2023 North House intern portfolio night

Kirsten Wisniewski | November 22, 2023

The North House intern program offers a 10 month internship in craft education, with an emphasis on the practice and teaching of traditional craft. The internship year ends with the presentation of a capstone project, the Sloyd Project, before the start of North House’s Winterers’ Gathering. The 2023 cohort of interns included Laura Korynta, Mazzy Flynn, Emma Mathews-Lingen, and Dani Sanchez, and they presented their projects on November 16, 2023.

Laura Korynta and her portfolio night display

Mazzy Flynn and her portfolio night display

Emma Mathews-Lingen and her portfolio night display

Dani Sanchez and her portfolio night display

Each North House intern chose to complete projects in different craft areas, but all touched on how valuable they found the exposure to the diversity of craft available at the school. Flynn said, “I have always loved craft but I haven’t had the opportunity to pursue any craft. So I came into this internship wanting to do that wide net and try out a whole bunch of different things.”

Beyond the chance to sample a wide array of crafts, Korynta also pointed to the importance of how the practice of craft opened the door for building community. She said, “When your hands are busy working, people have incredibly deep conversations.”

Building connections within the North House and Grand Marais communities was something each of the interns said that they valued. When asked what she will take with her from this year in Grand Marais, Sanchez talked about the generosity of people in the community. She said, “I hope to carry that with me out of this, and also the generosity of knowledge that has been shared with me. I’d like to pass it on, as well.”

Both Flynn and Mathews-Lingen will stay in the area now that the internship is over. Mathews-Lingen said, “One of the greatest gifts of this internship has been joining the Grand Marais community.”

WTIP’s Kirsten Wisniewski spoke to the four North House interns, as well as Internship Program Manager Sam McCauly. They discussed the end of the internship, and what they have gained during their time in Grand Marais.

Rachel Andrus, Mary Tripoli, Liz O’Brien, Joni Kristenson, and Nathan Kristenson also contributed to this feature.

Photos by Kirsten Wisniewski. Video by M Baxley.