation of the Turnblad Mansion, please contact Christy Stolpestad at christys@asimn.org, or Eric Wilson at ericw@asimn.org. Or, as staff are working remotely, please call ASI’s offices at (612) 871-4907 to be connected by phone.

The Mansion’s east-facing veranda — the original entrance to the Turnblad Mansion — is another superb masonry example.

With its impressively carved banisters and balustrades, raised surface above street level, and the backdrop of the Mansion itself, the veranda has been the site of many important events in Minnesota history. It’s a place for education through ongoing ASI programs, and the setting of thousands of weddings and moments of importance in the lives of ASI’s community members.

Ginny joins Curt Pederson, ASI’s Senior Curator of Historic Properties, in the second episode of Mansion Musings, ASI’s video POSTEN

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Adaptation, Experimentation and Creativity ASI is proud to share this excerpt reprinted with permission from a longform interview between ASI’s President/CEO Bruce Karstadt and Artscape columnist Pamela Espeland — 'Adaptation, experimentation and creativity,’ which was published on September 11, 2020, in MinnPost, Minnesota’s nonprofit, nonpartisan journal. Visit MinnPost.com/artscape to read the entire story.

Nonprofit, nonpartisan journalism. Supported by readers.

Arts & Culture, Artscape

By Pamela Espeland | columnist Sept. 11, 2020 As Bruce Karstadt sat on the front porch of his apartment building, gazing across the street at the locked-down American Swedish Institute and longing to get back inside, he learned something that surprised him.

COVID had closed ASI’s campus, shutting the doors on the palatial Turnblad Mansion and the sleek Nelson addition and leaving the large parking lot empty. Except, as the president and CEO noticed, “It was empty of cars, but it was really pretty full of vibrant activity.

“There were Somali families there with their kids who were learning how to ride a bicycle or rollerblade. Every now and then, you’d see someone giving parking lessons to someone who must have been preparing for a driver’s test. It accented for me that this neighborhood has a need for safe, open places for people, especially residents, to congregate.

“I’m not sure I would have understood that if our parking lot had not been empty most evenings and I hadn’t seen so many of my neighborhood residents there.”

ASI is located at 26th and Park in Minneapolis, in the culturally diverse, economically challenged Phillips West neighborhood. It was founded in 1929 by a Swedish immigrant newspaper publisher

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who built a lavish mansion for his family, lived in it for 20 years, then gave it to what was called the American Institute for Swedish Art, Literature and Science.

Karstadt came to ASI in 1990 and stayed.

Since 1994, he has been honorary consul general of Sweden for the state of Minnesota.

He holds an honorary doctorate from Sweden’s Lund University. In 2012, he received the Royal Order of the Polar Star from HM Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden.

Under Karstadt’s stewardship, ASI has grown in size, reputation and global reach.

In 2012, the campus radically changed with the opening of the 34,000-square-foot Nelson Cultural Center, an HGA-designed, LEEDS-certified building that links to the Turnblad Mansion with a skyway on the ground. Programming ramped up with an international series of fascinating exhibitions and fun opening night parties. FIKA, the Café at ASI, drew crowds for its Nordic-inspired cuisine.

Until March 14, ASI was a bright and bustling place. Karstadt looked forward to continuing his latest big project: the restoration and preservation of the Turnblad Mansion and its Carriage House in their entirety. “We have the world’s largest collection of extension cords of any comparable museum,” he said drily, “and we would like to retire that collection soon.”

ASI reopens to the public today. As always, this conversation has been edited and condensed.

MinnPost: How did COVID change your plans for 2020?

Bruce Karstadt: This was to be the year when we celebrated our 90th anniversary.

As a part of the observance of that milestone, we opened the exhibition extra/ ordinary, which was inspired by the book A to Zåäö. It draws on our permanent collections to exhibit unique objects that tell stories that have a connection to our museum, our audience and our community.

We opened extra/ordinary in late February, and on March 14 we closed.

We had a number of special programs planned for the year. Extra/ordinary was to close in the late spring, and then we were bringing in an exhibit by two Swedish artists called Papier that has now been rescheduled for 2021. We have extended extra/ordinary until the end of January and we’ll be layering on Christmas in a unique way.

Another exhibit we had planned to show this year in our galleries was Swedish Dads

by Swedish photographer Johan Bävman.

We couldn’t show it in our galleries and we had to ship it on, but we got permission from the photographer to create an outdoor exhibition. It’s posted on our fence surrounding the campus. It came to us in

English and Swedish, and we also translated it into Spanish and Somali.

So 2020 has been a year of adaptation, experimentation and creativity in trying to respond to this pandemic and crisis that’s affected us all. Because of the financial stress and the practical implications of shipping things, and artists accompanying works of art and exhibitions, it may suggest that museums focus more on our permanent collections to create exhibitions. The blockbustertype exhibition depends a lot upon heavy attendance and densely packed galleries. It may be really difficult to sustain that kind of model in the future.

We opened extra/ordinary with all of our own objects and artifacts and materials based on our own scholarship. I think it’s a brilliant exhibition and I’m so proud of it.

