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>>> "COMMON GROUND" IS FUNDED BY
THE MINNESOTA ARTS AND CULTURAL
HERITAGE FUND, AND THE CITIZENS
OF MINNESOTA.
CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY
CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC
WWW.CAPTIONASSOCIATES.COM
>> HI, I'M RACHEL JOHNSON AND
THANKS FOR JOINING US ON "COMMON
GROUND."
IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE, MEET PAT
RIEGERT FROM BEMIDJI, WHO
CONSTRUCTS AND PLAYS CIGAR BOX
GUITARS.
ILLUSTRATOR EMILY WENDLAND
STRIVES TO MAKE AN IDENTITY FOR
HERSELF IN THE BEMIDJI ARTS
COMMUNITY.
WE INSTEAD TO NEVIS, WHERE
DOZENS OF MUSICAL GROUPS FROM
ALL OVER THE MIDWEST HAVE
TRAVELED TO PERFORM AT NEVIS
MUSKIE DAYS.
¶
¶ ¶
¶ ¶
>> NEVIS MUSKIE DAYS HAS BEEN A
LOT OF THINGS OVER THE YEARS.
IT START OUT, YOU KNOW, OF
COURSE 62 YEARS AGO.
AND THEY USED TO HAVE A CARNIVAL
IN TOWN.
AND THEN WHEN THE CARNIVAL
STOPPED, DWINDLED DOWN AND THEY
HAD A COUPLE OF BAND, YOU KNOW.
IT WAS KIND OF GETTING DOWN NOT
THAT MANY PEOPLE.
BUT WE STARTED BRINGING MUSIC
BACK IN.
AND THIS -- THE MUSIC FESTIVAL
IS LIKE THE NEW CARNIVAL.
AND IT'S REALLY BRINGING PEOPLE
FROM FARTHER AND FARTHER AWAY
EVERY YEAR.
WE HAD ONE BAND ON SATURDAY
NIGHT FOUR YEARS AGO AND THEN WE
ENDED UP THREE YEARS AGO HAVING
ABOUT SIX BANDS, BECAUSE WE GOT
THE TENT TO PUT THEM IN.
LAST YEAR WE HAD ABOUT 13 BANDS.
THIS YEAR WE HAVE ABOUT 30
BANDS.
30.
FOUR STAGES, OUTDOOR TENT
STAGES.
MORE VENDORS THAN EVER.
IT'S JUST BEEN FANTASTIC.
¶ ¶ ONE THING I REALLY LIKE
ABOUT THE FEEL OF NEVIS MUSKIE
DAYS THIS YEAR IS IT FEELS LIKE
A MUSIC FESTIVAL.
IT FEELS LIKE FESTIVALS I'VE
BEEN AT.
USED TO RUN AROUND WITH THE
GRATEFUL DEAD IN THIS NECK OF
THE WOODS.
YOU KNOW, YOU GET THAT SPIRIT OF
EVERYTHING IS JUST KIND OF
FLOWING BETWEEN PEOPLE.
A LOT OF THINGS TO SEE.
A LOT OF FUN.
A LOT OF SMILES.
AND THIS YEAR IT JUST CLICKED
INTO THAT FEEL.
MY NAME IS BRIAN SKINIS.
I OPEN TERRAPIN STATION IN
NEVIS, MINNESOTA.
AND FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS,
WE'VE HAD MUSICIANS COME AND
PLAY AT TERRAPIN STATION AND GOT
AN GOOD NETWORK OF PEOPLE WHO
WANT TO COME UP AND PLAY MORE.
SO THAT'S HOW WE'VE ESTABLISHED
THE MUSIC INTO NEVIS MUSKIE
DAYS.
WITH ME IS STEVE DOWNING FROM
KBXE, NORTHERN COMMUNITY RADIO.
AND FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS,
THEY'VE BEEN PART OF THIS
CELEBRATION, GETTING THE WORD
OUT ON THE RADIO STATION, AND
NOW THIS YEAR WITH KBXE UP IN
BEMIDJI.
