A fall hike in Lutsen by Chuck Olsen.
Greetings from the North Shore, where we are having a September summer, and early October is looking pretty toasty, too. It’s pretty hard not to revel in the wonders of being beside Lake Superior at this time of year, hiking in the woods or gliding through inland waters in a canoe or kayak. Stay-at-homers are in their gardens, too, harvesting, cleaning up, and enjoying the still vibrant fall blooms.
It’s also been perfect weather to explore the art studios and galleries during the Art Along the Lake Fall Studio Tour. The studios are open daily from 10 am to 5 pm through Sunday, Oct. 5. See below for some examples of what you’ll find on this tour.
Look for these signs for art studios and galleries participating in the Art Along the Lake Fall Studio Tour. The tour ends on Sunday at 5 pm.
And art-making continues.
First up is Art Night at Joy and Company. The event is held in the shop from 3:30 to 5 pm each Thursday to offer the public an opportunity to make an art project with a selection of art supplies. It is free, with a suggested $5 donation.
The shop is always an inspiration to others to create art, and it offers paper and colored pencils for visitors to use during their visits. Below is a collage of some of their customers’ work, which Joy and Company call Stranger Doodles. Enjoy.
A Stranger Doodle Image Quilt from Joy and Company.
Also on Thursday afternoon, the Grand Marais Farmer’s Market will be held in the parking lot of the Community Center from 4:30-6 pm.
Look for lots of vegetables at the Grand Marais Farmer’s Market this week. Photo from Creaking Tree Farm.
Look for all kinds of fresh produce, locally harvested maple syrup, artisan bread, bakery goods, and fresh flowers. SNAP is accepted and all are welcome.
Learn and practice modern dance moves in the Colvill Town Hall this fall during the Drop-in Practice sessions.
Drop-in Practice is back.
Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or just love to jam, the public is invited to come as you are and discover the joy of movement in a welcoming, no-judgment space. Suggested donation is $5-$15, but no one will be turned away. The weekly classes will be held through Dec. 18. The Instructors are Steph Vos, Margaret Johnson, Rachel Clark, and Lenna Stever-Sobanja.
For more information, email DropInPractice@gmail.com.
On Thursday evening, the North Shore Swing Band will play at the Poplar Haus from 7-9 pm.
The North Shore Swing Band will play at the Poplar Haus on Thursday. Photo by Chuck Olsen.
Reservations are strongly recommended. Call (218) 388-2222.
Friday is pretty quiet as far as events go, but it is a great day to explore the galleries and shops downtown, as well as the art studios on the Fall Studio Tour.
We have been running a selection of photographs of the artwork on the tour, which features more than 17 studios and 40 artists exhibiting in a variety of media. Here’s another selection of works:
Felted wall hanging by Mary Sannerud. Her work is at Sannerud Studios.
Megan Jorgenson mugs. Her work is at Sharon Frykman’s Art Studio.
Squares and curves, oil, by Paul Gustafson. Hosted by Linda Ricklefs Baudry.
Cutting board by Wilder Woodshop.
Earrings by Katy Attleson. Hosted by Gina Adams.
Monoprint by Linda Ricklefs Baudry. Her studio is in Grand Marais.
Pendants by Brittany Foster. Hosted by Frykman Art Studios.
Untitled, dye on fabric, by Susan Hayes. Hosted by Nancy Carlson.
Beadworker Marcie McIntire is exhibiting in her studio in Grand Portage.
To find out more about all the artists and studio locations, and see a map, click here.
At the risk of being redundant, the studios and galleries are open from 10 am to 5 pm daily through Sunday.
Saturday is very busy in Grand Marais.
First up is the Cook County Market, which is held in the parking lot of The Hub from 10 am to 2 pm.
Bob Lamont crafts rock lamps as well as makes jewelry and other creations. His work can be found at the Cook County Market.
The market features a variety of work from local artists and artisans, including jewelry, paintings, fused glass, pottery, books, bakery goods, and more.
