North Shore Arts Scene

Greetings! and welcome to the first snows of winter that have kissed the land. Expected and unexpected, one might say.

Just to do a brief weather history — at this time last year, Thomas Spence recorded this:

And here is what it looked like in Duluth two years ago this week.

So, yes, we don’t expect 70 degrees for Moose Madness Weekend here in Grand Marais. Covid-19 has made the event even more complicated this year, but, as always, the “Moosey spirit” continues with special activities for families, both in-person and online, throughout the community.

For avid fans, the Moose Medallion Hunt is on! Sponsored by the Grand Marais State Bank, the medallion will be secreted somewhere in downtown Grand Marais and clues will be posted online, instead of being  picked up at the Visit Cook County headquarters. Moose Central (the Visit Cook County headquarters) will be closed this weekend to protect the health and safety of participants. However, clues are still in play and can be found in two places: the VisitCookCounty web page and the VisitCookCounty Facebook page. The clues will be released at 9 a.m., 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Friday and will continue to be released throughout the weekend until the medallion is found.  Good luck to everyone! A cash prize of $100 goes to the winner.

North House Folk School will be open and will feature a number of drop-in classes  and activities for families as well as “take-out” craft projects and online projects. Craftspeople will also be demonstrating this weekend.

North House is also organizing a Moose Madness Family Instagram Challenge to create a moose with almost anything and then post a photo on its Instagram page. A random drawing will award prizes and gift certificates to the winners. For more information about the weekend at North House, click here.  Other weekend events include surprise bags for kids at the Cook County Coop and an art supply sale under the orange tent at Joy & Co., to list a few.

Also this weekend, weather permitting, the 2nd annual Grand Marais Apple Festival will be held on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring apple picking at four orchards, cider-making at Great Expectations School, caramel apple demos and sale at the Gunflint Mercantile and an Apple Farm Stand and winter vegetable sale in the parking lot of the Cook County Community Center in the afternoon.

For more information about the Apple Festival and all the activities planned for this weekend, click here.

Art is alive and well on the North Shore, as we all know, and this weekend, the Johnson Heritage Post celebrates that with an exhibit by Grand Marais photographer David R. Johnson. The exhibit is entitled “Cook County Through My Eyes: Vol. II.”

The exhibit features a great selection of David Johnson‘s photographs taken in all seasons. The Heritage Post is open from 1-4 p.m. on Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays, with Covid protocols in place including masking, hand sanitizing and social distancing. You may also schedule a viewing of the exhibit here.

Also on Saturday, the two craft markets in town, the Cook County Market and the Maker’s Market, will be open, weather permitting. The Cook County Market is held in the parking lot of The Hub and is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Maker’s Market is located next to the Beaver House and is open Thursday through Sundays.

In Duluth, the Duluth Art Institute, located in The Depot in downtown Duluth, presents two new exhibits this weekend.’ “Reflections,” two large-scale wearings by Kristen Kaas. The pieces are located in the Depot entrance.

The Art Institute is also featuring a temporary installation of artwork for sale. Instead of waiting for an exhibit to end, art lovers can bring their choices home right away, making for a lively and changing exhibit. Artists currently represented include: Shaun Chosa, Michael Dahmen, Sue Rauschenfels, Alyssa Swanson, and Blair Treuer.

The Tweed Museum of Art on the UMD campus is currently closed to the public, but it posts artwork regularly on its Facebook page.

Artists at Work:

Here’s a selection of pieces we found this week:

 

 

 

 

 

 Opportunities:

Applications for the The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council’s $2,000 Emergency Working Artist Grant are currently open. The deadline to apply is Oct. 30. The grant provides $2,000 for working artists to do a work of art in the next six months and sustain themselves during the COVID-19 crisis. For more information and to apply, click here. 

The Grand Marais Art Colony is offering an opportunity for artists to have their work photographed by Jess Oullis Smith, a professional photographer.  Art Colony members can schedule a session for Nov. 17. Cost is $55. For more information and to register, click here.

The Art Colony is also offering a number of virtual classes and workshops. To find out more, click here.

Virtual Music:

Michael Lipton of The Carpenter Ants will be interviewed on WTIP’s The Roadhouse on Friday. The Carpenter Ants have a new album out, “Tearin’  Down the House.”

Lipton will talk what it was like making an album during the pandemic and play a few cuts from the new work.

The Roadhouse airs from 5-7 p.m, with the featured musician usually starting about 6:20 p.m.

And here’s some more gospel we found this week– The Eagle Rock Singers.

 Live Music:

Thursday, Oct. 15:

• Eric Frost, Date Night at the Winery, 6 p.m., Reservations required. Reservations are required. Reserve here  or call at (218) 481-9280.

Friday Oct. 16:

• Michael Monroe, Log Cabin Concert, rural Grand Marais, visit www.michaelmonroemusic.com for more info.

Saturday, Oct, 17:

• Boyd Bump Blomberg, Cook County Market, 10:30 a.m., weather permitting.

Photographs:

Here’s a collection of photographs we found this week.

First, let’s start with flowers and leaves.

 

 

And this wildlife explanation. It’s a Facebook link. Hope you can see it.

From the air:

 

And landscapes, skyscapes, treescapes, waterscapes and more:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a great weekend, everyone! Stay safe.

