Filmed and Edited by: Tim Johnson
I accidentally found this little creek that led peacefully out to a small lake near our home in Minnesota. I’ve driven by this spot dozens of times and never knew it was there. Very peaceful, and joy to try and capture with this frost and fresh snow.
“Sunday Morning” takes us to the Canadian border, at Minnesota’s Grand Portage State Park. Videographer: Scot Miller.
The Parks, Peaks, and Prairies Bicycle Route fulfills the request of so many cyclists visiting the ACA headquarters in Missoula for a northern connector between the TransAmerica Trail and the Northern Tier Bicycle Route — one that strings together the iconic American parks of Yellowstone, Devils Tower, Mt. Rushmore, Badlands, and the famous Black Hills of South Dakota.
But don’t expect the connection to come easily! Located nearly smack dab in the middle are the compact, yet formidable Black Hills. This small mountain range exhibits a network of rollercoasting, winding roads that can frequently rise to 10% grades for short durations.
Many of these same roads are very popular for motorcyclists, especially in August for the world’s largest motorcycle rally centered in the nearby town of Sturgis. Roads and crowds notwithstanding, the Black Hills offers scenery and grandeur on a scale that may be surprising to the conventional out-of-state visitor.
The route begins in the gateway community of West Yellowstone, Montana and ends in the “City of Lakes” — Minneapolis, Minnesota. After riding 2.3 miles in Montana, the route enters Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park, which is renowned as America’s first national park. The route meanders past numerous geothermal hotspots, plunging waterfalls, and idyllic valleys teaming with wildlife.
Excerpts from a NextAvenue.org online article interview:
“I don’t like the word ‘evolve,’” he says. “Art means the same thing today as it always has. Styles change, but art doesn’t.”
Hesitant to put too defining a label on his work, Wrayge claims his paintings have “a landscape feel.” He doesn’t consider them to be abstract. “That’s a word invented by the press, not by painters,” he says. “What I prefer to say [about my paintings] is that they are a visual manifestation of my values.”
In James Wrayge’s quiet studio on an early winter afternoon, there is a tangible sense of purpose. Wrayge’s paintings line the walls along the portion of the space he shares with another artist at the Northrup King Building in Minneapolis. There are also some paintings on the floor propped up against the same walls. And there is one — in progress — set on an easel in the corner.
Director: KEVIN STEEN
Producer: ALEXANDRA BYER
Cast: ERIK WILKIE, YVONNE WILKIE, JAKE BOYCE, JAMIE LEDUC, AND CHRISTIAN DALBEC
Cinematographer: SHABIER KIRCHNER
An intimate portrait of midwestern lake surfer Erik Wilkie. Presented by CARHARTT AND HURLEY.
Website: https://rathausfilms.com
Boomers Daily 