Pilot Mound Minnesota

Cynthia Fleury of the Crosstown Camera Club organized a well-attended outing to Lanesboro, Minnesota at the end of last month. 31 members and their spouses attended. Images from our weekend spent shooting there will be posted here in the very near future.

On the way down three of us decided to take the back roads to Lanesboro and came into the town of Pilot Mound, Minnesota. We had come through a number of small towns on the way, but this one had a church that looked particularly interesting, so we stopped to shoot it.



Just down the end of the block from the church, and on the main street of the town, was a building that advertised itself as the General Store.


The three of of us took some images from outside, but we really weren't interested much in going inside to explore a general store. Finally, Forrest Pearson decided to go inside to see whether it was a functioning facility because it had stained glass hanging in the windows, but no merchandise.


We met the owner Karl Unnasch who told us he had purchased the store and converted it to a glass art studio. He invited us inside to see his work and to have a beer. (actually I coaxed beer out of him). Anyway, his work was remarkable.



He said he created it by first sketching our the design, then cutting colored glass and finally firing it in a kiln much like potters fire pottery. He often has to paint the glass many times using this process to create the fine detail and color he achieves. When lit from behind the glass pieces seem to come alive with brilliant and vivid color renditions.




Before we left I remarked to him that the studio location and his art reminded me of the type of story typically seen in an "On the Road" segment by Jason Davis on KSTP Sunday night. Since he had provided the beer, and maybe because I was feeling the effects of it, I promised to send information about his art studio to Jason Davis when I got back home.

I did contact Mr. Davis suggesting he visit Karl's studio because of the quality of his work and the unique location of the studio. Surprisingly Jason wrote back immediately telling me my timing was excellent. He had a trip to Lanesboro planned that week and he would stop by Karl's studio.

I checked in with Karl and Jason Davis's production crew did schedule an appointment to meet him on Friday September 2nd. I don't know yet how it turned out, or if Jason Davis will air a segment on TV. If I find out it will be aired, I'll post it so everyone has the opportunity to watch it. In the meantime, you can visit Karl's website at: Pilot Mound Design. Just bear in mind the website doesn't do justice to stained glass. It really has to be seen in person to appreciate the color, detail and work involved.

It was fortunate we decided to take the slow route to Lanesboro, and more so that we stopped to talk to Karl Unnasch. Meeting him was very much like viewing one of Jason Davis' segments about Minnesota. There is a lot of stories to be found traveling around back roads of this state.