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The History of Solvang, the Heritage of Denmark  
 
IN THE NEWS at the ELVERHØJ MUSEUM
Spring 2007
News Archive


2007 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE UNDERWAY

Online Membership Information Form

We invite you to support the Elverhøj Museum of History and Art by being a member. The Elverhøj depends on your support to sustain programs, services and facilities. Memberships and donations are an important contribution to the museum financial foundation, the preservation of archives unique to our area, and support of exhibitions, events, classes and services.

Benefits for members include invitations to all museum events and exhibits including the annual Christmas party, special members-only rates for classes and events, a 10% discount on most Museum Store purchases, and the quarterly newsletter.

For your convenience, included in this newsletter is a membership donation form. For more information, contact the museum at (805) 686-1211 or fill our our online membership form.

VALLEY WINES & VALENTINES A BIG SUCCESS!

VALLEY WINES & VALENTINES

VALLEY WINES & VALENTINES

Valley Wines & Valentines, our winter fundraiser, drew nearly 200 guests and raised a record amount of funds to support museum operations. A joyful and international crowd filled the museum with their conversation and laughter, with visitors from as far as Denmark and Ireland joining museum volunteers, members and guests in drawing the winning tickets.

The gallery exhibition “Immigrants,” printmaking by artists from Denmark’s Funen Graphic Workshop, added a modern Danish flair to the event. Flowers, candlelight and live music by Cameron Cluff provided an elegant backdrop for Valentine’s Day treats. The beautiful table of food was created by volunteers Sandy Gregersen and Carol Johnson. Docents and board members greeted guests and assisted at the event.

Valley Wines and Valentines proved again to be “a fun way to celebrate Valentines Day, sample some of our wonderful valley wines, and come together to support the Museum,” said Executive Director Esther Jacobsen Bates. “Thank you to all who attended, donated and contributed to the evening’s success!”

This annual fundraiser included the Fabulous Valentine’s Drawing and a small, but select, silent auction. The grand prize Cupid’s Wine Cellar, a 24-bottle collection of local wines, was won by Ken & JoAnn Verkler. First place winners Agnes Larsen, Honey Jaramillo and Beverly Smith each received a 12 bottle wine collection.

Thank you to the following vintners for donations of wine for drawing prizes and sampling at the event:

  • Alexander & Wayne
  • Arthur Earl Winery
  • Brander Vineyard
  • Bridlewood Winery
  • Buttonwood Farm Winery
  • Casa Cassera Vineyards
  • Curtis Winery
  • Daniel Gehrs Wines
  • Firestone Vineyard
  • Foxen Vineyard
  • Gainey Vineyard
  • Lucas & Lewellen
  • Presidio Winery
  • Stolpman Vineyard

Additional drawing prizes and the winners were:

  • Berengaria tote, Clara Ehrsam
  • Bit O Denmark gift certificate, Mark & Linda Parsons
  • Café Angelica gift certificate, Emily Abello
  • Elna’s Dress Shop gift certificate, Paul Navratil
  • Gaveæsken gift, Ronald Thatcher
  • Greenhouse Café gift certificate, Wee Woodward
  • Johnson’s Jewel Box watch, Bill Petersen
  • Else Lassiter gift basket, Robert Jensen
  • Paula’s Pancake House gift certificate, Michael Fitzgerald
  • Rasmussen’s Solvang gift, Ken Fitzgerald
  • Royal Copenhagen gift, Glenda Madrid
  • Santa Ynez Valley Hardware gifts, Esther Bird and Roger Nielsen
  • Sunstone Vineyards & Winery gift set, Bo and Barbara Petersen
  • Tastes of the Valley wine tasting, Paul Hanberg
  • Elverhoj gift set, Charles Chester

Silent auction prizes and winners were:

  • Arts Outreach gift, David Lawrence
  • Brothers at Mattei’s Tavern gift certificate, Wendy Gregersen
  • Firestone Walker gift set, Vern Madsen
  • Greenhouse Café gift certificate, Maggie LePley
  • Home Connection gift set, Wendy Gregersen
  • Kathy Mullins gift basket, Knud Jacobsen
  • New Frontiers gift basket, Ken Johnson
  • Old Mission Wine Co. magnum and gift, Ken Johnson
  • Rancho Olivos and Olive House gift set, Tom LePley
  • Valley Oaks gift basket, Knud Jacobsen
  • The Vineyard House gift certificate, Paul Hanberg

Thank you to the sponsors who provided event food:

  • Ingeborg’s Homemade Chocolates
  • Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery
  • Solvang Bakery

APRIL 28 TOUR: MUSEUM OF THE COWBOY

Join us for a very special private visit to the Museum of the Cowboy. Located in the Santa Ynez Valley, this large private collection features an outstanding selection of items associated with the cowboy lifestyle. The owners will be on hand to educate visitors and answer questions. Refreshments will be served.

