Make It Minnesota - The Giving Issue - Vol. 2, No. 6

Vol. 2, No. 6

THE GIVING ISSUE

We create a magazine to share stories of Northern craft, community, and connecting to this place we call home. As we feature bold and inspiring Minnesotans—from craftsman to beekeepers, artists to farmers, brewers to foodies—we’re here to build a timeless collection of tales from each region across the state. Discover hands-on making, an appreciation for local craft, and unique ideas that shape what’s being made in Minnesota. We aim to foster sustainable, altruistic, unique, and creative communities. We are so proud to share our one-of-a-kind Minnesota magazine with you.

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INSTAGRAM | @MAKEITMINNESOTA

TWITTER | @MAKEITMINNESOTA

Editor’s Note THE GIVING ISSUE

Welcome to the Giving Issue! The final issue of 2017... Whew, how did that happen? Life seemed to move at hyperspeed this past year, and for better or worse, here we are, taking one step at a time into 2018. The promise of a new year has a way of inspiring a fresh set of resolutions—and for myself and Make It Minnesota, 2018 also means evolution.

I joined the Make It Minnesota team in 2014 as a contributing writer, became Editor late 2015, and this past fall, officially took on the role of sole owner of Make It Minnesota. Over the past three years, I have been lucky to create this magazine alongside an incredibly talented, kind, and hard-working business partner, graphic designer, and Jane-of-all-trades. It was an honor to work with and learn from her, and in all her future endeavors, I wish her the very best.

I am also proud of and grateful for the array of writers, photographers, and illustrators that contributed their skills and art to the past 13 issues. It’s been an amazing, fulfilling journey so far, and I look forward to building on top of the solid foundation created these past few years.

Alongside this change in ownership, I have been working hard behind the scenes to figure out the next move for the magazine. It’s been an exciting and challenging and eye-opening transition, but now, more than ever, I am poised to turn my passion project into something truly meaningful. So, coming into 2018, I have enlisted the help of a talented local designer to facilitate a major brand and design refresh for Make It Minnesota. I’m so thrilled to share that we’ll be launching our new look in 2018! I aim to expand our contributor and partnership network, continuing to share authentic stories of makers, artists, small businesses, non-profits, community-makers, and beyond! This unique content will be published quarterly in the print magazine, through a bi-weekly newsletter, online interviews and stories, our social channels, and via interesting partnerships.

What does this mean for the future? I hope for Make It Minnesota to feel like a community endeavor—one that connects, informs, and inspires us to engage with local businesses, artists, non-profits, and our community in more impactful ways. You will continue to see works written by our tried and true past contributors featured in the magazine and online, and I hope to continue to add more voices and perspectives in the issues ahead. I can’t wait to grow and evolve this magazine—and there will be lots of ways to connect and collaborate moving forward. Watch our social accounts, or if you’re a subscriber, your inbox, for the latest news on the evolution of Make It Minnesota!

In the meantime, I’m so proud to unveil the Giving Issue. This fantastic collection of stories exemplifies the thoughtful, cognizant world of making in Minnesota—featuring the voices and photographs and art of people who aim to give back through their work. Enjoy their stories!

— Kara Larson GIVING - VOL 2, NO. 6 - 2017 1

Contributors Editor + Production Kara Larson SARA CLIFTON

Contributors Sara Clifton Matt Frank Jennifer Alana Lundgren Lisa Wentworth Kelsey Roseth

Cover Photo 2017 'Humbled by Nature' Instagram Contest Winner Nicholas Lundgren Back Cover Photo Sarah Johnson

Copyright All images contained in Make It Minnesota are subject to copyright of the artist, illustrator or photographers as named, but not limited to.

Reproduction of any part of this magazine without prior permission is prohibited.

Copyright 2017. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer The views and comments expressed by the writers are not always that of Make It Minnesota.

While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of the information in this publication, Make It Minnesota accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions or resultant consequences, including any loss or damage arising from reliance on information in this publication.

Make It Minnesota (ISSN 2471-6744) Volume 2, No. 6, is published by Make It MN LLC

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Born and raised in Minnesota, Sara moved to Duluth for college, and hasn’t left since! She lives there with her husband, Scott, and two young children.

Sara and Scott are passionate about the North Shore region and handcrafted items, thus began the idea for their Duluth shop, Makers Mercantile. The shop carries one-of-a-kind products from over 35 North Shore Makers.

Follow Makers Mercantile on Instagram (@makers.mercantile) or Facebook (@makers.mercantilemn).

MATT FRANK Originally hailing from Chicago, Matt is a St. Paul-based freelance writer focused on urban agriculture, regenerative landscape design, and food justice storytelling. His articles highlight Minnesota people, places, and producers working to create positive change in our local communities. Matt strongly believes in the power of narratives to shape minds, open eyes, and shift perspectives.

JENNIFER ALANA LUNDGREN Jennifer grew up in Minnesota and is proud to call it home. She started photography on a whim, right before her daughter was born. When she’s not adventuring the great outdoors, you’ll find her nestling up with a book and her dog, Han Solo. The simple things in life keep her heart light. She thinks one of the best things about Minnesota is the great creative community we have. To being true and thoughtful and supportive of each others’ art and authenticity, and it’s hard to beat that kind of community.

LISA WENTWORTH Lisa Wentworth lives in Duluth, MN with her husband and kids. She works as a school counselor and loves to make healthy, colorful food at home. Lisa strives to support the Duluth community by using local ingredients and products. You can follow Lisa’s love of food at www.lakesuperiorkitchen.com as well as on Instagram and Facebook.

KELSEY ROSETH Kelsey Roseth is an award-winning freelance multimedia journalist whose experience includes serving as a news anchor/reporter for a Fargo, ND news station, a corporate communications specialist for a national IT company, and a copywriter for an ad agency in Duluth. She loves learning and has two degrees: a B.S. in Mass Communications and a B.A. in English from Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Kelsey and her husband live in Duluth, exploring the North Shore through hiking, canoeing, photography and bird-watching.