Live music this week will be provided by Fred Anderson.
The Grand Marais Public Library will host two workshops on making a coiled basket on Saturday.
Learn to make coiled baskets at the library on Saturday.
There will be two sessions of the same class; one beginning at 10:30 am, and the second beginning at 1:30 pm. This workshop is a two and a half hour long art experience. Space is limited to 20 people per class. Please call the library to reserve your space now: 218-387-1140.
Participants will start by wrapping yarn around a cotton rope core to build the base of their basket. Erika LeMay will guide attendees through stitching and creating simple patterns using different colors. Beginner artists will follow along to spiral their baskets outward and upward to complete a functional work of art.
This workshop is designed for adults, teens, and children 11 years or older. Adult assistance will be needed for younger children to participate.
The Scruffy Dog Vintage Emporium is celebrating its 1st Anniversary on Saturday, Oct. 4, with a day filled with Scruffy Fun.
Scruffy Dog will celebrate its 1st anniversary on Saturday.
There will be games, live music, food by the Bad Seed, and, of course, a few scruffy dogs. Open to all. The fun starts at noon.
Also on Saturday, Up Yonder will hold their 2nd Annual Car Show from noon to 6 pm.
The 2nd Annual Car Show will be held at Up Yonder on Saturday.
Prizes include: Best in Show ($500), (new this year), Trucks ($250), Unrestored/Survivor ($250), Street Rods ($250), Motorcycle ($250), Imports ($250) & Off-roads ($250).
Trophies are awarded for every category. Registration opens at 11 am. Car show voting begins at noon. To register online, click here.
On Tuesday, Oct. 7, the Violence Prevention Center will hold a Community Candlelight Vigil for Remembrance and Hope at Studio 21 from 5:30-6:30 pm.
A Community Candlelight Vigil will be held at Studio 21 on Oct. 7.
The public is invited to honor and remember the lives taken due to domestic violence. The VPC is creating this time and space for the community to grieve, take action, and move forward in hope. The Violence Prevention Center works daily with domestic violence survivors to ensure they are receiving the care and support they need, so that each year fewer names are being read at vigils like this.
Can’t attend? Please consider donating to this effort by clicking here.
Also on Tuesday, Drury Lane Books will hold a Full Moon Poetry Reading by the bonfire from 6-8 pm.
There will be a Full Moon poetry reading at Drury Lane Books on Oct. 7.
Everyone is invited to participate in this open mic-style reading. It will be held indoors if it rains. Free. Open to all.
Exhibits:
This is the last weekend to see the Grand Marais Plein Air exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post. This is an exciting show, featuring landscapes, skyscapes, waterscapes, and homescapes in Cook County painted by members of the Outdors Painters of Minnesota.
Here are a few examples of what you will see. There are more than 300 paintings in the exhibit.
Sawbill Creek Source, acrylic, by Greg Preslicka.
The Dawn’s Early Light by Logan Hudson.
The exhibit continues through Oct. 5. The Johnson Heritage Post is open from 10 am to 5 pm through the Art Along the Lake Fall Studio Tour. It will return to its regular hours next week: 10 am to 4 pm Wednesday through Saturday and 1-4 pm Sunday. Free.
Hazel Belvo’s exhibit, Walking the Croftville Road, continues at Studio 21. The exhibit features 12 diptychs painted to represent the months of the year.
October, acrylic diptych, by Hazel Belvo, is one of the pieces in her series Walking the Croftville Road currently on view at Studio 21.
The exhibit continues through Oct. 25.
Wild North, an exhibit of watercolors by Jess Lindell, opens at Tettegouche State Park with a reception at 7 pm Friday.
Jess Lindell is exhibiting her work at Tettegouche State Park this month.
Wild North is a series of watercolor portraits of the creatures that call the north shore of Lake Superior their home. From the tiny jumping spider to the massive moose, each one is significant and a beautiful part of the wild north.
