Pam Capin is an Eveleth, MN, native of Finnish and Croatian ancestry. Pam grew up with a strong tie to the Finnish community in the area, and has become more interested in actively expressing her heritage as older relatives have passed on and younger ones have been born who have less direct connection to their roots. Capin started learning to make and paint drums from Mel Mattson, and they had a mentor/apprentice/collaborator relationship for years until Mattson’s health problems made it so that he was unable to continue his craft. Now Capin is trying to keep this art and Mattson’s story alive.
Fieldwork conducted by Sallie Anna Pisera with support from the Minnesota State Arts Board.