Did you enjoy NorthShore ArtScene this week? Consider making a donation to this volunteer effort. It’s easy. Just click on the button below. And Thank You!

 

 

 

The silken days of fall have arrived — those smooth, calm days where the fragrances speak of finished growing seasons and skittering leaves remind us of what is to come. For many in Cook County, the first frosts have already touched the land, but in some spots, like in one of my gardens closer to Lake Superior, everything is still green. But that, as we all know, won’t last forever.

Meanwhile, enjoy this respite from the cold to come.

Artists, of course, look forward and backward, inward and outward and, sometimes, in-between. Here’s a great little piece by Betsy Bowen that was posted on her Facebook page the other day. It’s part of her letter “W” series that she’s doing for an Apostle Islands project. Made us smile, for sure, and then realize that, hmmmm,  those times aren’t that far off.

The Art Along the Lake Fall Studio Tour ended on Sunday, and from all accounts, was a success. And since many of the artists chose to exhibit virtually this year, their sites are still live. Given that, you can still peruse their work and see what you can find. To help out, here are some links.

• Betsy Bowen Studio 
• Elise Kyllo/Works in Wool
• Christine Novotny, weaving
• Melissa Wickwire/Wickwire Clay Works
• Maxene Linehan, https://www.northshoreartistsleague.org/Artists-Directory
• Nancy Hemstad Seaton, glass
• Seaton Guitars,
• Joan Farnam, pottery
• Neil Sherman, Plein air painter
• Lou Pignolet Bowls
• Jason Trebs, pottery
• Greg Mueller, Mueller Studio
• Kari Vick, Ink,
• Kathy Fox Weinberg, painting
• Kat Gabrielsen, jewelry
•  Sharon & Steve Frykman | Art of the Elements gallery
• Mary Reichert | Otlak Felt Studio
• Jim Sannerud | J. Sannerud Studios
• Hannah Palma Laky | Hannah Palma Ceramics
• Julie Arthur,Wif-Man Weaving
• Jo Wood | Jo Wood Bead Art
• Dan & Lee Ross, Stone & Clay Sculptures, collage

A Creativity Share:

North House Folk School recognizes our need to “make” to keep our hands and hearts happy, and hass put out a call for artists and artisans to participate in a Community Show & Share. The Show and Share, originally scheduled for tonight, Thursday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. as a Zoom event. has been postponed. Stay tuned.

“Everyone is invited to join us in Zoom to share their work: either hold up your items or have an image on your screen ready to share,” North House posted on its web page. “We’ll use smaller groups to keep things manageable if the size is large. Prepare to be inspired and impressed by your fellow humans—we all need more of that right now.”

It sounds like a great time. Stay tuned. It will be rescheduled.

It’s going to be a pretty quiet weekend, but there are things to do and see.

This is the last weekend to see Grand Marais Plein Air, the exhibit of work created for the Plein Air event this year that is currently on view at the Johnson Heritage Post.

As in most events this summer, it was a combo of in-person and virtual participation. Painters from throughout the region participated, although some chose to paint-in-place rather than traveling to Grand Marais for the week-long event. The in-person exhibit is at the Johnson Heritage Post and features lots of interesting work.

The work can also be seen (and purchased)  online at pleinairgrandmarais.org.

For virtual music, check out WTIP Community Radio’s The Roadhouse on Friday night when Jim McGowan will talk about his music and play a few tunes. The show airs from 5-7 p.m., and McGowan will be featured around 6:20 p.m.

Saturday is busy. Two artisan markets, the Cook County Market and the Maker’s Market will be held in downtown Grand Marais to start the day.

The Cook County Market is held in The Hub’s parking lot from (new hours)  10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The market closes for the season next Saturday, Oct. 17.

The Maker’s Market is located next to the Beaver House and is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Also on Saturday, the North Shore Winery will hold Plein Air Art at the Winery featuring weaver Emily Wick. Wick will talk about her work and show how she creates it.

To find out more about her work, click here. Reservations are required. To make a reservation, click here or call (218) 481-9280.This event is weather dependent – if it’s raining, we can’t hold the event. Not sure? Check for more information.

For a very interesting time, consider attending the opening reception for Sam Zimmerman’s exhibit at Joy & Co from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday. The title of the exhibit is “Coming Home–Chapter 3.”

The exhibit and reception is free and open to the public. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served. Some of Samuel’s original works will be for sale along with some of his prints and smaller gift items.

Zimmerman has a Bachelor of Fine Art in Studio Art from the Rochester Institute of Technology and has participated in numerous exhibits in the region over the past few years. He’s also known in Grand Marais for his barrels painted with traditional Anishinaabe animals and symbols scattered around town.

Upcoming:

Moose Madness is still happening this year during MEA Weekend, although some of the events are virtual. Nevertheless, the Moose Medallion Hunt, for example, is on, with online clues, as are other events.

North House Folk School will hold Family Weekend Oct. 15-19, and will host a number of short drop-by activities for family small groups on campus: outdoors and/or windows open, masks on (probably coats too!). The public is invited to drop by and observe craftspeople demonstrating or try their hand at a small family project.

Also, the 2nd annual Grand Marais Apple Festival will be held on Oct. 17 at local farms, schools and the Cook County Community Center.