I’ve noticed a lot of people stopping by Swedish Dads as they’re walking down the street. That’s something we never would have thought to do, or been compelled to do, had we not been forced with these circumstances and the need to adapt. So this whole situation has caused us all to think about things in very different ways.

MP: What was the hardest part of having to close so quickly?

BK: I think the hardest part from an emotional point of view was that we didn’t have a sense of the trajectory and the length of this situation. We were far too optimistic.

Most of the closing announcements said something like “We’re temporary closing until April 15.” And “Performances are canceled through May 1.”

That’s not an indictment or criticism. We just didn’t anticipate that this would be so lengthy.

It’s a different thing to just shut the door to a museum. We also had to shut down a café and to do that in a way that was protective of the food and the sanitary conditions of the equipment. The closeout procedure for that was very extensive and exhaustive.

Then it was determining new ways of keeping connected with one another – our board, colleagues, volunteers, membership and community – and advising people about the changed circumstances of something that perhaps we planned to do with them and simply couldn’t.

MP: On March 24, Twin Cities Business reported that ASI had laid off part-time staff, café staff and public-facing staff. Were you able to keep your main staff?

BK: The financial side has been difficult. We had built a model where earned revenue, additions, the café and event rentals were a significant part of the income stream that supported all that we did here. Without that, it became a real challenge.

We’ve managed, with a PPP loan and generous donations, to get through this year.

Next year, it’s not so clear. Much is going to depend upon audience response, the return of visitors and continued generous philanthropy by members and good friends of the institute.

We did furlough all of our part-time staff.

That continues from this point forward until we have a clearer sense as to how the year will go. But all of our principal staff are still working with us. We’re holding steady as we are right now.

MP: It must be exciting to be reopening.

BK: Yeah, it is, and this is what we do. This is what we’re dedicated to doing. Our mission speaks to us being a gathering place for all people, and we haven’t been able to gather in person, which is what we do best.

Thanks to some really creative and energetic staff, we have managed to create virtual gatherings and programs that are drawing people from a geographic range. We have been gratified to understand that our reach geographically is quite broad. We’re teaching Swedish language lessons to 240 people right now, and our students are located in all parts of the United States. Last term, we had a student from Berlin.

The same is true for our Nordic Handcraft and Nordic Table workshops. And our public programs, like Richard Tellström’s talk on the history of Swedish gardens in June, or Neil Price’s lecture a couple of weeks ago that coincided with his new history of the Viking age.

I missed the naturalization ceremony that we host every year for new citizens, up in our Larson Hall. I missed the graduation ceremonies we had for our PICA Head Start children in nearby programs. They come here with their parents and their families, all dressed up and beaming, and have their graduation ceremonies in our place.

I miss the residents from Ebenezer coming here for a morning of craft workshops. We didn’t have Step Up volunteers this year, and I miss our volunteers. Hopefully, all will return in some fashion in the coming months and in 2020-21.

I missed our annual Midsommar Celebration, and the chance to dance around the maypole like little green frogs. I missed our crayfish dinner.

I also missed the daily soup changes in FIKA Café. It’s been so good these last couple of days to hear bustling in the kitchen and smell aromas flowing through the building as Chef Blake Meier and his team get ready to reopen.

MP: Most people probably aren’t aware that you live across the street from the American Swedish Institute. What has that been like?

BK: I even live in the same building that Swan Turnblad, our founder, lived in between 1929 and 1933. And I’m on the same floor as Mr. Turnblad was.

It was frustrating early on. We were under a mandate not to go to work, and there I was, across the street, looking at my place of work.

There were moments of apprehension during the civic unrest after the murder of George Floyd, when the curfews were in place. I was prevented from going over there and keeping watch, so I would sit on the front porch of our building and pay careful attention to my place across the street and pray and hope for the best.

(To read the rest of the story, please visit MinnPost.com)

MP: What has been lost in the past six months?

BK: Well, we’ve just had the summer that wasn’t, in a way. I think about this in terms of specific activities and people and images I have of how our campus has been used.

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ASI News Call for New ASI Board Members

Over the next several months, the Governance & Nominating Committee of ASI’s Board of Trustees will evaluate needs regarding new Trustees to be elected at the June 2021 Annual Meeting. If you are interested in serving on the Board, please contact Executive Coordinator Adelie Bergström at adelieb@ASImn.org with your name, qualifications and a brief statement of interest by December 18, 2020.

If you wish to suggest someone else, please obtain that individual’s permission first.

ASI Welcomes new Finance Director The American Swedish Institute is pleased to announce that, as of October, Steven Engelkes has been hired as the New Director of Finance & Administration.

Steven is a Certified Public Accountant who earned his MBA in Business and Finance from Wartburg College, and a Mini MBA for Nonprofits from the University of St. Thomas.

Steven brings deep experience in finance, accounting and budgeting, in addition to expertise in IT strategic planning, facilities management and retail. Steven most recently was CFO for the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors. Previous positions include those with Best Buy, Data Recognition Corporation and Wells Fargo. In addition, Steven has served on nonprofit boards and volunteers at a local food shelf.

