The Boathouses of Lake Vermillion
MSP Terminal 1, Airport Mall North Gallery
September 2021 - March 2022
When I heard of the boathouses of Lake Vermilion, I knew I needed to paint them. In 2018, my husband and I drove to Tower, Minnesota in search of these boathouses that were not easily found. We drove to the general location and luckily found a spot of land that afforded a great view of all 143 boathouses lined up along the shore of Lake Vermilion.
They showed their age beautifully through rusted metal, rotting wood, sway-backed roofs, and fading paint.
They were originally built between 1900-1950 by men who worked in the Soudan Iron Mine. In return for their salaries, the mining company provided tamarack logs and corrugated metal for building materials, as well as a long-time lease of land on which to build the boathouses.
As I painted the boathouses, I photographed them using different lenses. I then photographed the painting at its first iteration. Once back in my studio, I blended the photographs with the painting in layers using computer software.
A few of the boathouses are still used, but most are beyond usefulness. The boathouses are now on the historic register and are part of the Soudan Underground Mine State Park.
www.LonnieBrodenPaintings.com
- Current Location: MSP Terminal 1, Airport Mall
- Collections: Exhibitions (Past)