This is a multi-pronged event featuring everything from picking apples in local orchards, making apple cider, presentations and a chance to take home apple goodies, produce and more. Click here for more info.

 Artist Opportunities:

The Arrowhead Regional Art Council is joining with other arts councils around the state to offer free workshops to help artists navigate digital spaces to promote and exhibit their work.

The first workshops are focused on teaching the basics. Later, artists will have some free cohort work and individualized support. For more information and to register,  click here.

Artists at Work:

 

Virtual Delicacies:

Opera 

“Tales from a Safe Distance,” Fridays, October 9, 16, 23, 30 at  7-8 p.m. Created by the Decameron Opera Coalition, “Tales from a Safe Distance” features nine one-act operas and a tenth wrap-around story. Each Friday in October, an episode with two or three of these operas will premier virtually. A $15 ticket gives you access to all four episodes, with the flexibility to watch any time after first airing.

Lyric Opera of the North, Duluth’s premier opera company, is part of these performances with their opera, Everything Comes to a Head.

“Everything Comes to a Head” is part of is part of Episode 1: Both Gladsome and Grievous. This newly commissioned, 30-minute horror-romance-comedy is sung in English and features illustrated, animated sets. Music is by Rachel J. Peters. Libretto by Margi Preus and Jean Sramek. Learn more and buy tickets at decameronoperacoalition.org

The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra will perform “Love’s Longing” for a free digital concert on Facebook. from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18.

.Click here to see and learn more.

Tofte photographer Thomas Spence was out in the Superior National Forest the other day and got to see this:

And here’s a music video to enjoy.

 Live Music:

 Thursday, Oct. 8:

• Gordon Thorne & Friends, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m. Reservations are required. Reserve here  or call at (218) 481-9280.

Saturday, Oct. 10:

• Boyd Bump Blomberg, Cook County Market,  10:30 a.m.

Sunday Oct. 11:

• Eric Frost, Weekend Wine Down, North Shore Winery, 3 p.m.

Photographs:

We found some interesting photographs this week. Here’s a selection: Let’s start with wildlife:

 

 

And plantscapes:

 

Treescapes, landscapes, waterscapes and skyscapes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out this sequence of photographs taken by Susanne von Schroeder in a few minutes as the sun seems to light the island on fire.

First, this view:

A waterfall:

And two night views:

 

Have a great weekend, everyone! Stay safe.

We are accepting donations to NorthShore ArtScene, a volunteer effort to bring you art news from the North Shore. You can donate by clicking the icon below. And thank you!

 

Greetings from the North Shore, where colors are still spectacular and bears are everywhere. Spring and early summer drought made the blueberries and other favorite and necessary bear food hard to find, so they’re foraging where humans live. Caution is advised always.

And Covid-19 continues to stalk our communities. Two new cases were identified this week in Cook County. For the latest information, click here. Also, WTIP Community Radio has been covering this story. To listen, click here.

There are other stories in the county this week, too, and one of the most exciting is the Art Along the Lake Fall Studio Tour. It started last Friday, Sept. 25, and continues through Sunday, Oct. 4. This year, art lovers have two different ways to see the art — in-person and online. Because of the pandemic, some studios and galleries have chosen to just exhibit online, while others have opted for a cautious Covid-protocol approach. Brochures are available at venues throughout the county, but to make things a little easier, here’s a breakdown of who is open and who is exhibiting online.

Open with Covid protocols

Mary Jane Huggins, Tall Tale Shop, 19 Music Row, Tofte, open, with guest artists Julie Arthur, fiber, and Marcie McIntire, beadwork.

 Jeweler of the North Shore/JNS Gallery  in Lutsen is open during the tour. Jeweler Steve Hahn is exhibiting his own work as well as work by local artists.

Maggie Anderson | Clay Phoenix Ceramics, 4690 Cascade Beach Road in Lutsen. Guest artists include Mary Bebie, fused glass, Rebecca Wicklund, jewelry, Beth Wicklund, letter press.

 North House Folk School is open for the tour, featuring craft demonstrations and more.

 The Grand Marais Art Colony‘s new space, at 21 Highway 61, Grand Marais is open for the tour.  Featured artists are Nan Onkka, printmaking; Andy Ness, painting & drawing. The exhibit in the Art Colony’s new space also includes work by instructors and studio artists.

Betsy Bowen | Betsy Bowen Studio at 301 W. 1st St., is open during the tour. Guest artists include Elise Kyllo/Works in Wool, hand-felted whimsy and craft; Christine Novotny, weaving; Melissa Wickwire/Wickwire Clay Works, custom handmade tiles and More; Maxene Linihan, freeform woven paper collage.

Yellow Bird Fine Art, 101 West Highway 61, Grand Marais is open during the tour. Guest artists are  Kenneth Albrecht, Jewelry; Quay Flom, Jewelry; Deborah Spear, Stone Carving.

Upstate MN, 16 1st Ave. W.  is open featuring contemporary items created by smaller makers, designers, and artists from Minnesota and beyond.

The Big Lake, 21 1st Ave. W., is an art gallery and gift shop that reflects the unique beauty and culture of the North Shore of Lake Superior.

Sivertson Gallery, 14 W. Wisconsin St., is open during the tour, and is featuring work by painter David Gilsvik.