NORDIC AMERICAN BULLETIN BOARD Norway House’s Gingerbread Wonderland 2020 Friday, November 2, 2020 – Sunday, January 2, 2021 Norway House’s annual Gingerbread Wonderland is returning with whimsical structures and Twin Cities’ landmarks reimagined in gingerbread by everyone from local bakeries and cake wizards, to families and first-time gingerbread baking enthusiasts.

Open by appointment Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.

- 6 p.m. Tickets: General Admission $10, Members, Seniors & Kids $5, Children 4 & under free.

Includes a warm drink and a holiday cookie. For more information visit https://www.norwayhouse. org/gbw2020 913 East Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, 55404, United States (612) 871-2211, info@norwayhouse.org.

Ingebretsens — Support Local Nordic Retail Ingebretsen's, which has been on Lake Street for 96 years, incurred $100,000 in break-in damage during the recent turmoil surrounding Geoge Floyd’s death. The store is now open again and customers from all over are starting to come back, says owner Julie Ingebretsen. Products from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland are all sold harmoniously under one roof; lefse mingles peacefully with lingonberries and Swedish sausage. The store was founded by Julie’s grandfather Charles (Bud) Ingebretsen, Sr., who emigrated from Norway in the early 1900s. It has expanded over the years from a deli and meat market to adding jewelry, a children’s section and online Nordic classes, along with a thriving mail order department. Thanks for supporting Scandinavian retail and friends of ASI. 1601 East Lake St., Minneapolis, MN 55407 For hours and more information visit ingebretsens.com, email info@ingebretsens.com, or call (612) 729-9333.

10 American Swedish Institute

ASI MUSEUM STORE

Jul Shop 2020

Handcraft at the ASI Museum Store The ASI Museum Store has a long history of honoring the important handcraft tradition found throughout the Nordic region in its selection of products for the shop. ASI buyer and retail operations manager, Rick Sellen, makes frequent trips to Scandinavia to find the latest and greatest in high-quality handcrafted works and is eager to share the results of these excursions with you every year. From the careful curating of hand-felted tomtar and gnomes using authentic Gotland and Icelandic wool, and hand-carved wooden animals and birds from artists in the furthest reaches of Sweden, to ceramics and mouthblown glass depicting the simple design aesthetic of Scandinavia, you will surely find something exciting and different every year that distinguishes our product assortment from other stores. Welcome to wonderful!

Hand-felting work in progress

Swedish Pepparkakor Tradition Alive & Well at ASI! Pepparkakor are Swedish ginger cookies, sort of like ginger snaps, but generally spiced a bit heavier. They are extremely thin (approximately 1/8") with a smooth finish.

until it breaks. Tradition says that if the pepparkaka breaks into three pieces, your wish will come true.

Though they’re now eaten throughout the holiday season, pepparkakor have been associated with St. Lucia’s Day on December 13, a celebration of St. Lucia, the martyr who brought food and aid to Christians hiding in catacombs, lighting her way with a wreath of candles on her head.

ASI carries the Nyaker’s brand from Sweden and they are packaged in lovely 14 oz reusable tins. $17.95

Swedish custom says to place a pepparkaka in the palm of your hand. You then make a wish, and using the index finger or thumb of your other hand, tap the cookie in the middle

Jul Shop 2020

Åsas Tomtebod hand-felted wool tomtar (also shown on front cover)

ASI Museum Store @asimuseumstore

ASI Members Save 10% Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | (612) 870-3364

ASI Members’ Appreciation Weekend!

For three days, Thursday, November 12 – Sunday, November 15, ASI members get special discounts.

Spend $1 - $75 and get 10% off; $75.01 - $150 and get 15% off; $150.01 + and get 20% off.

A Very Scandinavian Christmas

New Oval Wool Trivets from Aveva

Bengt & Lotta Christmas Forest Candelabra Ironwork pieces by the Swedish design team Bengt & Lotta are rooted in Scandinavian folk art with playful expressions of joy and elegance. The Christmas forest motif of this 4-arm candelabra makes a charming addition to any holiday display. Available in black or white. $285

New Holiday Designs from Ekelund Woven Textiles Weaving form and function, the Ekelund family has a long history of crafting high quality woven textiles. These table runners and tea towels are available in a variety of designs ranging from classic to modern, and are sure to find a cherished place as a part of your own family traditions.

Table Runners: $48 - $72 Tea Towels: $19.95 - $29.95

Toikka Flower Ornament from Iittala The newest addition to Iittala’s holiday ornament collection embodies the spirit of Finnish design legend Oiva Toikka.

With its graphic winter flower design, this glass ornament adds the perfect touch of elegance to your holiday décor. $35

Featuring new oval designs in Jungle and Jam color stories, these handmade trivets from Aveva are 100% felted wool, giving each piece a soft, yet robust feeling. The wool material is naturally heat and dirt-repellent, making these trivets the perfect way to both protect and decorate your table. $34 each

This collection brings together the best Scandinavian holiday stories including classics

by Hans Christian Andersen, Nobel Prize winner Selma Lagerlöf, August Strindberg, Hjalmar Söderberg and Karl Ove Knausgaard. $22.95

Bark Wood Ornaments

Holiday Felted Handcrafts

These handcrafted bark ornaments are as unique as the wood from which they are carved.