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Contents: ARTIST WORKSHOP

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How the Ausländer Found Home

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BUILDING COMMUNITY

10 14

Giving Tree Gardens Local by Local: Makers Mercantile

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BEHIND THE ARTIST

18 22

Jewelry by L. Shoff Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art

MINNESOTA STYLE

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Interview: Yana Pietras & Ian O’Neill

MINNESOTA KITCHEN

31

Lake Superior Kitchen: Roasted Kale & Bacon Salad

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CREATIVE CHALLENGE

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Humble Apparel Co. + Save the BWCA ‘Humbled by Nature’ Instagram Contest

31

SHOP LOCAL

36

Shop Local Guide Preview

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How the Ausländer Found Home WORDS BY KARA LARSON

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PHOTOGRAPH BY SARAH ASCANIO

“Ausländer in German means foreigner, and literally translated, it’s outlander or outlandish, so [Auslandish] felt like the perfect combination for this style of work. It’s a little wild and weird and has some of my upbringing mixed into it, too.”

As of next year, Sarah Nelson will have lived in the U.S. for exactly half her life. She was born and grew up in Vienna, Austria to parents who worked with refugees as humanitarian workers.

Though she spent many a summer visiting America in her youth, Sarah’s first taste of living here was in her freshman year of high school.

What is already an exceptionally transitional time for even the average teenager, Sarah remembers that tricky feeling of adolescent uncertainty amped up exponentially because of her no-longer-Austrian, not-quite-American identity. She was caught between places and versions of herself—a feeling that would stick around for some time. But on the day I sat down with Sarah in her cozy St. Paul apartment and studio this past November, she admitted that Minnesota now feels like home.

“All I knew about America was Disney and sitcoms,” begins Sarah. “So going to a U.S. high school, I had really different perceptions—I can’t tell you what they were—but I remember walking down the halls and thinking, ‘this is

not what I thought it was going to be like.’ Just being an adolescent in general is a lot of figuring out who you are, but add in that cultural mix and it’s a whole other level of searching for identity.”

Making art played an influential role in Sarah’s connection to the world around her and her ability to come to terms with her muddled identity. Growing up, her art was serious in nature—contemplative and philosophical. It wasn’t until she was commissioned by Corner Table restaurant in 2013 to create a handillustrated, custom wallpaper that she was able to loosen up thematically and stylistically. They asked her to create something in an art deco or art nouveau style with humor and lots of color.

Sarah shares, “I don’t think I ever would have gone that route without some prompting.”

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How fantastical? It depends on your reference point, of course, but it’s safe to say they’re out of the ordinary. For example, it’s not everyday you witness a T-Rex and Paul Bunyan sharing an ice cream cone over the Minneapolis skyline. And though it would be glorious to see a giant kraken extending its tentacles out from the depths of Lake Superior, it remains the stuff of our collective dreams. Other Auslandish mainstays include a friendly robot, an inquisitive Sasquatch, a few merry mermaids, some spirited gnomes, and hovering UFOs. In the unique personifications and quirks of these characters, it’s clear that Sarah has enjoyed developing personalities for her beloved oddballs.

They bring life and magic and whimsy to the pieces—but beyond these amusing characters, the world they occupy is just as vital a component.

In the outrageous, magical scenes Sarah illustrates, her style captures something about the place that a 6 MAKE IT MINNESOTA

photograph or realistic portrayal can’t quite depict.

“When you go to those places, there’s something insane and majestic about them. And because I can’t necessarily illustrate that—even a photo can’t capture that—maybe I can make a Sasquatch eat popcorn and you get that same, “what in the world is happening?” feeling. It’s definitely channeled differently, but it captures a little bit of that crazy, magical emotion.”

She illustrates National Parks like Yellowstone National Park, Zion National Park, and the Grand Canyon, Minnesota State Parks like Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock State Park, and Jay Cooke, many Minnesota, U.S., and international cities. “They’re real places but captured more in a

COLLABORATIONS

Shortly after her initial commission with Corner Table, she was asked to create an original cover piece for City Pages and then went on to sell out an Auslandish solo show in less than twenty-four hours. This new direction morphed into a style and business Sarah termed Auslandish—a blending of her Austrian upbringing and the nature of the work itself. Officially launching the Auslandish business early 2016, Sarah has continued to hone the style of this work, and in doing so, uncovered a selection of quirky, fantastical creatures.

VISKA PHOTOGRAPHY

BY SARAH ASCANIO

memory, emotional state. And I’m hoping that it will resonate with people who have been there. I also get asked all the time, “where’s that? I’ve never been there—I want to go!”

Sarah is encouraged by the fact that people see her work and feel inspired to travel to the parks and cities she features—places that mean a great deal to her. Growing up, Sarah didn’t necessarily consider herself a “nature girl” per se, but through the years, she has felt an evolution of her connection to the world around her. From once preferring the buzz of a city at all times to someone who yearns for open spaces, mountain ranges, canyons, and everything in between, Sarah’s love for the natural world fuels her Auslandish

AUSLANDISH x VISKA In collaboration with Ashley Duke, the maker behind Viska, Auslandish created a unique, hand-drawn image that was printed on textile and sewn into the interior lining to create a special edition Auslandish ‘Crew Backpack’. The bag features deep evergreen canvas, leather straps, brass pegs, a navy interior, and a rich red flap with an Auslandish illustration of High Point Falls, in Grand Portage, MN. About Viska: Viska packs are designed and manufactured by Ashley Duke of Minneapolis, MN. She uses classic materials like waxed canvas, veg-tan leather, and copper rivets for a look that combines tradition with modern style.

work and the woman she has become. Through her personal evolution, and through her artwork, Sarah hopes to spark curiosity and embolden others to engage with nature and, at the same time, broaden her own awareness of ways to act sustainably.

Recently, Sarah worked with the Natural Heritage Project, a group of artists and exhibitions advocating for wildlife and habitat conservation, which only impelled her to dig deeper into her passion for experiencing and preserving the natural world. She shares, “With the political climate, nature just seems to be something that if it’s going to be spoken about or protected, it really has to come from the ground up—and a love and care for it has to really be instilled in people’s hearts.”

Sarah is especially mindful of young people and their connection to nature, believing the future of our most valuable lands begins with encouraging them to explore the world around them and ask questions. “It’s not always their choice to be exposed or not, but we have to think about somehow getting them curious about nature, not just watching it on TV, but really being outside and discovering things. Because if our world is going to be protected at all, it’s going to happen in the future generations. If they don’t care, if they’re not connected to it, if they’re not engaged with it—it’s not going to be valued, and it’s going to be industrialized. Which will be, in personal opinion, a really sad day.”

