You reached this page through the archive. Click here to return to the archive.

Note: This article is over a year old and information contained in it may no longer be accurate. Please use the contact information in the lower-left corner to verify any information in this article.

Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum acquires tapestry woven by St. Olaf alumna

Valerie Veo '05
June 20, 2003

The New Testament parable of the wise and foolish virgins has been reinvented by 1966 St. Olaf graduate Priscilla Hansen Lynch who wove the story in a tapestry she created in 1999. Lynch's version attracted the attention of the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah, Iowa, which recently purchased the piece for its permanent collection because "it is an outstanding example of contemporary American weaving created within the Norwegian tradition," said textile curator Laurann Gilbertson. "Priscilla put a fresh face, so to speak, on a theme that was very popular for large tapestries more than 300 years ago."

Tapestry
Priscilla Hansen Lynch's ?66 woven tapestry interpretation of the New Testament parable of the five wise and five foolish virgins. The tapestry was recently acquired by the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum for their permanent collection.

Lynch's tapestry shows traditional renderings of the wise and foolish virgins juxtaposed beside two modern interpretations of the figures: the modern wise virgin is portrayed as a young bride and the modern foolish virgin as a young mother. The tapestry was purchased with funds from Ann Blager Collen and Bruce Trouten, both of Minneapolis, Minn., and is currently on display in the Maland Walker Textile Gallery at Vesterheim.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.