The variances in color and individual grain highlight the natural beauty of each individual piece. Available as a Gnome, Heart, Owl, Wolf or Fox. $7.50 - $19 each

Cozy up your holidays with felted ornaments and home décor from a variety of local artists. Each piece is lovingly handcrafted here in the Twin Cities!

Starting at $6.75

Inspira Wooden Keychains Designed and produced in Iceland, these laser burned wooden keychains feature two of the magical staves from Icelandic sagas. Ægishjálmur (the Helm of Awe) is to provide power, protection and strength, and Vegvísir is for guidance and focus. $14 each

New from Åsas Tomtebod: Leif, Valdemar and Nurse Mary Made from the curly grey wool of Gotland sheep, Åsas Tomtebod’s handfelted wool tomtar are a holiday favorite! New this year are Leif in his vadmal and checkered fabric shirt, little cousin Valdemar with his leather satchel and feathered cap and Nurse Mary – a special 2020 tribute to all the hardworking nurses around the world.

Leif: $68 Valdemar: $29 Nurse Mary: $29

Your purchases support the education, programming and exhibitions of the American Swedish Institute.

Jul Shop 2020

New from local author Patrice M. Johnson: Land of 10,000 Plates: Stories and Recipes from Minnesota In Land of 10,000 Plates by Patrice M. Johnson (Minnesota Historical Society Press) highlights food rituals from her own life and explores Minnesota fare far and wide, experiencing the festivals, speaking with revelers, and celebrating the foodways that define the northland. Inventive recipes that mark the seasons — like Blåbärssoppa (blueberry soup), Caraway Rye Pretzels, Savory Pudding with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes and Radish, and Coconut Ginger Pumpkin Pie — accompany stories about people who thrive in the North. $24.95

Metropol Red Wine Glasses from Orrefors A pair of red wine glasses joins the stylish Metropol collection from Orrefors. Designed

by Erika Lagerbielke with a distinctly cut edge and adorned with a hint of black coloring in each stem, Metropol creates a sharp, urban chic look perfect for the modern home. $149/set of two

2020 Orrefors Annual Crystal Ornament Decorating the Christmas Tree is a beloved holiday tradition, and Orrefors’ annual crystal ornaments will shine year after year.

Designed by Erika Lagerbielke and titled “The Tree of Hope,” the 2020 tree-shaped ornament is an elegant addition to the collection. $55

Miranda Bowls from Iittala

New Holiday Designs from Lovi of Finland

Originally created in 1971, Iittala’s Miranda collection by Finnish designer Heikki Orvola has been relaunched to include the lovely footed bowl in a bigger, more versatile size. Available in grey, linen, or Seville orange, this elegant bowl features a striking leaf design that brings a slice of nature to any table and is perfect for serving snacks and desserts. $55 each

Bring a little wonder into your holiday décor, with wooden creations from Lovi’s holiday collection.

Lovi’s charming 3D wooden figures are the perfect little build-it-yourself gift. Each creation comes flat packed and slots cleverly together — a little puzzle that comes to life in your hands. All Lovi products are 100% produced in Finland from the highest quality birch plywood and certified by the Program for the Endorsement of the Forest Certification (PEFC). $8.95 - $18

Organix Bowls in Winter Whites Designed by Anna Ehrner for Kosta Boda, the Organix bowls are inspired by the seasons, with the dappled white colors representing snowy Swedish winters, and a fluid movement to the glass that is born from nature.

Available in two sizes.

Large: $159 Medium: $110

Orrefors Sarek Votive Bring a sparkle of light into your home with Orrefors’ Sarek votive. The cut glass design is inspired by the distinct diamondshaped patterns found in plaited birch bark and wooden handcrafts from northern Sweden. Created by acclaimed designer Lena Bergström. $49

Your purchases support the education, programming and exhibitions of the American Swedish Institute.

Sara Candolier Light up your holiday nights with a traditional Swedish window candolier.

The new 7-arm Sara design spreads a warm glow to create a cozy winter ambiance. $59

Jul Shop 2020

Faces of ASI The 'Secret' Lives of Volunteers: Christine Lane American Swedish Institute volunteers are our lifeblood and often the faces you see first as you walk in the door. In the past year, 172 active volunteers generously logged more 13,047 hours of time helping in strategic ways. Abundant thanks also go to Volunteer Coordinator Leia Wambach.

After a hiatus when we closed in March, we are so grateful to welcome back some of our valued volunteers.

Meet Christine Lane, who has volunteered at ASI since 2013. She is often accompanied by her affable husband, Chick, also a volunteer. Look for them in the Mansion on Fridays. Chris is frequently seen, during quiet moments, bent over a piece of stitching related to her ‘secret’ life.

Chris grew up in St. Paul and graduated from Luther College in Decorah. She taught elementary school for 38 years — 31 years in Roseville and Wadena, and preschool for seven years in Fridley.