Nancy Hemstad Seaton, 318 South Hungry Jack Road, Gunflint Trail, featuring fused glasswork.  The studio is open during the tour. David Seaton, Seaton Guitars, will also be showing his handmade guitars.  Guest artist is Joan Farnam, pottery.

Neil Sherman, Plein air painter, 4194 County Road 69, Hovland.

Lou Pignolet | Lou Pignolet Bowls, 20 Tamarack Trail, Hovland, will be open for the tour. Pignolet makes bark-edged bowls, handmade on a lathe from local wood, and will be displaying bowls and showing how they are made.

  Online Art (Check for new additions)

Jason Trebs, online plates, mugs, trays and more. Guest artist, printmaker  Nick Wroblewski.

Greg Mueller | Mueller Studio, 17 Railroad Drive, Lutsen, online only.

Kari Vick | Kari Vick, Ink, featuring her paintings and prints as well as her books, is closed for the tour. Online participation only. Click the link above to see her work and read about her inspirations and funny stories.

Kathy Fox Weinberg | KFox Studio, online only this year. Click the link to see her work, Guest artist is Kat Gabrielsen, jewelry.

 Sharon & Steve Frykman | Art of the Elements gallery is online this year. The location is closed, but appointments can be made to see work. Guest artists are Natalie Sobanja, Clay; Brittany Foster, Jewelry; Paul Bondhus, Stone; Bryan Hansel, Photography; Lara Hollway, Clay.

Mary Reichert | Otlak Felt Studio, online only this year. Click link to learn more.

Jim Sannerud | J. Sannerud Studios, is online only.Sannerud is a designer and maker of furniture, turned greenware and sculpture. Guest artist is Mike Loeffler, woodenware.

Hannah Palma Laky | Hannah Palma Ceramics. Online participant only.  Click on the link to see more.

Jo Wood | Jo Wood Bead Art, online participant only. Click on the link to see more. Guest Artist: Jacob Carr, woodwork.

Dan & Lee Ross, online participation only. Location closed for the tour. Click on link to see more. The artists work in stone, clay, glass & mono-prints. This year features collage work and stone and clay sculptures. On view on their website.

The Art Along the Lake Fall Studio Tour  continues through Sunday, Oct. 4. Enjoy the tour both ways — online or in-person.

On Saturday, the Cook County Market will open in The Hub’s parking lot at 10 a.m., weather permitting. It runs through 2 p.m. And the Maker’s Market, which is next to the Beaver House opens at 9 a.m and closes at 4.

Also on Saturday, Anna Hess will be demonstrating her painting at a plein air event at the North Shore Winery. The event is from 3-6 p.m. with Covid protocols in place.

To make a reservation to view the Anna’s work, click here or call (218) 481-9280. This event is weather dependent – if it’s raining, we can’t hold the event. Not sure? Check back here for more information.

Exhibits:

Grand Marais Plein Air happened this year and, like many events, was a combo of live and virtual participation. There currently is an exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post through Oct. 10, which is open to the public. There is also an extensive exhibit of work online at pleinairgrandmarais.org.

The event included a number of different categories and awards.

To see a list of all of the Plein Air Grand Marais Award Winners and the links to the pieces that won them prizes visit: pleinairgrandmarais.org/awards

The Johnson Heritage Post if open from 1-4 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Free. Covid protocols in place.

To see a virtual Art Fair featuring Thunder Bay artists, check out the Painted Turtle Art Shop’s website www.paintedturtleart.com/gallery The Virtual Art Fair is co-sponsored by the Community Arts and Heritage Education Project and the Painted Turtle Art Shop in Thunder Bay and continues through Oct. 25.

Artists at Work:

Here are two just-completed pieces we found this week:

Virtual music is definitely happening now, and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra will present Four Piano Quartets with Stewart Goodyear on Saturday and Sunday.

Click here to find out more.

And here’s a music video for today:

Live Music: 

Thursday, Oct.1:

• Gordon Thorne & Friends, Date Night at the Winery, 6 p.m. Make reservations here or call (218) 481-9280.

Saturday, Oct. 3:

• Boyd Bump Blomberg, Cook County Market, 10:30 p.m.
• Michael Monroe Concert, 7 p.m., rural Grand Marais, reservations at www.michaelmonroemusic.com

Sunday, Oct. 4

• Mary Bue, Weekend Wine Down, North Shore Winery, 3 p.m., Make reservations here or call (218) 481-9280.

Photographs

Fall has definitely frung and we found lots of great photos, but let’s start with a few wildlife shots first — companion shots, if you will.

 

Vegetables & Flowers:

 

Leaves:

 

 

Leaves in Landscapes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Waterfalls and leaves:

 

No leaves:

 

And this beauty:

An ode to fall:

Have a good weekend, everyone. And stay safe.

P.S. If you enjoyed NorthShore ArtScene today, please consider making a donation. Just click on the icon below, and Thank You!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We read somewhere that orange was the color of happiness, and if that’s the case, the North Shore is having a big party these days. The woods are alive with every shade, but orange is the queen and red her most raucous attendant. So yes, we’re at peak fall color and happy about it.

This is also the week that we celebrate the arts and artists on the North Shore with the annual Art Along the Lake Fall Studio Tour. Covid-19 has changed how the tour has been organized. In past years, the tour has included home studios as well as galleries with guest artists all along Hwy 61 in Cook County. This year, some of the tour stops may not be open to the public due to the pandemic, but their work is available online.

