Hostfest & More

Berlevåg Male Choir
"Cool & Crazy"
Its members are aged between 29 years and 97 years old. The choir is the subject of the documentary feature "Cool & Crazy", a movie that hit Norway like a tornado this year. Director Knut Erik Jensens "docu-musical", portraying the choir and its members, has gone from being a well received-though small-release, to being a one-of-a-kind phenomenon, and is now among the five highest grossing Norwegian films ever! We were lucky enough to see them twice while there. They showed clips of the movie as well as sang many songs. Their video is being released here in the USA in April of 2002.

The guys were waiting in line for a Lutefisk Supper

VEVSTOVA
Ranveig Lunestad
Ulvik, Norway
I visited with Ranveig while at the Hostfest. I also bought 3 table runners from her that she made in the Løpar "Mona rød" design. You can see it to the right of her on the table. This was her first time in America.

Oslo Room
Hostfest in Minot
There were different rooms set up in the arena at the fairgrounds. Also several different stages with entertainment. There was also ample food of all kinds to be eaten all the time!

"Six Years to Sunrise"
Separated by War
United by Love
The two ladies in this picture are the authors of the book. They are Catherine Hoff Mount and Karen Hoff Lafnear with co-author Harry Knitter. Two American girls and their mother were trapped in Norway by WWII while their father waited in America. This book is the memory of those girls, as well as the original letters of mother and father.

Robin Carlson of Kenmare, ND
Weaver of Nordic Tradition
Robin was busy spinning with buffalo hair.

Stockholm Room
Hostfest in Minot

Western Plains Children's Chorus
From Minot

Lorraine Bakke & Olga Stundahl
Lorraine is my mother in law and Olga is her painting partner of 40+ years. They are currently still working. Lorraine is over 75 and Olga is over 80. I was their chaperone on the trip!

Suzanne Toftey
Suzanne's Nordic Images
Being of Norwegian decent and having been a student at St. Olaf College, with its rich Norwegian heritage, Suzanne Toftey became very interested in Norwegian culture and especially the art of rosemaling. This enthusiasm led her to study with many Norwegian and American rosemalers. She is an award winning painter and Vesterheim Gold Medalist, Suzanne is best known for her Norwegian scenes, blending them with rosemaling. She has her studio in a Norwegian style home on an island on Lake Mille Lacs, in central Minnesota. You can see her images and read more about her here: http://www.nordicimage.com/index.html

Ole Amund & Jorid Gillebo
Ole Amund Gillebo is from Øier in Gudbrandsdalen, Norway. He is a relative of my husband's. They were here to visit on their way to the Hostfest. He has been serving as Pastor at the Mindekirken in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. The Church was founded in 1922. You can read more about it here: http://www.mindekirken.org/

Lyngstad Dancers
The Lyngstad Danslag is a group of 48 Norwegian Folkdancers and musicians that will visit the USA as part of a tour. Lyngstad, Norway, is located in the Romsdal mountain region along the Norwegian Sea 400 miles northwest of Norway's capital city of Oslo. Often seen and heard on Norwegian TV and radio, these dancers and musicians take pride in preserving, maintaining and perpetuating a proud Norwegian culture as amateur artists. In 1998 they were guest performers and artists at the International Folk Festival held in Wales. They have also made guest concert appearances in Finland, Sweden, Poland and Denmark. While in the USA, they will render twelve concerts as part of a cultural exchange between Norway and the USA arranged by Carrol T. Juven of Fargo.

Tokheim Stoneware
Tokheim Stoneware has created wheel-thrown stoneware pottery and sculpture since 1973. You can go here to read more about Gene's stoneware: http://www.tokheim-stoneware.com/

Maggie & The Troll
Taking a break with my new found friend at the Hostfest.

Bjøro Haaland
Bjøro gave several musical performances while at the Hostfest.