Q. What is your 'Secret Life' outside of ASI volunteering?

A. “Thanks to my involvement at ASI, I started a cottage industry that has encouraged my creativity and kept my hands busy year-round. I hand-stitch felt Christmas ornaments — tomtar, julbockar, Santa Lucias, Dala horses, hearts and more.

In the past three years, I have stitched about 800 ornaments! I have made 22 dozen ornaments for the Jul Shop already (look for them for sale), including a newly designed tomte wearing mittens and holding a heart.”

Q. What inspired you to volunteer at ASI? A. “After retiring from teaching, I looked for another setting where I could engage with people. I believe in lifelong learning and found it as an ASI volunteer. I started

Christine Lane in 2013 as a Mansion facilitator and over the years, my involvement increased. I’ve worked as a tour guide, assisted with children’s programs and helped with slöjd handcraft classes and special events.”

“I also enjoy my Scandinavian heritage (I am 60% Swedish, 40% Norwegian). My paternal grandparents (nee Lindgren) emigrated from Sweden in the late 1890s and early 1900s.

I have travelled to Sweden four times, but have been unable to meet relatives. I did came close once, but unfortunately my relative died months before we could meet.”

Q. Since the onset of the COVID virus, what has been going on in your life?

A. “Since March, Chick and I have spent a lot of time outside. Our screened porch was a life saver. We have weekly walked the three-mile path through the gardens, shrubs and trees of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. We’ve walked at many Three Rivers Regional Parks, as well as a number of state parks. A plus during this time has been the weekly FIKA Zoom meetings with fellow volunteers. It’s so good to see and talk to familiar faces.”

Q. What has been your most interesting encounter with ASI visitors?

A. “In a past summer, I visited with a guest who remarked that he had lived in the Mansion when he was a child. ‘Tell me the story!’ I said. When he was 3 or 4 in the early 1950s, his father was the caretaker.

His primary memory was of the big, safe front yard where he played with his older brother. When his brother discovered how to climb over the fence to Park Avenue, their mother was not pleased! Also, one summer I visited with a guest from Kiruna, in the far north of Sweden. He gave me an enamel pin, his email address and invited me to contact him if I ever traveled to there.

So far, I’ve only been to Stockholm and the south. Maybe someday?”

Honor a Volunteer this Holiday season ASI volunteers help host visitors, support public programs, tend to the historic Turnblad Mansion and more. Their comradery, enthusiasm and talents enrich our community and steward our shared work.

This Jul season, we invite you to recognize an ASI volunteer in your life with a special donation in their honor. Recognition will appear in the tributes sections of Posten, and your donation will help sustain ASI for seasons to come. Donations can be made online at ASImn.org/giving or by mail to Attn: ASI Development Office, 2600 Park Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407.

For more information about volunteering at ASI, visit ASImn.org/support/volunteer or email volunteer@asimn.org.

POSTEN

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Holiday Event Highlights Julmarknad On-Site Weekends While ASI’s largest festival and holiday event is going (mostly) virtual this year, on weekends you’ll find three to four vendors on site at ASI outside in the courtyard — inspired by open air holiday markets in Sweden! Make sure to get your tickets, which also include the ASI Holiday exhibition, in advance to shop in person from the following artisans who will be at ASI during public hours:

NOVEMBER 14 DECEMBER 20 2020

Julm arkn a d

ASI’S CHRISTMAS MARKET

November 14 – 15 West Ash Designs, Clayhouse Pottery Studio, and Third Daughter, Restless Daughter November 21 – 22 gretapearl, The sewing Swede, Väva! Veve!, and Briggs and Craft Knits November 28 – 29 Traveling Tomten, Lund Studios, and Simply Elegant Glass Art December 5 – 6 Cecilia Schiller, Steller Handcrafted Goods, and Dottir December 12 – 13 AnnMade in Minnesota, Ilrid Vikings, Becky Utecht Felt & Fiber, and Kilns Of Flanders December 19 – 20 STITCHESbycarin, Catherine Schoenherr, Kelzuki, and Stanley Leonard Studio Julmarknad 2020 For the run of the holiday exhibit, we will be bringing you online and in-person shopping experiences from the wide range of handcraft artists that you’ve come to expect from ASI’s annual Julmarknad weekend.

Online, you’ll find 34 talented artist vendors to browse through at your leisure over the holiday season. Some artists will offer personal shopping appointments on our Virtual Julmarknad Day held via Zoom on December 5.

Included in museum admission.

16 American Swedish Institute

VIRTUAL Julmarknad Day Artist Panels December 5, 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Hear from this year's artists directly during our Virtual Julmarknad Day Artist Panels!

These 30 minute sessions will give you a behind the scenes look at what it takes to make a living as a craft artisan in 2020. Join us on Zoom to say hello to the artists from their homes and studios, learn more about their work and process and listen in as conversations unfold across craft disciplines.

You'll feel like you had a chance to meet the artists in person, just like any other Julmarknad!

Registration is free.

Schedule and list of vendors: Use Everyday, 10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Kilns of Flanders Clayhouse Pottery Väva Veve Becky Utecht Fiber and Felt Beth Homa Kraus Kim Losse and Donna Millard West Ash Designs Homesteading Bliss Play everyday, 11 – 11:30 a.m.