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Thinking ahead, Sarah has a lofty aspiration to partner with the National Parks and the State DNR to create a product that helps people engage and discover things within the parks. Sarah has made a prototype of sorts in a recent project called The Auslandish Adventure Guide. In Sarah’s first attempt at illustrating an entire book, this outdoor guide is comprised of 24 pages of fun activities, illustrated information, and reasons to get outside and explore. Featuring Minnesota’s natural landscape with an Auslandish twist, Sarah hopes the guide motivates people to get curious and get outside. In addition, Sarah also hopes to grow Auslandish in the coming year through workshops that include hikes, nature sketching, fun adventures, and making art.

All of Sarah’s aspirations to share the natural world stem from the fact that nature has become a significant and meaningful part of her heart.

Auslandish created the album art and design for Dead Man Winter on their latest album—Furnace.

COLLABORATIONS

AUSLANDISH x DEAD MAN WINTER

About Dead Man Winter: Dead Man Winter is the new electric rock & roll band headed by Trampled by Turtles frontman and Minnesota native Dave Simonett. Furnace, the sophomore album from Dead Man Winter and a deeply personal collection, was released January 27, 2017.

AUSLANDISH x FIVE WATT COFFEE

She yearns to see more and more National and State Parks, and to make an Auslandish piece to commemorate and celebrate each one. “No matter where we go, the first thing I do is create an Auslandish piece—just for my own processing, even if it doesn’t turn into a print or anything.

And the ones that I’ve been to are probably my strongest illustrations because they have my heart and my perspective and my experience from being there.”

In her current collection of works, she has visited all the locales featured in her illustrations except

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Auslandish collaborated with Five Watt Coffee to create a series of red-robed creatures drinking coffee and feeling the sweet bliss that a morning caffination can bring. Large format prints of the collection hang at Five Watt's Kingfield (Minneapolis) location.

About Five Watt: Five Watt Coffee was founded by Lee Carter and Caleb Garn in 2014 on the principle that coffee is about connecting people. Their Kingfield shop features a rent-by-the-hour unicorn stable, and an award-winning menu complete with cocktail bitters, unique simple syrups, and high fives. Their East Hennepin location has an expanded menu with beer, wine, low-proof cocktails, and delicious food.

for Glacier National Park and Yosemite National Park—but those two hold a different kind of significance for her. “I chose those two because they were so important to my grandpa. He recently passed away, but he was an eagle scout and would take my dad and my uncles to those places growing up and have these crazy adventures— like hiking 50 miles into the wilderness. So even though it is by proxy, they feel relatable and precious to have hanging on a wall.”

Not long ago, Sarah returned home from a west coast adventure and music tour with her husband, creative partner, and talented musician, John Mark Nelson. On this month-long trip, she was able to add a couple cities to her running list of must-see locales, including Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Sasquatch building a sand castle, or maybe a couple of gnomes fishing in Lake Superior? For Sarah, the natural world is a realm well worth preservation and celebration—a domain filled with magnificent places that have informed her identity and given her a real sense of home. Deep in the woods, the plains, the mountains, the lakes, and rivers—these are the places humans experienced their first notion of home. Sarah wishes to inspire a return to this connection, drawing people into the great outdoors through her distinctively outlandish art.

The promise of exploration—near or far—excites Sarah Nelson. When she experiences a new place, her heart opens to the eccentricities of its spirit, letting it intermingle with her own. Her characterizations share the most cherished and magical places around the world, but in a way that feels, in her words, “a little wild and weird.”

But really, who wouldn’t appreciate a beautifully illustrated landscape with lively surprises like UFOs hovering above, or perhaps a T-Rex and

“When you go to those places, there’s something insane and majestic about them. And because I can’t necessarily illustrate that...maybe I can make a Sasquatch eat popcorn and you get that same, “what in the world is happening?” feeling. It’s definitely channeled differently, but it captures a little bit of that crazy, magical emotion.”

GIVING - VOL 2, NO. 6 - 2017 9

“I want to work closely with my clients to create gardens that care for their needs and desires as well as their health and well being. ” 10 MAKE IT MINNESOTA

GIVING TREE GARDENS: Giving the Gift of Good Health WORDS BY MATT FRANK

‘Tis the season of giving—giving thanks, giving gifts, giving back to your community, giving to those in-need. While an admirable annual tradition, the year-end season-of-giving need not remain relegated to the darkest, coldest months of the year in our inclement northern hemisphere. It has been said that giving is not a zero sum game—the more you give, the more you have in the intangible forms of inspiration, self-worth, joy and happiness; experiences that feed the soul and bring meaning to life.

The age-old adage, “It’s better to give than to receive,” rings true throughout the year. Sometimes, however, what is needed isn’t the addition or transfer of goods and services, but rather the removal or elimination of harmful systems, programs, services, and institutional or corporate structures keeping us disconnected from and disinvested in one another and the natural world. Deflecting or transforming the status quo can have an even greater effect than giving-as-usual.

Our industrial food and land use systems are two such interconnected areas in which the giving paradigm becomes fallacy. “If we give every industrial farmer access to genetically modified seeds and toxic chemicals to control their monocrops, we can effectively feed the world!”, states the agribusiness corporatocracy. We’ve seen time and again that this ‘conventional’ agricultural strategy takes away from the health of people and planet more than it truly gives. In fact, it tends to nourish corporate greed and line the pockets of the 1% while depleting the nutritional health of our food, negatively altering our climate, and exploiting farm and food system laborers who are more often than not marginalized, underpaid women and/or people of color.

GIVING - VOL 2, NO. 6 - 2017 11

M

inneapolis resident Russ Henry, social justice advocate, ecological landscaper, and political activist, is a perennial giver. Since 2005, his edible gardening business, Giving Tree Gardens, has given back to Twin City residents through the elimination of toxic chemical pesticides and the cultivation and growth of organic fertility. Giving Tree Gardens consciously practices a different approach to status quo landscaping, focusing on earth-friendly practices, personal and environmental health, and organic pesticide-free alternatives. Some of the ways they eliminate pesticides from the landscape include organic lawn care, use of nutrient-rich compost and beneficial soil microbiology, mechanical weeding, and the planting of native pollinator plant species. These practices not only improve the health and well being of children, pets, and adults, but also that of pollinators, other wildlife and soil.

