Photos by Alfred Pfaff, ASHM members and staff.
December 13
The Swedish Museum Singers under the Direction of Sarah Gulish performed their annual Christmas Concert at ASHM to the delight of many museum members and friends.
December 6
The Auxiliary of the ASHM invites you to this annual tradition featuring musical entertainment, Swedish food, and Christmas bazaar. Doors open at 12 noon, with Lucia processions at 1:30 pm and 3 pm. The processions include a performance of Swedish songs and dances by costumed children ranging in age from toddler to teen. The highlight of the performance is the appearance of Lucia, wearing her crown of candles, surrounded by her white gowned attendants and star boys.
December 5
This traditional holiday smörgåsbord presented by the ASHM's Midsommarklubben included foods traditional to the Swedish Christmas table. Glögg preceded the wonderful "homemade" meal followed by a lovely Lucia procession to cap the evening.
The theme of the fall class wass "Comfort food". In these turbulent times the food we eat can give us some comfort. Soups and stews make you feel good! The Ladies in charge of the class were Christina Holm, Margaretha Joelsson, Gullbritt Mengelbier, and Birgitta Paddack.
Three New Sweden Artists: Gustavus Hesselius, Adolf-Ulrik Wertmüller, and Paula Himmelsbach Balano
November 8, 2008
This year's conference held at historic Christ Church (“Old Swedes’”), Bridgeport PA, examined the artistic and historical contexts of three important artists who worked in the geographical area of the former New Sweden colony. Gustavus Hesselius, Adolf-Ulrik Wertmüller, Paula Himmelsbach Balano were discussed be leading scholars.
Dennis L. Johnson, Architect, ASHM Board Member & Book Review Editor for Swedish American Genealogy Quarterly, presented a talk titled Coloring the Immigrant Experience.
The day trip began with a tour of the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. Built on Manhattan’s Lower East Side in 1863, this tenement apartment building was home of nearly 7000 working class immigrants.
Next a lovely Swedish lunch was hosted by Ulrika Bengtsson at the Roger Smith Hotel.
The day concluded with a visit to the New York Historical Society, which houses a treasure trove of materials related to the history of art in America and the history of New York.
Museum members gathered for the Eighty-second Annual Meeting of the American Swedish Historical Museum, which included the presentation of the Amandus Johnson Service Award to long-time museum supporter and professional photographer Alfred Pfaff.
Fall 2008
Art and LEGO® enthusiasts had much to enjoy at the ASHM in Fall. Families were inspired by the amazing sculptures on view in The Art of the Brick™ exhibition and took that creative spark and turned it into a mini metropolis during three family "Buildaramas" during the run of the show. The museum also hosted several days with extended hours, including one with a special building competition between some of the area's hottest indie rock bands!
June 21, 2008
May 31, 2008
Viking Day was the perfect time for folks to reaquaint themselves with ancient Norse friends through the artwork of Dylan Carroll. The exhibition Norse Mythology and the Viking Age features Mr. Carroll's watercolor interpretations of Odin, Thor, Freya, Fenrir and more on view through September 21, 2008.
May 31, 2008
Storms and rain never stopped the Vikings, nor did it dampen the spirit of Viking Day at the museum. Those passionate Viking reenactors set sail for ASHM and made an otherwise soggy Saturday into a day to remember. Children's activities included making rune stone rubbings, creating Viking jewelry, writing with the runic alphabet and playing Hnefatafl or Viking Chess.
May 15, 2008
Dr. Edward Cook, scientific contributor to the IPCC, one of this year's Nobel Peace Prize winners, lectured on the topic of global warming and the contribution to it by human activity. Dr. Cook's vast research in dendrochronology and paleoclimatology has served to "expand the use and application of tree-ring research around the world to improve our understanding of past climate and environment history".
May 8, 2008
The artist Charles Allmond was the special guest and speaker for the annual May Luncheon. Mr. Allmond's exhibition at the ASHM Charles Allmond: Second Nature is on view through July 31. The artist's demonstration was followed by a delightful luncheon featuring smörgåstårtor.
April 30, 2008
At Walpurgis Night, on the last day of April, spring is welcomed and celebrated in the age-old Swedish tradition of singing around a bonfire. Valborgsmässoafton 2008 at ASHM featured musical entertainment by the Swedish Museum Singers, refreshments, traditional bonfire and more singing in front of the Museum in FDR Park.
April 12, 2008
The ASHM's annual spring fundraiser welcomed friends for a celebration featuring reception, buffet and silent auction.The presentation of the 2008 Outstanding Achievement Award to Håkan Swahn, founder and owner of Auqavit, was a highlight this year. The ASHM was also honored to host special guests, His Excellency Jonas Hafström, Ambassador of Sweden, and Mrs. Hafström for Spring Ting.
March 16 , 2008
The young and the young at heart took part in the museum's annual Easter celebration. Children dressed up in old clothes to depict Easter witches and warlocks (a tradition in Sweden). Then families enjoyed time together crafting traditional Easter decorations to take home. The workshop came to a close just in time for an Easter egg hunt on the museum grounds.
March 13, 2008
The museum was proud to host an opening for the special exhibition Charles Allmond: Second Nature for friends, members and the public. The opening featured a special gallery talk by the artist Mr. Allmond. The exhibition Charles Allmond: Second Nature features wildlife sculpture in stone and bronze and is on view at the ASHM through July 31, 2008.
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The Swedish Kurbits Painting Workshop featured a museum tour of painted decorative objects and a work session during which participants created a kurbits painted plaque. All ages and skill levels came together to learn more about the history, techniques and fun of this distinctive painting style.
February 9, 2008
The sweetness of Semla brought out all ages to the ASHM for the Auxiliary's annual Coffee and Semlor event. A record number of folks came out this year to enjoy the Lenten buns, friends, new and old, as well as good coffee and fine film.
January 26, 2008
Pea Soup, Ärtsoppa, is the traditional Thursday night supper in Sweden. During medieval times when Sweden was a Catholic country and Fridays meant fasting, a hearty and wholesome meal was necessary the preceding night. The Pea Soup Dinner at the ASHM also features Punsch, a strong, sweet, arrack-based drink, bread, cheese (Prästost) and dessert. Yum...
The first Genealogy Club meeting of the year provided a forum for members to discuss common roadblocks encountered in researching Swedish and Swedish-American ancestry. The club meets several times a year and brings together a great deal of experience and expertise and hosts wonderful speakers on a range of topics.
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