Scandinavian Cultural Center

Nordic Fashion Show Provides Stunning Presentation of Traditional and Contemporary Designs

On Saturday, April 22, the Scandinavian Cultural Center was transformed into a model’s runway for the Nordic fashion show and luncheon, “Timeless Style: Traditional to Contemporary.”  Nearly ninety guests attended the gala affair.  Nina Pedersen served as narrator for the Danish designs, as the models walked across the stage and then wove around the
                                              tables, so everyone could see the beautiful traditional costumes and striking modern styles by Hanne Falkenberg, MP, and Blue Willi’s.  Finnish fashions followed, described by Essi Krebs. After the traditional costumes, guests were awed by the stunning and elegant jackets from Finnish designer Annikki Karvinen and several garments from Marimekko, a leading textile and clothing design

company.  Audun Toven, with help from Jacobina Adams, presented the Icelandic attire.  A lovely traditional costume was modeled first, followed by an ultra-modern ELM skirt and sweater by Icewear, two soft lacey knit dresses, and two “typical” Icelandic sweaters.  Audun also narrated for the Norwegian designs, which included traditional bunader, sweaters, and contemporary garments by Heraldica and Oleanna, a fashion firm inspired by Norwegian culture, traditional styles, and modern trends.  Swedish clothing, the last (alphabetically) of the five countries, was presented by Kerstin Ringdahl.  Models wore several distinctive traditional costumes, followed by an elegant Kriss skirt and top, a graceful Lindex black lace skirt, and gorgeous sweaters by Anne Norin and Simu.  The fashion show was a comprehensive display of beautiful historic and contemporary designs from the Nordic countries. Thanks to the committee (Laura Almaas, Carol Kemp, Essi Krebs, Betty Larson, Janet Ruud, Esther Van Noy, and Susan Young), the models, and those who loaned articles of clothing! It was a fabulous event, enjoyed by all who attended

Norwegian Heritage Festival Committee to be Commended

The 31st Annual Norwegian Heritage Festival took place on Saturday, April 29.  Sponsored by Embla Lodge #2 - Daughters of Norway, Norden Lodge #2 – Sons of Norway, Nordlyset Nordlandslaget, the Western Rosemalers Association, and the Scandinavian Cultural Center, the event was a huge success.  The planning committee, led by Linda Fialkowski, is to be commended for a wonderful day.

The Norwegian Café featured traditional baked goods, open-face sandwiches, pea soup, pølse med lompe, and rømmegrøt, which could be enjoyed while watching and listening to the day’s entertainment: the Embla Lodge Leikarring dancers, the Normanna Male Chorus, the children’s dance group “Skandia Dansers” from Whidbey Island, and the folk ensemble “Nordic Exposure.” 

 Demonstrators of beading, Rosemaling, Hardangersøm, wood-carving, painting, and weaving were to found interspersed with informational tables of the sponsoring organizations, crafts for children, and vendor booths. 

 The highlight of the Festival was without doubt the visit of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway.  The Princess gave an entertaining and heartfelt presentation in Lagerquist Hall about life as a princess and read from her children’s book Why Kings and Queens Don’t Wear Crowns.  She then greeted festival goers in the Scandinavian Cultural Center where she autographed hundreds of books.  Her grace and charm epitomized a princess who truly does wear her crown “in her heart.”

Reykjavik Wind Quintet Holds Audience Spell-Bound

The Reykjavik Wind Quintet presented an outstanding musical concert at Lagerquist Hall on Wednesday, March 29.  A large audience, including many enthusiastic PLU music students, was held spell-bound throughout the evening.  The first half of the program featured short masterpieces, one from each Nordic country.  The first piece was Vem kan segla förutan vin — a traditional arrangement from Sweden’s Åland Island—followed by works by Edvard Grieg (Norway), Jan Sibelius (Finland), Carl Nielsen (Denmark) and Sigvaldi Kaldalons (Iceland).  The quintet also paid tribute to W.A. Mozart in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of  his birth.  The program then turned to a selection by French composer Jaques Ibert whose work is characterized by simple melodies, and harmonies reminiscent of Stravinsky.  The concert ended with a tribute to British composer Jim Parker who wrote  Mississippi Five in honor of the great jazz musicians who lived and worked in New Orleans at the beginning of the 20th Century, such as Joe “King” Oliver (teacher of Louis Armstrong), and Johnny Dodds (one of the greatest clarinetists of his time).  In the last movement entitled Les Animaux, the quintet created sounds on their instruments (the bassoon, clarinet, flute, horn, and oboe) that took the audience on a trip down the river on a steamboat overloaded with passengers, their pets, and livestock.  The internationally acclaimed musicians played masterfully and provided an evening of musical enchantment!

News and Notes

Welcome New Members!  Dick and Rosemary Brynestad (Tacoma), Bryan Burg (Puyallup), Karlyn Collins (Puyallup), Lene Hajek (Olalla), Karen Lease-Smith (Puyallup), Pamela Salsman (Auburn), and Penny Sleiertin-Douglas (Puyallup).

 Tusen Takk to the Whitley Family!  The week of April 3-7 was Diversity Week on the campus of PLU.  The week-long event was sponsored by the student organization ASPLU.  The final event on Friday, April 7, featured international foods and entertainment from countries around the world.  SCC member Anne Whitley and her family graciously agreed to operate the lefse demonstration booth that afternoon, where PLU students, faculty, and staff were treated to free samples.  Many came back for seconds and thirds!  A very special thank you is extended to the Whitley family for representing the Scandinavian Cultural Center and for sharing their Nordic heritage with the PLU community.

