KFAI's MinneCulture Presents

The Peril of Spring Snow in Minnesota  by Mike Moen ~  Last spring marked the 80th anniversary of the 1941 blizzard that killed dozens of people in Minnesota and North Dakota. The region has a reputation for  extreme winters , but a late season storm could still catch people off-guard. For Indigenous people, timing for such events had consequences as they transitioned to warmer months.  Mike Moen  reports on the history behind their winter survival techniques. Art in Motion Brings Artwork, Bands, and Biking to the Lake Wobegon Trail  by Colleen Cowie ~  The  Lake Wobegon Trail  is a 10-foot wide strip of pavement that guides bicyclists through Central Minnesota’s trees, lakes, and fields of cows. Now, there’s a new destination along the trail:  Art in Motion , an art gallery and café in the small town of Holdingford. Railroads & Fire  by Laurie Allmann ~  Since the first rail line was completed in Minnesota i...

Art and Repair on Lake Street  by Sheila Regan ~  The empty lot where the former Roberts Shoes Building once stood has become a lively art space connected to the community around Lake Street. KFAI's Sheila Regan talked with artists involved with the Lake Street Truth Collective about how the empty lot has become a vibrant new center of artmaking and truth-telling. Wordless and Riveting, “felt / not said” by Mankwe Ndosi and Body Memori Comes From the Body  by Sheila Regan ~  Mankwe Ndosi & Body MemOri’s riveting lyric-less album, " felt/not said ," features Ndosi using her voice as a wildly versatile instrument. Created in collaboration with Cellist Tomeka Reid, Contrabasso player Silvia Bolognesi, and percussionist Davu Seru, with mixing by Greg Schutte, the album explores the notion of healing through sonic sounds and rhythms. Ndosi, spoke to Sheila Regan about the origins of her technique, how the album came together, and what it means to be an artist in th...

Dogs + Skis = Skijoring   by Ryan Dawes ~ Cross-country skiing and dog sled racing are among Minnesota's more popular winter sports. But what if you combined the two? KFAI’s Ryan Dawes reports on an outdoor activity called " skijoring ." A Violinist Grapples with Death   by Ryan Dawes ~ Near the end of his life, Franz Schubert composed "Death and the Maiden." Two centuries later, violinist  Patricia Kopatchinskaja  grappled with the dark subject as she and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra brought the piece to life for new audiences.  Their recording  won a Grammy award.  Washboard For The Modern Folk   by Ryan Dawes  ~ Minneapolis percussionist Mikkel Beckman doesn't want the spotlight. He'd rather settle into the groove of his bandmates . He's a washboard percussionist who stretches the boundaries of his instrument beyond the hills and hollers of American folk music. Unfamous Rock Manager Tells All   by Ryan Dawes  ~ Owen Husney i...