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Swedish American Museum | 5211 N. Clark St. | Chicago, IL 60640 | 773.728.8111 | info@samac.org
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On Friday, Sept. 3, 2010, the Museum’s new exhibit titled Nordic Light opens, which is a collection of 30 paintings and watercolors about light in nature by Swedish artist Johan Thunberg. From forest to sea and everything in between, through all kinds of weather and seasons, Thunberg attempts to capture and display the “special [Swedish] light” in nature. Using Swedish landscape in his own naturalistic and individualistic way, the artist claims to give the same that he sees—all the beautiful things nature gives you.

Thunberg’s work has been displayed in galleries and institutions throughout the world, including: the Sveabrunn Gallery in Stockholm; Finland’s Raumo Museum; the Kiev Museum in Russia; the Bing Gallery at Kungsbacka, Gotland; the Swedish National Arts Council collections; and more. He has participated in 20 exhibits in the United States in the past 10 years, including: The American-Swedish Institute in Minneapolis; The Bishop Hill Heritage Association; the Women’s League at Andover, Illinois; the Reher Gallery at the Moline Public Library; the Swedish American Museum, and more.
Events scheduled for Nordic Light are:
This exhibit is sponsored by City Arts Grants, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs; the Illinois Arts Council; and the MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince.

The American Swedish Historical Museum in Philadelphia presents a special temporary exhibit about the New Sweden colony now on display at the Swedish American Museum. This exhibit titled Colony to Community: the Story of New Sweden is about the Swedish and Finnish immigrants who came to the Delaware Valley in 1638 to create a colony serving as a fur and tobacco trading post.
Delaware Valley, in Wilimington, Del., was a place of peaceful Native American trading but pressure from the Dutch for these New Sweden colonists. The Dutch gained control of the colony in 1655, but Swedes and Finns maintained a presence in the community, including the arrival of Swedish ministers and artists influencing the New World over the next century.
This exhibit is curated by Carrie Hogan of the American Swedish Historical Museum, in conjunction with the Delaware Historical Society and the New Jersey State Museum. It will be on display at the Swedish American Museum until the end of January 2011.
Starting Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010, the Museum will partner with the Dalsland Art Association and the Society of Artists in Dalsland for a special exhibit titled Dalsland goes West. This exhibit features 29 of the associations’ artists displaying 5 pieces each in celebration of their 75th Anniversary Jubilee. “Both Associations strive to keep the long tradition of art in Dalsland alive, and so far it is very much alive!” says artist Elisabeth Wennberg, who will contribute artwork to the exhibit.
The underlying theme of the exhibit is Dalsland’s landscape and a connection to the past–more specifically, the 33 thousand immigrants who left Dalsland for the United States (many to Chicago) from 1862 to 1930. “We think we could find an audience that would be reminded of their past, and hopefully they would find an echo of times past in the encounter with the Dalsland artists of today and their ties to the U.S.,” Elisabeth says.
Other artists in this exhibit besides Elisabeth who will be present at the opening are Monica Eliasson, Lisbeth Claesson, Gunilla Kjellstedt, Lars-Erik Ohlsson, and Liza Johansson. It is on display until Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011.

