Cycling, Painting and Volunteering

JOURNAL: ISSUE 4 - 2012

Brother Carlson finished his 600K ride under 38 hours.

Retired bricklayer Douglas Carlson has been a member of Local 1 Minnesota/North Dakota for more than 34 years, with the signs of craftsmanship evident throughout Minnesota's built environment, from the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul to a Wendy's in Rosemount. Yet bricklaying is not his sole interest.

Brother Carlson spends much of his summers long-distance cycling. "I used to bike to work. Since I retired in 2010, I developed it as a hobby," Carlson said. "Now I'm focusing on long-distance cycling." In August 2012, he finished a 600K ride (378 miles), beginning and ending in Stillwater, MN with a time of 37 hours and 41 minutes.

When winter comes and snowy roads are no longer friendly to cyclists, Carlson practices his painting skills. While biking and painting appear to be very different activities, Carlson sees a distinct similarity. "I bike by myself and paint by myself so that I can have my 'solitary' time to concentrate on my thoughts." Carlson explains, "While I am biking, I always pay great attention to the scenic view along the trails, photograph the landscapes with my eyes, and brand them onto my brain. Cycling is my source and inspiration for my paintings." Brother Carlson owns a gallery (http://dougcarlsongallery.com) in St. Paul where a collection of his oil paintings can be found.

Despite retirement, Brother Carlson remains active in the trade through his volunteer work in the States and overseas. He has traveled to remote areas in Africa an extraordinary six times to help build houses. "All building materials are made, transported, and unloaded by hand there," Carlson said. "It was a different vision, but I will certainly go back again."

"I am just an ordinary bricklayer," Carlson says humbly. "I am sure that many retired bricklayers have their own ways to enjoy life, but I highly recommend all retired bricklayers to volunteer and give back to your communities." 

Brother Carlson and his wife, Marcia, have two grown children and eight grandchildren.