Some Minnesotans seem to get nervous, even a little sheepish, when they see Celina Kane’s booth set up at local art shows and the Mill City Farmers Market. Occasionally, onlookers will even let out a stifled giggle, as if to say “I could never pull that off.” Admittedly, it takes a certain level of confidence … [ Read more]
Southside Battletrain: Human-powered metal machines
May 1, 2018 by
There’s a house in South Minneapolis that stands out from the rest. It could be the tangle of vines cascading down the facade. Or maybe it’s the tricycles, yellow canoe, and velociraptor planted in the front yard. On the porch, you’ll find a gorilla suit and the phrase “run 2 run” spelled out on the … [ Read more]
Simple, yet soulful: Woodsport
February 21, 2018 by
Wood chips fly as Scott McGlasson presses the tip of a sharp metal gouge against a wooden form mounted to a lathe. While the piece spins, bits of white ash shower onto his clothes like confetti and rain down onto the floor in mounds. As the piles of shavings grow, a shape begins to emerge. … [ Read more]
Craft Culture: An artful existence with Fox Meets Bear
January 30, 2018 by
As the shell started to break apart, a mess of wet, matted feathers began to show through the opening. Late into the night, Johnna Holmgren sat on a stool in her living room with her gaze fixed on the incubator set up in front of her. After caring for the eggs inside it with her … [ Read more]
Craft Culture: Farmers of the future at Urban Organics
December 26, 2017 by
An inconspicuous white tube travels along the length of the ceiling, connecting two very different rooms. The first room is a cool 60 degrees and smells slightly fishy. Gray concrete floors and colorless walls make the space appear colder than it is. The neighboring room couldn’t be more different. The air smells sweet and vaguely … [ Read more]
Craft Culture: Piecing it together with Mercury Mosaics
November 27, 2017 by
The gleaming edge of what looks like an oversized cookie-cutter plunges into a sheet of clay. Before punching out another tile, a man in a red apron dips the cutter in a bowl of WD-40. This ensures each cut he makes come out as clean as possible. He alternates back and forth between the two … [ Read more]
Craft Culture: Caretakers of skin and pollinators at Worker B
October 31, 2017 by
The sound of splintering wood disrupts the rhythmic hum of bees flying midair as Liesa Helfen wedges a flat metal tool in between two boxes. The containers crack apart as she wiggles the steel up and down, loosening the propolis, or bee glue, that seals the two together. For tens of thousands of bees, the … [ Read more]
Craft Culture: Cabinets full of unexpected surprises at Mark Laub Studios
September 27, 2017 by
It takes a series of careful maneuvers to uncover what’s hidden within the cabinet resting near Mark Laub’s front door. First he pulls open a set of connected wooden leaves that surround a stained glass dome. Then, he spins around a glass carousel to reveal a set of arched doors. Finally, he slides out a … [ Read more]
Craft Culture: 130 years of water and the grindstone at Schech’s Mill
August 30, 2017 by
At first the vibrations in the water are faint. Small ripples break through the surface of the stream as they push out from the base of an old stone building. But the current soon becomes a rapid swirl as more than 8,000 gallons flow into the creek with each passing minute. The disturbance outside is … [ Read more]
Craft Culture: Two-wheeled transformations at Peacock Groove
July 25, 2017 by
Before Erik Noren started building bikes worth thousands of dollars, he paid someone $40 to steal one for him. He painted the two-wheeler blue, and then dunked his hands in purple paint and splashed it across the frame. At the time he was 18 years old. He only rode occasionally in high school and didn’t … [ Read more]
Craft Culture: The art of fire, glass, and noble gas at Skyline Neon
June 26, 2017 by
There’s a good chance Matt Thompson has worn out the nerve endings on his fingertips. Despite handling molten hot glass nearly every day, he refuses to wear gloves. After decades, his hands are battle worn from blisters, cuts, and third degree burns. Still, that doesn’t stop the neon sign maker from grabbing a glass tube … [ Read more]
Craft Culture: Preserving the magic of motion pictures with Bob DeFlores
June 2, 2017 by
When the lights in the room dim and the silver screen lights up, Bob DeFlores doesn’t watch the animated characters that spring to life. As the old film starts to run, he turns his attention toward the hundreds of people sitting in plush theater seats before him. He stares at each face in turn, gauging … [ Read more]
Craft Culture: Turning family tradition into modern day practice at George’s Shoe Repair
January 30, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Looking at the pair of shoes, Luke George didn’t just see worn down heels, scrunched up leather, or years of grime built up on the once-white surfaces. The cobbler knew these were more than just a pair of old dress shoes—they once belonged to his customer’s grandfather. They had history. A legacy. Years in the … [ Read more]
Craft Culture: From fire comes functional art at Elias Metal Studio
August 31, 2016 by Leave a Comment
The two words employees dread hearing most came hurdling out her manager’s mouth: “You’re fired.” That’s what Lisa Elias heard 20 years ago when she returned home to Minneapolis after a two-week trip to New York for an experimental art workshop. Like many artists trying to pay their way, Elias worked a part-time job at … [ Read more]
Rules of the Road: Understanging our shared responsibility to make biking safer in Minnesota
July 27, 2016 by Leave a Comment
The alleycat bike race sounded easy enough: pedal to as many beaches in the Twin Cities as you can in a set time, and take a photo of yourself at each lake as proof. A scavenger hunt with a lakeside theme—the perfect Saturday in July. The morning of the race, Shaina Briscoe showed up ready … [ Read more]
