U of M Cedar Creek field station hosts 'Ordinary Vikings' outdoor art installation exploring Scandinavian cultural roots

The University of Minnesota’s Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, located in East Bethel, is hosting an outdoor art installation, “Ordinary Vikings,” Oct. 8-9 and 15-16.

Swedish American Jill Johnson, Cedar Creek’s first artist in residence, created the installation, in conjunction with the Nordic Arts Alliance, to explore the tribal roots of the Scandinavian Viking culture. Cedar Creek is operated by the College of Biological Sciences.

The installation features “bog stav” sculptures, a Scandinavian folk art form in which human faces carved from wood are mounted on trees. Johnson made beeswax castings of Minnesota Swedish Americans, including some individuals who live near Cedar Creek, to create the sculptures and mounted them on found tree branches in Cedar Creek’s oak savanna. Her work links some aspect of the real person’s life to an aspect of a Nordic cultural archetype from the stories of the Bronze, Iron and Viking ages, including Odin, Thor, Loki, Freya, Frigg and many others.

The sculptures will be hung architecturally as mobiles to move in the wind, creating a living forest. The translucent beeswax faces become lifelike as the sun shines through the wax, making the faces flicker.

“The question I am trying to answer with this work is, ‘Are we still tribal 1,000 years after the last Viking axe was thrown?’” Johnson says. “Visitors are encouraged to experience their feelings as they walk through the installation environment. Perhaps people will feel more connected to their heritage, but it’s very individualistic. I don’t impose an answer on anyone. What is important is to ask the question.”

The exhibit is very personal to Johnson because her Swedish ancestors actually settled near Cedar Creek. Johnson has been exhibiting her work for about 15 years and has studied mythology and cultural forms in Viking camps in Sweden and Denmark as well as with mentors. She currently focuses on exhibits constructed from organic materials that reflect her Scandinavian heritage. Her work is recognized in Sweden, where she has two exhibits scheduled in 2012.

Icelandic Viking storyteller Ingibjorg Gisladottir will join Johnson at Cedar Creek to provide cultural context for the exhibition as well as storytelling sessions, including a special evening bonfire storytelling session. Gisladottir, a founding member of the Viking storytelling and musical group Krauka, has been featured in numerous Viking and cultural festivals throughout Europe. This is her first appearance in America.

Cedar Creek is located at 2660 Fawn Lake N.E., East Bethel. For directions, go to www.cedarcreek.umn.edu.

Schedule
Exhibit hours: Saturdays, Oct. 8 and 15, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Exhibit hours: Sundays, Oct. 9 and 16, 12 to 4 p.m.
Artist talk: Saturdays, Oct. 8 and 15, 11 and 3 p.m.
Artist talk: Sundays, Oct. 9 and 16, 2 p.m.
Storytelling session: Saturdays, Oct. 8 and 15, 1 p.m.
Storytelling session: Sundays, Oct. 9 and 16, 3 p.m.
Bonfire evening session: Saturdays, Oct. 8 and 15, 7 p.m.

Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve is operated by the College of Biological Sciences, which provides degree programs and conducts research in all areas of biology, from molecules to ecosystems. David Tilman, Regents Professor of Ecology, is scientific director of Cedar Creek.

The Swedish Council of America and the Minnesota State Arts Board provided funding for this event, which is free to the public. Funding was also provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on Nov. 4, 2008.

Nordic Arts Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that connects and educates people through tribal and contemporary Nordic arts. The organization is based in Moorhead.

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• Last modified on September 28, 2011