HANCOCK – The Folk School at Midsummer exhibit in the Finlandia Gallery at Finlandia Foundation’s Finnish American Heritage Center opened Wednesday, June 17. A reception was held, and taking place in conjunction with the opening of an archival exhibit featuring the works of painter Akseli Gallen-Kallela that are part of the Heritage Center’s archive collection.

“It has become an annual tradition to celebrate midsummer with work from our Folk School, but what visitors see in the exhibit really changes in beautiful ways from year to year,” said Clare Zuraw, director of the Finnish American Folk School and interim gallery director. “The creativity and skill of our incredible instructors and students shines brightly in this exhibit. All are welcome to visit and discover how we’re linking traditional skills with contemporary art.”

“Grieve | Blame | Mother” by Lindsey Heiden

Regular visitors to the annual exhibit have likely come to expect fiber art and this year is no exception with weaving, knitting, and felting throughout the gallery. Visitors will also find remarkable basketry, ceramics, instruments, and wood carving. 

Folk School Ceramics Studio member Brooke Hilman reflected on the process of working with clay.

“It grounds me in the physical world. It allows me to approach my process intuitively as a form of play, and a form of reconnection to the body” she said. “Ceramics feels like a call toward something old, steady, and slow, cultivating a deeper sense of authenticity through making.”

This sense of authenticity and steadiness suffuses the entire exhibition and the experience of learning and making at the Finnish American Folk School throughout the year.

The exhibition includes work by Allison Ahrens, Jade Babcock, Helen-Lahja Belopavlovich, Karen Blanco, Nate Corson, Denise Engel, Elaine Erickson, Phyllis Fredendall, Melve Kauppi, Sean Havins, Gretchen Hein, Brooke Hilman, Carol Impola, Evan Lanese, Paige Lewandowski, Victoria Marino, Mary Markham, Wynne Mattila, Alice Margerum, Jonathan Robins, Hannah Rundman Lowney, Karen Tembreull, Brettanya Zimmer, and Clare Zuraw.

“Melve Geometric Sweater” by Gretchen Hein, left
“Untitled sweater” by Melve Kauppi, center
“Rose Garden” by Wynne Mattila, right

The opening reception featured music, with a performance by Kuparikielet, the Folk School’s youth dance band.

The Gallen-Kallela exhibit, which will be displayed in the Martha Wiljanen Community Hall, is the first time in nearly 20 years that these works of art by the world-renowned artist will grace the walls of the Heritage Center. Clare Zuraw, along with archivist Joanna Chopp and Finlandia Foundation Executive Director Tommy Flanagan, offered remarks about both exhibits.

“The Gallen-Kallela exhibit will include original works, as well as a set of signed heliogravure prints of some of his most well-known pieces,” said archivist Joanna Chopp, who is curating the display. Many of the pieces shown at the Heritage Center were created when Gallen-Kallela lived in the United States in the early 1920s.

Visitors are welcome to view these and other exhibits inside the Finnish American Heritage Center Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Next week, special Juhannus celebrations will have the building open for demonstrations and music on Saturday, June 20, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and again for a community dance from 7-10 p.m. For more information, call 906-370-3722 or visit www.finlandiaartgallery.com.