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PKN Bemidji #1: A Success!
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2010-06-18 21:20:02
I think I can say with absolute certainty that last night’s first Pecha Kucha Night in Bemidji was a success! Although the north woods area was blanketed in ominous storm clouds, Cabin Coffeehouse and Café was full of expectant audience members, speakers, and the aroma of excellent coffee. The Cabin’s cozy yet cool atmosphere created the perfect setting for what was about to come: a night of laughter, learning, introductions, old friends, and enthusiasm for an event that until yesterday no one even realized they were missing.
After a brief welcome and introduction, Samantha Nienow, designer and founder of the Bemdji Pecha Kucha Night chapter, gave us a PKN about PKN. Samantha took us through Pecha Kucha’s founders, background, the brand-new Bemidji chapter, and most importantly all the ways in which it can be pronounced. Audience participation began right away with everyone quietly trying to successfully say this Japanese word. Doubtless, many of them probably decided “20x20” was the best way to go. “What the Heck is 20x20 Anyway?” was also about Samantha’s dream of bringing this event to her community, which she was carrying out as she spoke.
The night continued with Dr. David Wold’s, “My Life as an Airhead.” David brought the audience to a place they never knew they were interested in going: the world of model airplanes. A lifelong enthusiast, his energy for this pastime carries into every step in the process from designing, building, and painting to the actual launch of the craft. Through pictures of himself as a Star Wars t-shirted teen playing with razor blades and motors to his current life as a grown-up chiropractor passing his passion for planes on to the next generation of his family, this light-hearted six-minute glimpse shows us how important hobbies really are.
The second presentation came from Cabin Coffeehouse’s very own owner, Noemi Aylesworth. Noemi brings us first into her own past of from-scratch, wholesome, unprocessed food. We learned that her early appreciation for delicious, healthful dishes leads to her advocating for eating well as disease prevention. Her slides brought out some giggles and murmurings of “Hey, that’s neat,” from the audience as she explained that some foods mimic in shape the parts of our bodies that they most benefit. For instance, the omegas in walnuts are great for brain health, beta carotene-rich carrot coins resemble eyes, and the fall favorite, sweet potatoes, are full of vitamins essential for pancreatic function. Her message was simple yet powerful: in this land of plenty, we can and should make better choices.
Erik Evenson, a designer and illustrator, is fairly new to Bemidji and gave us a fun and colorful glimpse into the process of a graphic designer. Erik’s 20x20 contained one of the best phrases of the night, “sea of weirdos,” which he used in reference to the packaging for a video collection called “The Found Film Festival.” Many people never think about what goes into the “look” of their favorite things, and Erik showed us how an aesthetic is carried over into all materials involved in the marketing and packaging of a product and how designers/illustrators collaborate talents to bring us pure awesomeness in web, packaging, and print projects.
Professional photographer, Trish Barthorpe, shared with us a lifelong journey in photos. Trish encouraged the audience to listen to the images around them, to find wonder in ordinary objects and scenes that might be taken for granted. Trish strongly believes that photos are more than color and texture, they are segments of life, the objects we often overlook. With a photographer’s eye, just one image presents a whole story. This was not a portfolio display, it was a photographer showing us how those beautiful images are really made – not just with a point and click, but through the interaction between the outside world with the inner world of the picture maker.
A local history topic followed the intermission, which although brief, filled the room with the buzzing of conversation. Using a diverse collection of images, John Eggers presented “Forgotten Bemidji Hero, Count Beltrami,” and many of the native Bemidji/Beltrami County residents got a lesson they probably never learned in history class. Even though the modern town exists in the literal shadow of huge Paul Bunyan and Babe statues, there is another hero in the town’s past, an Italian immigrant with a penchant for carrying red umbrellas, Giacomo Beltrami. John’s storytelling style is captivating and did justice to a story that is both important to Minnesota and completely entertaining.