This makes for a new and unusual art experience. Art lovers can get it both ways — in-person for some places, virtual-browse-at-your-own-pace in others. There are 21 galleries and studios participating in the tour this year, running along Highway 61 and up the Gunflint Trail.

Stops include home studios as well as galleries with guest artists. Some of the tour stops may not be open to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All locations open to the public will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily for the duration of the tour.  Masks are required and some studios may limit occupancy.

Starting at the county line with Lake County, here are links and info about the studio tour: Note: The web pages will be live on Friday, Sept. 25.

• Jason Trebs, online plate sale only. Guest artist, printmaker  Nick Wroblewski,

• 

  Jason Trebs will have an online plate sale this year. The sale starts on his Web page on Sept. 25. Click on link to learn more.

Mary Jane Huggins, Tall Tale Shop, 19 Music Row, Tofte, open, with guest artists Julie Arthur, fiber, and Marcie McIntire, beadwork.

Greg Mueller | Mueller Studio, 17 Railroad Drive, Lutsen, online only..

Steve Hahn | Jeweler of the North Shore/JNS Gallery, is open during the tour.

Kari Vick | Kari Vick, Ink, featuring her paintings and prints, is closed for the tour. Online participation only. Click the link to see her work.

Maggie Anderson | Clay Phoenix Ceramics, 4690 Cascade Beach Road in Lutsen. Guest artists Mary Bebie, fused glass, Rebecca Wicklund, jewelry, Beth Wicklund, letter press.

Kathy Fox Weinberg | KFox Studio, online only this year. Click the link to see her work, Guest artist is Kat Gabrielsen, jewelry.

 Sharon & Steve Frykman | Art of the Elements gallery is online this year. The location is closed. Guest artists are Natalie Sobanja, Clay; Brittany Foster, Jewelry; Paul Bondhus, Stone; Bryan Hansel, Photography; Lara Hollway, Clay.

Mary Reichert | Otlak Felt Studio, online only this year. Locatin closed. Click link to learn more.

Jim Sannerud | J. Sannerud Studios, is online only, this year. Sannerud is a designer and maker of furniture, turned treenware and sculpture. Guest artist is Mike Loeffler, Woodenware.

 North House Folk School is open for the tour, featuring craft demonstrations as well as tours on the Hjordis.

The Grand Marais Art Colony‘s new space, at 21 Highway 61, Grand Marais is open for the tour.  Featured artists are Nan Onkka, Printmaking; Andy Ness, Painting & Drawing. The exhibit in the Art Colony’s new space also includes work by instructors and studio artists.

Betsy Bowen | Betsy Bowen Studio at 301 W. 1st St., is open during the tour. Guest artists include Elise Kyllo/Works in Wool, Hand Felted Whimsy and Craft; Christine Novotny, Weaving; Melissa Wickwire/Wickwire Clay Works, Custom Hand Made Tiles and More; Maxene Linihan, Freeform Woven Paper Collage.

Yellow Bird Fine Art, 101 West Highway 61, Grand Marais is open during the tour. Guest artists are  Kenneth Albrecht, Jewelry; Quay Flom, Jewelry; Deborah Spear, Stone Carving.

Upstate MN, 16 1st Ave. W.  is open featuring contemporary items created by smaller makers, designers, and artists from Minnesota and beyond.

The Big Lake, 21 1st Ave. W., is an approachable art gallery and gift shop that reflects the unique beauty and culture of the North Shore of Lake Superior.

Sivertson Gallery, 14 W. Wisconsin St., is celebrating its 40th anniversary of bringing Art of the North to the community.

Nancy Hemstad Seaton, 318 South Hungry Jack Road, Gunflint Trail, featuring fused glasswork.  The studio is open during the tour. David Seaton, Seaton Guitars, will also be showing his handmade guitars.  Guest artist is Joan Farnam, pottery.

 Hannah Palma Laky | Hannah Palma Ceramics. Online participant only.  Click on the link to learn more.

Jo Wood | Jo Wood Bead Art, online participant only. Click on the link to learn more. Guest Artist: Jacob Carr, Woodwork.

Neil Sherman, Plein air painter, 4194 County Road 69, Hovland.

Dan & Lee Ross, online participation only. Location closed for the tour. Click on link for more info. The artists work in stone, clay, glass & mono-prints. This year features collage work and stone and clay sculptures. On view on their website.

\Lou Pignolet | Lou Pignolet Bowls, 20 Tamarack Trail, Hovland, will be open for the tour. Pignolet makes bark-edged bowls, handmade on a lathe from local wood, and will be displaying bowls and showing how they are made. Click on the link for more.

The Art Along the Lake Fall Studio Tour opens on Friday, Sept. 25 and runs through Oct. 4. Enjoy the double experience of this online/in-person art tour this year!

In other community events, the Cook County Market opens at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25, in The Hub parking lot featuring work by local artists. The market runs until 1 p.m.

The North Shore Winery will hold a plein air event on Saturday, weather permitting, featuring artist Savanna Corliss. For reservations, visit https://www.exploretock.com/northshorewineryor call at (218) 481-9280. The event starts at 3 p.m.

