Soft Shop on the Crackling Ice

Soft Shop on the Crackling Ice

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If you think art belongs in galleries and only fishermen hang out on lakes in the wintertime, you’re in for a surprise.

Four Chicago artists have been busy building “The Soft Shop”–a quirky ice fishing shanty that they’ve hauled up to Medicine Lake, Minnesota. 

They’re taking part in the 4th annual Art Shanty Projects

And instead of telling tall tales about the one that got away, the group will be creating soft sculptures with members of the community.

Arts contributor Jennifer Brandel followed “The Soft Shop” on their journey to Minnesota to see how art and ice combine to build character and community spirit.