The artist, Jess Lindell, has been painting watercolor pet portraits for over 20 years. Originally introduced to the magic of watercolor by her aunt Meridith, a lifetime resident of Duluth, Jess quickly fell in love with the medium. But it was her mother’s work as a veterinary technician that opened the door to pet portraits, where she found her life’s work. Wild North is Jess’s first solo exhibition, and it couldn’t be in a better place. Jess grew up visiting the North Shore as a vacation destination with her family, attended The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, and now frequently visits the area to stay with her parents, who live in Schroeder.
The exhibit is in the Great Hall and continues through the end of the month.
Upcoming:
The 65th Arrowhead Regional Biennial opens at the Duluth Art Institute‘s downtown gallery space on Oct. 6, with a gala opening reception planned for Oct. 23.
The 65th Arrowhead Regional Biennial opens at the Duluth Art Institute on Oct. 6.
As one of the longest-running biennials in the country, this exhibition features a wide range of artwork produced within the last five years from artists residing in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Michigan, and Ontario. The exhibit is open to all 2D & 3D work, except AI-generated.
From juror Wendy Savage:
“In this exhibition, you will see an array of mixed media, sculpture, and textiles. From ancient techniques to new genres of work, this Biennial is a breath of fresh air. You will encounter a wide range of themes expressed through a palette of greens, blues, earthly tones, soft pinks, and bold reds. The use of color and imagery conveys a richness and depth while commemorating the shared sense of belonging and cultural unity. Drawn from the landscapes of lakes, woodlands, and prairies, these colors reflect the essence of our shared cultures and environmental interconnectedness.”
To find out more and register for the opening reception, click here.
The 7th annual Apple Festival will be Oct. 9-12 next week, featuring a variety of activities, including a pie baking contest, apple picking, visits to apple trees in the community, presentations, and more.
The 7th annual Apple Festival will be from Oct. 9-12 this year.
To see the complete schedule and learn more, click here.
Artists at Work:
Contentment, acrylic, by Adam Swanson.
The color orange by Mary Beams.
The caretaker, acrylic, by Patricia Canelake. Her work can be seen at the Bell Art Collective in Bayfield, Wis.
Sturgeon, watercolor, by Sam Zimmerman.
Late Afternoon Light, acrylic, by Cyril Cox.
Untitled, acrylic, by Laura Frykman.
The Raven, acrylic, by Ann Klefstad.
In the Northland (1916), oil, by Tom Thomson.
Online Findings:
Lake Superior talks to you. Click here to view. Video by Layne Kennedy.
New math revives Geometry’s oldest problems
Online Music:
Live Music:
Thursday, October 2:
- Bump Blomberg, Gunflint Tavern Rooftop, 5:30-8 pm
- Joe Paulik, Cascade Lodge Restaurant & Pub, 6-8 pm
- Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6:30-8:30 pm
- North Shore Swing Band, Poplar Haus, 7-9 pm
- Silent Disco Dance Party, Caribou Highlands Courtyard, 7-10 pm
Friday, October 3:
- Barbara Jean & Mike Lewis, North Shore Winery, 4:30-6:30 pm
- Joe Paulik, Bluefin Grille, 8-10 pm
- Twine, Up Yonder, 7-10 pm
Saturday, October 4:
- Fred Anderson & Roger Barton, Cook County Market at the Hub, 10-12 pm
- Tina & Drew, Cascade Lodge Restaurant & Pub, 6-8 pm
- Twine, Up Yonder, 7-10 pm
Sunday, October 5:
