The famed John Peyton, Duluth author and artist. John L Peyton was an artist and outdoorsman before he was old enough to go to school. He was born in Proctor, Minnesota and lived in the Northland all his life. As he grew up, he traveled the lakes and rivers of the back country on his own or in the company of loggers, trappers or Native Americans. After graduating from Central High School in Duluth, he attended Philips Exeter Academy and went on to Yale where he majored in Latin and History. After graduating from Yale, he attended the Art Students League of New York, where he studied with such masters as Charles Burchfield, Yasuo Kuniyoshi, and George Grosz. He later studied painting under Duluth artist David Ericson and Knute Heldner.
John worked in watercolor, oils, pastels and acrylics and ....click here for complete biography.
Bright Beat the Water - Memories of a Wilderness Artist. John Peyton was a native of Proctor, Minnesota, and was well-known throughout the western Great Lakes region as a banker, artist, and award-winning author. Peyton’s memoirs, which span most of the twentieth century, begin with his early life in northern Minnesota when Duluth was still a frontier town. He recalled his adventures with the northern Ojibway Indians and time spent hunting and fishing on the rivers of the Northwoods. He described his years at prep school in New Hampshire, his years at Yale, and banking during the Depression in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Many other experiences of his life in Minnesota, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Arizona—always told in a gentle, warm and perceptive manner—also find their way into these memoirs. Peyton’s own paintings and illustrations further enrich the description of his life.
Faces in the Firelight by John L. Peyton. Faces in the Firelight chronicles one year in the life of northwoods Native Americans in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Enriched by the author’s first hand knowledge, learned while traveling among the Ojibway early in the 20th century, this fictionalized account is a valuable ethnological record incorporating legends and traditional lifeways of the northern Ojibway Indians. The plot centers around a young Ojibway man coming of age in a demanding physical, hence social, environment who, late in the year of this story, becomes badly scarred during a fight with a bear. Years late, Old Mosh, with the disfigured face and mauled leg, served as wilderness guide to the judge, the engineer, the banker, and the banker’s teen-aged son – John Peyton
The Stone Canoe is a collection of stories that Peyton – as a young man, early in the 20th century – heard among the Ojibway Indians. In this book the now deceased talented storyteller and artist told and illustrated these Native American stories of mirth, sadness, and survival from the Northwoods in an evocative, engaging, and acclaimed style.
The Stone Canoe will be appreciated by readers interested in myths and legends of Native Americans generally and, almost certainly, it will become a "must have" title on the bookshelves of readers interested in the Northwoods experience. The Stone Canoe won the 1991 Minnesota Book Award.
The Birch: This book is a celebration of one of the most widespread, beautiful, useful, and inspiring of trees -- the birch, a group of species that occur across the middle and high latitudes of Europe, Asia, and North America. The author provides an overview of birch ecology and then shifts his focus to the economic, social and spiritual roles of the birch among peoples of North America, Europe, and Asia. The book concludes with a discussion of the birch in art and literature, and the ancient alliance between people and trees. The Birch is an accessible, friendly book containing 17 line drawings by the author/artist.
Books by local author Marvin Pirila...is an author residing in Esko, Minnesota with his wife Gail Francette. Marvin has two daughters, Emily and Lily, that inspired him to write "Gorgo Visits Earth." Marvin has a BBA degree in finance (minor in Economics) from the University of Minnesota, Duluth.
Currently, Mr. Pirila works as the marketing/tax partner/copywriter for Fishing Webmaster, LLC (web development specialists). This position encompasses blogging, content writing, press releases, and articles. Read more...
Effective managers know how to maximize the efforts of employees and the means available to them (equipment, processes, etc.). They maintain a long-term vision of the desired direction, while working through day-to-day operations. The greatest common denominator of all great people is their commitment to living a moral, value-based life. Strict morals (honesty, integrity, character, etc.) allow a person to avoid the pitfalls that befall so many men and women. Successful people know that they pay thousands of time for doing immoral things. Your conscience becomes occupied with guilt. Continued denial of wrongdoing furthers your erosion of character. Others can see what you so desperately try to keep hidden and begin to question your character. Strong moral values expand your influence while immorality restricts. Successful individuals program their minds with positive thoughts. Along those lines, we must accept failures as a necessary requirement for success.
