Voices
for the Land: Minnesotans Write About the Places They Love
de Paul Gruchow
Book
Description
A celebration of the special bond Minnesotans have with the land expressed
through compelling essays and beautiful photographs.
"A place is not a thing," writes Paul Gruchow in the foreword
to VOICES FOR THE LAND, "it is a relationship. A location becomes
a place only in the context of time, of history." In this extraordinary
tribute to the importance of the ordinary places in our lives, fifty-two
Minnesotans write about the special, sometimes secret, places that give
their lives meaning. For some it is their home or cabin or lake. For
others, it's a family farm or neighborhood park, a backyard garden or
north woods trail: all places where we find a personal and spiritual
connection to the land.
VOICES
FOR THE LAND explores this complex relationship by linking these personal
essays with striking images captured by award-winning photographer Brian
Peterson. This marriage of words, images, and landscape provides a powerful
reminder of our deep and abiding connection to the land. The writers
share the experience of these favorite places through their senses,
from the aching tingle of a cold winter night and the sound of ice "singing"
to the buzz of mosquitoes and the acrid smell of burning peat.
The
Voices for the Land project, organized by the nonprofit group 1000 Friends
of Minnesota, encouraged Minnesotans to write about the land they love
and to fight for its preservation. The Minneapolis Star Tribune published
a selection of these essays, paired with Brian Peterson's photos, in
an award-winning series. VOICES FOR THE LAND brings these essays and
photos together in book form for the first time.
"Ordinary
places," writes Paul Gruchow, "are as necessary to a good
community as are ordinary people." VOICES FOR THE LAND speaks to
the power of these ordinary places and the value of preserving them
for the simple reason that they are special to someone.
About
the author
Brian Peterson is a staff photographer for the Minneapolis Star Tribune
and has been honored eight times as the Minnesota Press Photographer
of the Year.