MN Art

The Ely Folk school works with over 80 individual artists, 75% of whom have homes in Ely, to put on educational programming in fiber arts, folk arts, music, metalworking, humanities, and Northwoods skills and crafting, along with youth classes. The creativity, passion, and knowledge of the Ely community has allowed the Folk School to grow and thrive. 

It was a coincidence that Shawn and Cindy both fell in love with metalworking, but they’ve found ways to collaborate on their individual art forms. Often, they share a booth at festivals called “Blades and Beguiling Jewelry” and support each other while creating at home.

Ely’s artistic nature has roots in early immigrant communities working in the mines. The arts were a way for the community to gather together and weather difficult times. Says Ian: “We did not have a lot. The moments that we were together were filled with song and dance.” 

From her own botanical paintings to the coaching she provides artists and artisans, Lara Cornell challenges her community to consider the long-term impact of their work. Impact includes eco-impact, social justice, equality, biodiversity, and economic questions. Lara disrupts the myth of the starving artist in order to empower creatives to found sustainable, economically-sound businesses that make the world a little more fair.