IT'S SO NICE TO BE ASSOCIATED
WITH KAAXE.
BECAUSE THE MUSIC THAT THEY PLAY
IS A LOT OF THE KIND OF MUSIC
THAW HEAR AT THIS FESTIVAL AT
NEVIS MUSKIE DAYS.
¶ ¶
¶ ¶
>> THE MUSIC ITSELF IS PRETTY
DIVERSE.
>> YEAH.
>> AND THAT'S -- THAT'S AN
IMPORTANT -- AN IMPORTANT
CRITERIA AT NORTHERN COMMUNITY
RADIO, DIVERSITY OF PROGRAMMING.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT
WHEN YOU TURN ON 91.7 OR 90.5.
YOU'RE GOING TO A VOLUNTEER,
YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR SOME STUFF
YOU'VE NEV HEARD BEFORE.
YOU CAN HEAR IT NEXT TO
SOMETHING YOU'VE NEVER HEARD
BEFORE.
CRITICAL.
AND THAT'S EDUCATIONAL FOR ALL
CONCERNS.
¶ ¶
>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME, BECAUSE
GAS PRICES ARE GETTING
EXPENSIVE.
AND I WANT TO HAVE MUSIC IN MY
HOMETOWN.
AND SO WE USED TO DRIVE DOWN TO
BONNER ROO, IN TENNESSEE AND IT
WOULD JUST -- IT'S SO MUCH FUN
TO BRING MUSIC HERE.
AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY.
BECAUSE WE REALLY HAVEN'T HAD A
LOT OF THE BANDS IN THIS NECK OF
THE WOODS BEFORE OR A PLACE TO
REALLY HOST THEM.
WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT
GENRES, FOLK, GOSPEL, BLUES, JAM
BANDS, JAZZ.
THERE'S JUST SO MANY DIFFERENT
STYLES.
AND THE WAY THAT WE TRY TO
ORGANIZE IT IS THAT THERE'S
DIFFERENT STYLES AT DIFFERENT
STAGES.
SO IF YOU DON'T LIKE THIS ONE
PARTICULARLY, YOU JUST MOVE DOWN
TO ANOTHER ONE.
WE STAGGER THEM SO PEOPLE CAN
SEE A LITTLE BIT OF ALL OF THEM.
THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.
¶ ¶
>> FAMILY IS ONE OF THE REAL
IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT NEVIS
MUSKIE DAYS.
IT'S NOT JUST BAR BAND AND, YOU
KNOW, SONGS THAT PEOPLE ARE
NORMALLY USED TO HEARING.
THIS IS ONE THAT STRETCHES YOUR
EXPERIENCE OF MUSIC AND IT ALSO
INVOLVES KIDS AND OLD PEOPLE.
I MEAN, EVERY AGE REALLY GETS
INVOLVED.
AND I LOVE SEEING KIDS ON THE
DANCE FLOOR.
¶ ¶
>> PEOPLE THAT COME FROM OUT OF
TOWN, ESPECIALLY IF THEY COME
FROM A BIG CITY, WHERE THERE'S
SO MANY THINGS WHERE YOU CAN GO
OUT AND SEE MUSIC AND DIFFERENT
THINGS, WHEN THEY COME UP TO
NEVIS MUSKIE DAYS, I THINK THEY
ARE AMAZED AT HOW A SMALL TOWN
CAN BRING THIS MUCH TALENT IN
ONE SPOT FOR A WEEKEND.
AND IT'S LIKE I CAN'T BELIEVE
THIS IS NEVIS.
YOU HEAR THAT.
>> NORTHERN COMMUNITY RADIO.
THE MISSION STATEMENT IS TO
BUILD COMMUNITY IN NORTHERN
MINNESOTA.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT A
FESTIVAL LIKE THIS DOES.
MUSIC AND ART, IT ENHANCES THAT
COMMUNITY.
>> EVERY YEAR IT'S EVOLVED.