Exhibits:

Grand Marais Plein Air has opened at the Johnson Heritage Post featuring a great selection of work created by artists who painted in the county for a week. There is an online component of the exhibit as well. Check it out here.  The Heritage Post is open on Fridays from 1-4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Covid protocols are in place.

Plein air painter Neil Sherman recently gave a great live t0ur of the show. Click here to see.

 Live Music this week:

Thursday, Sept. 24:

• Gordon Thorne & Friends, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m. Make reservations at https://www.exploretock.com/northshorewineryor call at (218) 481-9280.

Saturday, Sept. 26:

• Bump Blomberg, Cook County Market, The Hub parking lot, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p..

Sunday, Sept. 27

• Weekend Wine Down with  Gordon Thorne & Friends, Jim Elverhoy and Boyd Blomberg, 3 p.m. Make reservations at https://www.exploretock.com/northshorewineryor call at (218) 481-9280.

Photographs:

Here’s an interesting story. Paul Sundberg and David Johnson were out in the woods calling moose. They got a bull to respond, but they also called in a big wolf pack.

Here’s a shot of the wolf pack that responded.

To see all the photographs and read about Sundberg’s experience, click here.

Other wildlife photographs we found this week:

 

 

 

 

 

And for a little humor:

‘

Why is the media not covering the fact that raccoons are breaking wild hogs and riding them into battle against the opossums? By Carol Dal Porto.

And here are a few plant/vegetable shots:

 

 

And some beautiful landscapes, skyscapes.. without orange.’

 

 

 

 

And now, for the oranges and reds of a spectacular fall.

 

 

 

Have a great weekend, everyone! And stay safe.

Note: If you enjoyed NorthShore ArtScene this week, please consider making a donation to support this volunteer effort. Thank you!

 

 

 

 

We’re in  for it now– Fall has arrived on the North Shore and the woods are beginning their final show of the season.

And with that comes two showy fall events: Grand Marais Plein Air and North House Folk School‘ s Unplugged, both happening this weekend, modified by Covid-19 protections. And then, in two weeks, the 10-day Art Along the Lake Fall Studio Tour begins, again modified for Covid.

The good news?  There will be lots to see, and even do, this year.

Grand Marais Plein Air draws painters from all over the region to spend a week painting what they see around Cook County, culminating in an exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post. The event has been modified this year, so artists who don’t want to travel can paint in place and still participate in the competition by uploading their completed paintings on www.pleinairgrandmarais.org  It’s a fun site to visit, because it changes every day as competitors upload their pieces.

But, there are still lots of plein air painters out there. They can be spotted on roadsides, on the shore, in neighborhoods …

And this Thursday, those who are in town will carry their painting gear out to Artists Point for the Quick Paint Competition. It starts at 3:30 p.m. and runs through 5 p.m., in which time the work has to be completed. Everyone is invited to watch, with masks and social distancing rules in place. It’s a fun event. WDSE made an award-winning video of the Quick Paint several years ago. They called it The Plein Air Brush Off.

Check out the video here. And wander down to Artists Point to see what’s happening this year.

There will be a virtual opening at the Johnson Heritage Post on Friday, Sept. 18, and the gallery will be open to the public on Saturday, Sept. 19, with Covid protocols in place. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays, and 1-4 p.m. on Fridays.

Here’s the link to the Johnson Heritage Post Facebook page to see the latest submissions and view the opening on Friday at 5 p.m. 

On Saturday, check out the two local artisan markets, the Cook County Market and the Maker’s Market.

The Cook County Market is held in The Hub’s parking lot from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Marker’s Market is held in the alley next to the Beaver House on Thursdays through Sundays.

Also on Saturday, the North Shore Winery continues its Plein Air Art events featuring demonstrations and sales by local artists. This week, Bonnie Gay and Howard Hedstrom will be featured — Howard with his wood turned bowls and Bonnie Gay with her mixed media works, including felting and painting.

This outdoor event is weather-dependent and requires reservations. Covid protocols are in place. To make a reservation, click here or call 218-481-9280.

And, on Saturday night, North House Folk School will present “Unplugged 2020: Bringing It Home Online. To kick off the show, the Plucked Up String Band will play. Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of “Braiding Sweetgrass” is the featured speaker and her presentation will be followed by a live auction and Fund-a-Need opportunities. Then Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Eliza Gilkyson will take to the on-line stage.

To find out more about Unplugged and get tickets, click here. 

Upcoming:

The Art Along the Lake Fall Studio Tour, which runs from Sept. 25-Oct. 4, has a new online component because of  the Covid-19 pandemic.

This year’s tour features 23 art studios and galleries, many of whom will be exhibiting online. The artists have been making lots of new work. If you can’t make the tour in person, visit the artist and gallery websites here. You can also visit the Art Along the Lake page from North Shore Arts League, which features many of the Fall Studio Tour artists. Stay tuned for more next week.

Artist Opportunities:

The North Shore Artists League has put out a call for member artists to participate in the Johnson Heritage Post 2nd Annual Member Show. The exhibit will open Dec. 11. Artists may submit up to three pieces. The opening reception will be a live Facebook event, with the gallery open over the weekends during the show. For more information,

The Grand Marais Art Colony has opened a Virtual Mentor Program, featuring artists from a variety of media who will be available for one-to-one mentoring sessions.

