The Lindahl News: Abroad Edition

  Forests, wild creatures, princesses, bears, trolls...all were subjects for this Swedish artist and illustrator, John Bauer. Imagine the delight in discovering he was from the Swedish city I'm currently living in! Born in Jonkoping on June 4, 1882, and living here until he went to a private art school in Stockholm, John showed much promise as an artist at an early age.  By 1903 he received his first commission as a fairy tale illustrator. He married Ester Ellqvist in 1906.  By 1912, he was Sweden's only fairy tale artist and was known by his "mood landscapes, populated by trolls with kind and inquisitive eyes, delicate little princesses and plucky little boys." And let's not forget his beautiful Lucia! (Sadly, his own life didn't have a fairy tale ending as he, his wife and their family were drowned  in Lake Vattern as their ferry sank. He was only 36 years old.) This past week, the students took a field trip t...

It's 8:00 on a Tuesday morning and the SVF College Line is hopping on a coach bus for a day of six viewing and learning stops within 2 hours distance from the campus.  Lucky me to be able to join this group! Stop #1: Heda Medelina Kyrka The oldest parts of this medieval church were built in the early 1100s.  Late in the 13th century it was renovated.  Between 1855 and 1858, the church was enlarged. Today the church is still being used by its congregation. Also in this church:  its fine collection of wooden sculptures - the oldest being The Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven - being admired, still, after her 800 some years in existence.  It's possible this wooden Mary was in hiding in the 1500s after King Gustav Vasa removed the Catholic presence in Sweden. This tower is the oldest part of the building. Church interior #1   Church interior #2   Church interior #3 Here is the famous Heda Madonna: One last parting shot of ...