Traveling Tomten Cecilia Schiller

MODplayhouse äventyr Ilrid Vikings Lund Studios The Sewing Swede Silvercocoon Wear everyday, 1 – 1:30 p.m.

Steller Goods AnnMade in MN STITCHESbycarin Laurie Jacobi Briggs and Craft Dottir Lesley Darling Fibers Tessoro gretapearl Catherine Schoenherr Display everyday, 2 – 2:30 p.m.

Simply Elegant Glass Art J Renee Benda Stanley Leonard Studio Third Daughter, Restless Daughter Kelzuki Peder Hegland Open Cupboard Designs Studio Tupla

Magnus Nilsson Virtual Book Launch & VIP Fika Events Fäviken: 4015 Days, Beginning to End November 7 – times TBA! Join us as ASI becomes the first venue on a virtual book tour welcoming back worldrenowned Swedish chef Magnus Nilsson for a special talk launching his new book Fäviken: 4015 Days, Beginning to End (2020 Phaidon,) Lee Svitak Dean, food journalist and former Star Tribune Taste Editor, will moderate. Nilsson recently closed his extraordinary Fäviken restaurant at the height of its success to, among other things, buy an apple orchard. He and the book provide a fascinating first-hand account of the restaurant’s evolution — candid, insightful and thought-provoking. Nilsson has since become the academy director of MAD, an educational institution to equip the restaurant world with the skills, tools, and perspectives to make positive change.

Book Launch $81 Lecture + Book + Shipping $75 Lecture + Book Pick Up at ASI $250 Lecture + Magnus Opus (5-book Collection). This option is pick up only.

Drive-Thru Lutfisk Dinner Sunday, November 15, 4 – 6 p.m.

ASI’s annual Lutfisk Dinner is a culinary experience that everyone should have at least once.

This year we are keeping the much loved tradition alive by offering the Lutfisk dinner to you drive-thru style. Pick up your meal to go or eat from your car on-site for a memorable Lutfisk experience! The menu includes baked lutfisk, Swedish meatballs, baby red potatoes, cucumber salad, lefse, butter and cream sauces on the side, and rice pudding with lingonberry sauce and pepparkakor cookies. Visit ASImn.org for more information.

VIP Fika with Magnus Nilsson $125. Price includes VIP Fika, Book Talk, and a guaranteed signed copy of the book This virtual fika, moderated by Karl Benson of Cooks of Crocus Hill, will be an intimate, exclusive Q&A session where Magnus will delve into topics that won’t be covered in the main talk. This is your chance for a closer connection

with the fascinating Magnus, one of the world’s most creative and celebrated chefs and author of five best-selling books.

VIRTUAL: Julglädje Saturday, November 28, 4 p.m.

Songs, stories, games and smiles are the hallmarks of julglädje, translated from Swedish as “Christmas joy.” Gather the entire family around the computer to join in the fun and create memories at this annual holiday performance hosted by the popular performer Rose Arrowsmith DeCoux as Tomte Kajsa.

Ross Sutter and his friends, Marya Hart on piano and Cheryl Paschke on nyckelharpa and

fiddle, will play a rollicking collection of Swedish and American holiday tunes that evoke the feeling of standing around the family piano. After the performance, the artists will be available for a virtual Q & A. This program is accessed via Zoom, so guests will need a strong internet connection and a device with video capabilities.

Member tickets on sale Friday, Oct. 16 General tickets on sale Monday, Oct. 19

Register by 10 a.m. on November 28 to receive the Zoom link. $15 per connection

Reservations are required by Sunday, November 8 (limited availability, non-refundable). All members of the party must be made under one registration. Meals must be picked up in the purchaser’s designated 30-minute time window. $40 ASI members / $45 non-members

POSTEN

November – December 2020

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Youth & Family Programs Get creative and color your very own Jul Market Cart!

18 American Swedish Institute

ASI's Lucia in the Mansion concert

Virtual Lucia Choir Concert

ASI is pleased to announce our 2020 Lucias: Emmie Gumaelius of St. Paul, daughter of Michelle and Johan Gumaelius; and Nina Duffy of Mahtomedi, daughter of Anna and Kirk Duffy. Nina and Emmie have been participating in ASI’s Lucia choir since they were four years old! This will be their 14th year in Lucia Choir. Pictured are Nina (left) and Emmie (right) after the 2015 Lucia Choir Celebration Concert.

two Lucias from home! We will provide fun activities for you and your family throughout the day.

ASI invites you to celebrate light during the long winter season with a special virtual Lucia Choir concert featuring our two Lucias and the 2020 ASI Lucia Choir!

The Choir performs traditional music in this magical 20 minute virtual Lucia Choir concert on Zoom.

Registration is required.