The Museum’s next special exhibit, Nordic Light, opens on Friday, Sept. 3, 2010 with a free gallery showing from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visit us for 30 watercolors and paintings by Swedish artist Johan Thunberg, in which he captures the “special [Swedish] light” in nature. Using landscape in his own naturalistic and individualistic way, the artist claims to give the same that he sees—all the beautiful things nature gives you. For more information on Nordic Light, please click here.
Events scheduled for Nordic Light include:
Schools starts again–that means Swedish Language Classes and Hejsan are back in session at the Museum starting in September! Hejsan begins Thursday, Sept. 2 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Swedish Language Classes start Tuesday, Sept. 7 and Wednesday, Sept. 8. To learn more about the Swedish Language Classes, please click here. To learn more about Hejsan and this fall’s theme, Swedish inventions and innovations, please click here.
We would like to remind you to join the Swedish American Museum, SACC and SWEA for a Swedish Soccer Evening! On Wednesday, Sept. 1, come see the Chicago Red Stars as they take on the Philadelphia Independence on a first-ever Swedish Night at Toyota Park.
There are plenty of tickets left, but you must act fast. Ticket packages are $13 for the Harlem End Seats, and $25 for the Swedish Package. To purchase tickets, please call Alicia Herczeg at 708.496.9505, or click here to visit the Swedish Night Web page.
The tailgate picnic and festivities begin at 5 p.m., the gates open at 6 p.m., and the game starts at 7 p.m. The player meet and great with Philadelphia Independence’s Swedish stars Sara Larsson and Caroline Seger will occur after the game for those who purchase the Swedish Package.
Toyota Park is located at 7000 S. Harlem Ave. in Bridgeview. For complete driving and public transit directions, please click here.
September is a very busy month at the Museum, so check out our online calendar by clicking here to schedule your favorite event! You may also sign up for our weekly e-mail blasts and monthly e-mail newsletter by clicking here. It’s easy, free, and delivers the most up-to-date information about the Museum and Museum events!
The Nordic Family Genealogy Center invites you to a special trip to the Newberry Library in Chicago to view their vast genealogical resources! Matt Rutherford, curator of genealogy and local history, will lead the tour, followed by time for individual research.
There are some spots left but reservations are required, so please contact Sue Jackson at 847.308.0288 for information and reservations. Specific information to be sent regarding time change and parking upon registration. For more information about the Nordic Family Genealogy Center, please click here.
We would like to remind you to join the Swedish American Museum, SACC and SWEA for a Swedish Soccer Evening! On Wednesday, Sept. 1, come see the Chicago Red Stars as they take on the Philadelphia Independence on a first-ever Swedish Night at Toyota Park.
There are plenty of tickets left, but you must act fast. Ticket packages are $13 for the Harlem End Seats, and $25 for the Swedish Package. To purchase tickets, please call Alicia Herczeg at 708.496.9505, or click here to visit the Swedish Night Web page.
The tailgate picnic and festivities begin at 5 p.m., the gates open at 6 p.m., and the game starts at 7 p.m. The player meet and great with Philadelphia Independence’s Swedish stars Sara Larsson and Caroline Seger will occur after the game for those who purchase the Swedish Package.
Toyota Park is located at 7000 S. Harlem Ave. in Bridgeview. For complete driving and public transit directions, please click here.

On Sunday, Aug. 29, at 4 p.m., the traveling exhibit 17 Swedish Designers closes at the Swedish American Museum and will continue its 2009-2011 U.S. Tour in another city. Come see the exhibit before it leaves Chicago! Please click here to learn more about 17 Swedish Designers and our next exhibit, Nordic Light.

Schools starts again–that means Swedish Language Classes and Hejsan are back in session at the Museum starting in September! Hejsan begins Thursday, Sept. 2 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Swedish Language Classes start Tuesday, Sept. 7 and Wednesday, Sept. 8. To learn more about the Swedish Language Classes, please click here. To learn more about Hejsan and this fall’s theme, Swedish inventions and innovations, please click here.

Join the Swedish American Museum, SACC and SWEA for a Swedish Soccer Evening! On Wednesday, Sept. 1, come see the Chicago Red Stars as they take on the Philadelphia Independence on a first-ever Swedish Night at Toyota Park.
UPDATE: Kosovare Asllani will no longer be present at Swedish Night. Sara Larsson and Caroline Seger of the Philadelphia Independence will be at Swedish Night’s meet and greet at Toyota Park.
The tailgate picnic and festivities begin at 5 p.m., the gates open at 6 p.m., and the game starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are priced at $13 and $28, and tickets must be purchased in advance. To visit the Swedish Night Web page, please click here.
Toyota Park is located at 7000 S. Harlem Ave. in Bridgeview. For complete driving and public transit directions, please click here.
Swedish Language Classes at the Museum are back in session starting Tuesday, Sept. 7 and Wednesday, Sept. 8! Classes are instructed by Eva May (Beginners I & II) and Anna Albinsson-Kaplan (Intermediate & Conversation/Advanced), and they run for 12 weeks. Tuition is $150 for Museum members, $185 for non-Museum members. Books are not included in tuition. The Fall 2010 schedule is:
For more information on Swedish Language Classes, please click here. You may also contact Volunteer and Membership Manager Benson DuPriest at BDupriest@samac.org or call 773.728.8111 to register.

