One of my favorite places in Minnesota is the Milan Village Arts School, and the city park across the street. Since 2018, when I started carving spoons, my friend, Matt, and I have kicked off our summers by going to the oldest, and one of the biggest spoon carving gathering in the world, held right here in the rural farming community of Milan.
A spoon gathering is a gathering of people from all walks of life and skill levels who simply want to carve spoons from fresh, or green wood using only an axe and a couple of knives. Milan was founded by Norwegian immigrants and this region of the Red River valley has a rich Scandinavian heritage. The school’s mission includes teaching the ethnic folk arts that are part of this heritage, including the art of green wood carving.
Almost every year, the first full week in June, we camp with fellow carvers under the broad linden trees that ring the park, taking pre-event classes that lead up to the 3-day festival that attracts almost 200 people from all over the US and other countries. In the middle of the park are 2 large tents where, along with MVAS’ restored 110-year-old school house, there are classes, workshops, demonstrations, and spoon swapping, but mostly people are just hanging out together carving, making a little music, and talking late into night.
What I love most about this quiet little town, the folk school, and the park is that it makes a perfect setting for this event. A peaceful, slow-paced setting without any distractions or commercialism. A setting that strengthens the gathering’s sense of community, and with that the making of not just a lot beautiful spoons, but many fond memories. Everyone is welcomed, politics are put aside, people new to the craft learn from those with experience, and those with experience are eager to share their knowledge. It has been a great way to make new friends and catch up with friends you only see once a year. It is a wonderful way to kickoff the summer.
