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Elverhoj Museum of History and Art Opens The Spirit of Solvang Capturing the Past in Photographs

The Elverhøj Museum of History and Art presents its inaugural art exhibit for Solvang’s Centennial year. The Spirit of Solvang: Capturing the Past in Photographs will tell the story of Solvang through a series of striking black and white images from the Museum’s collection.

The opening reception will be held on Sunday January 9 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. The festivities include an antique car display, a special “I Spy Solvang” interactive family, and refreshments. The public is invited to the free celebration.

Debuting at the reception is a new 56-page book, Spirit of Solvang. Like the exhibit of the same name, the book is rich with black and white images of Solvang and informative text. Both the exhibit and publication pay tribute to the rich cultural history and heritage of Solvang’s Danish pioneers. The book is for sale in the Museum Store for $17.50.

Located in Solvang, California, the Elverhøj Museum is the former residence of one of Solvang’s most artistic families, which is now a community museum devoted to the history of Solvang, the Danish-American pioneer spirit, the colorful heritage of Denmark, and the arts.

Many Danes settled in rural areas across the United States and often banded together in colonies for mutual support. Founded in 1911, Solvang was such a colony. The exhibition marks the city’s Centennial by displaying photographs from the Museum’s extensive historic collection. Meticulously restored, enlarged, and printed, the images document Solvang’s story from its founding to its transformation to a Danish-themed downtown. But the town is more than a collection of buildings. The exhibit also tells about the early settlers, the pioneers with a vision, who worked so hard to achieve the American Dream while honoring their Danish heritage.

Photo restoration work was done by Solvang resident Paul Roark. He has spent years working on Elverhøj’s collection of historic photographs, including all the images in the Spirit of Solvang exhibition. Mr. Roark is a professional fine art black and white photographer (as well as a retired antitrust attorney) with special expertise in digitally restoring and printing old photographs. In addition, he is considered one of the pioneers of digital printing and has designed widely-used lightfast black and white inksets.

Image: The Elverhøj Museum of History and Art

The exhibit, which is on display through April 10, is made possible by a grant from The Wood-Claeyssens Foundation and support from M.I.S. Associates and Samy’s Camera.

Elverhøj Museum of History and Art
1624 Elverhoy Way
Solvang, CA 93463

www.elverhoj.org

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