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May 2005 News
Calumet's Historic Vertin Building exhibits local art
More Photos of Finlandia students' art installation
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Finlandia students Lauren Roell, foreground, of Chatam, and Emily Ragan
of Chassell tie the bound beaver sticks to the frame. (Photo © 2005 Hannu
Leppänen)
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The installation began with the lashing of the frame. Each piece of wood used in the construction of the installation was chewed by
beavers. None have been cut or sanded.
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Finlandia students tie on sticks with balance in mind. Pictured clockwise from upper right
are Joe Junttila, Samantha Voigt, Lizzy Walkonen, Emily Cadeau, Lauren Roell, Emily Ragan.
(Photo © 2005 Hannu Leppänen)
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There is a web of white cotton string laced across the railing of the third floor. The students began the web by walking or tossing the
string across the opening. Occasionally balls of string would drop through the webbing. Those were cut and became the hanging system
for the stories. The black "bows" on each stick are cut from scrap wool fabric donated to the Finlandia fiber department by
Jacquart, Inc.,
of Ironwood.
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This photo was shot from the fourth floor and shows Finlandia
students working on three floors. Pictured on the third floor are Annie Larson,
left, of
Ewen and Carrice McKinstry of Colorado; on the second floor, Joe Junttila of
Calumet; and on the first floor, Lizzy Walkonen, rig;ht, of Calumet and Samantha Voigt (in pink) of
Ewen. Artist Phyllis Fredendall, left, is looking up. (Photo © 2005 Hannu Leppänen)
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The cloth shapes are what remain after Kromer caps are cut
from it. Kromer caps are the wool caps that were made in Milwaukee for 100 years, then Bob Jacquart bought the right to make them in Ironwood.
They have a great legend behind them: "Stormy Kromer," who was a railroad engineer and baseball
player, wanted a cap that would stay on his head and keep him warm. So, picture a baseball cap with earflaps out
of wool. Traditionally they are red or black, but they are now being made in all kinds of great colors.
The frame is suspended from a cross of rope and a ring, which Ed Gray, Gordon Borsvold, Marilyn Dammann and Maria Formolo
installed on the fourth floor of the atrium. Sticks are suspended from the frame as well as from the
railings of the third and fourth floors. The railing of the second floor is shrouded in 108" wide muslin.
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In this fourth floor view of the installation through the frame, the string web
is evident. This photo was taken after the first stories written on the cloth strips were attached.
(Photo © 2005 Phyllis Fredendall)
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Twenty sculpture students participated in the foundational construction of the installation in
early April. The piece was further developed and completed with the help of Victor Harrington and Lizzy
Walkonen.
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This is a view of the installation from below. (Photo © 2005 Hannu Leppänen)
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More photos ...
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The completed installation invites visitors to read stories of Copper Country
residents on the cloth hangings. In the background are felt works by Phyllis
Fredendall (see page 1). (Photo © 2005 Hannu Leppänen)
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Maria Formolo, dressed as "Tree Woman," dances among the story
hangings. (Photo © 2005 Hannu Leppänen)
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The Historic Vertin Building, with its Gallery, is located at 220 Sixth
Street (on the corner of Sixth and Oak streets) in Calumet. Regular Gallery hours are
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The gallery is closed Mondays.
Editor's Note: We regret the delay in posting this second page of
photos.
Visit the Keweenaw Now discussion forums to comment
on this article.
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