At first glance, the gallery appears full of staid bunads, the traditional Norwegian costume that exudes all things lefse. But no, these are made with damask, gilt lace and hand-painted stenciling — more Versace than Velkommen.
Then when a blood-red Louboutin spike heel shows up in a painting with traditional Norwegian patterns, it's clear that Norway House has something more than homage up its hardanger-stitched sleeve.
Norway House is akin to the American Swedish Institute or the Danish American Center, both of which champion Scandinavian heritage. But the (curiously) Ikea-blue building on E. Franklin Avenue is no sumptuous mansion, but a remodeled credit union across from Mindekirken, the Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church.
It officially opened to the public in June, with its first cultural exhibit a pairing of modern festdrakter, or fest dresses, by Lise Skjåk Bræk and haunting, yet calming paintings by Anne Langsholt Apaydinli.
The exhibit, in place through October, epitomizes Norway House's mission of linking America's Norwegian heritage with modern Norway, said Linda Brekke Mona, who organized the exhibit and was a past board chair of Norway House.
"We wanted this to be a link, a bridge, to contemporary Norway without giving away our immigrant roots," she said.
This goal is evident in the center's location in the Chicago-Franklin neighborhood, where Norwegian immigrants settled generations ago, and where immigrant communities still find their footing.
Abdi Warsame, the city council representative for Ward 6 and a Somali-American, spoke briefly at opening ceremonies about how the neighborhood now is home to the nation's largest East African population, and welcoming this latest wave in revitalizing the area.
