Diploma, Dress Design and Draping
B.A. Art History and Scandinavian Languages
M.A. Art History
Ph.D.History of Design, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
Specializations: Textile and Costume; Medieval and Scandinavian Art
Shelly Nordtorp-Madson teaches survey (110) and both undergraduate and graduate courses in Medieval and Dress History.
Her current reserach interests focus on Medieval death culture, Medieval dress, artistic syncretism in Medieval Scandinavia, and Shape Shifters in Medieval Art and Literature. She is also working on a translation of Nordbomoenstre -- Dragtsnit fra Middelalderen (Oestergaard et al, due in press 2010).
Recent Publications
Review of Antonsson’s: St. Magnús of Orkney: A Scandinavian Martyr-Cult in
Context (2007) in Speculum 84, no. 1 (2009)
Review of Scott’s Medieval Dress and Fashion for Medieval Clothing and
Textiles 4 (2008)
Review of Østergaard’s Som syet til jorden for Medieval Clothing and Textiles 1 (2004)
Entry on Wedding Costume for
Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion (2004)
Recent Presentations
2009 Shape-shifting in the early Christian North: the Animal Skin as Costume or Disguise for the International Medieval Conference in Leeds, England
2009 Magic, Murder and Mayhem: The Völsunga Saga an invited lecture for the American Swedish Institute
2009 Chair, Session: Mythic Narrative and Quiet Spaces: Topics in Modern Nordic Art for the Annual Meeting of the Society for Advancement of Scandinavian Study
2009 Words without Pictures and Pictures without Words: A Case Study of the Niflung Legend for the Annual Meeting of the Society for Advancement of Scandinavian Study (co-authored with Kaaren Grimstad, presented by me)
2008 Invited Lecture at Thrivent Financial For Lutherans Gallery: Costume and Dress in Context: Meaning in the Sartorial Arts
2008 White Gloves: Not just for Cotillions Any More: the Small Gallery and University Museum (an invited lecture for the University of Mississippi, Oxford, April)
2008 Digital Music: Gunnar in the Snake Pit for the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study
2007 An Otter’s Tale: Magic Murder and Mayhem (co-authored with Kaaren Grimstad, University of Minnesota) for the Annual Meeting of the International Congress on Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo, Michigan
2007 Chair, Session: Dress and Textiles IV. Extant Garments and Furnishings for DISTAFF, at the Annual Meeting of the International Congress on Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo, Michigan
2007 Baroque to Bell-Bottoms for the Public Programs Department of The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
2006 Lend Me Your Ears: Barleycorn Symbolism in Medieval Scandinavia for the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Studies
2006 Chairman of the Board and Other Medieval Oddities: the Pauline Lambert Memorial Lecture at The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
2005 A Grain of Truth: Barleycorns in Medieval Costume for the Annual Meeting of the International Congress on Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo, Michigan
2004 Arrant Knights for the Friends of The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
2004 From Hall to Hovel for the Public Programs Department of The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Varia
Executive Board, Society of Historians of Scandinavia
Member, Editorial Board, Medieval Clothing and Textiles (Boydell and Brewer)
Exhibitions Committee, Dassel Area Historical Society
Acquisitions Committee, University Collections, University of St. Thomas
Internationalization of Campus Committee through Arts and Activities Committee, University of St. Thomas
Mentor, Costume Design Program, College of Design, University of Minnesota