MUSEUM OF THE COWBOY

Space is limited and advance registration is required. Please phone the museum at (805) 686-1211 to reserve your spot.

Tour date: April 28, 2007
Time: 10 AM to noon
Fee: $10 for member, $15 for non-member

ROYAL DANISH EMBASSY DONATION

A $500 donation was recently received from the Royal Danish Embassy in Washington, DC. The Embassy has been an excellent source of support, providing Elverhøj staff with contacts, resources and materials. It is with great pleasure that we acknowledge this financial gift.

A letter sent by Lene Balleby, Minister Counselor, Head of Information, Press and Cultural Affairs, states that the donation is “for the great work the Elverhøj Museum is doing to preserve Danish heritage.”

DIRECTOR’S NOTES

Esther Jacobson BatesOne of the joys of my position as Executive Director is the many interesting people I have the privilege of meeting. It is a diverse group that includes artists, museum directors, educators, historians, community activists, and Danish cultural representatives. I also meet many of our museum visitors who come from destinations both near and far. Their comments, suggestions and expertise have proved invaluable to all areas of museum operations.

During my visit to Denmark last spring I had a meeting with Esben Kjeldbaeck, director of The Museum of the Danish Resistance, which is located just steps from the Little Mermaid statue and Copenhagen’s beautiful harbor. Just as fascinating as the Museum’s exhibits were their extensive archives (which are housed below sea level) and dialoguing about the contemporary view Danes have regarding their role during World War II.

Last month I traveled to the San Francisco area to meet with Knud Dyby at his home in Novato. You may remember Knud’s visit to Solvang and the wonderful “Boats in the Night” lecture where he spoke to a crowd of 350 about his role in Denmark’s World War II resistance efforts. This charming Dane has amassed an outstanding collection of books and paraphernalia connected to the Danish resistance. His awards and medals are tucked into a compact hallway display in his home where they form a remarkable tribute to a proud and unassuming man.

I left Knud’s home with boxes of books, papers, posters and paraphernalia related to the resistance of the Nazi occupation of Denmark. This treasured collection will be used for reference material and for display in a new exhibit dedicated to the World War II Danish resistance. Added to the exhibit will also be a poster collection and information that has been sent from Denmark’s Museum of the Resistance. Although it will take an estimated two years of planning and preparation and the work of an entire team of volunteers and sponsors, I am very excited about this upcoming addition to the permanent exhibits presented at Elverhøj.

Esther Jacobsen Bates

HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIPS GIVEN TO BRANDT-ERICHSEN FAMILY

BRANDT-ERICHSEN FAMILYIn 1980, Martha “Patt” Brandt-Erichsen agreed to donate her home, Elverhoj, to be used as a museum with the provision that she could live in the home until her death, which occurred in 1983. The home, lovingly handcrafted by her husband Viggo Brandt-Erichsen, underwent extensive retrofitting to meet the California seismic requirements, and opened as Elverhoj Museum in May 1988. The gifts of the Brandt-Erichsen family are celebrated every day at Elverhøj and have been enjoyed by more than 125,000 visitors.

In recognition of the Brandt-Erichsen family’s generosity and support, the children of Viggo and Martha — Thor, Jean, and David — have each been awarded a Life Membership.

With appreciation, we welcome Life Members:

  • Thor and Nancy Brandt-Erichsen
  • David and Bien Brandt-Erichsen
  • Jean and Satyabrata Nandi

FUNDS GRANTED

The Elverhøj Museum is supported by a variety of local foundations and organizations. Their gifts provide funds for special projects and purchases and are a major source of funding.

The Santa Barbara Foundation recently awarded the Museum a $970 capital grant to fund the purchase of a digital camera and a flat bed photo/slide scanner. Additional funds were made available through a partnership between the Santa Barbara Foundation and the James Irvine Foundation Communities Advancing the Arts Initiative and the Board of Trustees awarded Elverhøj full funding of a mini-grant of $3,000 to be used for marketing and promotional materials.

A grant proposal submitted to The Wood-Claeyssens Foundation was recently approved. It will provide funding for a new phone system and for archival supplies for sorting and storing some of the collections and artifacts. An unexpected additional gift of $730 brought the grant total to $5,000. The phone call informing Executive Director Esther Jacobsen Bates of the good news came the same day that the main office printer failed. The additional gift was used to purchase a color laser printer and an external hard drive for the main computer. What great timing!


Weddings at the ElverhojWEDDINGS AT ELVERHØJ

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.

 
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