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Harley Refsal
Independent Arts and Crafts Professional
Harley Refsal was an internationally recognized figure carver who specialized in Scandinavian flat-plane style woodcarving.12 Here are some key details about him:
Background and Career
Harley Refsal was born on December 25, 1944 and passed away on September 8, 2024.1 He was raised on a farm near Hoffman, Minnesota, which was homesteaded by his Norwegian-immigrant grandparents.1 Refsal began working with wood as a young boy, encouraged by his carpenter father and woodworker uncle.1
He lived in Norway in the 1960s and 1980s, and traveled extensively throughout Scandinavia.12 Refsal was fluent in Norwegian and shared his knowledge of Scandinavian-style flat-plane figure carving with thousands of carvers through courses and presentations in North America and Scandinavia.12
Achievements and Recognition
- Received the St. Olav's Medal in 1996 from King Harald V of Norway for his role in revitalizing Scandinavian figure carving1
- Named 2012 Woodcarver of the Year by Woodcarving Illustrated Magazine1
- Emeritus Member of the Caricature Carvers of America1
- Authored several books on carving, including "Art and Technique of Scandinavian-Style Woodcarving"3
Teaching and Legacy
After retiring from full-time teaching at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa in 2010, Refsal held the title of Professor Emeritus of Scandinavian Folk Art.12 He continued to teach carving at various course centers throughout the United States, including Vesterheim Museum, North House Folk School, and others.13
Harley Refsal's work in preserving and promoting Scandinavian flat-plane woodcarving has left a lasting impact on the craft, inspiring many carvers and contributing significantly to the field of Scandinavian folk art.
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