- Harley Refsal
Harley Refsal is an internationally recognised figure carver, specialising in
Scandinavian flat-plane style of woodcarving . He was born and raised on a farm nearHoffman, Minnesota , USA, homesteaded by his Norwegian-immigrant grandparents. He has traveled to and lived inScandinavia on a number of occasions. He teachesScandinavian studies atLuther College inDecorah, Iowa , where he also holds the title Associate Professor of ScandinavianFolk Art .He began working in wood as a young boy. His father, a carpenter and farmer, and a woodworker uncle who lived nearby kept him well supplied with wood, tools, and encouragement.
He was honored in 1996 by H. M. Harald V, King of Norway, with the
St. Olaf Medal of Honor for his efforts in reinvigorating Scandinavian figure carving in both the United States and Norway.Since the 1980s, Refsal, who speaks fluent Norwegian, has shared his knowledge of and skills in Scandinavian-style flat-plane carving with thousands of carvers through classes and presentations in the
United States and Scandinavia.Harley is an Emeritus Member of the
Caricature Carvers of America .Education
* B.A.,
Augsburg College ,Minneapolis, Minnesota
* Eksamen Philosophicum,University of Oslo
* M. Div.,Luther Theological Seminary ,St. Paul, Minnesota
* Cand. Mag.,Telemark College ,Rauland, Norway Publications
*cite book | author=Refsal, Harley | year=2004 | title=Art & Technique of Scandinavian Style Woodcarving | chapter= | editor= | others= | pages=137 | publisher=Fox Chapel Publishing, East Petersburg, PA | id=ISBN 1-56523-230-5 | url= | authorlink=Harley Refsal
*cite book | author=Refsal, Harley | year=1992 | title=Woodcarving in the Scandinavian Style | chapter= | editor= | others= | pages=128 | publisher=Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., New York, New York | id=ISBN 0-8069-8633-6 | url= | authorlink=Harley RefsalReferences
*
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
