IN THE NEWS at the ELVERHØJ MUSEUM Spring 2008

Pictured left to right are board members Pat Roberts, Erik Gregersen and Chris Nielsen.

NIELSEN JOINS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Photo: Board members

We are pleased to welcome Chris Nielsen to the board of directors. Born, raised, and schooled in Solvang, Nielsen earned a B.S. in Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. He was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the United States Marine Corps and went on to serve over 20 years on active duty. During his career he developed a wealth of experience in leadership, critical problem solving, budget management, and administration. He met his wife Diane while stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA and they were married in 1995.

In 2006 Nielsen retired from active duty. “I spent a large part of my life away from Solvang, my family, and the community I love,” says Nielsen. “I realized it was time to bring my family home, ensuring my children the same wonderful childhood I had—in  Solvang surrounded by our family, friends, and a nurturing community.”  Also in 2006, Nielsen began his "second" career as a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones Investments.

Chris and Diane built their family home in Solvang where they reside with their three children: Kyle and Ben (7) and Gillian (6).

EHRSAM HONORED
Photo: Clara Ehrsam

Congratulations to Clara Ehrsam! Many visitors and supporters recognize Clara as the bobbin lace maker who can be found demonstrating this intricate craft each Sunday at Elverhøj. For her years of volunteer work in the Santa Ynez Valley, Clara Ehrsam has been named the 2007 Volunteer of the Year for cultural enhancement by The Valley Foundation.

Clara’s volunteer activities at Elverhøj include supporting museum programs, giving tours for youth and adults, leading the docents, and volunteering for fundraising activities and events. In addition, Clara volunteers in the community, calling bingo weekly at area Senior Centers, and serving as an advocate for special needs adults and children.

Clara was honored at the annual Man and Woman of the Year Awards Gala on April 5.

DANISH TRANSLATORS NEEDED

We regularly receive requests for translators to assist with interpreting letters and documents written in Danish. To meet this need, we are compiling a list of translators available upon request.

If you are qualified and interested in being included on the Danish translators contacts list, please contact Esther at (805) 686-1211 or via email, esther@elverhoj.org.

VALLEY WINES & VALENTINES

Valley Wines & Valentines, our winter FUNdraiser, was a beautiful and delightful evening which brought in over $5,000 for museum operations.

Flowers, candlelight and live music provided an elegant ambiance for Valentine’s Day festivities. The gallery exhibition “Artists’ Books Made Here,” an intriguing show of local artists’ handmade books, provided not only a colorful backdrop but also stimulated interesting conversation. The food, prepared by volunteers Sandy Gregersen and Carol Johnson, was as delicious as it was attractively presented. Docents and board members greeted guests and assisted at the event.

Valley Wines and Valentines proved again to be “a fun way to celebrate Valentine’s 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 wine collection, was won by Randy and Annette Burak. First place winners Shirley Heap and Hanne Pico-Larsen 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 Cassara Vineyards
• Curtis Winery
• Daniel Gehrs Wines
• Firestone Vineyard
• Foxen Vineyard
• Gainey Vineyard
• Olive House
• Stolpman Vineyard
• Sunstone Vineyards & Winery

Silent auction prizes and winners:

• Bit O’ Denmark Restaurant gift certificate - Lonny Etzel
• Brothers Restaurant at Mattei’s Tavern gift certificate - Norma Hallowell
• Firestone Walker Brewing Company tour and tasting - Pat Roberts
• Greenhouse Café gift certificate - Lonny Etzel
• Home Connection gift basket & certificate - Barbara Chester
• Johnson’s Jewel Box watch - Leslie Ooms
• Anna LePley tie handbags - Ann Young & Wendy Gregersen
• Katheryn Mullins gift basket - Maggie LePley
• New Frontiers Natural Foods gift basket - Knud Jacobsen
• Presidio Winery gift basket - Ken Johnson
• Tastes of the Valley a Sideways Wine Bar gift certificate - Chris Nielsen
• Valley Oaks Bank gift basket & bond - Barbara Weber
• The Vineyard House gift certificate - Lonny Etzel
• Z Folio Gallery giclée - Barbara Weber

Additional drawing prizes and the winners:

• Berengaria wine t-shirt - JoAnn Verkler
• Elverhøj Museum of History and Art Gift Shop mug and gift certificate - Rio Vista Chevrolet
• Foxen Vineyard bottle of wine - Bill Petersen
• Gaveaesken gift box - Annie Andersen
• Old Mission Wine Co. & Honeywood Farm gift certificate & tasting - Mercedes Gallardo
• Paula’s Pancake House gift certificate - Christie Anderson
• Royal Copenhagen Shop cheese board - Elvira Bonazzola
• Santa Ynez Valley Hardware ice bucket - Aaron Petersen
• Sunstone Vineyards & Winery bottle of wine & tasting - Annette Bredall
• Vin Hus gift bag - Marion Nielsen
• Pamela Zwehl-Burke’s artist book - Ann Young

Thank you to the sponsors who provided event food:

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

SPECIAL GIFTS

Elverhøj has been the recipient of recent gifts from three of Solvang’s Danish cultural organizations.

The Rebild National Park Foundation, Solvang Chapter, awarded a $500 gift to fund exhibit renovations in the Solvang Room. Elverhøj and the Rebild Foundation share some of the same goals including promoting Danish culture and traditions, and friendship between Denmark and the United States.

