NOT EVERYONE WOULD CELEBRATE a birthday by exploring historic ruins and then capping the day by creating art within an historic context. But then I am not everyone.
This week, on my closing-in-on-seventy birthday, I took a day trip to Wasioja and neighboring Mantorville. Randy and I packed our picnic lunches and then hit the road east in late morning. No need to rush and get going too early at our ages.
After a brief stop at a Kenyon thrift shop, which smelled strongly of natural gas, we made a quick exit. But not before warning the shopkeeper that he needed to check on the odor immediately. And don’t turn on a light switch, although the lights were already on, we advised. (The shop was still standing on our return route home.)
GOING BACK IN TIME
I digress. In Wasioja, we discovered aged ruins and historic buildings, many connected to Minnesota’s involvement in the Civil War. I was aware of the Civil War recruiting station, but not some of the other sites. I’ll write more on our visits to Wasioja and Mantorville in future posts.
However, I should note now that Randy and I enjoyed slices of homemade blueberry and strawberry/rhubarb pie at County Seat Coffeehouse in Mantorville. It was, after all, my birthday. No sweet treat awaited me at home.
Back home by late afternoon with me feeling a bit tired after being on my feet all day (remember that broken right toe, which makes walking a tad more challenging), I put my feet up. Randy napped.
STEPPING BACK IN TIME WITH MICA ANDERS
And then, less than two hours later, we were off to the Rice County Historical Society for an interactive historical presentation by St. Paul genealogist and artist Mica Lee Anders. She was presenting on early (1850-1900) African American residents of Rice County. I’m always up to learning more about the history of this place I’ve called home for 42 years.
Anders made the entire event hands-on engaging by asking attendees to create flower mosaics that will honor the legacies of early African Americans. The flowers will be installed as public art at gravesites in Faribault and Northfield.
Not being especially artistic beyond creating with a camera and with words, I felt initially tentative about the whole idea. But Anders quickly put me at ease, explaining how to go about the process of creating mosaic flowers from glass tiles. We grabbed cupcake tins then scooped tiles in assorted shapes (mostly round) and colors (blues, greens, oranges and yellows) into individual holders. From there, we designed within a donut shape printed on paper. Later, we would transfer our designs onto sticky mesh.
As a perfectionist, I sorted my tiles by size and color before beginning to create. Part of me wanted to pause and take notes on everything Anders was sharing. But art won over being a journalist for the evening. I created. I listened. I asked questions. But I didn’t jot down a single word.
I heard about the success of those early African Americans who lived here. The barber. The young man who would become a doctor. The college grad. But I learned, too, of efforts to hide racial identity. Yet, races intermarried. And, said, Anders, Faribault was a welcoming place to those African Americans who settled here early on. To hear that pleased me greatly. Faribault has not always been a welcoming place for people of color.
CONNECTING HISTORY & ART
Anders’ passion for history, genealogy and honoring the legacies of African Americans in southeastern Minnesota via her research and now her public art project coursed through the meeting room where a small group of us created colorful mosaics. It felt good to be part of something like this, a tangible way to honor those who came before us, who likely faced more struggles than I will ever know.
My mosaic was well thought out. I don’t usually randomly do anything. I used orange and yellow tiles in the outer two rings of my flower to represent the sun. The next ring featured blue round tiles representing the sky—dark blue for stormy days, lighter shiny blue for happier days. I finished my flower with an inner ring of green tiles representing the earth, growth, place.
THANKFUL
Thus I began another year of life. Learning. Creating art. Honoring. Celebrating. And feeling incredibly thankful for all the people who care about me. From greeting cards to an audio message, from texts to emails to calls (including a singing of “happy birthday”), I feel cherished and loved.
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FYI: Mica Anders will host more workshops in Rice County (including in Northfield) to talk about early African Americans in southeastern Minnesota and to create flower mosaics. I encourage you to participate. Her project was made possible in part by Springboard for the Arts’ Rural-Urban Solidarity Initiative.
© Copyright 2024 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Happy Birthday !!!🎂🎶🎂🎶🎂🎶🎂🎶🎂🎶🎂🎶
Glad it was fun filled day with art snd blueberry pie.
Happy happy day!!!
sending you good wishes for a wonderful year!!!
Lov Kathy Gwillim
Thank you, Kathy. I appreciate your good wishes and love.
Happy Birthday Audrey!
I am right behind you! I had a hankering for some lefse. I had to order it on line and it may be too much for one guy, but then again, if I had none, I would not be able to enjoy what I got. There is a celebration of new headstones up around Saint Paul as the descendants of the Grand Army of the Republic’s descendants gathered to unveil these new headstones. What would be my uncle – Hover Hoyne – was drafted into the Union Army. When he reported in (Fort Snelling?) he was informed war was over and he walked back home to Hayward near Albert Lea. I like to visit on occasion, Camp Verde which is away from the tourist stuff such as the Alamo. Camp Verde is across from an old cemetery and near a valley. In the cemetery Confederates are buried and the valley nearby was a Civil War era POW camp. The Camp Verde camp itself was home to the U.S. Camel Corps prior to the Civil War. When I go back on my father’s side, I run into a whole generation or 2 that fought as Confederates with my own Grand (X?) joining at age 16. I celebrate my birthday as after fighting to get an appointment, I renewed my driver;s license. Just think – a 79 year old firing up his motorcycle! Anyone want a ride? Congrats Audrey, Blessings to you and to yours.
Enjoy your lefse and your bike, Gunny. Happy birthday to you also and many blessings upon you, too. I appreciate you and your stories.
Happy Birthday!!!
Thank you, Judy. 🙂
Happy Birthday!! 🎶🥧💐 May you have a happy and healthy year ahead. I love that you spent the day learning history and connecting with your community. What a lovely bunch of birthday cards! ❤️
Thank you, Rose. It truly was a lovely day in every way. And, yes, I’m grateful for the cards. I’m old school and still really like receiving birthday wishes via cards. There’s something about holding a card in your hands and reading birthday wishes in someone’s handwriting. Someone took the time to choose a card, sign and mail it. And that means a lot to me.
happy, happy birthday, Audrey! the pie pieces sounds wonderful, I really love fruit pies. how nice you have a hands-on experience and interesting lesson. what a beautiful tile you created and nice that it had meaning behind your work.
Thank you, Beth. I try to be thoughtful in whatever I do. And that includes the design of my flower mosaic.
Happy Blessed Birthday! LOVE all that ART!!
Thank you, Sandra. I love the creativity of Mica Anders in thinking of this way to honor the first African Americans who settled, and are now buried, here.
My phone seems to have disappeared my earlier attempt at birthday greetings. So, here’s another try: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AUDREY! 🎂😁
Thank you for your birthday wishes!
Love your mosaic – oh so cheerful and sunny and natural 🙂 Happy Birthday!!!
Thank you, Renee. That’s what I was aiming for–natural. I hope all is OK with you in Florida (due to Helene).
We are doing good. The destruction is mind blowing and through multiple states too. Very fortunate and blessed and helping others as we can. I work for a community organization so already out there before, during and after the hurricane. Thanks for thinking about us and for all those sending prayers 🙂
Renee, I’m thankful that you, personally, are doing well. THANK YOU for helping those affected by Helene’s destruction. I would expect nothing less of you than to be out there supporting, caring, encouraging.
Happy birthday! That pie looks delicious. It sounds like you had a wonderful day.
I have a hard time doing random too
Thank you. And yes, it was a lovely day.