Mark your calendars for Sunday, December 13, and celebrate Lucia Day with our

POSTEN

November – December 2020

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Memorials & tributes IN MEMORY OF Evelyn Viktoria “Vikki” Anderson Kerstin Palm, Ann-Christin Palm, John and MaryLouise Palm Shank Cheryl Steinmueller

William Sjölund Christiana and Dave Stolpestad Colleen and Loren Seifert Richard G. “Dick” Hjelm Colleen and Loren Seifert

Lois Anderson Laurie Jacobi and Cotty

Joan Sjogren Christiana and Dave Stolpestad

Lowry Bruce Karstadt

Rianne Leaf William Wallenta

Arvis Gustafson Scandinavian Friends

Fern and Boyer Palmer Janet Olson

Elaine Brolander Bruce Karstadt

Marlys Peterson Scandinavian Friends

Betty Lou Courtney John and Sue Klow Joyce G. Nelson James and Lois Rydeski Joseph and Arlen Rystrom Virginia Timmerman

Deanna Wallace Scandinavian Friends

Nels Gronquist Kristina Gronquist

IN HONOR OF Ed and Fern Nelson Thomas and Susan Nelson

Ralf T. Johnson Karen Gabrielson Margo Greuel Kenneth R. Larson Sheila Latimer Janet Peterson Richard and Judy Sandeen Richard Magnuson Christina Magnuson and Mike Goetz Anna-Mari N Martz Ulla Martz Wallace H. “Wally” Olson Carolyn and Cordell Klug

Dorothy Westling Barbara Jean “Jeanie” Canfield

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Thomas and Susan Nelson Iver Anderson’s 98th Birthday Richard and Judy Sandeen If you would like to make a special gift in honor or memory of a loved one, please contact the ASI Development Office at christys@asimn.org, (612) 870-3354 or mail Attn: ASI Development Office, 2600 Park Ave, Minneapolis MN 55407.

ASI Male Chorus

Gifts received 8/1/20 – 9/30/20

Leia Wambach Myrwood Bagne Bruce Karstadt’s 30 Year Anniversary at ASI Lynne Blomstrand Moratzka and Jim Moratzka Kirsten Kurz and Britta Ketcher: Two Terrific Moms!

Ron and Carla Monson

20 American Swedish Institute

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 situation we are encouraging individuals to reach out to Clubs and Performing Groups directly for inquiries on planned events and rehearsals.

NORDIC Happenings Performing Groups The Cloudberries American Swedish Institute Women’s Choir Check us out on Facebook at “ASI Cloudberries.”

ASI Male Chorus Contact Chuck Upcraft at (612) 371-3731 or email Ted Johnson at tdreamintl@mindspring. com. Concert Tour to Sweden projected for 2021, new members welcome! See our website asimalechorus.org for further updates.

ASI Male Chorus Circle of Friends This group is dedicated to the support of the ASI Male Chorus through promotion and fundraising. To volunteer or contribute contact us at ASIMCCF@gmail.com.

ASI Spelmanslag For more information about rehearsals and events, visit our website asispelmanslag.org, our Facebook page, or call Suzanne Walters at (651) 633-1607. The youth ASI spelmanslag is holding regular outdoor fall rehearsals. Please see the youth page of the ASI spelmanslag for more information: www. asispelmanslag.org.

The Twin Cities Nyckelharpalag See our website at tcnyckelharpalag.org or contact Cheryl Paschke at (612) 670-6356.

The Twin Cities Swedish Folk Dancers Until further notice, our group will not be practicing at ASI this spring and summer.

Contact tcsfdmn@gmail.com.

Vasa Junior Folk Dancers Contact Carolyn Spargo, carolynspargo@ gmail.com for more information about rehearsals and our group.

Clubs Kaffestuga Friends Contact Margareta Beyer (651) 644-5116.

SWEA International in Minnesota donated $250 of new Swedish books to ASI's Svenska Skolan library this fall.

Scandinavian Friends Call or e-mail Muriel Johnson at (952) 8314180 or murjo3663@gmail.com.

Punschklubben

Twin Cities Dalaförening Contact Arne Larson at (763) 544-7494.

SWEA International in Minnesota

Västergötland Society Our next event will be Saturday, November 14, 2020. Please call OR e-mail Gordon Anderson at (763) 788-8532 OR anderson. gpagpa.gordon@gmail.com for details!

The Vastergotland Society does not meet in December.

Affiliates För Alltid Svensk, The Amery, WI Swedish Club Contact Terry Kelzer at (715) 268-2901 or terryjk@amerytel.net.

Minneapolis-Uppsala Friendship Committee

Contact minneapolis.uppsala@gmail.com or call Miranda Striegel at (612) 735-7841.

Contact Erik Lindberg at PunschklubbenMSP@gmail.com or (612) 759-7542.

Contact us at Minnesota@swea.org or visit our website Minnesota.swea.org.

SWEA has donated $250 worth of new Swedish books to ASI’s Svenska Skolan library this fall.

The Swedish Genealogical Society of Minnesota Contact us at sgsmn1983@gmail.com, or visit our website sgsmn.org.

Swedish Cultural Society of Duluth During this uncertain time of COVID-19, the Swedish Cultural Society would like you to consult their website: www.swedishculturalsociety.org. Contact Jennifer Conboy, President (218) 624-2264 or jenniferconboy@hotmail.com.