The business’ overall mission is to promote ecological stewardship while reconnecting people with the landscape and where their food comes from. Henry states, “I want to work closely with my clients to create gardens that care for their needs and desires as well as their health and well being. Anything we do to take responsibility for the health of our little corner of the planet is a gift we give for generations to come.” Giving Tree Gardens, named after Shel Silverstein’s classic illustrated children’s book ‘The Giving Tree’, localizes food systems through homeowner education on growing healthful food in their own backyards.

As shown in the book, the business operates following an understanding that the earth’s capacity to give is finite and we must give back and honor it in order to maintain the giving cycle so crucial to sustaining life.

This connection to land and food is an intentional move on Henry’s part. The past few decades have been a renaissance period for the local food and urban agriculture movements. As Americans have become increasingly aware of where our food comes from and how it is grown, we’ve begun to understand the importance of taking back local food system control in order to improve social, finan-

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cial and environmental health. Our health is intrinsically linked to nutritious local food access since freshly harvested produce retains the greatest amount of nutrition.

Additionally, in order to increase equitable food access efforts, food system localization is necessary. As Henry puts it: “health is our first wealth”; when growing equity, we have to enable people who have the least access to power.

One way in which low-income individuals and people of color are often robbed of personal power is through our industrial food system, which separates them from their ability to grow food and creates what Henry calls a ‘hierarchy of eaters’. Eaters at the top of the economic ladder have access to the healthiest foods and never go hungry, while those at the bottom have the least access and receive the lowest quality foods nutrition-wise or go hungry.

This work led has Henry to volunteer for various local government bodies focused on environmental and food justice issues. While operating Giving Tree Gardens, Henry also served as a volunteer for five years during the startup of Homegrown Minneapolis, a citywide initiative begun in 2011 that seeks to “expand the community’s ability to grow, process, distribute, eat and compost more

“Anything we do to take responsibility for the health of our little corner of the planet is a gift we give for generations to come.”

healthy, sustainable, locally grown foods.” During this time, he doubled down on what Giving Tree Gardens was all about in terms of soil health, organic landscape productivity, and food access. While serving on the Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council, Henry was heavily involved in the city’s food policy efforts. Some of their accomplishments during this time included successfully advocating for the passage of the Minnesota Seed Law, passing compost legislation to expand operations within the city, and legalizing various urban agriculture practices including the keeping of chickens, the on-site sale of fruits and vegetables at urban farm stands, the ability to keep bees, and more.

Henry’s food and environmental justice trajectory recently led him to run as an at-large candidate during Minneapolis’ 2017 Park & Recreation Board election.

His platform revolved around eliminating the harmful use of chemical pesticides in Minneapolis parks, particularly their heavy use on the city’s golf courses and ball fields (soccer and baseball). While ultimately unsuccessful in his attempt at holding public office, Henry’s run effectively changed the conversation at Park & Rec Board meetings and was part of a larger movement to elect more progressive candidates to the board. He continues to volunteer his time and give back to the community by attending meetings while advocating for pesticide-free parks for all. In the meantime, Giving Tree Gardens is currently expanding, having recently purchased another local landscaping business. Keep an eye out in 2018 for the next evolution of Giving Tree Gardens and ways in which it continues to address local food access issues by giving back to the community.

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LOCAL LOCAL

BY

SARA CLIFTON

CO-OWNER OF MAKERS MERCANTILE

MAKERS MERCANTILE | DULUTH, MN

Sara Clifton is the co-owner of newly opened Makers Mercantile in Duluth, MN. Makers Mercantile is a shop that carries local, handcrafted goods, décor, and art, and it exists to highlight the makers along the North Shore.

Born and raised in Minnesota, Sara moved to Duluth for college. Soon, she fell in love with the beautiful North Shore—where she currently lives with her husband and two young children. She comes from a family of makers, and has always appreciated handmade items. Sara and Scott’s excitement about handcrafted products and love of the North Shore collided a few years ago in a discussion around the dinner table, and the idea for Makers Mercantile was born. Makers Mercantile aims to celebrate the makers within the North Shore region. The shop opened its doors in September, and carries one-of-a-kind products from over 35 North Shore Makers.

PHOTOGRAPH BY KILEY MARISSA PHOTOGRAPHY

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Follow Makers Mercantile: Instagram (@makers.mercantile) Facebook (@makers.mercantilemn)

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SARA’S CEDAR COFFEE COMPANY

A must-stop on your way up the North Shore. A bit off the beaten path, this modern coffee shop in Two Harbors is located in a grove of—you guessed it— Cedar trees! Cedar Coffee serves up delicious coffee and specialty drinks, and they have a one-of-a-kind menu for breakfast and lunch. There’s an amazing outdoor space behind the shop, perfect for an outdoor meal with space for kiddos to play.

In addition, there is an attached bike shop called Spokengear, where you can get equipped for your next biking adventure with the help of a very knowledgeable staff.

HARMONIC GOODS

When I first saw these bags, I knew I needed one! Duluth-based Harmonic goods creates quality back packs, duffels, and soft goods out of hemp canvas, wool, and leather. These products have a modern and minimalistic look, and they are built to last. In fact, they are guaranteed for life. I love that these products have a northern feel and are made with the outdoors in mind—the perfect essential for all of your North Shore adventures!

ATELIER & STONE

North Shore Newbie, Jeweler Louise Payjack-Guillou, moved here from London and founded Atelier and Stone. Her vision is simple—“To create finely crafted jewelry that will become part of your everyday identity.” Her work is detailed, and she often uses collected antiques to engrave and emboss elements into her pieces. I love that Atelier and Stone’s designs are clean, elegant, and timeless.

SUPERIOR GATEWAY LODGE

This B&B is a hidden gem! Tucked back in acres of forest, Superior Gateway Lodge is located a few miles outside of Two Harbors. The lodge is a beautiful, family built log cabin, and it houses 4 unique suites. Superior Gateway Lodge is perfect for anyone looking to relax and rejuvenate during any season of the year. The friendly hosts serve a locally grown and organic breakfast—and it is divine!

