By Tommy Flanagan
It would likely not come as a surprise to know that I spend a lot of time thinking about Finnish-American heritage, history, culture, and modern-day Finland. After all, it is basically my job — not to mention that I have Finnish-American roots myself. However, this fall feels a bit different as I reflect on these familiar topics. I have been thinking about the many larger Finnish-American cultural moments that have occurred over the past several months — from the Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture in Hancock to FinnFest in Minneapolis as well as the 100th anniversary of the Finnish American Heritage Society’s building in Canterbury, Connecticut. But even more, I have been thinking about the people in our community. I’ve been thinking about those who plan, organize, join, attend, create and keep these events and organizations going. I have been thinking about the many ways that “Finnish-Americanness” expresses itself within and among people.
That same spirit animates our upcoming CONTINUUM exhibition in Rovaniemi, Finland.
The idea of a “continuum” offers a compelling way to think about our Finnish-American community. For well over a century, individuals from coast to coast, north to south, and in both the United States and Finland have taken part in this community in ways authentic to them. And those connections never manifest in the same way.
So, why do I like the concept of a continuum for thinking about Finnish-America? For many reasons.
A continuum does not necessitate a singular defined beginning or end, yet all the points along it are related in some way. Those of us with Finnish-American heritage, for example, might find ourselves along a continuum of time, generation, and family — with connections back to Finland but distinctly American stories to tell. Others might recognize a continuum of geography with family first landing in the East or in Copper Country, then migrating and ultimately ending up in Florida or on the West Coast. Genealogy is perhaps one of the clearest expressions of a continuum, with one person and generation connecting directly to the next.
But not every point along a continuum needs to be identical or even particularly close to another. As an example, someone who is Polish by heritage, an artist at heart, and a traveler by interest might become inspired by a unique aspect of Finnish nature after visiting the country. The art she produces, informed by that Finnish connection, becomes part of a continuum of art, Finnish art, and perhaps nature-inspired art. Finns might recognize something in that work that someone else would not. And vice versa. Each connection is different. Each point is distinct. Yet they remain connected.
And that is exactly what the artists featured in our CONTINUUM exhibition at the University of Lapland’s Gallery Valo in Rovaniemi have in common. They inhabit a place along the same Finnish-American continuum, similar and dissimilar all at once, each informed by some connection to Finnish-America.
The exhibition is significant for FFN for many reasons. It is the first curated exhibition that FFN is presenting in Finland. It is multi-genre, encompassing painting, textiles, photography, video, and more. And whether through the art itself, the identities of the artists, or their relationships to our organization and community, these artists create and reveal a Finnish-American continuum.
Phyllis Fredendall, Heather Hietala, Tia Keobounpheng, Joyce Koskenmaki and Carrie Vander Veen each connect to Finnish-America in their own way.
Institutionally, Phyllis and Carrie represent a continuum of Finnish-American art in Michigan’s Copper Country, having both served as directors of our Finlandia Art Gallery at the Finnish American Heritage Center. Neither is Finnish by heritage, but both are certainly Finnish-American by some cultural measure and via professional experiences and personal connections.
Heather and Joyce occupy different artistic spaces and create very different work, yet both draw inspiration from their Finnish-American generational heritage in various ways — connections to strength, perseverance, the cultural concept of sisu, and the centrality of nature.
Tia’s work brings another intersection into the conversation. Finnish-American cultural identity and Sámi-North American identity, with historical and ancestral perspectives informs much of her work.
The thread weaving these works and indeed these artists together is CONTINUUM.
Adding to that continuum will be one work each from Eric Aho, Väinö Kola, and Arno Minkkinen, FFN’s first three Artists of the Year. Each represents, in his own way, different shades and experiences of being Finnish and American.
It is this individuality alongside commonality, the similarities and the striking differences, and, importantly, the stories and experiences of these individuals that allows this exhibition to speak to our larger community. All of us have a place along this continuum, albeit at different points before, after, or adjacent to these artists. Finnish-Americanness does not need to look the same from person to person or generation to generation. In fact, perhaps its ability to evolve while maintaining connections across time, geography, art, family, and culture is precisely what has allowed ‘community’ to endure and allow individuals to find a unique place within the community.
If you cannot tell, I am thrilled about this opportunity for FFN and our community. I hope that some of you — and your connections — can join us at Gallery Valo in Rovaniemi on October 16 at 6 p.m. for the opening of CONTINUUM. The exhibition will remain on display through December 6, 2026. If you have questions or would like to RSVP, visit finlandiafoundation.org/continuum.
Finally, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to our partners at the University of Lapland, especially Jaana Erkkilä-Hill and Leila Lipiäinen, as well as Clare Zuraw, Director of the Finnish American Folk School and Curator of CONTINUUM. Clare has done extensive work bringing these artists together and helping tell this story. Her professionalism has been impressive, and her work deeply important to FFN.
And with that, I return to my fall reflections about the people who make up our community — you. Each of us occupies a different point along this Finnish-American continuum, distinct yet connected.
See you in Rovaniemi.