John Covlin

Red Lake Falls

John Covlin of Red Lake Falls is our newest board member. John is a retired picture framer and business owner. He owned Northwinds Picture Framing and custom framed pictures and works of art for artists and the public. John worked with various artists and customers throughout Minnesota helping them to best figure out the best way to display their artwork. “I have framed everything from original prints (using conservation framing methods) to photography, canvas paintings, and shadow boxes.”

John shared, “I currently live in Red Lake Falls with Joanne, my wife of 45 years. I grew up in St Paul, but I spent the summers of my junior and senior high school years working on my aunt and uncle’s dairy farm south of McIntosh. Because of that time spent on the farm, I developed a love for this area and always wanted to live here. In 2014 everything fell into place, and we made the move north. I enjoy kayaking and working in my vegetable garden in the spring/summer and hunting in the fall. I also enjoy listening to all types of music and I play guitar in a community jazz band in Crookston. What I love the most though, is hanging out with the grandkids and playing video games with them.”

John wanted to become involved in the greater NW Minnesota community and being a board member “allows me to do that. I want to advocate for all the different art projects that our area has to offer.”

When asked why arts are important, John explained, “I feel that art, in whatever form it is in, can stir the souls of people and move them in many different ways. It can move them to compassion, move them to joy or move them to action. It is in these movements that we connect as humans. The more we can connect, the better off we may be.”

Finally, John said, “I am honored and feel that this is a privilege to be able to be a board member and I am looking forward to being able to serve in this capacity.”