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PICKS FITGER’S BREWHOUSE

Our #1 date night location. You’ll find The Brewhouse in the Fitger’s Building along the big lake in Duluth. The food is fantastic and has the atmosphere to match. Our recommendation: The Wild Rice Burger and an Apricot Wheat Ale, which is brewed right on site. What’s more, we love The Brewhouses’ location because we can swing by other shops in the Fitger’s Building, or walk down to the Lakewalk after dinner.

PRESS DU NORD

Press Du Nord has given me a new-found appreciation for paper products! Reggie, owner of Press Du Nord, is passionate about paper, type, and printing. He unites handcrafted artisanship and heavy machinery to make letter pressed greeting cards, journals, customized business cards and wedding stationary from his studio in Duluth. I love the cutting-edge, Scandinavian style of his products, along with the incredible paper that he prints on. It all speaks quality from front to back!

JOHN BEARGREASE SLED DOG MARATHON

Hands down, this is our favorite Winter event on the North Shore! Bundle up and bring the kids along. Enjoy a morning of beautiful dogs, lots of excitement, and some Northwoods pride. Stay just for the start, or stake out a checkpoint further along in the race. For those participating in the full sled dog marathon, the race runs up the north shore and back spanning nearly 400 miles. It is the longest sled dog marathon in the lower 48 states and is a qualifying event for the Iditarod.

BAILEY BUILDS STUDIO

Anna and Nathanael Bailey are knocking it out of the park with their reclaimed wood art. Duluth based Bailey Builds Studio creates one-of-a-kind pieces that give old and weathered wood a new purpose. Their natural and modern elements are inspiring for any style, whether hung on a wall, used as a sliding barn door, or made into a coffee table.

Photo credits: Cedar Coffee Company - Donna Wood | Atelier & Stone - Michelle Bennett of Wolfskull Creative John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon- Carter Rice | Bailey Builds Studio - Kiley Marissa Photography

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L.Shoff, Jewelry Maker

Memories and Heirlooms WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNIFER ALANA LUNDGREN

As a little girl, I remember sneaking in to my grandmother’s room, putting her powder on my cheeks, slipping into her slips and fine jewelry. It was one of my favorite childhood memories on the farm, pretending to be my grandmother in all her pretty things. As I got older and my grandmother had long passed I remember wishing I still had her fine jewelry, not because it was all that impressive or striking, but because it reminded me of her and how much fun I had as a little girl on the farm.

When I met with Lauren, the maker of L.SHOFF, she shared a kindred story of a client who asked to have his wedding ring made out of his grandfather’s wedding ring and another family heirloom made into his wife’s wedding band. This story deeply resonated with me and my grandmother’s things, and how I also wished to pass down my own wedding ring to my daughter in the hopes, she too, would pass it down to her’s. I then thought about the keepsakes of our childhood, of our family heirlooms. Whether in a box somewhere, being worn, or being made into something we can cherish

through a lifetime—these are meant to be passed down to our loved ones.

It was then that I knew I needed to share Lauren’s story and vision. Lauren grew up on the outskirts of Minneapolis, and from kindergarten through high school, she attended school here and called Minnesota home. After high school, she left to go to college in Chicago to study fashion design. During her studies, she took a course in accessories design, from then on out, it became an all-encompassing passion for Lauren. That’s when Lauren decided to return to her roots to start her company, L.SHOFF. When I asked Lauren what fine jewelry truly meant to her, she said, “To me, it evokes a sense of timelessness. It is something that is passed down generations and cherished, not just because it is typically valued as a trade commodity, but because it has sentimental value to the wearer. It is often from a loved one and most people have some connection with a piece of jewelry.”

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While it could be easier to order a finding, they do things from start to finish instead. This allows them to know exactly where everything is coming from and to make sure that everything is reclaimed, creating high quality pieces that don’t harm the environment.

Some notably unique stones used in L.Shoff jewelry are fossilized woolly mammoth ivory and dinosaur bone, which are all cut by hand— creating the highest quality, and most durable, sustainable American made pieces.

Lauren’s compassion and unique craft doesn’t stop at repairing family heirlooms or transforming your family treasures into usable treasures you’ll actually wear, but also about her passion for sustainability.

As many are unaware, even once myself, the traditional jewelry industry is one of the most destructive industries of the world. Metal mining is an environmentally devastating process that dumps cyanide, lead and mercury into local water sources. These mines are also linked to poor working conditions and low safety standards, and can also displace communities.

A catalyst for change, L.SHOFF, vowed from the beginning to be entirely reclaimed and sustainable from start to finish.

Everything made by L.SHOFF is made with the environment in mind. This means that if it harms the environment or cannot be sustainably sourced, L.SHOFF won’t use it or make it, they will find an alternative solution instead, such as using existing jewelry and antique silvers, so as not to contribute to the negative effects of the jewelry industry.

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The main priority of L.SHOFF, no matter how large they grow, is to stay true to their initial core values and brand message. They source only within the United States, even down to the packaging and shipping materials, which are also all eco-friendly, reusable and biodegradable.

To further their commitment to environmental change within the jewelry industry, L.SHOFF is part of the 1% For The Planet campaign—meaning whatever is made through L.SHOFF and sold, 1% of their annual sales will go towards environmental studies. In addition to contributing to the 1% For The Planet campaign, L.SHOFF, this holiday season, has decided to take six of their most popular pieces and give all of the proceeds to three different charities and causes, which can be personally selected at checkout per customer.

So, not only can you buy something timeless for a loved one, you can also give back to another—let the giving season begin!

If you’re looking for a more one-of-a-kind piece, or OOAK, L.SHOFF has made a special collection just for you. This can help with the daunting custom order of not knowing what you want, and becomes a hassle-free way of picking something extra special for that special someone.

What’s more giving of a gift this holiday season than a timeless piece of fine jewelry that will be cherished for years to come, gives back to nature as well as charitable causes, and is made sustainably with the environment in mind this holiday season?! Nothing.

“ Jewelry evokes a sense of timelessness.