The Danish Sisterhood, Flora Danica Lodge, donated $250 for museum operations. Sisterhood members have been long time Elverhøj supporters, are Life Members, and regular contributors.

A $450 gift was given by Dania Hejls Minde Lodge to honor the memory of the following members: Oswald Iversen, Arnold Detmer, Earl Thygesen, Lester Bornhoft, Judson Krogh, Arne Larsen, Max Vorm, Jorgen Trojmer, Hans Ketelsen, Paul Andersen, Bernhard Vernegren, Knud Miller, Russell Larsen, Kris Klibo, Don Bornhoft, Jorgen Hansen, Anker Johnson, and Daryl Nielsen.

DIRECTOR’S NOTES

Spring is here and the Elverhøj gardens are full of colorful blooms. The change of season brings longer days and new activities and events.

Committee members have been active, assisting with plans for upcoming programs, classes, and exhibitions. The History Committee met recently, assisting with identifying people, places and events in historical photos. Art Committee members are actively involved in identifying and selecting art for future gallery exhibitions. If you haven’t already seen the artists’ book exhibit, you’ll want to hurry in by the April 6 closing day. The spring gallery exhibition features Henry Diltz’s photographs of musical personalities. A 2005 Diltz exhibition brought in a multi-generational stream of enthusiastic visitors and we are excited to have Henry return with new images—and some old favorites.

I encourage you to participate in our interesting programs, classes, and events. Spring classes begin in mid April with courses for youth and adults. Come and learn tips for taking better photos of family and friends, bring your children and grand children to the fun Saturday art workshops in the museum gallery, or start a new scrapbooking or faux finish project.

A rite of the season is spring cleaning which is in full swing at Elverhøj. A fresh coat of paint has been applied to some of the interior rooms and renovations are underway in the library. The Solvang Room exhibit upgrades are in progress, with the addition of many new photos and expanded information about Solvang’s early years on display.

In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to send a very special thank you to our members. Membership dues provide the basis for our annual operating income and are the financial backbone for programs and events. The list of new and returning members is a growing source of support and we greatly value your confidence in the museum mission.

Esther Jacobsen Bates
Executive Director

CALIFORNIA DREAMING:
HENRY DILTZ PHOTOGRAPHY
Reception April 12

Visual historian and renowned music photographer Henry Diltz returns for an encore exhibition in the museum gallery from April 12 through June 22. With more than 40 photographs by Diltz, “California Dreaming” presents a visual account

A reception for Diltz will be held on Saturday April 12 from 4 to 7 p.m. There will be live music and refreshments. You are invited to meet and celebrate with Diltz.

A founding member of The Modern Folk Quartet, Diltz is as much at home as a musician on tour as a photographer capturing images of popular musicians.  The pictures began with a $20 second-hand Japanese camera purchased on tour with the MFQ. Despite his lack of formal training, Diltz submerged himself in the world of music: the road, the gigs, the humor, the social consciousness, the psychedelia, the up and down times.

Capturing nearly one million images over a span of 40+ years, Diltz’s work has graced hundreds of album covers and has been featured in books, magazines and newspapers. The close rapport he developed with his musician friends has enabled him to capture candid shots that convey a rare feeling of intimacy with his subjects. His unique artistic style has produced powerful photographic essays of Woodstock, The Monterey Pop Festival, The Doors, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Jimi Hendrix, and scores of other legendary artists.

Diltz returns for a Narrated Slide Presentation on Friday evening May 16. “I’ve always been very interested in people,” Diltz says. “Photography is a passport into people’s lives. It allows you to hang out and observe them.” Tickets to the Slide Presentation ($10 for member, $13 for non-member) may be reserved by phoning (805) 686-1211.

Diltz continues his distinguished career, generating new and vibrant photographs. He recently celebrated the release of his new book, “California Dreaming.” With more than 500 images—many iconic, many more previously unseen—this is an ultra-luxe, 344-page large-format limited edition book which includes commentary from a host of well-known musician friends. The book and photographic images, each signed by the artist, will be available for purchase.

The exhibit will remain on display through June 22.

Download the California Dreaming Postcard

MERV CORNING
RETROSPECTIVE
June 27 opening

Merv Corning’s final major work, pictured, was a watercolor titled “San Marcos Range”

Debuting June 27 in the museum gallery is “Merv Corning Retrospective,” the summer exhibition showcasing the illustrious career of this renowned painter, watercolorist and illustrator.

Merv Corning (1926-2006) lived and worked in Solvang for many years, creating a varied and prolific body of work which brought him nationwide acclaim. He is known for his finely detailed work, carefully nurtured during his many years as a successful award-winning illustrator. He subtly recorded each scene with impeccable realism and sensitivity. His imagery artfully captured the ambience of his subjects. Whether the focus is an ancient airplane with its heroic pilot, architecture of a by-gone era, or America’s athletes in action and portraits, his images have captured the admiration of audiences worldwide.

This exhibition features work from throughout his career and includes paintings on loan from private collectors, mementos and memorabilia from his long and successful career.

An opening reception will be held on Friday evening June 27 from 5 to 8 p.m. The exhibition will remain on display through September 21.

WEDDINGS AT THE 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.