Coming from a long line of artists, Jennifer Anderson’s 20x20 topic was not only about making beautiful things, but how beautiful things can be used to improve the lives of those who are struggling. In “Art for Africa,” after a few slides showing a sampling of her artwork, Jennifer shared her vision of what she really strives to create: a better life for African orphans and women. Using craft education and proceeds from her line of handmade jewelry, she tells us how even these seemingly drop-in-the-bucket actions can really make an impact on poverty and bring color into the lives of children who have never used crayons.
Another of my favorite phrases from the evening, “adventure strollering” came early in Mark Morrissey’s presentation, “Solve for Pattern.” Mark’s early fascination with puzzles has lead him to a life of trying to figure out how to use the fewest steps to solve the most problems. Mark’s inspiring presentation referenced authors and philosophers who have used this concept, and reminded us that bad practices cause bad results reaching far beyond perceived benefits and touching all aspects of culture, trade, war, incarceration, and even the food we eat.
Every time I drive through Bemidji I cannot help but giggle about the ironically named Cease Funeral Home. At Bemidji’s first PKN, Kevin Cease, funeral home owner, actor, and Bemidji fixture who needed no introduction, had the audience on its feet practicing Laughing Yoga in “Laugh Out Loud.” Kevin’s seemingly boundless energy on the stage and comic style made the audience willing to laugh, rhythmically clap, and make silly gestures publicly. Although the presentation was very amusing, the exercises are for real and can yield serious physical and psychological benefits.
The final speaker of the night, Kimberle Nagle, gave us “Life by the Hook,” a collection of musings and memories about the contemplative hobby of fishing. Fishing has been a part of Kimberle’s life since she was very small, whether she was fishing for popcorn balls, a spouse, or actual fish. Kimberle believes lake can be more than a lake, it can be a meditation all on its own. She encouraged everyone to get out and find whatever it is they’re looking for, to not sit on the shore and wait for something to happen, and perhaps most importantly, to “watch your own bobber.” Her melodic speaking style paired with humorous photos and beautiful lake scenes was a fantastic way to wrap up the evening.
The timed ding of the bell, the murmuring crowd, the big white screen, laughter, and connections are sure to be repeated at the future PKNs, and the next speakers will have big shoes to fill. The audience at this first event witnessed the beginning of a true community event – one that will have an endless wealth of talent to keep it going in Bemidji, MN.
-- H. Fosse
After a brief welcome and introduction, Samantha Nienow, designer and founder of the Bemdji Pecha Kucha Night chapter, gave us a PKN about PKN. Samantha took us through Pecha Kucha’s founders, background, the brand-new Bemidji chapter, and most importantly all the ways in which it can be pronounced. Audience participation began right away with everyone quietly trying to successfully say this Japanese word. Doubtless, many of them probably decided “20x20” was the best way to go. “What the Heck is 20x20 Anyway?” was also about Samantha’s dream of bringing this event to her community, which she was carrying out as she spoke.
The night continued with Dr. David Wold’s, “My Life as an Airhead.” David brought the audience to a place they never knew they were interested in going: the world of model airplanes. A lifelong enthusiast, his energy for this pastime carries into every step in the process from designing, building, and painting to the actual launch of the craft. Through pictures of himself as a Star Wars t-shirted teen playing with razor blades and motors to his current life as a grown-up chiropractor passing his passion for planes on to the next generation of his family, this light-hearted six-minute glimpse shows us how important hobbies really are.
The second presentation came from Cabin Coffeehouse’s very own owner, Noemi Aylesworth. Noemi brings us first into her own past of from-scratch, wholesome, unprocessed food. We learned that her early appreciation for delicious, healthful dishes leads to her advocating for eating well as disease prevention. Her slides brought out some giggles and murmurings of “Hey, that’s neat,” from the audience as she explained that some foods mimic in shape the parts of our bodies that they most benefit. For instance, the omegas in walnuts are great for brain health, beta carotene-rich carrot coins resemble eyes, and the fall favorite, sweet potatoes, are full of vitamins essential for pancreatic function. Her message was simple yet powerful: in this land of plenty, we can and should make better choices.