It is something that is passed down generations and cherished... ”

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Fine Art in the Zenith City WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELSEY ROSETH

T

owering over Duluth’s Observation Hill neighborhood is a stone, neo-gothic church with a majestic view of Lake Superior. Inside, you’d expect to find a congregation bowing their heads in prayer. Instead, you encounter something unexpected.

Nearly 100 years ago, hardworking Italian immigrants— stonemasons and bricklayers who lived in Duluth’s “Little Italy”—worked tirelessly on evenings and weekends, carving stones to build St. Peter’s Catholic Church, the spiritual and cultural heart of their community.

Flash-forward to seven years ago. The dwindling congregation faced daunting expenses to maintain the historic church, so it held its last Mass. Two years ago, artist Jeffrey T. Larson purchased the church. It’s fitting that the prominent place of worship now houses a school dedicated to an art form mistakenly considered historic—introducing the Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art.

GREAT LAKES ACADEMY OF FINE ART 22 MAKE IT MINNESOTA

“[Making art] is very similar to learning a language, and you can’t tell a story until you know the language.”

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Father-Son Team at the Helm of Rare Fine Art Academy in Northern Minnesota

The building’s inherent beauty provides a beautiful backdrop for the academy managed by a father-son team. Larson and his son Brock, both graduates and former instructors of The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Art in Minneapolis, now run one of the few fine art programs in the world.

Students from across the region moved to Duluth, Minnesota for what some call the biggest challenge of their life. At the academy, artists are pushed to see the world differently, shattering their preconceived notions of how art is created.

“We try to eliminate the creativity aspect to art. That comes later,” said assistant director and instructor Brock Larson. “It’s very similar to learning a language, and you can’t tell a story until you know the language.”

The story for his students begins in the 8,000-square-foot church’s former nave, now a fine art studio with 28-foot vaulted ceilings and substantial north-facing windows providing bright sunlight. There, you’ll find Larson, the academy’s founder and head instructor, and Brock firmly challenging their full-time students, sculpting them into artists who may one day develop a masterpiece. Downstairs, artists can seek respite in their new lounge and kitchen, or pursue inspiration in the gallery hall and rental studios, which are built near the on-site student apartment.

The academy provides opportunity for about a dozen carefully-selected students to work the program, which focus on small groups for more one-on-one time. The students learn at their own pace, with the full-time program lasting about four to five years.

The curriculum begins with black and white oil painting, leading up to still life, portraiture, and figure painting – which is one of the most difficult of all subjects to master. The students learn to effectively render light and shadows while drawing geometric shapes. They also learn to create copies of Bargue plates, an exercise that teaches students how to see and render shapes accurately.

It’s a stepping stone towards drawing from life, which was developed by the nineteenth century Parisian artist Charles Bargue.

“We are kind of wiping the slate clean and starting from scratch,” said Eric Rauvola, a Hermantown resident and graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Superior. There, he majored in writing and minored in art, and following his graduation he devoured books and online tutorials to personally continue his art education. During his research, he discovered what’s called the “Atelier model of fine art” and was shocked to find the rare program offered close to home.

The Atelier model gives students the opportunity to apprentice with representational painters who reintroduce traditional drawing and painting techniques. The Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art exists to uphold timeless art traditions, which date back to ancient Greece and Medieval Europe.

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Today, The Atelier movement is experiencing a renaissance, with Classical Realism in the forefront after years of being eclipsed by Post-Impressionism, Fauvism, Cubism, and other art movements that pulled the focus from fine art.

“It’s probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, to commit to a program like this,” said Rauvola, with a pencil in his right hand and his left tucked behind his back, he thoughtfully worked on a figure drawing of a male model. “I had only very barely scratched the surface of the type of curriculum that we started with here.” He’s paying the $7,600 per year tuition to try and make it as a fine art painter, one with a supportive following which would allow him to paint what he chooses.

Each incremental step of the academy’s curriculum is carefully created to further the artists’ skills as they move from two-dimensional to three-dimensional artwork. The students aren’t simply learning to draw and paint. They’re here to train their eyes correctly, simplifying nature into shapes, colors, value and intensities into a type of art called abstracting.

“When you are looking at the model, you don’t think nose, face, eye. You break it down into simple shapes,” said Jesse Kane, a student from Wilmot, South Dakota now in his second year of the program. To Kane, the program is less about cultivating creativity, instead he said it helps students develop intense self-discipline.

“It’s really about just breaking things down and translating it with your medium.”

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“It’s really about just breaking things down and translating it with your medium,” said Kane, who studied graphic design for two years at Alexandria Technical and Community College in Alexandria, Minnesota, while working and saving money to attend a prestigious art program. He’s now compelled to follow his passion and try to make a living as a fine artist. “I’m just as hungry as I was before to get better, maybe even more so,” he said as worked in a darkened room, with spotlights casting shadows as he used a pencil, eraser and plumb line to create cast drawings.

Both Kane and Rauvola said the instructors are honest and fair, providing firm yet constructive feedback on their weakest points, guiding them to develop a new mindset and technical skillset. As a testament to the popularity of the program – when the initial batch of students began in 2016, the church was still being renovated, and students kept their determination despite frequent foot traffic from contractors who worked on loud construction projects.

“It’s probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, to commit to a program like this.”

“They were setting the standard, as well as dealing with the construction noise,” said Brock Larson. “There were a lot of challenges that most students won’t have to deal with. Despite that they really pulled through and were receptive to what we were teaching. They put in all the hard work that we told them it was going to take… I couldn’t be prouder,” he said.

Capping off their successful first year, the academy hosted a student and instructor exhibition this past summer. While the program is small and new to Duluth, the instructors estimated that up to 700 people, including family, friends, and curious community members, attended their first night.

“You could barely hear each other, because there were so many people talking,” said Brock Larson. “It’s kind of rewarding that people are very curious, and impressed with what they’ve seen, both with the building and the students work.”

The Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art is currently accepting applications for full-time students, and is developing a part-time program, along with workshops and seminars to make fine art more accessible.