 Generous Donor Sees a Need!  We are happy to report that our cooking class chefs will no longer have to put up with the sometimes irritating, many times cranky and cantankerous oven and stove in the SCC kitchen.  After it was announced at one of the Spring Cooking classes that the stove was giving some people trouble (and had been for quite a while!), one person – who wishes to remain anonymous – donated $3,000 to cover the cost of buying some new kitchen equipment! A committee is now working on researching the best possible appliances for us!  Many thanks to Anonymous!  You know who you are!

 Newly Published Book:  The Thrall’s Tale, published by Viking Penguin publishers, is a novel about three women in the first Viking Age settlement in Greenland in AD 985.  Author  Judith Lindbergh hopes that the book’s theme might be of interest to those who enjoy historical fiction, or who are interested in women's lives in the Viking Age.  You can read the first chapter on her website (www.judithlindbergh.com).

 Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival:  This year’s festival will take place on June 16, 17, and 18, and will feature a music/dance group from Denmark.  For more information, contact Katrina Ivanoff at beegirl@pacifier.com or call 503-338-7497.

 5th Annual Scandinavian Heritage Festival:  October will be here before you know it, so be sure to mark your calendars for October 6-8!  The festival will take place in the Pavilion at the Western Washington Fairgrounds on the corner of 9th and Meridian in Puyallup.  For information, email desireeomdal@hotmail.com or visit the website at www.oktoberfestnw.com or call 425-881-1544.

In Memory of PLU President Emeritus William O. Rieke

President Emeritus William O. Rieke died Saturday, April 22, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 74. Dr. Rieke was President of PLU from 1975–1992.  During the Rieke years, several new majors and academic concentrations were added to the university curriculum, including Norwegian and Scandinavian studies majors. He will be remembered by the SCC Council for his enthusiasm and assistance in the planning and construction of the Scandinavian Cultural Center, which opened in 1989.  Later that year, Dr. Rieke was named Knight First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit by King Olav V for his efforts in strengthening international ties.  A remembrance and celebration of Rieke’s life was held during chapel on Friday, April 28, in Lagerquist Hall, and the memorial service was Saturday, April 29, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lakewood.  Dr. Rieke is survived by his wife Joanne; three children, Susan (Rieke) Smith ’79 and her husband Jeffry Smith ’78; Stephen Rieke ’81 and his wife Eileen (Brandenburg) Rieke ’82; Marcus Rieke ’86 and his wife Paula (Smith) Rieke ’88; and eight grandchildren.

Calendar of Events (May/june 2006)

Exhibits

«Children of the Heavenly Father, photos by Kristine Leander, May 4-November 12 (See p. 2)

«Landscapes from a Swedish Heritage, paintings by Niklas Aronsson, May 4-November 12 (See p. 2)

«Public Hours during May: Sundays, 1-4 pm, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11 am-3 pm

«Public Hours during June: Sundays only, 1-4 pm

    (Note:  There will be no public hours on the following dates: May 14, May 28, June 4, June 18.)

Events and Classes

«Annual Spring Banquet, Saturday, May 27, 6:00 pm  (See p. 1), Info:  253-535-7349

«Language Classes

    Intermediate Norwegian, Mondays, 6-9 pm, 253-536-8392

    Beginning Norwegian, Tuesdays, 6-9 pm, 253-536-8392

«Nordlyset Strawberry Fest, Saturday, June 16 (Private Event), Info:  253-838-4232

Meetings

«Danish Sisterhood

Wednesday, May 3 (No meeting in June)

9:30 am-3 pm, 253-843-2249

«Hardanger Embroidery Group

Wednesday, May 10 (No meeting in June)

9 am-3 pm, 253-759-7292

«Danish Sangaften

Sunday, May 21 (No meeting in June)

6-9 pm, 253-984-6700—Newcomers welcome!

«Norwegian Rosemalers Group

Wednesdays, May 17, 24, 31 and June 21 and 28

9am-3 pm, 253-841-3392—Newcomers welcome!

«SCC Executive Board

Mondays, May 15 and June 19, 4:45 pm, UC 214

«SCC Council

Monday, May 15 and June 19th 4:45 PM

  5:30 pm, SCC

Save the Date!
Our Second Annual Membership Meeting
is scheduled for
Saturday, September 30, 3:00 pm
 

We wish to recognize and extend our sincere appreciation to

our corporate sponsors.

Presenting Sponsor ($5000+ level)

Wells Fargo Management, Dale Benson

Viking Bank, Bev Cornett, Asst. Vice President

Major Sponsor ($2001-$4999 level)

IKEA-Seattle

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

Knut Olson, General Partner

Sponsor ($1000-$2000 level)

Harold A. Allen Realtors, Michael Larson, President/Designated Broker

President’s Message . . .

The SCC Council elected new officers at its April meeting, so this will be my last President’s message to you.  I will serve on the Executive Board for one more year as Past President and Services Group Coordinator.  Many thanks to our new officers, whose terms begin in June: Gunnulf Myrbo (President), Lisa Ottoson (Vice President), Karen Giguere (Secretary), Norita Stewart (Treasurer), Joanne McDonald (Outreach Group Coordinator), and Maynard Hedegaard (Activities Group Coordinator).  We will continue to be guided by our capable and hard-working SCC Director, Susan Young, and it will be wonderful to work alongside those who are continuing, as well as the new members, from whom we’ll gain fresh inspiration.  I want to extend a special note of appreciation to Betty and Ed Larson, who are leaving the Executive Board. It has been such a pleasure to work with you both!