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Northland Flavor Artists 2010 |
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I create windows into nature with woodcut and linocut prints, illustrating life with informative accuracy, beauty, empathy and humor. My purpose is to connect us with the infinitely wild world and, in one small way, help us find our place on earth. |
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I find
inspiration in the palette of the outdoors and often try to emulate
this in glass. enjoy the medium itself and the act of working with
glass in its natural state. In its molten form, glass looses its
fragility, and becomes something I can control. By shaping,
stretching, and blowing I bring it to life. New colors are
constantly emerging and the thrill of working new colors or new
techniques keeps me coming back for more. When creating a work, I
strive to use techniques that will foster a sense of awe in those
who view my art.
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I combine artistry and chemistry to create extraordinary products that simply and naturally pamper skin. After struggling with skin problems all my life (allergic reactions to synthetic fragrances and chemical additives, rashes from harsh irritants), I finally discovered the healing benefits of natural, handcrafted soap. All my skin problems disappeared, and now I share that discovery through my creations.
During 8 years of soapmaking, I have studied the qualities and benefits of natural oils, essential oils, and botanicals. My soaps, skin oils, and body butters nourish, protect, and restore skin, scalp, and hair to their natural beauty - soft, moisturized, and healthy.
What we put on our bodies is as important as what we put in them. I use only the finest vegetable and nut oils, with uncompromising attention to quality. Because I make every batch of soap from scratch, each bar is unique and special. I never use synthetic fragrances or perfumes, added colorants, or animal fats. My soaps produce wonderful, thick lather and turn one of our most basic, daily activities into a joyful, luxurious experience.
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Nature is my sanctuary
and my inspiration. I choose to share this connection through my
bead and fiber art. Living and working on the North Shore for more
than 20 years, I have come to know the shoreline, forest trails, and
gardens of my Northern Minnesota home. I see the waters flow, trees
reach and flowers gesture. It brings a sense of peace. To "paint" my impressions of natures ever-changing pattern, light, and color I sew tiny glass beads on textiles. I call the process “painting with beads”. |
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My family comes fro White Earth
Reservation, "Gaawaabaa Biganikaag". I was raised by my
grandmother Nokomis, who instilled traditional values and the
language in me at a young age. Growing up I learned how to draw
and carve from my uncle an cousin. One day I was carving an
eagle feather out of a wood chip and my auntie told me that I
should try to make that little feather into an earring with some
wire and beads. So, I did. Then by chance people started to love
the earrings that were eagle (migiizi) feathers. What started
out as a hobbie soon became a business. Later I started making
cribbage boards, feathered key chains, birch bark lighter cases
and hand drawn envelopes. To our people (Anishenabe) the golden
eagle feather represents spirituality and is used in almost all
of our ceremonies. To wear the eagle feathered earrings is a
sign of spirituality. Each set is blessed by a Madaywinini
(medicine man) to let you walk with our creator (Kiche Manitou).
Thanks (migwetch).
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Click here to view Lydia Walker's Artist Statement | ||
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Naomi Yaeger is a photojournalist living in Duluth, Minn. She
photographs people, events and scenery in Duluth and surrounding
areas. She is the editor of The Hillsider a monthly neighborhood publication, and always carries a camera. In 2008 she created the weblog named Duluth Daily Photo. Everyday she takes many photos and uploads one uniquely Duluth image to this website. Each posting includes a short history or nuggets of information to help viewers better understand Duluth’s unique character. Join her on her explorations of Duluth by subscribing to www.DuluthDailyPhoto.com. While many of her images look familiar, the text of the post might introduce you to new insights to this city on the hill by the lake. Spending the majority of her life living above the 45th parallel, Yaeger has a passion for the Northland and the seasons of the year. Her images celebrate both the raw beauty of the environment along with slice of life everyday scenes enjoyed by the people who make UpNorth their home.
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My greatest hope is that my photographs infect others with a sense
of wonder and a desire to protect the natural world. My work is focused on the interactions between humans and nature. I’ve always enjoyed being in nature, exploring by myself or with my dog. My curiosity about plants and animals was nurtured by my father, who grew up in a small farming community in southern Iowa. Our family always lived somewhere between urban and rural life, so I experienced the best and worst of both worlds. These early experiences are at the heart of my current photographic obsession with nature. I’ve always felt that I see the world differently from everyone else, and work to convey my point of view in my photographs. I am interested in the way humans regard and react to nature, especially wildlife. I’m hurt by people’s mindset that the planet is ours to do with what we please. My ultimate goal for my artwork is to snap people out of that mindset and get them to consider and respect the natural world. My current goal is to work for a travel or natural history magazine-which will give me an opportunity to travel the world exploring a variety of topics.
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My art is the means by which I capture and reflect the spiritual realm. I explore the invisible. I describe what cannot be seen. I seek a dimension that is as fragile as a breath. Since childhood I have been studying the metaphysical and believe there is a magical world, beyond the physical, all around us, right on our skin. This body of work represents my interpretation of a magical dimension. Nature knows the story. It whispers to us as we walk through the woods. The legacy of our ancestors is imprinted on our souls. They didn’t know the answers before they passed on, but they knew how to touch what cannot be touched. The spiritual realm can be glimpsed during the fleeting moments when a ray of sunlight pauses on a pane of glass. These moments are magic: telling a story, singing a song, flashing briefly before the earth continues its rotation and the sun moves on. I am inspired to create glass tiles, window panels and decorative ornaments, infused with historical tile designs, vintage quilt patterns and plant life images, as a tribute to sunlight on glass. I use repeating patterns, muted colors and text as a means of capturing those fleeting seconds, when magic happens and a story is told.
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I am an artist
expressing myself in the medium of stone, |
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Superior Herbals Natural Skin Care products are hand-made in
small batches along the north shore of Lake Superior. These
quality products sell themselves, and customers return to buy
more. We have been in business since 1999 and have provided
more than 50 retailers in MN, WI an MI with products. Most of
these retailers have been with us for many years.
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Click here to view Janet Billig's Artist Statement | ||
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I started working in clay in 1979, and have always felt a strong connection to clay. The clay feels so soothing in my hands, it draws me in. I love creating functional pottery that can be used everyday, but also enjoy the beauty of the horse hair pottery that is strictly decorative, made only to bring pleasure. Through the years I have experimented in different mediums, and enjoy the process of learning and creating. Expressing myself through art is freeing to me. Inspired by the many colors and shapes around me and nature is such a big part of that. The possibilities are endless, and I am only limited by my own imagination. Creating brings me such joy and sharing my art with others is the culmination!
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Sweetgrass Trading Company showcases intricately beaded lovlies, all
of which are handmade in a sunny, if at times chilly, studio in
Northern Minnesota. Finely beaded pieces include our very popular
3-dimensional dragonflies, traditional Native American-inspired
leatherwork, and delicate etched shell jewelry.
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Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall, life at the edge of the woods near the shore of Lake Superior, inspires my original Hand Knit Infant and Toddler sweaters, hats, booties, and mittens. The views from my window, as well as the requests from my loyal customers provide me with endless ideas for my hand knit fashions that I embellish with whimsical, crocheted creatures using kid friendly yarns. In addition to my sweater fashions, I enjoy creating hand knit, felted, crocheted ornaments and custom made Christmas stockings, designed to bring cheer to your Holiday season.
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Northland Flavor TM | Copyright 2009 | Northeast Entrepreneur Fund, Inc. |