Erik Evenson, a designer and illustrator, is fairly new to Bemidji and gave us a fun and colorful glimpse into the process of a graphic designer. Erik’s 20x20 contained one of the best phrases of the night, “sea of weirdos,” which he used in reference to the packaging for a video collection called “The Found Film Festival.” Many people never think about what goes into the “look” of their favorite things, and Erik showed us how an aesthetic is carried over into all materials involved in the marketing and packaging of a product and how designers/illustrators collaborate talents to bring us pure awesomeness in web, packaging, and print projects.
Professional photographer, Trish Barthorpe, shared with us a lifelong journey in photos. Trish encouraged the audience to listen to the images around them, to find wonder in ordinary objects and scenes that might be taken for granted. Trish strongly believes that photos are more than color and texture, they are segments of life, the objects we often overlook. With a photographer’s eye, just one image presents a whole story. This was not a portfolio display, it was a photographer showing us how those beautiful images are really made – not just with a point and click, but through the interaction between the outside world with the inner world of the picture maker.
A local history topic followed the intermission, which although brief, filled the room with the buzzing of conversation. Using a diverse collection of images, John Eggers presented “Forgotten Bemidji Hero, Count Beltrami,” and many of the native Bemidji/Beltrami County residents got a lesson they probably never learned in history class. Even though the modern town exists in the literal shadow of huge Paul Bunyan and Babe statues, there is another hero in the town’s past, an Italian immigrant with a penchant for carrying red umbrellas, Giacomo Beltrami. John’s storytelling style is captivating and did justice to a story that is both important to Minnesota and completely entertaining.
Coming from a long line of artists, Jennifer Anderson’s 20x20 topic was not only about making beautiful things, but how beautiful things can be used to improve the lives of those who are struggling. In “Art for Africa,” after a few slides showing a sampling of her artwork, Jennifer shared her vision of what she really strives to create: a better life for African orphans and women. Using craft education and proceeds from her line of handmade jewelry, she tells us how even these seemingly drop-in-the-bucket actions can really make an impact on poverty and bring color into the lives of children who have never used crayons.
Another of my favorite phrases from the evening, “adventure strollering” came early in Mark Morrissey’s presentation, “Solve for Pattern.” Mark’s early fascination with puzzles has lead him to a life of trying to figure out how to use the fewest steps to solve the most problems. Mark’s inspiring presentation referenced authors and philosophers who have used this concept, and reminded us that bad practices cause bad results reaching far beyond perceived benefits and touching all aspects of culture, trade, war, incarceration, and even the food we eat.
Every time I drive through Bemidji I cannot help but giggle about the ironically named Cease Funeral Home. At Bemidji’s first PKN, Kevin Cease, funeral home owner, actor, and Bemidji fixture who needed no introduction, had the audience on its feet practicing Laughing Yoga in “Laugh Out Loud.” Kevin’s seemingly boundless energy on the stage and comic style made the audience willing to laugh, rhythmically clap, and make silly gestures publicly. Although the presentation was very amusing, the exercises are for real and can yield serious physical and psychological benefits.
The final speaker of the night, Kimberle Nagle, gave us “Life by the Hook,” a collection of musings and memories about the contemplative hobby of fishing. Fishing has been a part of Kimberle’s life since she was very small, whether she was fishing for popcorn balls, a spouse, or actual fish. Kimberle believes lake can be more than a lake, it can be a meditation all on its own. She encouraged everyone to get out and find whatever it is they’re looking for, to not sit on the shore and wait for something to happen, and perhaps most importantly, to “watch your own bobber.” Her melodic speaking style paired with humorous photos and beautiful lake scenes was a fantastic way to wrap up the evening.
The timed ding of the bell, the murmuring crowd, the big white screen, laughter, and connections are sure to be repeated at the future PKNs, and the next speakers will have big shoes to fill. The audience at this first event witnessed the beginning of a true community event – one that will have an endless wealth of talent to keep it going in Bemidji, MN.
-- H. Fosse
