Evolving our Relationship with Place: Co-creating a Rememberance

Fridays, August 15th and 22nd, 2025
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Tuition: $52, Materials: $10

This two session class will explore the blend of photography, poetry, and introspection, inspired by the way of life many have whereby they have a seasonal home. Wherever you call home, a summer season is often spent in a place that is cherished, sometimes having grown into a deep relationship overtime and sometimes instantly becoming a meaningful place. John's passion for the sacred nature of place has evolved through writing and photography to pay tribute to place... Students can expect to discuss the places that are meaningful to participants both in a group and one-on-one with John. Between classes, students will take photographs of a meaningful place of their choosing. Then, John will collaborate with students to build a poem reflecting the meaning as told by the participant. The second class session will be focused on the aesthetic creation of a printed and framed product, featuring both photos and poetry that students will have as a remembrance.

About your instructor: John Kopp moved to Ely, MN over five years ago, where he became active in many groups. He is currently: a member of the area writers group, on the Friends of the Library Board, an instructor at the Ely Folk School, on the volunteer cleaning crew for the Folk School, a volunteer for taking water clarity readings on Fenske Lake, the loon monitor for Everett Lake, and is a member a local book club. His creative passion is to continue developing ways for people of all ages to connect with themselves and each other. John’s children and grandchildren joke around about how envious they are of his getting to live here in Northern Minnesota, in the beauty of the trees and lakes. They love to come and visit. It would be John’s dream come true if they could relocate here at some point in their own family journeys.