Lag Banner possibilities
The current banner has been in general use for ninety (90) years and is the oldest lag banner known to be in general use. After all this time it is beginning to show its age and out of respect for those who created it so many years ago and for all those who have used and loved it we feel that it should be preserved for future generations. As mentioned in our constitution, lag artifacts no longer in lag use are to be sent to The Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, IA. There it will be preserved and displayed along with other lag banners for all to see and enjoy.
This banner has been stored in many places over the years. It has been rained on, wind blown and known to reside in the off season in attics, under beds and at one time in the rafters on an old farm shed. It has been wrapped in paper, plastic, stored unprotected in a wooden box and is now in that box wrapped in layers of unbleached muslin. And yet it is still in reasonably good condition, probably due to its sturdy Norwegian heritage, and it still hangs proudly at each Nordfjordlag stevne.
At our 100th anniversary we hope to have a new banner hanging beside our gallant standard and then retire this one to a new home at Versterheim.
The following is an ongoing conversation on what that new banner should look like. Please join in on this project by adding you comments and suggestions to the mix. All suggestions are welcomed and new designs are just as valid as any other.
(Note that the original idea for having the shields of each Nordfjord kommune on a banner has been dropped due to some reluctance on the part of the Nordfjord government in allowing the use of their official seals in this manner. It is akin to using the U.S. Presidential Seal on our banner. Once this was realized we dropped the idea out of respect for our Norwegian neighbors.)
This is a photo of the current banner.
The following four examples show a couple possibilities each for the front and back of a banner if we can find someone who is capable of transferring a copy of the old picture onto a new banner at a price we can afford.
I'm sure you have suggestions for other designs or changes, please send them on to me (Mail link at bottom of page). Comments and suggestions will be added to this site as they are received so continue to visit the site and return your further possible comments.
Comments and Feedback
Hello.
I would recommend that the Lag banner committee visit with Tamara Isfeld of
Granite Falls, MN. Tamara is a local artist who was commissioned to do the
Commerative Print for Sons of Norway to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of
independence from Sweden. Hopefully many of your committee have seen the
work that she has done.
The web site below provides further information.
http://www.sonsofnorwaymankato.org/pastnewsletters/2005newsletters/May2005.pdf
I am also wondering if there could be funds from Sons of Norway, or Trivent to assist with the commissioning of the banner design.
Here is some
additional information regarding Tamara. Her in-laws are members of
Vennskap #554 Sons of Norway. Marilyn Isfeld is half Norwegian, and Gene
Isfeld is Icelandic.
I believe that Tamara listens well, and is creative in her endeavor to design a
project to meet the objectives set forth by a group.
If you need additional members to participate on your committee in the
development of the Nordfjord banner, I would be honored to assist with this
project.
Dorothy
The banner should have a blue background matching one of
the darker blue sky
colors. The writing should be in gold. (The green & yellow makes it
look Irish. The purple and yellow reminds me of an Easter egg.) The flower for
Nordfjord is the foxglove. An image of a dark and light pink
foxglove with green leaves would look nice on either side of the
picture.
I love the idea of using the original painting.
What will happen to the original banner?
LuAnn
I would prefer the blue/purple and gold (Vikings) as opposed to the green and yellow (Packers). I don't know anyone that could paint it at this time, will keep looking.
I'd like to have people talk about their successes and
problems in tracking down relatives. Also it would be good to have a
genealogy expert come to talk with the members about what is now available on
the Internet. ie--digital arkivet, ancestry.com, and some others.
I know a person who is that expert and I think would be willing to do it.
Bob
I have a cousin who is an artist and I just recently thought about him. I
saw some of his art when I visited his wife who has cancer again, and he showed
me and mom most of his works on photos. He's really improved and I
think I might ask him if he would consider the banner painting and for an
estimate. He does mostly wild life and scenery and does a super job on
that. It might be a possibility. His name is Jesse Norby.
Darlene
I have pondered the banner issue for several years. To me the matter boils down to one question: What is our goal in creating a new Nordfjordlag banner? Is it to commemorate and accurately preserve the artistry and the sentiments expressed by the original, or is it to create a more contemporary expression - something old, something new?
I favor preserving the original by means of a digital print of the entire original banner on heavy vinyl or satin cloth material. Although the medium may not be as charming as a hand-painted replica, this technology does offer amazing resolution - the image would be sharp and detailed. The back of the banner could display a print of the back of the original backside with careful translations preserving the flavor of the original Norwegian texts (which are truly charming and deserve to be preserved). Other brief historical material such as dates, etc., could also be presented on the back.
I believe this approach would produce a meaningful result from a historical preservation standpoint, and probably from a nostalgic standpoint, too. It would be difficult to create a new banner with more nostalgic appeal than the original.
........................................
Outlaw Graphics of Brookings, SD, made a very nice banner for Dad's 90th birthday celebration. I talked to their rep Terry Nemitz about the options for producing a digital photo banner of our original Lag banner. They can print on 52" wide material - length as needed. Assuming a 48" x 80" photo image, the outside measurements of the banner would be approximately 52" x 84". The back of the banner could have a photo print of the text from the back of the original banner, approximately 30" x 48", and a separate text area for background info and translations, approximately 24" x 48" in size. Two material options are available:
18 oz. Reinforced Vinyl
This material has a blocking layer so it can be printed on both sides without the back image showing through. A preliminary cost estimate would be approximately $530, based on my understanding of Outlaw's unit prices, applied to the layout described above.
13 oz. Satin Cloth Material
This material can only be printed on one side, so a two-sided banner would consist of two printed sheets laid back-to-back and sewn together on the edges. Preliminary cost estimate: $650
Here is a link to Outlaw Graphics: http://www.teamoutlaw.com/index.html
Mads
NOTE: I don't think that at this time anyone on the board is interested in having a vinyl banner. (In case anyone was wondering.) - Gene
We need an accurate translation of the wording on the current banner.
Gene
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