Golden Valley Couple’s Buckthorn Creations To Help Nonprofit Facing Federal Funding Cuts
Last year, we introduced you to a Golden Valley couple who turn buckthorn into one-of-a-kind wooden creations. Dave and Rhoda Michaelynn do it to raise awareness and funds for substance use disorder.
This year they’re still crafting, but they’re raising their goals to benefit another local nonprofit, The Food Group.
Every day, Dave Michaelynn puts in the hours on his lathe, shaping wood to become something greater. His work becomes useful and unique pieces: hundreds and hundreds of spoons, boards and bowls to name a few.
“That’s been good for me, personally. Just having a mission,” Michaelynn reflected.
Rhoda Michaelynn, his wife, is similarly crafty. She prefers more eccentric works and designs — inexact lines, watercolor paintings, handcrafted knitwear. One of her main art forms is pottery. Both Dave and Rhoda collaborate on pieces to make designs all their own.
“You can see how nice the grain, coloring is on that,” said Dave, pointing to a lid that he made from the notoriously resilient buckthorn.
Being creative is an essential part of their life, but it’s bigger than just its pieces. Its a reference — and a homage– to their son, Adam.
The couple’s son died of an overdose in 2016. Art is their grief therapy. There’s a symbol honoring Adam on each of their pieces, in the shape of an arrow.
“We feel that in honoring him doing this, in the art of, the process of making the objects… he’s with us. And we can bring that forward,” Rhoda said.
Dave and Rhoda Michaelynn collaborate on their hundreds of handmade pieces. They’ll all be on display on Oct. 11.
A Powerful Fundraiser with New Benefits
The art doesn’t just decorate their home, it is sold through their mission: Art of the Heart. Dave estimates that their art pieces have raised $75,000 over the last eight years.
Since its inception, proceeds went to Change the Outcome, a Minnesota nonprofit dedicated to educating people on substance use disorder. Last year was their biggest year of sales yet, raising $15,000 alone in their yard sale.
While Change the Outcome will still get most of the funds, a new beneficiary this year is The Food Group. Rhoda said this is another cause that’s important to her family, especially as local food shelves and pantries see federal funding cuts.
“There’s a connection between families being able to have access to healthy food, and lessening mental health problems,” Rhoda said.
She volunteers at The Food Group in New Hope every week. There, she sees the need firsthand as she helps pack things to supply the food shelves.
Rachel Martin Asproth, communications manager with The Food Group, said volunteers make everything possible.
“We rely on their creativity, their talents, their skills, their time. And they are so generous with it,” Martin Asproth said.
As need grows, funding makes just as critical of a difference. Even smaller fundraisers from groups like Art of the Heart. It helps the nonprofit pay for more meals, and feed more families in a variety of ways.
“When you are trying to create lasting change, you need many hands and many voices involved in that work to actually move the needle, and create that lasting change,” Martin Asproth said.
The Michaelynns said they are always looking for great causes to support.
Benefit Buckthorn Art Sale on Oct. 11
In the meantime, you can visit their annual art sale at their home in Golden Valley. It’s being held on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at 500 Valleywood Circle in Golden Valley. They say they have 1,200 different pieces available in all sorts of art forms. You can also view and purchase some of their work in their Etsy Store.
Rhoda Michaelynn volunteers at the Food Group once a week. She said she appreciates their mission.
