Dan FIndley – Friday and Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 10am-5pm

Dan is a longtime guest artist of the Lake Superior 20/20 Studio & Art Tour, known for his exceptional woodworking skills and his generous spirit, giving back to his community by donating the proceeds from his sales during the tour to our local food bank. We were thrilled to interview him about his participation in the tour and being an artist on the north shore!

What do you like the most about living and working on the North Shore?

I love the north woods. It is so fresh and beautiful. I spent a large part of my life paddling and guiding in Quetico. That’s where I met Alice, my paddling partner for life. I can’t canoe anymore but I know it’s just right there. So now I enjoy Lake Superior. That’s about as beautiful as it gets. Now instead of paddling I walk the lake shore remembering all the wonderful adventures Alice and I enjoyed together.

As an artist in the tour, what are you most excited about?

The 20/20 has become a major part of my life. The people traveling the tour are interested in more than just what they can buy. They enjoy traveling the back roads to find quaint studios hidden in the woods where they get to meet delightful artists who enjoy their work. Talking with these people is so enjoyable. Of course they want to learn about my playing with wood. But they also enjoy talking about other artists they have met and beautiful things they have seen. Then of course my final pleasure comes Monday morning. I make a considerable amount of money and Monday morning I get to take it to the food shelf where it gets used to make many people happier and healthier.

What is it that you enjoy about working in your medium?

My dad was of the old school where when you needed something you made it. Often he used wood. After I got married money was scarce. So to help out my dad and I made custom lightweight canoe racing paddles. We spent many hours together in his basement working with wood. Very often when I am playing with wood I think of those times.