Ordinary Vikings Come Alive in East Bethel

�� Features Ordinary Vikings come alive in East Bethel Becoming bog stav Local Swedish and Norwegian Americans became historic Scandi- navian characters in Jill Marie Johnson’s depic- tion of Ordinary Vikings, on exhibit at the Univer- sity of Minnesota’s Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve in East Bethel. Listed here are the Nordic characters and what they represent in Scandina- vian heritage, followed by the local person’s name, occupation and city of residence. Huldra Troll: Beauti- ful woman with a tail, guarding entrances; LuAnn Marotte, ad- ministrative assistant, Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, East Bethel. Surt: Fire god who Jill Marie Johnson’s 30 “bog stav” sculptures hang as mobiles, moving in the wind and ignites the blaze of creating a living forest at the University of Minnesota’s Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Ragnarok, the end of the Reserve in East Bethel. Photos by Sue Austreng world that brings rebirth; Jon Anderson, junior scientist/fire team, Cedar Creek Ecosystem by Sue Austreng Science Reserve, Blaine. StaffBy Sue Writer Austreng Mimir: The well of Staff Writer knowledge, bubbling over with informative conversation; Lance s mighty oaks Nelson, Blaine. sway in the crisp Vili: Co-creates the world with brothers Odin autumn wind, and Ve; Gerald Johnson, leaves float gently retired educator, Anoka. Ato earth and golden sunlight Odin: Gave up an eye winks in eyes fixed on waxen for wisdom; two ravens faces. thought and memory; Wally Johnson (Gerald Like a magical scene Johnson’s brother), whispering in the quiet au- Anoka. tumn forest, the faces glow, Forseti: Justice and the branches dance, the sto- Lance Nelson of Blaine poses with Mimir, for which his law, in a temple with ries come alive. face served as model. Mimir represents the well of knowl- red gold pillars; Steven This is Ordinary Vikings, edge, bubbling over with informative conversation. Johnson, retired law enforcement, Coon a collection of 30 “bog stav” Rapids. sculptures hanging as mo- sideways memories? Do any aspect of the real person’s Valkyr: Clearing the biles, moving in the wind of these move you?” life to an aspect of the Nor- battlefield after war; and creating a living forest As hikers wandered dic cultural archetype from Jessica Johnson, mortu- at the University of Minne- through the reserve Oct. 16, the stories of Scandinavian ary science student, sota’s Cedar Creek Ecosys- pausing to greet Ordinary historical characters, includ- Coon Rapids. tem Science Reserve in East Vikings suspended from the ing Odin, Thor, Loki, Freya, Valkyr: Providing Bethel. Frigg and many others. hospitality and mead to branches overhead, Johnson the Vikings in Valhalla; Swedish-American artist said. “These stories formed “The (Ordinary Vikings) Mallory Johnson, high Jill Marie Johnson spent five our culture. This is how project explores how each school student, Coon years – and an entire Scan- Scandinavian people under- person’s real-life story paral- Rapids. dinavian lifetime – creating stood the world. We need to lels a Nordic cultural story,” Tyr: Serves as a sol- Ordinary Vikings, an ex- learn our stories, learn how Johnson said. dier, offers hand to Fen- rir the wolf; Joe Dukich, ploration of the tribal roots to be in the world. This is Johnson spent the past Above: Ordinary Viking art- a good starting point,” she Marine recruit, Blaine. of the Scandinavian Viking two summers studying in Frigg: Hearth and ist Jill Marie Johnson cast culture. said. herself as Hel, half flesh, Sweden and in Denmark. home, bird’s nest; Naomi half skeleton representing “I grew up in Anoka, my Johnson said the figures “I was very surprised to Johnson (“extra mom to irrevocable decision, cre- grandfather farmed here in she created, using contem- see the same type of figures many”), Anoka. ation and destruction. East Bethel and my grand- porary Minnesota Swedish I was making at the Lejre mother made sure I knew I Americans – and a couple of Denmark Historical Park,” and deep heritage as Scandi- Right: Swedish-American was Swedish,” said Johnson, Norwegian Americans – as she said. models, are based on tribal navian people. I’m intrigued artist Jill Marie Johnson a 1978 graduate of Anoka Johnson’s work is recog- High School who currently stories from the Bronze and by how it stirs in people, spent five years – and an nized in Sweden, where she waking memories, resurrect- entire Scandinavian lifetime lives in Moorhead. Iron Age, leading to the Vi- king age. has two exhibits planned in ing old stories,” she said. – creating Ordinary Vikings, “These are our cultural 2012. an exploration of the tribal stories,” Johnson said of the Johnson used authen- The Swedish Council of roots of the Scandinavian tic Viking materials for Following its October America and the Minnesota Nordic tales on which Ordi- exhibit at Cedar Creek, Viking culture. Johnson’s nary Vikings is based. the sculpture pieces, cast- State Arts Board provided Johnson’s Ordinary Vikings funding for Ordinary Vi- sculptures hang as mobiles, “And this exhibit asks, ing beeswax impressions moving in the wind and cre- of Scandinavian American installation will next hang in kings; it was sponsored by ‘Are we still tribal 1,000 Moorhead, a place the artist the Nordic Arts Alliance ating a living forest at the years after the last Viking faces and attaching them to University of Minnesota’s found tree branches in Ce- currently calls home. and the Cedar Creek Eco- axe was thrown?’” said John- “This is a cultural explo- system Science Reserve. Cedar Creek Ecosystem Sci- son, who then asked, “Does dar Creek’s oak savanna. ence Reserve in East Bethel. Johnson’s work creating ration about the stories and Sue Austreng is at this exhibit spark any sort of images that show our rich hidden reaction in you? Any Ordinary Vikings links some [email protected] �� .

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