Artisan Development Program
Meet Cal Stalvig
Cal Stalvig is a sculptor and Resident Artisan in the Artisan Development Program. In his first post, Cal writes about moving to Grand Marais, the language of wood, and inviting the past into the present.
Beauty In the Tension
What's the point of making beautiful things when it feels like the world is unraveling? In this blog post, Lauren Newby reflects on beauty as a reason to care for one another and for the places that sustain us.
Armchairs and Ultramarine Blue
Inspired by the electric blues of Sweden, Lauren Newby set out to mix the perfect ultramarine for her Windsor armchair, using a combination of milk paint and raw earth pigments.
Dark Pigs and House Dragons
Have you met the mythical House Dragon? How about the Pig of Darkness? Read on to discover the roots behind these whimsical creatures Jake Fee is carving.
Inez Attemark's spinning wheel
The tools we use bear our stories. In this blog post, Mathilde Yakymets-Lind writes about a well-loved spinning wheel they saw in Sweden and shares the story of Inez Attemark and her relationship with this wheel.
A Brief History of Looms: From Weaver-Controlled to Loom-Controlled
Loom technology has changed drastically over time, from completely hand-operated to modern and mechanized. In this blog post, Josie Cooke wonders: which weaving tools make the most sense for her craft?
Chairmaking, Ways of Working
Craft begins with the materials. In this blog post, Resident Artisan Lauren Newby writes about making chairs and stools, and the differences between working with dry lumber and working with green wood.
Sweden's Craft Consultants and the Value of Handcraft
In Sweden, craft consultants support professional craftspeople and engage local communities in craft education. Jake Fee writes about their work and poses a question—what would the Midwest look like if we had craft consultants here?
Hej from Sweden!
As weaver Josie Cooke traveled through Sweden, a set of questions guided her journey. How did people make textiles long ago? What does it mean to continue these crafts? And what will her contribution to the story of textiles be?
The delight is in the details
In the dark of winter, craft brings unexpected color. In this blog post, Mathilde Yakymets-Lind writes about the braids, bands, and mobiles they found on their trip to Sweden.