 

Sun Yung Shin, Shannon Gibney, Denise Walser-Kolar, Donna Bruni, and Ernest Miller are the selected mentors for these sessions. For more information, click here.

Artists at Work:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Cook County Historical Society has created a number of interesting videos. Here’s one:

 Virtual Music:

 

Live Music:

Thursday, Sept. 17:

• Eric Frost, Date Night at the North Shore Winery, 6 p.m., outdoors, reservations required at https://www.exploretock.com/northshorewinery
  or call at (218) 481-9280.

Saturday, Sept. 19:

• Boyd Bump Blomberg, Cook County Market, 10:30 – 1 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 20:

WineDown with Eric Frost, North Shore Winery, 3 p.m., reservations required. Reservations at https://www.exploretock.com/northshorewinery
or call at (218) 481-9280.

Photographs:

We found some good photographs this week. Let’s start with plants, mushrooms and flowers.

 

 

And here are some wildlife photographs:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here are some landscapes/skyscapes/waterscapes.

 

 

 

 

And a few Peoplescapes:

 

 

Have a great weekend, everyone. And stay safe!

P.S. If you enjoyed reading NorthShore Artscene this week, please consider donating today by clicking on the button below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have arrived at the turning of the seasons up here on the North Shore. Soon the hills will be singing with color, but right now, it’s just, well, sort of cold, as in, get out your wool sweaters and turn on the heat. When we do that, we also remember that every year, the frost comes for a few nights and then the glorious days of Fall begin.

This week, we start with a Live Lunch & Learn at North House Folk School‘s Facebook page on Thursday with basketmaker and North House instructor, Emily Derke. She will show us how to make birch bark tool wraps/sheaths. It’s a great and versatile project that anyone can do, and it is free. Click here to see.

Derke will also be on the North House Folk School‘s campus demonstrating basketry from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Saturday. The public is invited to stop by and watch her work.

Also starting on Thursday, the Grand Marais Art Colony will feature Around the Town president, Ann Mershon, on its Instagram page. Mershon will tour Grand Marais as she gives us a taste of the  public art here. To view, click here.

On Friday, Grand Marais Plein Air officially starts, and expect to see artists painting the landscape all over the county for the next week. The competition, which is a combo of live and virtual events, is organized by the Outdoor Painters of Minnesota which is partnered with the Johnson Heritage Post.

Some painters have opted to stay in place for the event, but they’ve been painting nevertheless, and their work has been posted to a new Website. Click here to see what has been submitted so far. It is updated daily. Some work will be exhibited at the Heritage Post from Sept. 19-Oct. 11.

One of the most popular features of the Plein Air competition is the Quick Paint, where artists converge on Artist’s Point and have an hour or so to complete a painting. The Quick Paint, which will be held from 3:30-5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17, is open to the public, with Covid protocols in place, including masks and social distancing. There will be a live Opening Reception on the Johnson Heritage Post’s Facebook page on Sept. 18, Stay tuned for details.

Saturday is busy, too.

There are two markets in downtown Grand Marais that feature art by local artisans and artists: The Cook County Craft Market and the Maker’s Market.

The Maker’s Market is held in the alley beside the Beaver House and is open Thursday through Saturday.

The Cook County Market is held in The Hub’s parking lot from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

And plan on keeping your radio tuned to WTIP Community Radio all day on Saturday to listen to all the music during the virtual Radio Waves Music Festival.  The one-day, on-air, live music event features lots great music.

This marks the 13th year of this annual festival, and thirteen Minnesota musical acts will play full musical sets to be broadcast live on WTIP Radio throughout the day.

The “13 in 13” lineup will include performances by local and regional artists and includes Sky Blue with Horns, Eric Frost, One Less Guest, Jim McGowan, Aho Family, Colleen Myhre, Kilborn Quartet, Red Lips, Portage, Lady Spruce, Chris Gillis with the Grand Marais Music Collaborative, Bump Blomberg, Rich Mattson and the Northstars and other surprises throughout the day.

Radio Waves is always a fun event. Check out this video produced a few years ago.

 The full schedule for this year’s festival can be found here.

In other art news, the Grand Marais Playhouse is seeking actors for the production of “The Remarkable Susan” by Tim Kelly. There are roles for 10 women and 6 men ( or all women), some roles may be double cast for smaller company. No experience necessary. The play is a short one-act and will be live-streamed Oct. 26-27..The Grand Marais Playhouse operates with the safety of all participants in mind. Masks, physical distancing, sanitizer, regular cleaning are all part of the Playhouse safety plan.

The audition day will be Monday, Sept. 14,  with several alternatives: a live Zoom or Fcebook audition or in-person. Please contact Playhouse to schedule a time on Monday Sept. 14.. No drop in auditions allowed. For more info, contact Sue Hennessy at (218) 370-0224.

On Wednesday, Sept. 16, consider attending the Duluth Art Institute‘s Virtual Gala, a fundraiser for the Institute and an art experience. It is virtual, so you can attend for free, or participate as a donor.

One of the features is a presentation about headwraps and how they define women in the  Black community by artist Chesley Antoinette. Check out this video to learn more.

The event also features an online auction, a cooking opportunity and more. Click here for more information and register. 

