Almost Wordless Wednesday: When A Building Catches Fire @32 below Zero

On Monday morning as I drove into town here in Duluth, a major fire was being attended to in the former West End, now known as the Lincoln Park District. After stopping at the library and a meeting elsewhere I attempted drive through the area and see which block the fire was on. After 35 years here I know that section of town pretty intimately. Today I learned it was the former Seaway Hotel, a.k.a. the Esmond Building.

The thermometer read 32 below zero at our house Monday, so I was imagining that in addition to the challenge of putting out the fire the firemen were also dealing with a risk of frostbite or serious exposure issues. 

For those in warmer climates, here are some photos I took today of the fire's aftermath. 

"Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice."

--Robert Frost

What do you say?

Community Mural Underway in the Lincoln Park District

North Shore Scenic Highway 61 (Gary Firstenberg photo)

A number of years ago I took a tour of St. Petersburg with an eye to taking in all the murals that decorate the walls of the city's Warehouse District. It was inspiring, and even though I felt it a little unfair that their muralists can paint year-'round, I felt proud of how much public art there is here in the Twin Ports, with more being added annually.

This month I saw a mural underway in Two Harbors that passersby will take delight in soon. Did you know that 4 million cars a year pass through Two Harbors heading up the North Shore to our various park or further on to Thunder Bay and back? I also learned there's going to be a new mural added to the Historic Duluth Armory sometime soon.

My aim here is to showcase the new mural being painted on a wall of the community resource center in the West End. The project design and execution is being spearheaded by lead artists Moira Villiard of the Fond du Lac tribe and Red Cliff artist Michelle DeFoe. Besides adding still more brilliance to the ever evolving Lincoln Park District, the mural itself is has a great story to go with it.

In addition to utilizing Anishinaabe symbolism to provide insight into some of the city's Indigenous history, a portion of the mural will incorporate designs submitted online to Villiard by youth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lincoln Park Resource Center, 2024 West 3rd Street

According to Villiard and DeFoe the dragonflies were largely designed by youth and are a symbol of resilience and transformation, and serve as a relevant reminder of our need today to grow and transform our lives in ways that allow us to live fully. Through cultural imagery, including a hand holding asemaa and references to wild rice, the mural also serves as a reminder that even in uncertain times, we shouldn't forget the stories of the land we reside on and the people who were the first stewards of Turtle Island.

Several youth groups have also participated in the early painting stages of the mural, including a youth group from the Steve O’Neil apartment building. Social distancing has been important throughout.

Dragonflies (detail)

This project was funded in part through an Art Project grant by the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council and through a grant program awarded by the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation in partnership with the McKnight Foundation to the American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO) arts program (the “Art in the Present Moment” initiative).

Related Links
St. Petersburg's Warehouse Arts District: Inspiration and Lessons for the Twin Ports

Almost Wordless Wednesday: Local Makers, Artists and Artisans Doing Cool Stuff In Duluth

A Handy Husby Piece at Karin Kraemer's ne gallery space in Lincoln Park Craft District.

Saturday there were 30+ vendors in the Duluth Folk School space 

across the street from Karin Kraemer's pottery/art gallery.

With music, treats and sweets of all kinds, the Handmade Holiday Mart

was teeming with life this second-last weekend before Christmas.

After posting fotos on Facebook I was asked where this was all happening.

If you've not been paying attention, there's a lot of renewed energy here in 

what used to be called the West End, circa 21st Avenue West. 

Several new businesses have staked a claim to this part of town, and 

Duluth Grill has opened a sister restaurant called OCM, with the same 

caliber of original menu items supported by local growers.

The best part of all this activity is knowing there's still more to come.