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Q & A

MINNESOTA STYLE

Yana Pietras & Ian O’Neill: Moth Oddities

Yana Pietras & Ian O’Neill own Moth Oddities, an online shop based in Minneapolis, MN. They specialize in highly-curated vintage fashion for women and men, circa 1950s–1990s. The Moth Oddities vintage collection is hand-selected all across the USA and Italy. Yana and Ian strongly believe in the power of recycled fashion and promote the importance of purchasing vintage goods to help reduce the amount of textiles that end up in landfills.

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“

As vintage connoisseurs, we emphasize the importance of purchasing vintage or recycled fashion.

There are already enough clothes on this planet!

”

Talk about the beginnings of Moth Oddities. What inspired you to begin this endeavor?

We started Moth Oddities in the summer of 2014. Moth Oddities evolved out of our shared passion for unearthing unique, high-quality vintage items that have stood the test of time. Together we would spend most weekends scouring the racks at local thrift stores. Date nights turned into vintage hunts! We have always been inspired by fashion that tells a story from the past, while also contributing to the betterment of our environment. Our goal at Moth Oddities is to continue to breathe new life into these items and present them in a contemporary light.

Do you remember the first time you connected with recycled fashion? Was it gradual or all at once?

YANA: My mom has taken me to thrift stores, antique stores, and garage sales since I was little. Recycled fashion was a part of my upbringing. I remember having mini yard sales where I would sell my lightly-worn clothing and style outfits all over the hill in the front yard of my childhood home. HA! IAN: I have always loved digging through garage sales, but I really got into thrifting when I started college, partially due to the necessity to find clothes and home goods on the cheap and partially because I could find one-of-a-kind items.

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Have you always been creative? How do you explore your creative voice?

YANA: I grew up in a creative household. My parents are both artists and own an architectural glass art company that they started together 45 years ago. Growing up in this environment made me creative in an entrepreneurial sense. They encouraged “out of the box” thinking and have always supported my ideas over the years. After high school I decided to go to college for graphic design at the University of Minnesota.

That’s where I met Ian! IAN: Before Moth Oddities I most often expressed my creativity in a more fine-art sense. Early in high school I studied drawing, painting, and photography. As I developed over the years I focused more on painting and then pursued a degree in graphic design in college. Yana and I currently explore our creative voices with Moth Oddities.

From curating our vintage collection, styling photo shoots, taking product photos, and updating our website and social media, the skills we learned in design school have been an integral part of the success of the Moth Oddities brand.

Your site shares that you promote the importance of purchasing vintage goods to help reduce the amount of textiles that end up in landfills. Do you feel like this aspect of the fashion industry is often forgotten about?

Definitely. The fashion industry is the second leading polluter in the United States, right after the oil industry. The mass production of clothing from fast

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“

The fashion industry is the second leading polluter in the United States, right after the oil industry. fashion retailers has so many disturbing factors involved that it’s difficult to know exactly what to focus on and how to digest it all at once.

Below is a brief overview of these issues: • Dangerous, substandard working conditions that result in health and safety risks for workers • Unfair wages for workers • Child labor • Detrimental environmental impacts with the sheer amount of clothing that is produced, sold, and ultimately thrown away, not to mention all of the toxic waste pumped into bodies of water and poison gases released into the air during production What are a few ways that people can become more cognizant consumers in today’s society?

We strongly believe that ethical fashion starts with the consumer! Just as there are many different problems with the fashion industry, there are many different ways to approach an ethical solution as well, such as: • Buying vintage/recycled (Our favorite!)

• Buying locally produced items (Look for ‘Made in USA’) • Buying fair trade items • Buying handmade items • Buying items that use eco-friendly materials • Buying items that use eco-friendly production techniques As vintage connoisseurs, we emphasize the importance of purchasing vintage or recycled fashion. There are already

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enough clothes on this planet! Every time a person purchases something recycled rather than new, they are helping to minimize the carbon footprint. These purchases can be made the most economically at thrift stores, but if the idea of spending time digging through used clothes isn’t your thing, there are many curated vintage shops out there!

We also focus a lot on small businesses in our day-to-day personal purchases.

One of our favorite quotes is “When you buy from a small business, an actual person does a little happy dance.” We like to keep this in mind when we shop. If we’re looking for something specific we’ll do a little research beforehand to see if there is a local business that specializes in this product. Supporting the local economy is huge!

In terms of living and making in Minnesota, do you feel connected to this place?

A lot of our business is done on the road, as we hand-select our vintage collection all across the USA, however, we do consider Minnesota to be our hub and we will likely always come back “home” to the Twin Cities.

Do you feel like making and creating through your business allows you to contribute to something larger than yourself?

Yes! As mentioned earlier, we are very passionate about ethical fashion, the betterment of the environment, and the health of the planet. We believe Moth Oddities is our way of expressing this passion and spreading awareness.

”

MINNESOTA KITCHEN

Lake Superior Kitchen WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY LISA WENTWORTH

I

returned to Duluth almost seven years ago after being away for college and some time after. My husband and I slowed at a stoplight while driving home to our new apartment and recognized the face in the car next to us. It was an old friend of mine, one I’d known since middle school. “Hey!” We called out, “Want to come over?” He replied, “Sure!” and followed us to our new apartment on the Hillside.

Bryan and I smiled at each other. This is why we moved back to Duluth. We missed being in a place where you run into people you know. Not so small that you feel trapped, but small enough that you really feel part of the community. In Duluth, with friends nearby, the last minute invitation almost always brings a “yes.”

That interaction started a new season of life for us. We were the newly married couple in our group of mostly single friends. My husband worked at the Whole Foods Coop in town and I liked to cook in my free time. We loved having people over and inviting friends to share a meal with us always felt right. Bryan would bring home an array of produce from the Coop that employees were able to snag for free. It was always things that needed to be eaten right away so I took on the task of turning the assortment of ingredients into something edible for ourselves and, often, some friends. I certainly GIVING - VOL 2, NO. 6 - 2017 31

had some failures, but, for the most part, things would go well. It challenged me to learn to work with whatever food was available to me, rather than pick and choose particular ingredients. I improved my bread-making skills because fresh bread is always delicious and makes any meal more impressive.

Trust me on that one.

Life moved quickly for Bryan and me. Seven years later we have three kids and an energetic dog. The last few years of learning to be parents brought all sorts of ups and downs, but one thing we have tried to keep constant is eating with friends.

