Weekly Wave: Wielding a dangerous paintbrush (2024)

DULUTH — My wife and I recently enjoyed a Friday night with several couples celebrating a friend’s birthday. But I knew I was in trouble when I walked in the door and saw a table full of blank canvases and color palettes.

I appreciate the talent and sweat that da Vinci put into the “Mona Lisa” but I’d need a paint-by-numbers set to create anything remotely resembling that famous work of art. I’d probably make that dignified lady look closer to “The Scream” by Edvard Munch.

More than a few art teachers shook their heads over my “creations.” I’ve been proudly drawing stick people for 54 years.

So, you can understand my apprehension at the sight of paintbrushes and a scary field of white. Following dinner and conversation, our hosts led us to that long table, told us to sit opposite our spouses and asked each person to paint their significant other “as you see them.”

Yikes. I had to be careful or I would sleep on the couch that night, and maybe a few others. This could be tricky.

As you can tell from the picture below, my wife’s portrait hovers somewhere in between Raggedy Ann and Edward Scissorhands. I added some hearts, bluebirds and grass in a futile attempt to hide my artistic deficiencies. I’m no Bob Ross.

Rick Lubbers / Contributed

I tried.

My wife’s effort hit much closer to home — but I’d quibble that she “sees” my ears as rivaling those of Mr. Spock, she gave me the neck of a linebacker and angry bees must have stung my lips. She nailed the receding hairline though!

Thankfully, my wife laughed off my poor effort and bought the lame excuse that my art is abstract. Those portraits are now displayed in our living room, and if anyone asks, the one on the left was painted by one of our children when they were 4.

Clint Austin / Duluth Media Group

When our newsroom heard that the Soudan Mine was reopening for regular tours for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic and renovation work, some of our journalists decided to see what information they could mine for a story.

A different kind of in-depth story.

(Subscriber-only story)

Clint Austin / Duluth Media Group

Reporter Jimmy Lovrien covers all things mining for the DNT, and many of his stories center on the seemingly neverending battle between pro-mining folks and those concerned with the effect mining has on the environment.

This week, Lovrien presented another issue on the Iron Range — a town being steadily bought up by U.S. Steel and the residents left wondering about the fate of their town.

Such is the plight of Kinney, Minnesota. Population approximately 150.

Learn more about what is happening in Kinney from Lovrien and photographer Clint Austin here.

Brielle Bredsten / Duluth Media Group

Wired Whisker wants to sell you coffee and other cafe treats, but the aptly named business would also love for you to provide a rescue cat with a happy and healthy home.

As DNT business reporter Brielle Bredsten writes, “Wired Whisker, the area’s first cat cafe, opened Friday, May 31 with a dual mission: caffeinate patrons while rehoming rescues.”

You can tag along with Bredsten here and maybe find a cuddly cat to take home.

Here are a few more stories from the past week to check out:

• City moves to close case: Duluth to consider $600,000 settlement for man shot by police
• Crowded field: 5 attorneys file for rare Duluth judicial election
• Front Row Seat: Joining the pack at my first Duluth Huskies game (Subscriber-only story)
• Meet Officer Gus: New K-9 joins Duluth Police Department
• Racing for a cause: Duluth parents running to raise awareness for nonprofit
  

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Rick Lubbers has been in his role since 2014 and at the News Tribune since 2005. Previous stops include the Superior Telegram (1999-2005) and Budgeteer News (1997-1999). Prior to that, he worked at the St. Cloud Times and Annandale Advocate in Minnesota, and the Greenville Daily News and Grand Rapids Press in Michigan. He received his journalism degree at Central Michigan University.