Photo Credit: Brule Laker, Flickr
The Nordic Family Genealogy Center invites you to a special trip to the Newberry Library in Chicago to view their vast genealogical resources! Matt Rutherford, curator of genealogy and local history, will lead the tour, followed by time for individual research.
Reservations are required and space is limited, so please contact Sue Jackson at 847.308.0288 for information and reservations. Specific information to be sent regarding time change and parking upon registration. For more information about the Nordic Family Genealogy Center, please click here. You may also e-mail Genealogy@samac.org or call 773.728.8111 and leave a message for Vereen Nordstrom.
Please join the Museum for our popular guided tour of our permanent exhibit, A Dream of America: Immigration to Chicago, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 28. To learn more about the permanent exhibit, please click here.
It is an exciting tour, and a perfect combination of entertainment and education. Cost for the tour is $4 adults, $3 seniors and students, and Museum members are free. Reservations are recommended. Please e-mail Museum@samac.org or call 773.728.8111 to reserve your spot!

Our current exhibit, 17 Swedish Designers, closes on Sunday, Aug. 29, at 4 p.m. If you have not already, stop by the Museum to view this well-known traveling exhibit! Please click here for more information on 17 Swedish Designers as well as a preview of our next exhibit, Nordic Light.
To keep up with the Swedish American Museum and its many events, become a fan and follow us on Facebook and Twitter by clicking on these links! You may also click here to sign up for our weekly e-mail blasts and e-mail monthly newsletter.
Please join the Museum for a guided tour of our permanent exhibit, A Dream of America: Immigration to Chicago, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 20, with Museum curator Veronica Robinson. To learn more about the permanent exhibit, please click here.
It is an exciting tour, and a perfect combination of entertainment and education. Cost for the tour is $4 adults, $3 seniors and students, and Museum members are free. Reservations are recommended. Please call 773.728.8111 or e-mail Museum@samac.org to reserve your spot.
Please join the Museum for a guided tour of our permanent exhibit, A Dream of America: Immigration to Chicago, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30, with Museum curator Veronica Robinson. To learn more about the permanent exhibit, please click here.
It is an exciting tour, and a perfect combination of entertainment and education. Cost for the tour is $4 adults, $3 seniors and students, and Museum members are free. Reservations are recommended. Please call 773.728.8111 or e-mail Museum@samac.org to reserve your spot.
Morning session: 10 a.m. to noon–On Saturday, Nov. 27, we will recap the Swedish American Genealogist Workshop.
The Nordic Family Genealogy Center hosts genealogy sessions from 10 a.m. to noon the fourth Saturday of each month. Additional time is given to beginner researchers every other month, between 1 p.m. and 2: 30 p.m.
Annual Membership: $20 for Museum members; non-members pay $10 per session. If possible, bring your laptop computer and family information. For more information, please click here. You may also e-mail Genealogy@samac.org or call 773.728.8111 and leave a message for Vereen Nordstrom.
Morning session: 10 a.m. to noon–Open research time will be given on Saturday, Oct. 23.
The Nordic Family Genealogy Center hosts genealogy sessions from 10 a.m. to noon the fourth Saturday of each month. Additional time is given to beginner researchers every other month, between 1 p.m. and 2: 30 p.m.
Annual Membership: $20 for Museum members; non-members pay $10 per session. If possible, bring your laptop computer and family information. For more information, please click here. You may also e-mail Genealogy@samac.org or call 773.728.8111 and leave a message for Vereen Nordstrom.
Conversation/Advanced, Wednesdays, 8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., starting Sept. 8
This class is for students who have mastered the skills at the intermediate level and want to practice the Swedish language. The course will focus on advanced conversation, discussions, reading, and comparisons of Swedish and American culture and traditions. Classes will be held in Swedish.
The Museum offers four levels of evening Swedish classes. Each class is 1-½ hours; classes run 12 weeks. The instructors are Eva May (Beginners I & II) and Anna Albinsson-Kaplan (Intermediate & Conversation/Advanced). Tuition is $150 for members, $185 for non-members. Books are not included in the tuition. For more information on Swedish Language Classes, please click here. You may also contact Volunteer and Membership Manager Benson DuPriest at BDupriest@samac.org or call 773.728.8111.
Intermediate, Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. starting Sept. 8
This class is for students who have a working knowledge of Swedish, including elementary conversation and reading. The course will cover advanced grammar, vocabulary, and conversation. Classes will be held in Swedish and English.
The Museum offers four levels of evening Swedish classes. Each class is 1-½ hours; classes run 12 weeks. The instructors are Eva May (Beginners I & II) and Anna Albinsson-Kaplan (Intermediate & Conversation/Advanced). Tuition is $150 for members, $185 for non-members. Books are not included in the tuition. For more information on Swedish Language Classes, please click here. You may also contact Volunteer and Membership Manager Benson DuPriest at BDupriest@samac.org or call 773.728.8111 to register.