Emil Biorn
Encyclopedia
Emil Biorn was an Norwegian-born, American sculptor, painter and composer.
. He was trained at both the Royal Norwegian School of Drawing
and at Lindeman's School of Music
in Oslo. Biorn studied art in Paris
and as well as at the Chicago Art Institute.
to help celebrate the centennial of the Constitution of Norway
.
Biorn was both a sculptor and painter, as well as a illustrator and caricaturist. His works were featured at the Minnesota State Fair
in 1925 and at the Art Institute of Chicago
between 1900 and 1912. His paintings and drawings decorated many Norwegian-American institutions in Chicago including the Norwegian Singing Society (Normaendenes Sangforening), Chicago Norske Klub
, and the Norwegian Children’s Home. There is a collection of his art works in the Fine Art Collection at Luther College
in Decorah, Iowa
.
Background
Emil Bjørn was born in Christiania, NorwayOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. He was trained at both the Royal Norwegian School of Drawing
Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry
The Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry was established in 1818.In 1996 the National Academy of Craft and Art Industry became part of Oslo National Academy of the Arts .-Noted alumni:-External links:*...
and at Lindeman's School of Music
Ludvig Mathias Lindeman
Ludvig Mathias Lindeman was a Norwegian composer and organist. He is most noted for compiling Norwegian folk music in his work Ældre og nyere norske Fjeldmelodier. -Background:...
in Oslo. Biorn studied art in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and as well as at the Chicago Art Institute.
Career
In 1887, Biorn came to America where he as employed as a commercial artist by the Barnes-Crosby Company, an engraving firm in Chicago. From 1906 to 1914, Biorn was principal conductor of the Norwegian Singers’ Society of America. In 1914, he conducted that chorus during their trip to NorwayNorway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
to help celebrate the centennial of the Constitution of Norway
Constitution of Norway
The Constitution of Norway was first adopted on May 16, 1814 by the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll , then signed and dated May 17...
.
Biorn was both a sculptor and painter, as well as a illustrator and caricaturist. His works were featured at the Minnesota State Fair
Minnesota State Fair
The Minnesota State Fair is the state fair of the U.S. state of Minnesota. Its slogan is "The Great Minnesota Get-Together." It is the 2nd largest fair in the United States, and the largest state fair in the United States in terms of average daily attendance, though the State Fair of Texas runs...
in 1925 and at the Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's largest accredited independent schools of art and design, located in the Loop in Chicago, Illinois. It is associated with the museum of the same name, and "The Art Institute of Chicago" or "Chicago Art Institute" often refers to either...
between 1900 and 1912. His paintings and drawings decorated many Norwegian-American institutions in Chicago including the Norwegian Singing Society (Normaendenes Sangforening), Chicago Norske Klub
Chicago Norske Klub
Chicago Norske Klub was a Chicago, Illinois based Norwegian-American cultural and social organization.-Background:Chicago Norske Klub was founded in 1911 through the merger of two prior organizations which had dated to 1890, the Norwegian Club in Chicago and the Norwegian Quartet Club .Its...
, and the Norwegian Children’s Home. There is a collection of his art works in the Fine Art Collection at Luther College
Luther College (Iowa)
Luther College is a four-year, residential liberal arts institution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, located in Decorah, Iowa, USA...
in Decorah, Iowa
Decorah, Iowa
Decorah is a city in and the county seat of Winneshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 8,172 at the 2000 census. Decorah is located at the intersection of State Highway 9 and U.S...
.
Other sources
- Erickson, Rolf H. Norwegian-American Artists (in Essays on Norwegian-American Literature and History. Northfield, MN: Norwegian-American Historical Association, 1986)
- Haugan, Reidar Rye. Prominent Artists and Exhibits of Their Work in Chicago (Chicago Norske Klub. Nordmanns-Forbundet, 24: 371—374,Volume 7, 1933)
- Lovoll, Odd S.Odd S. Lovoll-Background:Odd Sverre Lovoll was born in Sande, in Møre og Romsdal, Norway. He immigrated to the United States in 1946 and is a naturalized United States citizen. Lovoll received his education both in Norway and in the United States, passing university exams at the University of Bergen in 1961 and...
A Century of Urban Life: the Norwegians in Chicago before 1930. (Northfield, MN: Norwegian-American Historical Association, 1988) - Strand, A.E. A History of the Norwegians in Illinois (Chicago, IL: John Anderson Publishing Co., 1905)
- Sundby-Hansen, Harry. Norwegian Immigrant Contributions to America’s Making (New York, NY: Independent Press, 1921)