Rosemaling History and Design
with Judy Ritger
2:30 PM Friday and 2:30 PM Saturday

Judy has been interested in the Norwegian Folk arts ever since her family moved to River Falls, Wisconsin, thirty-three years ago when a friend suggested a class in rosemaling. Having never heard of it, Judy wondered what she was getting into. Judy is of German and English heritage and at the time lacked information on the Nordic culture, but she has always had an interest in art. “That class,” Judy says, “was the beginning of life-changing interests for me.” She has since taken many classes in rosemaling, mainly at Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa, and also in Norway on three different study programs sponsored by Vesterheim. She has been teaching rosemaling classes at Vesterheim and also around the country for many years.

About fifteen years ago her interest expanded to include wood carving. She has done figure carving, chip carving, and acanthus carving. She has worked hard to stimulate an interest in kolrosing, an old Norwegian form of decorating small articles with incised line design. She has a video/DVD out on kolrosing called “Kolrosing: Reviving a Lost Art.” At present she mixes the various forms of carving and painting together on one piece. Judy earned a Gold Medal in Rosemaling in 1989 and in Woodcarving in 1995.

Judy is married, has four children, thirteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She keeps herself busy “with involvement in their lives and creating pieces for them.” Judy does not sell anything other than some commissioned work and a few pieces at Vesterheim during the Nordic Fest.