Pretty Much 100% Scandinavian: Saga 4 - Film Premiere
The descendants of U.S. immigrants from Scandinavia aim their arts and craft toward everyday elegance. The goal is the practical beauty so prized in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Award-winning Swedish filmmaker Stefan Quinth (www.CameraQ.com) and former ASI staff member Dr. William Beyer bring you close to Midwesterners drawing on Scandinavian traditions to create arts and craft of practical beauty. This fourth film in the light-hearted yet authoritative “Pretty Much 100% Scandinavian” series premieres at ASI on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 2 p.m. in Larson Hall.

Through interviews, performances, and still photos, “Saga 4” explores institutions, events and groups such as Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa, Nisswa-stämman folk music festival in Nisswa, Minn., Saana Ensemble (vocal quintet) and ASI’s own Spelmanslag. Here, too, are individual painters, writers, weavers, wood carvers, instrument makers, even a langeleik (Norwegian dulcimer) player and that grand Icelandic American man of letters, Bill Holm.

Before (beginning at 1:30 p.m.) and after the screening, a Konst och Slöjd Marknad (Art & Craft Market) will have works for sale by CameraQ and by artists and groups in the film such as Kelly Marshall, Natalie Norman, Kurt Seaberg, Barton Sutter, ASI Spelmanslag, Saana Ensemble and Finn Hall.

The cost for the showing is $8 for ASI members and $10 for nonmembers, and ages 12 and under are free. Reservations are strongly encouraged; call 612-871-4907.