Videos
Making it Up North: Lenore Lampi
Ceramicist Lenore Lampi discusses the transition from being an art teacher to a full-time artist, the inspiration behind her “Scrolls Interrupted” series, and the unique techniques she uses to bring her sculptures to life — including the use of furniture gilding wax and birch-inspired motifs.
Making it Up North is a PBS North series that explores stories of creative artists, artisans and entrepreneurs engaged in honing their skills, following their passion and realizing their dreams.
First footage ever of a cougar with kittens in Minnesota
For the first time in more than 100 years, evidence of cougars reproducing in Minnesota was documented in video captured by the University of Minnesota’s Voyageurs Wolf Project. The clips show a female cougar with three large kittens. (more…)
So Many Pelicans
Adam “The Frozen Photog” Jagunich took a trip to Chambers Grove Park, along the St. Louis River in Duluth’s Fond du Lac neighborhood, to capture scenes of migrating pelicans.
Making it Up North: Julie Arthur
Since taking up fiber art in 1973, Julie Arthur has evolved from a student to a master instructor, finding her home and her “people” within the vibrant North Shore arts community.
Making it Up North is a PBS North series that explores stories of creative artists, artisans and entrepreneurs engaged in honing their skills, following their passion and realizing their dreams.
The Decline and Rebirth of the St. Louis River
This WDIO-TV news feature shares the story of the St. Louis River. Once too polluted to fish, the waterway is nearing removal from the Environmental Protection Agency’s contaminated Areas of Concern list after years of cleanup and habitat restoration.
The Lost Forty: A Story of Minnesota’s Scientific and Natural Areas
Hidden in northern Minnesota, about 110 miles northwest of Duluth, the Lost Forty is a rare old-growth pine forest that survived the logging era by accident more than a century ago. Today, it offers a window into the state’s Scientific and Natural Areas program and the effort to protect Minnesota’s most remarkable and irreplaceable ecosystems. In this documentary, Lakeland PBS explores the Lost Forty and the broader work to preserve Minnesota’s natural heritage.
Making it Up North: Shoreview Natives
Shoreview Natives owner Dan Schutte shares how a hobby growing native plants in a Two Harbors basement grew into a full-scale landscaping nursery and a mission to support pollinators across the region.
Making it Up North is a PBS North series that explores stories of creative artists, artisans and entrepreneurs engaged in honing their skills, following their passion and realizing their dreams.
Video Archive: Geek Prom 2006
Twenty years ago today — April 22, 2006 — caravans of Duluthians traveled to the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul for the fifth edition of the Geek Prom. It was the first of two Geek Proms held in St. Paul; the other eight were held in Duluth.
Chuck Olson produced the segment above, which appeared on the pioneering daily video blog Rocketboom prior to the launch of its YouTube channel and shorty before original host Amanda Congdon left the show. (more…)
Minnesota Bound: BWCA Special
This week’s episode of Minnesota Bound, covers the clash over the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Twin Metals wants to mine right up against the BWCAW. As lifelong fans and users of the Boundary Waters, hosts Bill Sherck and Laura Schara take a closer look at the projects’ risks and potential affects.
Making it Up North: Teague Alexy
Singer-songwriter Teague Alexy talks about his unlikely path from the hip-hop crews of the Jersey Shore to the heart of the Minnesota music scene. Moving to Holyoke, about 10 miles southwest of Duluth, transformed his creative process, leading him to trade violin lessons and rap for American roots music and the harmonica.
Making it Up North is a PBS North series that explores stories of creative artists, artisans and entrepreneurs engaged in honing their skills, following their passion and realizing their dreams.
Making it Up North: Apostle Islands Kayaking Express
The Apostle Islands Kayaking Express team leads tours out of Bayfield, exploring the 10,000-year-old glacial history that carved sandstone arches, caverns and tunnels at Devil’s Island.
Making it Up North is a PBS North series that explores stories of creative artists, artisans and entrepreneurs engaged in honing their skills, following their passion and realizing their dreams.
Moose-heavy Montage from Voyageurs National Park
This montage of trail camera footage from Voyageurs National Park includes numerous moose walk throughs, along with the usual array of northern Minnesota critters. The Voyageurs Wolf Project has roughly 350 cameras set up in the park, which is about 100 miles north of Duluth. This footage is all from one camera, captured last summer.
