smithy.

    more exciting 'north art crawl' tales: 

   daniel kretchmar is a blacksmith from east bethel minnesota. this is his story and mine, on a day not too long ago when I visited his authentic blacksmith shop.

   his place is situated in a nice wooded area and lots of interesting things seemed to be everywhere on his land and in his barn where daniel's blacksmith shop is located. the shop was a very cool space with millions of things to look at, and to just try and guess their purpose. 

   while I was there daniel demonstrated elements of his craft and showed us some of his creations. daniel, his apprentice and his children were all very friendly and seemed really glad to have lots of visitors. well...  I was glad to be one of them.

mind your beard! 

watch your fingers!

   amongst the many things that daniel makes are these beautiful knives, wow. he described the laborious process he used to create it. he says he heats it, 'pulls' it out, folds it back over on itself, pounds it flat and repeats, over and over, layer upon layer. he turns out a pretty cool piece, I must say. good work daniel.

careful, sharp!

??

???

   I could have wandered around in daniel's shop forever, there's so much interesting 'stuff' to look at. 

but all good things must come to an end...  so, I hope that I shall be able to return sometime, perhaps next year, in the mean time:

'may your fire burn bright and

your fingers stay attached and may the birds that fly outside your window have beautiful wives and good relationships and may there always be some grog in you cupboard and may your wife always smell good and smile a lot'

sven.

irontree

gnome 3b.

although sisters, who seldom spoke...

spoke now of trees or ice.

and noticed fog returning. pray until then,

for time... home safe.

sven.






(gnome 3b. april 2013. iphone. sven)

moonbeam.

though they were often here,

and the questions linger still. 

how have all our friends who once lived on the hill...

sven.

(moonbeam. april, 2013. sven. watercolor, neon paint, ink, pencil, crayon on paper > iphone > iphoto  etc.)

nodak breakfast.

long hard miles on rosie.
small town in north dakota.
I'm hungry, rosie's tired.
rest rosie, I'll breakfast with strangers.

sven. la strada.

wether report.

this vital wether report now in:

last night, above. today, below.

melting. soon, spring come to moors.

sven.

on the ridgway.

we used to go to ridgway. sunset and nights forever.

we never returned together.

their lights twinkling on and on.

sven.

art in the sticks.

   a weekend a little while back: the north art crawl. it's spread across a large area due north of minneapolis minnesota, in distant suburbs or in the rural areas beyond. I visited several of these artists on sunday.

   the day was pleasant. the music and the drive relaxing. above is a house I saw along the route. I couldn't quite figure out what was going on with this house, is it two units? it's interesting. kinda cool.

   these roads have been my stomping grounds for a long time and feel familiar. home. though there's quite a bit of distance between stacy and blaine (my teen circuit) I consider this whole area my home. I've had a few adventures out here believe you me. 

   65 hi was not far south of here. a dumpy drive in that I frequented on weekends in the summer along with a pile of other teenagers. I recall pulling in on a friday or saturday night and the place would be completely packed. dust choking the air during the 'exodus' in, and after each of the three movies. the back of the drive in: fete de rue. weird snack bar, weird movies, cool cars, nice weather and friends - what luxury.

   meanwhile back at the art 'crawl', things were really hopping as I checked out the stuff below:

   

all the cool pottery above is by chad jerzak.

it's 'raku barrel fired ceramic art'.

his stuff is great. I liked the more accidental stuff the most of all, but all of it was incredible.  

the piece below is by ken borchardt. it's bronze. his stuff was very interesting.

both of these guys were in a nondescript studio in blaine minnesota.

I must say it was a fine afternoon adventure 

full of reminiscing, cruising, tunes and seeing some nice art. 

thanks, chad and ken. if possible I'll try not to miss this next year. 

I didn't go to too many studios (four), 

but due to the distances between studios, that was about right.  

more 'incredible' north art crawl stories to come, 

for now, that's all she wrote.

sven.

chad.

ken.

la strada.

heading west doing 80. 

and my triumph thunderbird is...

 golden smoky mountain days.

lonely highways northern montana. 

sven.

for rosie.

wintermoor.

she offered up to me,

these words she said were true:

there is no time on tuesday,

so waste no time at all.

as those who rest in slumber,

and like the oak and crow,

may their winter home forever,

lie here at wintermoor.

sven.

(april, 2013. columbus, minnesota. iphone)

if we sail together.

we are alive. your chocolate sunrise?

birds chirping, but not like usual.

they sing because they know.

sven.

(san francisco. september 2012. iphone)

jamey's cafe.

if the thunder starts.

more rain. it's getting hard to see anything to the east.

you still think it's a reason. sven.

(butte montana. jamey's cafe. 1970s. caer no. mt -35-50)

winter witch.

the witch of the north is showing herself.

the timber trembles.

the wind is lost.

sven.

black oak.

dear sweet readers,
thank you for sharing my 'perfect mess'. as I do appreciate those souls who have tried to understand what old sven's up to, I thought I'd let you know that I do.
with gratitude and sympathies, sven.

winter come back to moors.

the evening brings the same.

in the morning the pen.

winter is back.

sven.

heaven in a drop of dew.

how did I get here?
you were sent here.
it's so cold.
come back to me.
sven.

niko.

a friend of mine died for the 1st time.

after, when I asked where he was going...

he told me the truth.

sven.

(niko pirosmani. 1895.)

greece.

I heard birds at midnight.

rainy night. rainy day.

I heard birds at noon.

sven. 100.

if the sandhill cranes return...

 remember she said:
you hear before see them.
always on sunday. rainy.
if the sandhill cranes return...
sven.