Bryan and I know how much community means to both of us, so we have made a point to consistently invite people into our home to eat with us. For us, that has meant extending the invitation even when it seemed difficult or inconvenient. Three little kids, jobs, obligations, etc. fill up a lot of time. We try to invite people in, even when the timing doesn’t seem right, because we know it is the best thing for all of us. We want our home to be a place where people feel welcome to come anytime, sit at our table, and feel valued.

I challenge you to share a meal with someone this week. Push away stressful thoughts about the cleanliness of your house or your inability to cook well. Focus on the good that happens when you have an open table and break bread with friends.

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Roasted Kale & Bacon Salad

Recipe: Time:

30 min, serves 4

Ingredients:

1 large bunch of kale (6-7 cups loosely packed once chopped) ¾ c fresh cranberries 1 T pure maple syrup ¼ c shelled pistachios 2 T olive oil ½ t salt Cracked black pepper, to taste 6 oz bacon Coarse sea salt, to taste

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees F 2. Chop kale and place in a 9x13 pan 3. In small bowl, pour maple syrup over the cranberries and stir to coat 4. Pour the syrup coated cranberries over the kale 5. Sprinkle the pistachios over the kale 6. Drizzle 2 T olive oil and sprinkle the ½ t salt over everything 7. Add cracked black pepper, to taste (I use about 2 twists of the grinder) 8. Use your hands to mix everything together so that the olive oil and salt evenly coat the kale and other ingredients 9. Place the 9x13 pan in the oven and bake for 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes 10. Meanwhile, cook the bacon using your preferred method 11. Let the bacon cool enough to handle and cut the cooked bacon into ½ inch pieces 12. Once the kale is removed from the oven, sprinkle the bacon on top and stir to combine 13. Move the salad to a separate serving bowl, or individual plates, and sprinkle lightly with coarse sea salt 14. Serve warm

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Instagram Contest:

Humbled by Nature #MAKEITMN_THISISHUMBLE

For the Giving Issue Instagram Contest, we teamed up with Humble Apparel Co., a Minneapolis-based outdoor apparel and goods company with a focus on clean, modern design. Inspired by the incredible outdoors right here in Minnesota, this Instagram contest was all about appreciating, respecting, and preserving the beautiful land and water that make Minnesota an incredible place to visit and live. We’re proud to announce you can view more than 400 photos at #MakeItMN_ThisIsHumble!

We are so grateful for our partner, Humble Apparel Co., a company whose humble beginnings started in 2016 after the founders struggled to find modern apparel for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, one of their favorite places in Minnesota. So, this holiday season, Humble has decided to partner with Save the BWCA by donating 25% of their hat sales to their conservation efforts.

The Save the BWCA Campaign, led by Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness, was organized by local residents in and around Ely, Minnesota, who are dedicated to creating a national movement to protect the clean water, clean air and forest landscape of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and its watershed from toxic pollution caused by mining copper, nickel and other metals from sulfide-bearing ore.

The Top 20 winners are featured at makeitmn.com and the Top 10 winners are published here! Lastly, the #1 winning photographer, Nicholas Lundgren, will win an excellent prize package from Humble Apparel Co.-a big congratulations to Nicholas!

Now enjoy these photos!

WINNING IMAGE: Nicholas Lundgren - @its_time2go

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Honorable Mentions

Nina Giunta @ninag_unit

Jay Vanbebber @jvanbebber

Jennifer Halbert @jenhalbs

Sarah Johnson @1212saj

Samantha Matson @heelzdownsam

Will Wright @will_wright4

Amy Brummond @pinezenpottery

Josh Johnson @joshersupertramp

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2017 Shop Local Guide Featuring Makers + Artists from the Past Year of Stories

“With every piece I make, I try to find a way to innovate. That may be with scale, material, color, or design. Early on in my weaving work, I was challenged by my limited and new skills, and as I have become more proficient, my personal style evolved naturally.”

- Mandi Smethells Smoothhills Weaving

“Minnesota has a wonderful culture of artists and makers who have been crucial in supporting me in my endeavor to continue to grow as a woodworker. I have become deeply connected to the maker community in Minnesota and plan to continue to participate in it, in the hopes that I can encourage other young craftsmen to follow their passions.”

- Jessica Reno Felled Woodcrafts

“When you buy local, you are supporting your community, but you’re also supporting a stay at home mom like myself to help provide for their family and for their future. You are helping her accomplish something for herself in the midst of giving her all to her family, all the while giving her children an even better reason to look up to their mom, who had a dream, went with it, and is successful!”

- Michelle Stangl My Naptime Jewelry

View the full guide at makeitmn.com.

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T

hroughout 2017, we had the honor of featuring a wide range of fantastic Minnesota makers, artists, beekeepers, brewers, community-builders, chefs, photographers, farmers, and beyond. Every story told inspires us to find another.

Every new follower or subscriber lets us know we’re connecting with our community in impactful ways. Every conversation we have about why shopping local is important fuels our passion to create a magazine that celebrates Minnesota craft and community. We’re doing what we love here, and we hope you enjoy the 2017 Shop Local Guide—a collection of some of our most gift-able features of 2017!

“When we started Anywhere, it was just myself, my husband, and a big idea. We were sketching designs on the backs of napkins during our trips. A lot happened during train rides especially in Japan, or transatlantic flights. It was always the moments of transit that allowed the best thinking.”

- Kelly Koster Anywhere Apparel

“I have been creating/making things since I can remember. I think for a lot of people, creating and being creative is all about the process—whether it is cooking or sewing or soldering. For me, the process is the creative part. My work allows me to express myself in a way that not only do I get to express myself, but the person who is wearing it gets to express themselves as well. There is something amazing about that.”

- Larissa Loden Larissa Loden Jewelry

“At the end of the day the real reward in being a maker is knowing that my product lives on without me. The guitar I make today is probably going to end up in the hands of someone more musically talented than me and bring joy to those who hear them play. And who knows, in turn they might be inspired to learn to play a guitar, or make one. And the cycle continues. Just like repurposing what might be considered trash into something functional and beautiful. Art doesn’t have to end with its maker to live on as art. That’s a really powerful way to get to make a living.”

- Gipson Shoemaker Lucky Devil Guitars

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