THE WAY THAT IT'S GROWN AND THE
WAY PEOPLE RESPOND TO THE MUSIC
THAT'S PLAYED HERE HAS BEEN
PHENOMENAL.
>> I'M EMILY WENDLAND.
I'M A STUDENT AT B.S.U.
I'M GETTING A DEGREE IN ART.
I HOPE TO BE AN ILLUSTRATOR.
SOME OF MY WORK UP HERE RIGHT
NOW IS FOR A SHOW I'M HAVING AT
DUNN BROTHERS WITH A FELLOW
STUDENT OF MINE.
AND IT'S KIND OF NATURE THEMED.
I REALLY ENJOY DRAWING ANIMALS
AND WILDLIFE AND I THOUGHT THIS
WOULD BE KIND OF A DIFFERENT
SPIN ON NATURE SHOT YOU MIGHT
SEE AROUND BEMIDJI.
I DREW DIFFERENT WILDLIFE AND
THEN KIND OF ADDED FUN, BRIGHT
SHAPES AND COLORS AND LINES TO
MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE VISUALLY
INTERESTING.
SO, YES.
WHAT I'M GOING TO DO TODAY IS
JUST KIND OF GO THROUGH HOW I
SKETCH OUT AN ANIMAL OR COME UP
WITH IDEAS FOR A PIECE.
I'M GOING TO DRAW A LOON.
ALL OF MY WORK -- ALL OF MY
DRAWINGS ARE FREE HAND.
AND LIKE I SAID, I USE REFERENCE
PICTURES.
SO I'LL JUST KIND OF DO THE
BASICS.
BASIC HOW YOU LEARN TO DRAW IN
7th GRADE ART CLASS.
JUST START WITH OVALS TO GET MY
PROPORTION CORRECT.
BUT I HAD SEEN AN ART PIECE
ONLINE THAT WAS A DEER HEAD MADE
OUT OF A BUNCH OF TRIANGLES.
AND THAT KIND OF INSPIRED ALL OF
THESE PIECES.
I ACTUALLY JUST WAS ON KIND OF A
KICK OF DRAWING ANIMALS AND
INTEGRATING THE GEOMETRIC
SHAPES.
SO I ACTUALLY HAD A LOT OF THESE
BEFORE I EVEN PUT TOGETHER THE
SHOW.
OR LIKE MADE IT INTO A SHOW.
SO LIKE I MADE THE ART PIECES
FIRST.
AND THEN KIND OF FIGURED OUT A
THEME AFTERWARDS.
AFTER I HAD A FEW PIECES
ALREADY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO KIND OF
DEVELOPING A STYLE OF
ILLUSTRATION THAT PEOPLE CAN
SEE.
ONE OF MY ILLUSTRATIONS, YOU CAN
KIND OF RECOGNIZE IT AS MINE
WITHOUT HAVING TO SEE MY NAME
RIGHT BESIDE IT.
I THINK MY STYLE OF DRAWING IS
PRETTY CONSISTENT.
I MEAN, REGARDLESS OF LIKE ALL
THE CRAZY COLORS AND TRIANGLES,
LIKE IN MY WORK RIGHT NOW, I'M
FAIRLY REALISTIC WHEN DRAWING.
AND I THINK THAT KIND OF STAYS
THE SAME IN ALL OF MY ART PIECE.
ILLUSTRATIONS GIVE A LITTLE MORE
SENSE OF IMAGINATION, LIKE YOU
CAN DRAW IN OR ADD IN THINGS
THAT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE
REALISTIC AND YOU CAN GET A
PHOTO OF.
YOU CAN GET A LITTLE MORE
EMOTION OR MORE OF AN IDEA OR
CONCEPT INTO AN ILLUSTRATION,
VERSUS JUST A PHOTOGRAPH, LIKE A
PHOTOGRAPH THAT WOULD BE WITH A
NEWSPAPER ARTICLE OR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT.
I GUESS MAYBE YOU CAN GET MORE
OF AN IDEA ACROSS.
THERE'S A LITTLE MORE FREEDOM IN
ILLUSTRATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET MORE INTO
MAKING GREETING CARDS OUT OF MY
ILLUSTRATIONS.