Indecent Proposal – “Tears in Rain” (DJ SMOXA Remix)
The latest video from Duluth band Indecent Proposal was shot during two performances — last summer’s Downtown Duluth Street Dance outside Dubh Linn Irish Pub and the band’s opening slot for Third Eye Blind at Black Bear Casino in March. The video production work is by Capture Chaos Productions.
Making it Up North: Seed Treasures
In Angora Township, about 70 miles north of Duluth, Jackie and Will Atkinson are rescuing ancient heirloom seeds from extinction, turning their passion for “growing history” into a thriving, cold-hardy seed business called Seed Treasures.
Making it Up North is a PBS North series that explores stories of creative artists, artisans and entrepreneurs engaged in honing their skills, following their passion and realizing their dreams.
Making it Up North: Alan Nyiri
Alan Nyiri, a lifelong photographer who has traded the traditional retirement for a life on the open road, travels the country with his wife in a fifth-wheel trailer, serving as a “volunteering professional.” Currently stationed at Grand Portage National Monument, he is using his decades of technical skill to document the history of the fur trade and the legendary Rendezvous.
Making it Up North is a PBS North series that explores stories of creative artists, artisans and entrepreneurs engaged in honing their skills, following their passion and realizing their dreams.
The Imperatur YouTube channel focuses on Duluth
[This post originally contained an embedded video that is no longer available at its source.]
A popular YouTube channel based out of Germany features “mini documentaries about cities and infrastructure around the world.” It recently posted an episode on the urban planning challenges faced by Duluth. Within the rapid 9-minute overview, there is a lot that is correct. And there is just as much to quibble about, which is often the more fun part of watching videos like this.
Making it Up North: Portage North
Michael Larson, owner of Portage North and Sun Dog Sport in Ely, talks about life at the Boundary Waters and making durable portage packs and dog harnesses.
Making it Up North is a PBS North series that explores stories of creative artists, artisans and entrepreneurs engaged in honing their skills, following their passion and realizing their dreams.
Hauliwood Dreams – “Helan Går: It All Goes Down”
The latest from the Finnish-American novelty band Hauliwood Dreams is a traditional Swedish drinking song turned into a Nordic celebration of tradition with a Finnish-American twist. The group features Duluth’s Steve Solkela partnering with Miska Kajanus and led by Maria Voltaine, who wrote the song lyrics and music and produced the video.
A Year of Wild Moments at a Remote Trail Crossing
This video montage shows highlights from a year’s worth of critters passing though the intersection of a remote hiking trail and a deer trail in Voyageurs National Park. The footage is from the Voyageurs Wolf Project, which is focused on understanding the summer ecology of wolves in the park.
Just Me: A project to increase connection to nature and embolden bicycle use as transportation
My friend and former student Kevin Stanke recently shared his final project in the Master of Professional Studies program at the University of Minnesota Duluth. His work sets out to increase people’s connection to nature and to embolden bicycle use as a primary form of transportation. He’s given me permission to share it here. (more…)
Making it Up North: Chilly Dogs Sled Dog Trips
Jake and Jessica Hway, owners of Chilly Dogs Sled Dog Trips, have built a life centered around a 90-dog pack, focusing on older dogs that still have a passion for the trail.
Making it Up North is a PBS North series that explores stories of creative artists, artisans and entrepreneurs engaged in honing their skills, following their passion and realizing their dreams.
Sleeping Giants 2026
The Soo Locks, gateway to Lake Superior, are scheduled to reopen for the 2026 shipping season on March 25. This aerial video offers views of the winter layups in Wisconsin as the “Sleeping Giants” prepare to wake.
The video begins at Fraser Shipyards in Superior, where several vessels sit quietly in winter layup. Also in Superior are a pair of 1000-footers — Indiana Harbor at the Lakehead Pipeline dock and Burns Harbor at Elevator M. The video closes with scenes from Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay.
Toby Thomas Churchill – “Forget”
The second video release from Toby Thomas Churchill’s new album Nighttime offers helpful instruction for dealing with the past.
Making it Up North: Alt Creative
Melissa Weisser and Tammy Underwood talk about how Alt Creative has grown into a vibrant arts collective of 50 creators.
Making it Up North is a PBS North series that explores stories of creative artists, artisans and entrepreneurs engaged in honing their skills, following their passion and realizing their dreams.
Steve Solkela’s “Overpopulated” One-man Band – “When the Cactus is in Bloom”
Steve Solkela challenges viewers to count the instruments as he sings the 1931 country-western song “When the Cactus is in Bloom,” written and originally performed by Jimmie Rodgers.