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ELVERHØJ ASSUMES PROPERTY OWNERSHIP We are pleased to announce that the ownership of the Elverhøj property is now in the hands of the board of directors. As of June 15, possession transferred from the City of Solvang to Solvang Heritage Associates, the nonprofit corporation whose board of directors is responsible for operating the Elverhøj Museum of History and Art. “The City of Solvang will continue its long term relationship with the Museum as it continues to serve our residents and our visitors,” said Mayor Ken Palmer. The City has owned the property for 17 years. “We appreciate the City Council’s confidence in our mission and abilities to maintain the historic museum building,” says Esther Jacobsen Bates, Elverhøj Executive Director. “We will continue to serve as the cultural hub of the community and to work with the City of Solvang on events and activities.”
On exhibit in the Museum Gallery through August 12 is “A Body of Work” featuring figurative work by two dozen area artists. Debuting August 18 in the Museum Gallery is a new and energized exhibition titled On the Edge: A new generation of artists from the Santa Ynez Valley. All 14 exhibiting artists are graduates of Santa Ynez Valley schools who are inspired and driven by their passion for art. SWEDISH LINEN TRUNK SHOW As a very special addition to the annual Living History Festival this year, we have arranged for a rare opportunity to meet Ekelund Weavers representative Genette Fuller on September 22 and 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Elverhøj Museum is delighted to be the exclusive dealer for Ekelund’s fabulous and extensive line of table and kitchen linens. For this one weekend only, Genette will have with her a trunk show of samples, exhibiting much of Ekelund’s extensive product range from which you can touch and admire and special order these wonderful textiles. They can adorn holiday tables and make thoughtful, heirloomquality gifts. A 10% discount will be offered for all special orders placed at the trunk show. Items will be shipped directly from Sweden and will be available by mid October. Ekelund is believed to be the oldest single family-owned business in the world, and this Swedish family has been weaving textiles of the finest quality since 1692. The artistry of their unique cotton and linen products embraces the virtually forgotten techniques of using woven borders to balance and frame patterns for perfect harmony. Although steeped in tradition, the Ekelunds have also embraced new ways of working. In 1997, they invented and patented a new weaving system, the first in over a thousand years, opening up fresh possibilities in multicolor weaving and image creation. Respectful of tradition as well as the environment, the Ekelund factory, manufacturing process, and all of its products have been approved by the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation. The Ekelund family of master weavers have been the purveyors to the Royal Court of Sweden for over a century, beginning with Crown Prince Gustav up through the present King Carl XVI Gustav. They also supply table linens for the Kremlin in Russia and the Emperor of Japan and his wife. Work continues on refurbishing the Solvang Room and assembling the new wall panels depicting the highlights of Solvang’s history from 1910 to 2007. Right now a team of volunteers is chasing down the last few historical details. Our photography expert, Paul Roark, will be scanning and printing the last of the historical photos for the panels. The text is being proofread and corrections are being made by Joan Mitchell. Elverhøj is very fortunate to have an abundance of old photographs and historic records and artifacts. The difficulty has been to pick and choose among all these riches. From time to time we will have rotating exhibits of the material that didn’t fit into the new Solvang history panels. Look for more information about our opening celebration this fall. DONATIONS SOUGHT FOR TREASURE SALE The bi-annual Elverhøj Treasure Sale is scheduled for Saturday October 6. The committee is seeking donations of new and “gently used” items (no clothes, please) for sale at the event. Items may be dropped off during museum hours, Wednesday through Sunday afternoons. To donate larger items or to arrange for pick up, please phone the museum at 686-1211. Elverhøj has recently been awarded grants from two Santa Ynez Valley Rotary Foundations. The Solvang Rotary Foundation granted funds to be used for design of a new Museum brochure. This is the fourth consecutive year that Elverhøj Museum has been the recipient of proceeds generated from the annual Monte Carlo Night fundraiser held by the Rotary Club of Solvang. The gift supports a “growing consensus within the Santa Ynez Valley that the Elverhøj Museum of History and Art is a deserving and integral part of our heritage which should endure for future generations.” The Los Olivos Rotary Club Foundation recently bestowed a Vocational Service Award on Santa Barbara County Firefighter Dennis Jones. The award came with a monetary prize. We were very surprised and honored that Firefighter Jones designated Elverhøj as the recipient of his prize. Summer is a busy season at Elverhøj. Visitor numbers increase during this peak travel time. Area residents bring their houseguests and also come for programs, events and exhibits. Summer of 2007 is notable not only for the activities but for exciting changes and the multitude of maintenance projects. Our big news is that the City of Solvang recently transferred title of the property to the non-profit corporation which operates the Museum. This change of ownership is a great privilege and opportunity as well as a significant responsibility for board members and staff. With the transfer completed, work is underway on a list of long-deferred maintenance projects. A newly expanded building and grounds committee is taking an active role in prioritizing and facilitating the projects and local business owners have offered substantial donations of materials and labor. In early August, a striped fumigation tent will wrap the structures for three days. The list of building repairs includes a variety of exterior maintenance projects which will be completed and followed by a fresh coat of paint for the outside of the main Museum building, diorama cottage and storage sheds. The gardens are slowly being cleaned and cleared in preparation for the exterior work while miscellaneous repairs and upgrades will also be done on interior plumbing, electrical, and climate control systems. The Elverhøj, formerly the home of artists Viggo and Martha Brandt-Erichsen, has been a gathering place for the community and a location where the arts and Danish cultural traditions have been central to everyday life and shared by many. By carefully maintaining the gift of this wonderful structure, we plan to continue this tradition in perpetuity. Esther Jacobsen Bates The historic building and carefully manicured cottage gardens provide a beautiful backdrop for intimate weddings. The garden with its abundant year-round blooms and corner gazebo creates a lovely setting for any wedding party. The bell in its stately tower can chime, marking the presentation of the newly married couple. The garden area comfortably accommodates up to 150 guests. Call (805) 686-9533 for information about availability and the reasonable rates. |