LIVING IN A TOWN LIKE BEMIDJI
HAS BEEN REALLY HELPFUL TO KIND
OF MAKE A NAME FOR MYSELF AS AN
ARTIST.
BEMIDJI HAS BEEN REALLY
SUPPORTIVE OF THE ARTS.
AND IT'S BEEN HELPFUL TO HAVE SO
MANY ART FAIRS AROUND TOWN AND
DIFFERENT COFFEE SHOPS AND
RESTAURANTS THAT ARE WILLING TO
TAKE NEW ARTISTS' WORK AND
DISPLAY THEM.
I DID HOLIDAYS BY HAND AT THE
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB IN BEMIDJI.
AND I SOLD QUITE A FEW THERE.
AND THEN I DID HAVE THAT LOT SIX
FAIR LAST SUMMER.
HAVING ART BE SO MUCH A PART OF
THE COMMUNITY, LIKE HAVING IT
DISPLAYED, HAVING LIKE THE
DIFFERENT SCULPTURE WALK AND
DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.
I THINK IT BENEFITS THE
COMMUNITY AND THE ARTISTS.
I MEAN, I'M BEING AN ARTIST.
I'M BIASED TO HAVING ART AROUND.
I LIKE DOING -- WHEN I'M DRAWING
OR ILLUSTRATING, I LIKE USING
PENCIL AND THEN USING MICRON
PENS OR PEN OVER THAT.
PAUSE YOU CAN JUST ERASE THE
PENCIL MARKING UNDERNEATH AND
THE PEN WILL STAY IF YOU WANT TO
PAINT OR COLLAGE ON TOP OF THAT.
THEN THAT'S WORKED OUT WELL FOR
A LOT OF PIECES I'VE DONE.
THE COLORS I WILL PROBABLY USE
TO PAINT THIS THEN WON'T BE
TYPICAL NORMAL COLORS TO MAKE IT
MORE INTERESTING AND STAND APART
FROM A PHOTOGRAPH, I MIGHT USE
LIKE PURPLE OR PINK, WATER
RATHER THAN LIKE BLUE SKY, BLUE
WATER.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE
ILLUSTRATING, YOU HAVE THAT
FREEDOM TO DO THAT VERSUS A
PHOTOGRAPH.
IF ANYONE WANTS TO CHECK OUT MY
WORK, IT'S AT THE OLD UMBRELLA
FOR SALE IN DOWNTOWN BEMIDJI.
¶
¶
¶
¶
>> MY NAME IS PAT RIEGERT.
AND I BUILD CIGAR BOX GUITARS.
IT'S ONE OF THE MORE RECENT
BUILDS THAT I DID.
THIS IS -- I'VE GOT A DOOR
HINGE.
THE HOLES DRILLED IN THERE.
THAT'S THE PICTURE HANGER WITH A
BOLT, A THREADED BOLT HERE.
KIND OF A DECORATIVE COVER PIECE
HERE.
A GROMMET HERE FOR SOUND HOLE,
WHICH WORKS JUST FINE.
I'VE GOT HERE TO LAY OUT THE
MARKS, THIRD, FIFTH, SEVENTH
POSITION, WHAT HAVE YOU ON THE
FRONT THERE.
THESE ARE TAXES PUT IN.
POINT OF REFERENCE.
HERE WE GOT OUR NUT HERE WITH
THE THREADED BOLT.
AND THESE -- ON THIS ONE I
SELECTED TO USE FINISHING NAILS
FOR FRET, SANDED THESE DOWN ON
THE SIDE THERE.
YOU KNOW.
I'VE GOT G, C, G.
AND THIS IS ALSO AMPLIFIABLE SO
YOU CAN REALLY ROCK THE
NEIGHBORS OUT HERE.
WE LIKE TO DO.
THAT HERE WE'VE GOT A DOOR
STOPPER FOR ACCENT SOUND
EFFECTS, SOMETHING A LITTLE ODD
AND SOMETHING KIND OF COOL, TOO,
AT THE SAME TIME.
