We have something different to share with you today - though something squarely in the MinneCulture universe. One of our regular producers Alison Young received a Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Individuals Grant this year to produce a series of immersive pieces blending field recording and personal narrative set at four Minnesota State Parks.

It’s called “Art of the State (Parks) and we’re sharing them with you. Today, we're headed to Lake Maria State Park.

This story was written and produced by Alison Young. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture.

Alison is a fiscal year 2025 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

There are many ways to cover a song—you can cover it in your own style or mix things up by playing it in a different genre. But there’s one way of doing that often gets overlooked: doing it exactly like the original. 

The 90s cover band You Oughta Know takes on that challenge of replicating 90s hits. And the effect is a time traveling lightning bolt of nostalgia. KFAI’s Matthew Schneeman met up with the band to see their tricks and techniques first hand.

This was story was reported and produced by Matthew Schneeman. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture comes from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. For more stories like this check out the MInneculture tab on KFAI.org

We have something different to share with you today - though something squarely in the MinneCulture universe. One of our regular producers Alison Young received a Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Individuals Grant this year to produce a series of immersive pieces blending field recording and personal narrative set at four Minnesota State Parks.

It’s called “Art of the State (Parks) and we’re sharing them with you. Today, we're headed to Blue Mounds State Park.

This story was written and produced by Alison Young. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture.

Alison is a fiscal year 2025 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Sound baths are a meditative practice that uses resonant instruments like singing bowls, gongs, and chimes to create experiences that offer a unique path to calm and connection. In recent years, sound baths have been popping up all over Minnesota. KFAI’s Sheila Regan went to check it out.

This story was written and produced by Sheila Regan. Erika Janik is MinneCulture's Managing Editor. Find more MinneCulture stories on our website.

Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

We have something different to share with you today - though something squarely in the MinneCulture universe. One of our regular producers Alison Young received a Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Individuals Grant this year to produce a series of immersive pieces blending field recording and personal narrative set at four Minnesota State Parks.

It’s called “Art of the State (Parks) and we’re sharing them with you. The second in the series is called "Summer at Grand Portage."

In this piece, a short hike reveals the forces that shaped the land as well as the enduring human respect for that land which has long dictated travel, history, and preservation along Minnesota’s North Shore.

This story was written and produced by Alison Young. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture.

Alison is a fiscal year 2025 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Since the 1890s, the Mesabi Iron Range in northern Minnesota has produced an abundance of iron ore. The mines attracted all kinds of workers, including immigrants. One group that was harder to find in the mines, though... were women. Lynn Henderson was one of the first women to work on the range starting in the 1970s. KFAI's Gina Favano caught up with Lynn to learn what those times were like.

This story was reported and produced by Gina Favano. Erika Janik is MinneCulture's Managing Editor. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

We have something a little different to share with you - though something squarely in the MinneCulture universe. One of our regular producers, Alison Young, received a Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Individuals Grant this year to produce a series of immersive pieces blending field recording and personal narrative set at four Minnesota State Parks

It’s called “Art of the State (Parks)" and we’re going to share them with you.

Up first, Spring at Lake Itasca. Here, a night of near-solitude becomes a reflection on spring’s renewal and the fragile, hard-won legacy of preservation that allows this landscape to remain alive and vibrant today.

This story was written and produced by Alison Young. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture.

Alison is a fiscal year 2025 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

For the past twenty years, Project Get Outdoors — or Project GO — has been dedicated to connecting children with the natural world.

Based in Wabasha, Project GO’s mission is to use nature to build cognitive skills, spark creativity, and support overall health and wellbeing. The organization champions the Minnesota Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights and develops high-quality curriculum and programming designed to help young people form lasting relationships with the outdoors.

Founder and program coordinator Sara Holger was inspired by Richard Louv’s book “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.” She launched Project GO by creating an after-school program for migrant Latino youth in the small agricultural community of Plainview, Minnesota, offering students opportunities to explore nature that were largely unavailable to them.

Today, Project GO has served more than 50,000 children who often lack access to traditional outdoor programs because of race or socio-economic barriers. Working with more than 50 community action groups across Minnesota, the nonprofit continues to connect young people with meaningful outdoor experiences, inspiring a sense of stewardship and helping them carry the benefits of time in nature into the future. KFAI's Alison Young went to check it out.

This story was reported and produced by Alison Young. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture comes from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Every Tuesday night, Choir Walk with Me gathers to practice. The group’s name comes from the David Lynch film Fire Walk With Me. The small group sings a diverse mix of songs and prides itself on celebrating the esoteric and weird. KFAI’s Angela Lundberg brings us the story.

This story was produced by Angela Lundberg and mixed and edited by MinneCulture Managing Editor, Erika Janik.

Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. For more stories like this check out the Minneculture tab on KFAI.org

The Augie Garcia Quintet played rock ‘n’ roll in 1954 before they knew what to call it — Augie described their sound as rhythm-and-blues with a shuffle and a “hard sock.” The Minnesota Music Hall of Fame says the band likely recorded Minnesota’s first rock record.

Raised at the West Side Flats in St. Paul, Augie became known as a showman who danced on the piano and dressed year-round in Bermuda shorts tailored by his mother. He assembled a strong group of musicians that included Willie Brown on sax, Maurice Turner on bass (Prince’s uncle) and James “Cornbread” Harris (producer Jimmy Jam’s father). 

This story was written and reported by Michelle Bruch. Erika Janik is the Managing Editor of MinneCulture.

Find more MinneCulture stories on our website

Music credit: “Drinking Wine Spoli Oli,” performed by the Augie Garcia Quintet. “Hello Baby,” performed by the Augie Garcia Quintet. Used with permission from the Garcia family.

Support for MinneCulture comes from the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.