POSTEN

November – December 2020

21

& Svenska

Sweden & Swedish

Sverige &

vocabulary

list

julmarknad :: Christmas market

News from Sweden

Nobel Prizes Announced

Sweden Turns Back Time

administered by the Nobel Foundation

Here is the new list of 2020 Nobel Prizes,

On October 27, at 2 a.m., Sweden and

in Stockholm: the Peace Prize went to

other EU states turned their time back one

the World Food Programme "to prevent

hour. But the clock is ticking. Last year, the

the use of hunger as a weapon of war

European Parliament backed a proposal to

and conflict;" Literature to Louise Glück,

stop seasonal clock changes by 2021, leaving

American poet; Medicine to Harvey J. Alter,

it up to each member state to decide and

Michael Houghton and Charles M. Rice for

requiring a unanimous vote this year for the

discovering the hepatitis C virus; Chemistry

change to occur. The Swedish government

to Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A.

has said it is not against ending it if there

Doudna for genome editing; and Physics to

is broad support in the country. In the

Roger Penrose, Reinhard Genzel and Andrea

U.S., Daylight Savings Time went into effect

Ghez for their work on black holes, with the

Sunday, November 1.

Economics prize pending.

Stortorget :: main square in Gamla Stan, Stockholm varm :: warm mysig :: cozy julglädje :: Christmas joy For pronunciation, visit The People’s Dictionary: folkets-lexikon.csc.kth.se/folkets/folkets.en.html

Photo (below) Skansen,: Faramarz Gosheh/imagebank.sweden.se

What is Julmarknad?

The Swedish word julmarknad directly translates to “Christmas market.” (P.S. jul is pronounced like “you’ll” — the “j” has a consonant “y” sound). Like in many European countries, Swedish Christmas markets begin to pop up in late November and are typically held in town squares. The most famous one in Sweden is in Stockholm’s picturesque Stortorget, in the heart of Gamla Stan, or Old Town. (Stortorget is the main square in Gamla Stan) Though on the smaller size, Stortorgets julmarknad dates back to 1837 and is the oldest running market in the country. Signs all around Gamla Stan point toward it, and rounding the corner to the square and seeing the booths elicits a varm (warm) holiday feeling. The market is up throughout the day, but visiting at night amongst the lights is even more mysigt (cozy). And since it gets dark in Stockholm by about 3 p.m. that time of year, the Swedes need all the coziness they can get!

We are excited to have our own mini outdoor julmarknad this year on weekends throughout the holiday season, and we hope that it brings you much julglädje — or Christmas joy.

22 American Swedish Institute

It's lunchtime at FIKA!

The extraordinary FIKA Café at ASI is back open for business. Dine in while checking out the latest ASI exhibition, or take out a Family Style Swedish Meatball Dinner through our new FIKA Marketplace. Both feature the delicious new Nordic fare of talented Executive Chef, Blake Meier.

Drop in and we’ll seat you at safely spaced tables, including our lovely outdoor courtyard when the weather cooperates.

Order from the counter and we’ll bring the food to your table. The new menu encompasses classics like Swedish Meatballs and gravad lax, to frequently changing soups and special items like Roasted Duck Confit and an open faced Rock Shrimp Sandwich.

• FIKA is open from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday • No reservations available or required • Full lunch menu is available from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. (beverages & bakery items available during non-lunch hours).

• Introducing: FIKA Marketplace. Bring home a meal for the whole family!

• Pre-order bakery items by emailing fika@ASImn.org.

• Gift cards for the restaurant are available and make great gifts. Contact FIKA to purchase and have them mailed.

• Please plan to pay with a credit or debit card.

New! FIKA Marketplace pick-up dining experience — Go to ASImn.org/visit/ fika-cafe for the complete menu and directions to order and pick up.

Looking for an easy and delicious way to feed the whole family? Order a family Swedish meatball dinner to-go that feeds four (5 meatballs per person, 1 quart

of mashed potatoes, sides of pickled cucumbers, lingonberry sauce and creamy mustard sauce). You can also order a mini loaf of our famous house-made Danish rye bread, quarts and pints of soups and lingonberry or mustard sauce. And don’t forget dessert. We can even take care of cardamom buns and cookies for your next holiday family breakfast or road trip! Find the special Marketplace Menu on the FIKA webpage at ASImn.org/visit/fika-cafe.

Pre-Order Pastries Pre-order FIKA's traditional Swedish pastries, including seasonal specials like cardamom buns or Lucia buns, by calling (612) 5245108 or email fika@ASImn.org.

We ask for a 24-hour notice, a minimum quantity of six and payment when you place the order. Pick up your order at the counter.

POSTEN

November – December 2020

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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Twin Cities, MN Permit No 290 2600 Park Avenue Minneapolis MN 55407 612-871-4907 ASImn.org Return Service Requested

An extra/ordinary Holiday in Extraordinary Times November 14, 2020 - January 10, 2021

Everybody Gonna Shine, Cynamon Murphy We Are the Story

Visit

Museum Hours

Thursday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Eat

FIKA

Thursday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Full menu served — (11 a.m.–3 p.m.)

Shop

Join

Volunteer Connect

© 2020 American Swedish Institute

Museum Store Hours

Thursday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.