Book-signing: Home Ice by Matthew Jasper

Join us for a special book-signing event at The Store at Mia! Home Ice by Matthew Jasper is a collection of photography depicting classic Minnesota hockey rinks. The rinks are presented in their purest form – empty, quiet, serene. They are brought to life through the stunning images within the pages of this book.

Photographer Matthew Jasper’s love of hockey and its many homes began when he was young. Jasper grew up playing hockey in Grand Rapids, MN- a community steeped in rich hockey tradition where outdoor rinks dotted each elementary playground and pickup games never hard to find. A portrait of the now demolished Warroad Memorial Arena hung in his childhood home. The beauty of the old arena captured his imagination and inspired what years later would become “Home Ice.”

This event is FREE and open to the public, no registration required.

About the artist:
Jasper began photographing Minnesota’s hockey rinks in 2005 after returning from living on the West Coast. He started by photographing the memorable arenas of his youth and in the process met enthusiastic rink managers who helped him discover additional ones like the community rinks in Grygla and Roosevelt, and shared with pride the highlights of their own.

Through the people Jasper has met and stories shared, it is clear that hockey rinks are often much more than buildings, but rather focal points in communities. They serve as gathering spaces for athletes and fans during the hockey season and in the off season, may serve as the venue for the local high school graduation, wedding receptions or local craft shows.

After many miles logged, technical challenges, and barriers overcome, Jasper has captured over seventy of Minnesota’s rinks. Each one he has captured in complete stillness- reflecting the unique character of the communities in which they stand. Jasper hopes Home Ice will invite viewers to share stories of the time they shared in these places, help people discover new ones and provide historical documentation of the spaces Minnesotan’s hold dear to their hearts.