For this annual event in Duluth, AIA Minnesota brings together unique individuals to share their stories and explore new ideas. Attendees in February 2009 explored the edges of design with the following presenters:

John Langdon – a word artist and a Professor in the Graphic Design program at Drexel University in Philadelphia. John is the author of Wordplay, a book of ambigrams and Taoist philosophy.

Erik Simula – a Duluth-born, Finnish-American artist specializing in building traditional birch bark canoes of the Lake Superior Ojibwe and Fur Trade forms.

Bruce Blair – Manager of Facility and Natural Resource Development with Dakota County Parks Department who will present the design methodology of permaculture which is all about using the connectivity of natural processes as a model to design durable landscapes.

Nicolai Czumaj-Bront – Industrial Designer with Haworth responsible for conceptual work, managing projects, detail modeling and creating prototypes. He will discuss mass production versus hand-crafted and share his thoughts on the relationship of products/furniture within a space/environment.

Carole C. Wedge, FAIA – President of Shepley Bulfinch Richardson & Abbott. Her expertise as an architect has focused on the convergence of learning and teaching and research environments integrated with a commitment to sustainable design. Her presentation topic is fostering creativity.

Keith Calhoun and Chandra McCormick – photographers from New Orleans who consider themselves “keepers of the culture,” guardians of a small-town way of life in black Louisiana that was fading even before Katrina destroyed so much so quickly.

Kristina de Sacramento accompanied by Michael Ziegahn – Kristina and Michael will provide the “Interludes” between the other speakers and the entertainment on Friday evening. Kristina is the founder and artistic director of the Anda Flamenco Company and School. Michael is a class guitarist for the school.