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Sylvan Spotlights

A showcasing of Karl Unnasch's architectural art features for Sylvan Brewing
in Lanesboro, Minnesota  

- from 2020 onward -

Sylvan Spotlights by Karl Unnasch





In the picturesque bluffland town of Lanesboro, Minnesota, at the height of the pandemic, Sylvan Brewing opened its doors in the historic granary building as the first brewery in town in over a century.

In preparing the place for its new calling as both a community hub and a showcase for wayfarers, owners Karen and Andy Heimdahl called on long-time friend Karl Unnasch. A Lanesboro-area native with a penchant for preserving and heralding rural flavor through art, Unnasch dove wholeheartedly into the task.

Today, visitors to Sylvan can enjoy a whimsical Easter-egg hunt for Unnasch's features on-site — and might, plenty likely, just run into Karl there himself. 

Begin your browse of some of Unnasch's touches at Sylvan below.



Sylvan Spotlights by Karl Unnasch


Bartop and Tables  

Tying Sylvan to the hard-working personal histories of many of those who wet their gullets here, the hefty wooden bartop and tables were created using the granary's salvaged basement flooring, where loose fertilizer used to be piled up in bulk. Before that, this tongue-and-groove fir most likely made up a defunct railroad line coal car.





 




Sylvan Spotlights by Karl Unnasch



Coat Hooks 

Visitors can hang their coats and hats on hooks made from trusty old hand tools.







Sylvan Spotlights by Karl Unnasch

Historic Preservation and Vitrines  

Clear acrylic preserves and celebrates the history of the granary — from old documents archived on the wall of the scale room to an abandoned bird's nest, found as is while revealing a grain chute during the remodeling process. 




Sylvan Spotlights by Karl Unnasch

Tin Elements

In rural areas, folks often need to use whatever is on hand for patch repairs — and tin is something that can usually be found lying around. Old license plates and flattened cans make for a sturdy fix, with plenty of character to boot.




Sylvan Spotlights by Karl Unnasch

Logo and Signage


Sylvan's logo and the glowing sign — on a reclaimed barnwood yard-arm "branch" with hand-carved scroll work and hand-crafted leaves made of metal and piano keys — were lovingly designed and largely implemented in Unnasch's studio.




Sylvan Spotlights by Karl Unnasch


Articles & Press:  


· Brewery elevates historic Lanesboro Grain Co. building: Sylvan Brewing gives new life to a century-old building in Lanesboro, John Molseed, Rochester Post-Bulletin, July 26, 2022


· First brewery in Lanesboro in 100 years now open, Barb Jeffers, Fillmore County Journal, November 23, 2020







Sylvan Spotlights by Karl Unnasch





Special thanks go out to: 


· Karen and Andy Heimdahl and all the Sylvan Brewing crew

· The City and People of Lanesboro, for providing years of authentic inspiration

· TiAnna DeGarmo

· John Bostrack and Amy Judy

· Gawronski Signs

· Huntington Electric

· Sqvibl and LilBoi