GRANITE FALLS, Minn., January 30th, 2024 - The season 15 premiere of Postcards features Mankato grad Mai Tran who creates prints that remind her of Vietnam; Jacqui Rosenbush who paints a large-scale mural in Madison; and Willmar-native Kari Hawes who finds healing through yoga, jewelry making and sound. The episode airs on Pioneer PBS on Thursday, February 1 at 7 p.m. and repeats the following Sunday, February 4 at 7 p.m. and Monday, February 5 at 1:30 p.m.
Mai Tran grew up in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, but traded endless rice fields and lotus fields for the wintry prairies of Minnesota when she came to Mankato as an international student. Although her family expected her to find a career in business or science, she fell in love with printmaking and became an artist instead. “There’s no single day that I feel like I want to do something else. It was like falling in love. I can drop anything else to do prints,” says Tran. She uses a variety of printmaking methods, including screen printing, lithography, and etching intaglio, but specifically resonates with the ancient techniques of woodcut printing. Tran’s work blends elements from Vietnamese culture and legends with her American midwest experiences, linking the two in unique new narratives.
Drawing upon more than 10 years of design experience, Jacqui Rosenbush brings a splash of color to downtown Madison, MN through a new mural “Humming with the Earth.” Created with the assistance of fellow artist Kendra Kallevig and community members, the 1,100 sq ft mural fits neatly into Grand Park as the new art centerpiece of the community. “I like how [the hummingbird], though it’s moving so quickly, causes us to pause and notice it. And it’s a gentle reminder to all of us when we’re humming about our business to pause and enjoy some of the lovely things,” says Rosenbush.
Willmar-native, Kari Hawes, is a yoga teacher specializing in sound-healing yoga and meditation. Interested in gemology and jewelry from childhood, Kari also creates crystal bracelets that tie into her yoga practice. From her teens, Hawes suffered from chronic pain which impacted every aspect of her life but after years of struggle, she found healing through the use of singing crystal bowls. “I feel like sound bowls have changed my life for the better. Helping people, bringing community, helping with depression, grief, anxiety, chronic pain, vertigo, so many different things it’s helped with, it’s so rewarding,” says Hawes.
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. For more information visit pioneer.org or call 800-726-3178.