- The Spruce Roots, North Shore Winery, 3:30-6 pm
- Scott Schuler (Campfire Guitar Pull), Caribou Highlands Lodge Courtyard, 7 pm
Monday, October 6:
- Jim Elverhoy & John Cron, Bluefin Grille, 8-10 pm
Tuesday, October 7:
- Eric Frost, North Shore Winery, 5-7 pm
- Open Stage hosted by Pete K, Up Yonder, 6-8 pm
- Community Singing, Log Cabin at the Grand Marais Community Center, 7 pm
- Emma Tweten, Bluefin Grille, 8-10 pm
Thursday, October 9:
- Pat Eliasen, Cascade Lodge Restaurant & Pub, 6-8 pm
- Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6:30-8:30 pm
- Silent Disco Dance Party!, Caribou Highlands Courtyard, 7-10 pm
Friday, October 10:
- John Kerns, Bluefin Grille, 8-10 pm
Saturday, October 11:
- Bump Blomberg, Cook County Market at the Hub, 10-2 pm
- John Kerns, Cascade Lodge Restaurant & Pub, 6-8 pm
- Borealis Chamber Ensemble, Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Grand Marais, 7 pm
- EDM (Electronic Dance Music), SILENT THUNDER, LENTICULA, WASKO, Up Yonder, 9-11:59 pm
Sunday, October 12:
- Watershed Group, North Shore Winery, 3:30-5:30 pm
- Scott Schuler (Campfire Guitar Pull), Caribou Highlands Lodge Courtyard, 7 pm
Photographs:
Here is a selection of photos we found this week:
Wildlife:
Deer with a mane by Bill Marchel. This genetic mutation in deer is very rare.
Mr. Tippy Toes by Paul Sundberg.
Found a photogenic grouse by Alex Fettig.
Morning Walk by Gordon Salisbury.
Two-fer by Carl Anderson.
The King by Katie Slanga.
Orb Weaver spider guarding her babies by Sam Zimmerman.
A Flicker chasing ants by Tom Fiero.
Calling moose brings out other forest residents by Paul Sundberg.
Spiders were busy last night by Sam Cook.
Antler King by David Johnson.
Albino squirrel by Carl Anderson.
A Cedar Waxwing kiss by Katie Slanga.
Playing peek-a-boo with this bull by David Johnson.
Foggy morning in moose country by Thomas Spence.
Potpourri:
Amanita umbrella by Tina Hegg.
Shaggy Ink cap by Kirsten Wisniewski.
World’s largest weathervane outside Whitehorse by Chuck Heller.
Fall mushrooms by Chuck Olsen.
This way, Watson Lake, Yukon, by Chuck Heller.
An early fall beauty by Kristofer Bowman.
Kids on a dock in September by Carl Anderson.
- Fall reflections by Kim Nelson.
Cutie Pies by Joan Farnam.
Yup. A camera magnet. Found in West Fjords, Iceland, by Layne Kennedy.
Landscapes, Skyscapes, Waterscapes, and Aurorascapes:
Summer of September by Travis Novitsky.
Fall in the Sawtooth Mountains by Ken Harmon.
Early morning aurora by Michelle Lutke.
Kayaking in autumn reflections by Roxanne Distad.
Yesterday by Nancy Lindberg.
Early morning fog over the Gunflint Trail by Nicholas Narog.
Nice walk in the woods today by Sam Cook.
Middle Falls by Don Malcom.
An awesome dance this morning by David Johnson.
Denali by Chuck Heller.
Lake Moraine, Banff by Chuck Heller.
Beaver Pond by Paul Sundberg.
A rice lake in late fall by Michael Furtman.
The Hjordis and the Grand Marais Lighthouse by Nicholas Narog. The schooner took its last sail of the season earlier this week.
That special moment by Terry Backlund.
Enjoy your weekend, everyone!
And Thank You all for contributing to NorthShore ArtScene. Your contributions make such a big difference in how we cope with our expenses. If you would like to donate, click on the button below. And thank you very much.
Here’s a big shout-out to Jeremy Lopez (Live Music schedule, technical advice) and Yvonne Mills (proofreading) for their strong support. Thank you. And Thank You, Visit Cook County, for a great Events Calendar, from which we borrow extensively.