Today on Art Beat we go the Blue Heron Coffee house, and indulge ourselves in the poetry by acclaimed Minnesota Artist and Poet Dougie Padilla. 

Dougie who identifies as half Norwegian, half Mexican, and half cowboy spends most of his time creating expressive art and writing poetry in his studio in Pepin Wisconsin.

He has also done everything from hitchhiking across the country and living with a guru in India to co-founding nonprofit organizations helping keep the art alive in the Twin Cities. 

He might be 76 years old but don’t let that fool, this man is still just as colorful and creative as his poems and having just released his 6th book of poetry in ten years, he doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. 

I’m Abby Hawkey, telling you to put down your Inner thoughts and get ready to get in front of that open mic as we bring you Dougie Padilla today on Art Beat 

Original air date: 09/09/24
Art Beat is written and produced by KQAL on the campus of Winona State University and is made possible by a grant from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.