GRANITE FALLS, Minnesota, March 21, 2024 - The next episode of Postcards features Carla Rodriguez, an artist from St. Paul who specializes in wet plate photography; Anna Johannsen, a 3D quilter and cowboy action shooter from Windom; and Kristine Shelstad, who is a military veteran that started the Madison Mercantile. “Wet Plate Photography, Quilter, Community Space” airs on Pioneer PBS Thursday, March 28 at 7 p.m. and repeats the following Sunday at 7 p.m. and Monday at 1:30 p.m.
Carla Rodriguez of St. Paul, Minnesota, is a wet plate photographer who uses a nearly two century old tintype process to capture her vivid portraits that will stand the test of time.
“Photography speaks to me a lot because it is capturing these specific moments in someone’s life that you can look back on,” said Rodriguez.
Anna Johannsen of Windom, Minnesota, is a fabric artist and quilter who likes seeing life from unusual perspectives. When she is not creating 3D quilts, she is a cowboy-action shooting enthusiast, who is always looking for a new challenge.
“I would say my style is a little bit different, because I just don’t like doing ordinary things,” said Johannsen.
Kris Shelstad is a U.S. Military veteran who saw a need in her community of Madison, Minnesota, and decided to create it herself. She started a non-profit, small-town gathering space and coffee shop called Madison Mercantile, which provides a stage, art studios, gallery, work rooms and more.
“I think every little town, every small town deserves a place for a culture and community to grow. And if anybody out there is thinking about doing something like this, I would just say go for it,” said Shelstad.
Credits: Executive Producer Dana Conroy, Videographers/Editors Ben Dempcy, Kristofor Gieske
About Postcards
Postcards is an award-winning art, culture and history program, produced by Dana Conroy with videography and editing by Kristofor Gieske and Ben Dempcy. The program is made possible by contributions from the voters of Minnesota through a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. The 2024 season is made possible by funding from Shalom Hill Farm, Explore Alexandria Tourism, Lake Region Arts Council, KRAM 96.7, Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies and members of Pioneer PBS.
About Pioneer PBS
Established in 1966, Pioneer PBS is an award-winning, viewer-supported television station dedicated to sharing stories from rural Minnesota with the world. Pioneer PBS is headquartered in Granite Falls, Minnesota, with towers in Appleton, Worthington and Fergus Falls. Pioneer PBS reaches more than a million people in rural areas and small towns in western Minnesota, the eastern Dakotas and northern Iowa. Pioneer PBS is honored to be your television station—the only station in western Minnesota telling your stories and raising your voices into the media landscape. For more information visit pioneer.org or call 800-726-3178.