Specializing in the Folk Arts
Due to health and safety concerns, all students and instructors are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 at the time of class.
Upcoming Classes:
May 31 and Jun 1 & 2, 2022
Shrink Box Magic
with Scott Johnson & Bill Rickard (4 spaces available)
Tool Sharpening Demystified
with Paul Linden (7 spaces available)
The Milan Village Arts School is seeking to preserve Karen’s home in perpetuity for all to enjoy. We are launching a campaign to raise the funds to purchase the property and much of the artwork inside.
All donations are held in trust by the MIlan Village Arts School. The Milan Village Arts School is a tax-exempt organization within the Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) and all donations are tax deductible. All Trestuen Legacy funds are held in a separate Prairie Sun Bank account for the sole purpose as intended and are returnable on request.
Please make out checks to “MVAS” or “Milan Village Arts School” and mail to P.O. Box 230 Milan, MN 56262. Donations can also be made at GiveMN.org or https://www.givemn.org/organization/Milan-Village-Arts-School. For more information contact Ron Porep, Milan Village Arts School director at 320-734-4807 or admin@milanvillageartsschool.org.
KAREN JENSON TRESTUEN GARDEN GALLERY
The Karen Jenson Trestuen (Swedish for “Tree Room”) Garden Gallery is the result of 50 years of art, creativity and passion by the renowned artist and rosemaler, Karen Jenson.
Specializing in Norwegian rosemaling and Swedish dalamalning, Karen painted commercially at her home for 50 years. Every room is a work of art with beautifully painted furniture, fixtures and surfaces throughout the house. The house is the culmination of a lifetime or her passion and creativity.
Karen and her husband purchased the home in the early 1960s and set down roots in Milan where they raised their four children. The original home was a typical nondescript midwestern house. With the help of identical twin contractors, Arvid and Aaron Swenson, Karen set about transforming the house into a masterpiece of design, color and Scandinavian art.
The house now includes a gallery, painting studio, master bedroom, Swedish bedroom, Norwegian bedroom, library and Swedish inspired kitchen. Surrounding the home are the gardens, which are a fine example of Karen’s other great passion, gardening.
Karen was also a great collector. The Trestuen Gallery is home to the works of many artists including Sigmund Aarseth, Hans Sandom, Phillip Odden, Arvid & Aaron Swenson, Franz Allbert Richter, Gene and Lucy Tokheim and many other western Minnesota artists.
Learn About Karen’s Work
- See Karen’s lifetime of work at karenjensonrosemaling.com
- Follow Karen Jenson Trestuen Garden Gallery on Facebook
- Watch Pioneer PBS’ Emmy-Nominated Story about Karen’s Career and Home: video.pioneer.org/video/karen-jenson-ux4acy