Austin native expresses her feelings through the lens

Published 12:00 am Friday, April 25, 2003

The varied lifestyles and landscapes across Minnesota are reproduced in a collection of photographs by Austin native Roxanne Kjarum for her new book "Only in Minnesota."

Babe, the big blue ox, canoe-builders, metro streets and dairy cows are all included in the book. Kjarum said she wanted to represent every area of Minnesota, so her travels, over a two-year period, took her in every direction.

"I grew up down in farm country, so I really wanted to include the southern part of the state as well," said Kjarum, who graduated from Austin High School in 1971.

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Scenes from Rochester, Spring Grove, Harmony and a photo of a pig on a farm outside of Austin are some of the pictures comprising the southern Minnesota section.

"Growing up in Austin, you knew the neighbors, you walked to school," she said. "I have these really strong Minnesota roots -- that sense of neighborhood."

One of her favorite spots among the many travels is Voyageurs National Park.

"It's not very well publicized and not very well attended, but the people that go there keep coming back," she said. "It's a really amazing place."

Kjarum has been taking photographs since she was 15. She remembers riding around Austin on her bicycle and photographing her family and pets. Now, she has a studio in the warehouse district of Minneapolis where she works on photographs for her commercial advertising business. Her biggest client is Target.

A couple of years ago, she sent out some of her work to different publishers.

"I just was looking for somewhere that I could use what I enjoy shooting the most, which is out-and-about stuff," she said.

She said she was in the "right place at the right time." Voyageur Press had been thinking about a Minnesota photography book and thought she would fit the project well.

Her job gave her the freedom to travel, and over the two years she saw some interesting areas and very nice people.

"It really allowed me to appreciate the people and the state in a way that I hope came across in the book," she said.

"Only in Minnesota" costs $19.95 and is available at her Web site, www.roxannestock.com, or at Nemitz's in Austin. Kjarum is planning a book signing there this fall.