Pat Kruse: Birch Bark Artist

Prairie Public
Prairie Public
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Published 2022-02-15
Pat Kruse is a birchbark and quill artist who lives on the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Reservation. Working with birchbark for over 30 years he creates beautiful pieces of art including baskets, picturesques and even cradles.

About the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund
In 2008, Minnesota voters passed a landmark piece of legislation — the Minnesota Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment — which provided funding to public television stations serving audiences in Minnesota. Its mission is to help preserve and document the treasures of culture, history, and heritage that make Minnesota special, and to increase access to the natural and cultural resources we all share.
All Comments (4)
  • @flyrog07
    Your artwork is wonderful. I love working with birch bark. I know the stress you feel when working with it. Like the other guy says, a little heat goes a long way.
  • @marcellawynja2372
    you can use a little heat from the stove to bend it. you will notice when it is easy to bend. I use spruce root to sew it together.