HEY, TRY ANYTHING.
AND THIS ONE -- I'M VERY PLEASED
WITH THIS ONE.
THIS ONE PLAYS VERY NICE.
>> YEAH.
>> DOES THAT SOUND GOOD?
>> YEAH.
[LAUGHTER]
¶
>> I GOT INTO LOOKING AROUND.
YOU KNOW, I SAW A PICTURE OF A
FELLA HOLDING ONE OF THESE SMALL
LITTLE BOXES.
HE'S PLAYING AND I'M A GUITARIST
MYSELF.
AND I THOUGHT WHAT IS THAT.
THAT'S NOT A UKELELE.
WHAT HAS HE GOT THERE?
AND I LOOKED THAT THE CLOSER AND
IT HAD THREE STRINGS ON IT.
AND I LOOKED AT IT AND IT WAS A
CBG OR CIGAR BOX GUITAR.
I THOUGHT I'VE GOT TO KNOW A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS.
SO I DID A LITTLE EXPLORING AND
TO FIND OUT THAT THEY'VE BEEN
AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.
THE IDEA -- YOU KNOW, THAT A LOT
OF PEOPLE PACK IN THE
MID-1850s, THEY DIDN'T HAVE A
LOT OF MONEY.
AND SO DOWN SOUTH THEY USED
WHATEVER THEY COULD FIND AROUND
THE HOUSE, AROUND THE BARN.
AND THEY WOULD TAKE WHATEVER
THEY COULD AND MAKE HOMEMADE
INSTRUMENTS.
AND THIS IS THEIR ENTERTAINMENT.
THIS IS WHAT THEY HAD.
THEY MADE THEIR OWN INSTRUMENTS.
GATHERED AROUND, VISITED WITH
PEOPLE.
HAD A GOOD TIME.
AND BROUGHT THEIR INSTRUMENTS.
AND PLAYED A LOT.
THAT WAS THEIR ENTERTAINMENT
BACK THEN.
MUCH MORE SIMPLER TIME.
THE COOP THING ABOUT THIS IS A
LOT OF HISTORY IN THESE BABIES.
GOES BACK QUITE A FEW YEARS.
THESE BABIES HAD LIGHTNING
HOPKINS, B.B. KING AND MOST OF
US SAW GOOD OLE JIMI HENDRIX.
HE PLAYED WITH ONE OF THESE,
STARTED OUT WITH ONE OF THESE.
GOES BACK INTO THE MID-1850s
FOR SOMETHING REALLY ROOTSY AND
RAW ABOUT THESE THINGS.
THAT'S WHY IT HAS SUCH A NICE
APPEAL.
[APPLAUSE]
>> HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF ONE I
BUILT.
THIS ONE IS A WOOD BOX.
AND THIS IS A NEWER, NEWER BOX.
VERY CLEAN.
VERY SHARP LOOKING.
AND WHAT I SELECTED HERE, IT'S
ALSO SET UP FOR A THREE STRING,
BUT I'VE GOT IT SET UP RIGHT NOW
FOR A TWO STRING.
AND HERE ALSO AGAIN I USED
FINISHING NAILS FOR THAT.
AND ADDED A NICE STAIN FOR IT
AND THEN I'VE GOT THE DIFFERENT
MARKS HERE TO SIGNIFY WHERE THE
THIRD, THE FIFTH, WHAT HAVE YOU
SCALE IS.
AND GOT IN HERE IS LIKE A LITTLE
DRAIN CUP HERE FOR I SPRAY
PAINTED TO KIND OF GO WITH THE
THING AND THAT'S OUR SOUND HOLE
THAT WE'RE GETTING OUR SOUND
FROM.
IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A BIGGER
ONE, IF YOU WANT TO PUT IT IN
THE MIDDLE, THE THING IS YOU
CAN'T GO ALL THE WAY DOWN,
BECAUSE YOU'VE CUT INTO YOUR
STICK GOING THROUGH.
