Signe’ Bruers, Norwegian Rosemaler

A new exhibit on 2nd floor of the Dacotah Prairie Museum features the Norwegian Rosemaling techniques of Aberdeen artist, Signe’ Bruers. Almost 50 pieces of traditional Rosemaling, including plates, clocks, benches and chests, ornaments, spoons and reindeer are assembled for this exhibit. The display opened on Friday, May 10th and will remain open until July 31, 2007. Everyone is welcome and, as always, there is no charge for this exhibit.

Norwegian Rosemaling is a traditional style of painting originating in northern Europe with closely related styles practiced in Sweden, Finland, Germany and Poland. The term “rose painting” or rosemaling is a common term for Norwegian decorative rustic painting during the 1700’s and 1800’s and into early 1900. Ornamentation, pictures, geometric patterns and decorative writing are all natural ingredients in this brand of folk art, although the roses themselves, with other flowers linking a central design, constitute the most important element.

With greater trade and prosperity of the 1700’s in Europe, rustic painters began to imitate the great masters of the Renaissance, Baroque, and Rococo periods of art history and assemble designs of their own to decorate ceilings, walls, furniture and everyday objects, making them beautiful and decorative. The rustic artist lacked the same vocational training as the guild painter in town, and in many cases was self-taught. But as the techniques were passed down from father to son, master to pupil, the painting grew from a crude craft to an art form of its own. In this century, especially from 1950 to the present, there has been a revival of rosemaling, not just in Norway, but in the United States and many other places.

Signe’ began the art in a local class offered at the Aberdeen Parks & Recreation Cultural Center about 30 years ago. Since then, she has improved her skills and knowledge about the painting technique at seminars and workshops in Sioux Falls and several locations in Minnesota.

Bruers is also an accomplished China painter which means she is busy doing some creating most every day. “My family loves to receive hand painted gifts, so they are always very encouraging,” Signe’ jokes.

She is the mother of 2 children, has 4 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren. She loves to try new patterns in rosemaling and uses traditional Norwegian colors. To view her exact and detailed work is a treat, mixing color, design and history.

To view other past exhibits, please click here.