100 Candles for Sätergläntan
This June, a delegation from Sweden's Sätergläntan Institute for Slöjd and Handcraft is visiting North House to celebrate 100 years of craft. Meet them at the 2023 Wooden Boat Show!
“It's not every day that you have a friend celebrating their 100th birthday!” said Greg Wright, Executive Director at North House Folk School, “so when our sister school in Sweden, Sätergläntan, shared their 100th anniversary was coming up, we leapt at the opportunity to host a celebration for them here on campus.”
Sätergläntan is Sweden’s premier traditional craft school. Founded in 1922, Sätergläntan has been educating craftspeople for over 100 years. This summer, a delegation of four lead instructors plus Sätergläntan’s director will visit North House to teach craft, build connections, and celebrate the 100th anniversary of this beloved school.
“We have had a strong connection with Sätergläntan, and we’ve been thrilled to host several of their instructors here at North House,” shared Program Director Jessa Frost.
In 2019, North House formalized the relationship with the Swedish school to facilitate more regular exchanges of instructors and emerging artisans. Since 2017, North House’s Artisan Development Program participants have traveled to Sätergläntan to build connections and study with leading craftspeople in the Swedish Craft tradition. Earlier this month, a small group of North House staff and instructors visited Sätergläntan for their 100th birthday jubilee.
“We from Sätergläntan are deeply grateful to share our 100-year celebration with you at North House,” said Monika Jönsson, Sätergläntan’s Director. “In workshops and demonstrations, we will be sharing know-how and building bridges together for the next 100 years.”
“We are excited to have our friends and neighbors connect with Sätergläntan during their visit to Minnesota,” shared Wright. “It is my hope that as a result of this trip that new connections will emerge, the relationships between North House and Sätergläntan will be strengthened, and the imagination of craftspeople will be sparked!”
This visit is supported by the American-Scandinavian Foundation and the Minnesota State Arts Board.
Sätergläntan Visit to North House:
Coursework: June 12-15
Nordic Rosepath Weaving with Susanna Ayton
Traditional Swedish Linen Shirt, Sewn by Hand with Johanna Runbäck
Ullkorg: Crafting the Traditional Swedish Wool Basket with Beth Moen
Brazing Cowbells: Traditional Metalwork with Johan Säfström
100th Birthday Pie Celebration: Friday, June 16, 5pm
Celebrate Sätergläntan's 100th Anniversary with a tasty slice of pie from the famed Blue Water Cafe, live music, and good company including our visiting friends from Sweden.
Featured Demonstrations: Saturday, June 17
Our friends from Sätergläntan will be sharing their skills at special featured demonstrations. Each demonstration will be 45 minutes.
Beth Moen: Classic Swedish Woodworking Tools: 10am
Johanna Runbäck: Traditional Swedish Folk Dress: 11am
Susanna Ayton: Flax Processing: 2pm
Johan Säfström: Traditional Blacksmithing: 3pm