SO YOU CAN TAKE THE HOLE OUT
THERE AND USE THIS.
AND THIS WOULD BE ANOTHER GREAT
SOUND COVER IF YOU WANTED TO.
AND THIS ONE, OTHER THAN GETTING
IT READY AND AMPLE -- GETTING IT
WIRED FOR SOUND, THIS ONE IS
PRETTY MUCH READY.
THIS ONE I BUILT TO SEE IF I
COULD.
HERE WE'VE GOT A BIRDHOUSE.
I DECIDED TO GIVE IT A SPIN.
AND DID A LITTLE DIFFERENT --
COUPLE DIFFERENT THINGS ON THIS
ONE.
THIS ONE IS SET UP FOR SLIDE,
FOR THE SLIDE WINDERS.
AND WHAT I DID HERE, THIS IS A
THREE STRING.
I HAD MY DAUGHTER PAINT FREEDOM
ON THE STRING, THE PATRIOTIC
THEME THAT I DECIDED TO GO WITH.
I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE A COOL
EFFECT ON THERE.
STARS AND STRIPES.
I USED THIS PART.
THIS IS OFF AN OLD GUITAR THAT I
WAS JUST LAYING AROUND, THAT I
THOUGHT I COULD USE THIS FOR
SOMETHING.
SURE ENOUGH.
AND THEN I BUILT A BRIDGE.
WHAT I DID INSIDE HERE, I DON'T
KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE, BUT THIS
PART RIGHT IN HERE, THIS
SILVERMAN METALLICKY PART, IT'S
A BUSINESS KIT TIN CAT.
AND THE IDEA HERE IS TO GET A
RESONATOR SOUND TO COME FROM IT.
AND IT AMPLIFIES IT A LITTLE BIT
AND I REALLY LIKE RESONATORS A
LOT.
SO I THOUGHT I'M GOING TO TRY TO
BUILD A RESONATOR WITHIN THE BOX
OF A BIRDHOUSE.
AND THE BABY PLAYS JUST FINE FOR
THE SLIDE WINDERS.
I REALLY LIKE THE IDEA THAT
THESE THINGS ARE SO UNIQUE.
EACH ONE HAS ITS OWN SOUND.
EACH ONE HAS ITS OWN UNIQUE LOOK
ABOUT IT.
EACH ONE HAS A FLAVOR OF ITS
OWN.
I'M REALLY DRAWN BY THE
SIMPLICITY, THE RAWNESS OF IT.
IT'S JUST A REALLY PLAYABLE FOLK
ART IS WHAT IT IS.
WHETHER YOU'RE A MUSICIAN OR
NOT, THESE ARE JUST
ONE-OF-A-KIND.
THEY'RE NOT MASS PRODUCED.
AND EACH ONE IS THE REAL
EXPRESSION OF THE PERSON THAT'S
BUILDING.
JUST ONE-OF-A-KIND.
NEVER GOING TO BUILD ANOTHER ONE
THE SAME AGAIN.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE THE
BOX, SHALL WE SAY.
OUTSIDE THE BOX IN THAT YOU'RE
NOT GOING FOR THE $2,000 TAYLOR
GUITAR.
YOU'RE GOING FOR SOMETHING
THAT'S MORE RAW, MORE ROOTSY AND
I LIKE THAT.
THEY ARE ONE-OF-A-KIND.
NO ONE WILL EVER BE THE SAME.
>> THANKS FOR TUNING IN TO
"COMMON GROUND."
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
>> IF YOU HAVE A SEGMENT IDEA
FOR "COMMON GROUND" PERTAINING
TO NORTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA,
CONTACT US AT LEGACY@LPTV.ORG OR
CALL US AT (218)333-3022.
TO VIEW THIS EPISODE OR ANY
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"COMMON GROUND" IS FUNDED BY THE
MINNESOTA ARTS AND CULTURAL
HERITAGE FUND, WITH MONEY FROM
THE VOTE OF THE PEOPLE ON
NOVEMBER 4th, 2008.