Wit in Wood: Nordic Figure Carving in Minneapolis on Jan 20, 2012 12:00 AM

The distinctive figure carving of the Nordic countries has a captivating quality. Small wonder; generations of gifted whittlers carved not only for their own amusement, but also for others. Even by the mid-1800s carvers of little wooden men, women and horses marketed their works to supplement meager farm incomes to feed growing families.The exhibition “Wit in Wood: Nordic Figure Carving” reveals the great mastery in these often understated, but clever, pieces, showcasing some of the masters represented in the American Swedish Institute’s extensive collection of woodcarvings, including Emil Janel, Axel Petersson (Döderhultarn), H.S. “Andy” Anderson, Herman Rosell, the Tryggs, and Urban Gunnarsson, with a special focus on Georg Brask.The show is guest curated by America’s most accomplished Scandinavian-style figure carver, Harley Refsal, whose work will also be on display. Refsal, a professor emeritus of Scandinavian Folk Art at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, has for several years engaged in a collaborative art project called "Dalapalooza," inviting friends and fellow artisans to ornament his carved horses. More than 75 of these pieces will be on display at ASI as part of the exhibit.The exhibit also includes a display of humorous works by carver Fred Cogelow of Willmar, Minn. Fifteen of the artist’s works are on display in the Mansion’s library, including a number of the mezzo and deep-relief works for which he is best known.