The Sarcastic - A comedy by author Marvin Pirila; cover illustrated by Christina Derungs
Allan is a volatile person on a good day, but when challenged look out! He's afraid of nothing and quick with his wit -- a dangerous combination for a comic. And if he isn't already a big enough danger to himself, he has fallen in love with a woman chained to the mob. He becomes a comic on the run...
Gorgo, an unexpected alien visitor, is welcomed into the Banks home. The family is just beginning to readjust to a normal life after Gail, wife and mother of two, recovers from lung cancer treatment. A father struggles to keep the farm afloat while trying to maintain a normal life for his kids. The children are confused and unaware of what is happening around them. While Mr. Banks is kept busy with the daily duties of the farm the girls take Gorgo on various mini-adventures. Gorgo learns from the Earthlings struggle to cope with their dire situation. The girls are happy to have a new friend to show around and to play with. They are especially happy that Gorgo is goofy, yet considerate of their feelings…and he is taken with their honesty, sweetness, and eagerness for fun. Entangled with his own emotion Gorgo enjoys the many adventures around the large farm. There’s nothing he can do except entertain them and entertain them he does…and in the process learning the healing power of laughter.
Book by Michelle Lee.. In 1983, Michelle Lee moved to Moose Lake in Northern Minnesota. It is the kind of town that reflects what true community is and should be....people are neighborly and are committed to a safe and thriving community. It was also the birthplace of the Nemadji Tile and Pottery Company.
During her first year in Moose Lake she spotted a small pot at a local garage sale. When she asked what it was, the owner said,"Oh that's just that nemadji crap." Michelle picked it up for a dime. That purchase so many years ago began a love affair with the locally produced pottery which continues today.
Michelle works at the NBC television affiliate in Duluth, KBJR TV 6. Read more...
Left Hand Publishing presents a limited edition of The Myth And Magic Of Nemadji "Indian" Pottery: History, Identification, And Value Guide by author Michelle Lee. A beautiful collectible...fascinating history. Myth often has a habit of becoming reality. This book reveals the true story of Nemadji Pottery. In a field where inaccurate information abounds, I am pleased to find a source that sets the record straight about Nemadji Pottery.”…Harry L. Rinker, national antiques and collectibles expert and host of HGTV's Collector Inspector.
Born out of necessity during the Great Depression and hand-crafted in Moose Lake, Minnesota…the gateway to Arrowhead County, Nemadji “Indian” Pottery has come to the forefront as America’s premiere swirl-painted tourist pottery.
Still within the reach of many pocketbooks and beautiful to behold, Nemadji and its younger sister, “Garden of the Gods”…are difficult to resist.
With the aid of dozens of interviews with the people who mass-produced the tourist item in Moose Lake and Kettle River author, Michelle Lee traces the rich history of Nemadji during the Depression, the Thrifty Fifties and into the new millennium.
Published by Left Hand Publishing Company of Moose Lake, the book is 120 pages in length and contains over 80 photographs, 40 various stamp mark illustrations and an identification and value guide based on local and national sales.
The soft cover, perfect bound book is priced at $19.95 plus $1.30 MN sales tax.Copies may be purchased at Heart of Ohio Antiques Shop in Springfield, Oh; Borders Books and Music in Oak Brook, Illinois; Barnes & Noble in Duluth, Mn.; J.W.Beecroft Books in Superior, Wisconsin; Northern Lights Books in Duluth , Mn.; Ross and Haines Old Books Co. at 411 2nd St. in Hudson Wisconsin; Tweed Museum of Art Bookstore on the U.of M. Campus Duluth, Mn.;Village Book Store in Grand Rapids, Minnesota; Howard Street Booksellers in Hibbing, Mn.; In Moose Lake,Mn., Copies are available at Lakeside Antique Traders, Grandma's Attic Gifts, and Blacklock Gallery. In Coquet, Minnesota they can be purchased at the Carlton County Historical Society.