Upcoming:

The Grand Marais Art Colony just added a new virtual class called “Armchair Plein Air with Tara Sweeney” to its website. The weekly class starts on Sept. 17 and meets on Thursday mornings.

For more information and to register, click here.

Also next week, look forward to North House Folk School‘s  Unplugged 2020: Bringing it Home — An Online Fundraising Event and Concert. The virtual event will be held on Saturday, Sept. 19.

The evening will feature Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of “Braiding Sweetgrass,” Eliza Gilkyson, singer songwriter, and Grand Marais’s own Plucked Up String Band.

 

People can select a streaming-only ticket or upgrade to a package that includes an online cooking class with Chef Beth Dooley and a variety of North Shore treats. The weekend also features the online Points North Auction.  Check it out here.

 The Grand Marais Public Library will host a local, virtual book discussion of A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota. David Lawrence Grant, a contributor to the book, will be facilitating and host the Zoom discussion at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24. Participation is limited to 25. To register, visit grandmaraislibrary.org or call 218-387-1140 to reserve your virtual seat.

The Art Along the Lake Fall Studio Tour is Sept. 25-Oct. 4 this year, with a combination of online, virtual exhibits and in-person/in-situ ones.

For more information about the tour, click here. And stay tuned for details next week.

Note: Art Along the Lake Fall Studio Tour artists: Send images of your work to joan.farnam@gmail.com and we’ll try to post them. Thank you!

Extra News

And here’s some great news: The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness was officially certified as the 13th International Dark Sky Sanctuary in the world.  It is the first federally designated Wilderness site certified and largest site at 1,098,000 acres. The International Dark Sky Association promotes reducing light pollution and protecting night skies for the present and into the future.

 To find out more, click here.

Artists at Work

Virtual Music:

Here is a potpourri of music videos we found this week:

At the Edges of Wilderness: A Genesis+Art Exhibition from Chuck Hoffman on Vimeo.

 Live Music:

Thursday, Sept. 10:

• Gordon Thorne & Friends, Date Night at the Winery, 6-8 p.m., reservations at https://www.exploretock.com/northshorewinery
  or call at (218) 481-9280.

Saturday, Sept. 12:

• Radio Waves Music Festival, live on WTIP. Listen at 90.7 FM or stream at  WTIP.org from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Boyd “Bump” Blomberg, live, Cook County Market, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., weather permitting

Sunday, Sept. 13:

• Weekend Wine Down with Eric Frost, North Shore Winery, 3-6 p.m.,

 Photographs:

We are lucky to report that we found some great photographs this week. Let’s start with wildlife:

 

 

 

Here are a few “plant-scapes:”

 

And some landscapes, skyscapes and waterscapes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, a new category this week: Peoplescapes

Peoplescapes:

And this sweetheart:

Have a good week, everyone. And stay safe!

Note: If you enjoyed NorthShore ArtScene this week, consider making a donation to this volunteer effort by donating through PayPal. Just click on the icon below.  And thank you! 

P.S. Fall Studio Tour artists: Send images to me at joan.farnam@gmail.com. Would love to use them for the next few weeks!

Greetings from the North Shore, where the harvest has begun. Already, garlic and onions are out of the ground, and peas and beans are picked. Soon, if not already, the potatoes will be lifted from the soil, and, of course, there are always carrots, and beets and tomatoes, and soon, apples, winter squash and pumpkins.

This fall will be a little different for art and artists, though, as virtual, or some variant of it, will replace many in-person gatherings, but creativity is the name of the game here, so read on.

First up is North House Folk School, which continues its weekly Crafting in Place series. This week, boatbuilder and resident artisan Josh Tolkan is on campus, working on a difficult plywood canoe project. He will be demonstrating from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Thursday through Saturday on campus.

Tolkan will also talk about his project at a Lunch & Learn on Thursday, Sept. 3, at noon. It’s Facebook Live, so it’s a great opportunity to bring any boatbuilding or maritime carpentry questions to this master. Click here to view the Lunch & Learn.

North House is combining both virtual and social-distanced, in-person classes this fall.  To find out more, click here.

The Hjordis will be sailing through September.

For more information and to book a cruise, click here.

The Grand Marais Art Colony is beginning to be active as well this fall, with a combo of virtual and in-person classes and events. One feature, its Instagram Takeover, has been on-going this summer, featuring artists demonstrating and creating work on the social media outlet on Thursdays and Fridays.

This week, painter Kathie Wheeler is featured on the Instagram Takeover. She is a representational oil painter whose work is inspired by the people and places in her life.

She will be teaching The Poetry of Plein Air at the Art Colony later this month and is the juror for Plein Air Grand Marais this year.

On Friday, WTIP’s The Roadhouse continues its creative use of virtual/live and will feature Joey Shaheen of the Wrong Omar as guest musician. He will talk about his music and play some songs from the back deck at the radio station, live, on the radio, 90.7 FM.

Here are some examples of the Wrong Omar’s music:

This is Labor Day Weekend in Grand Marais, and downtown will be busy. There are two markets featuring local artists and artisans that will be open– the Cook County Market and the Maker’s Market.

The Cook County Market is held in the parking lot of The Hub from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Covid protocols and social distancing  are in place. The Maker’s Market is held next to the Beaver House and is open daily Thursday through Sunday.

Also on Saturday, plein air painter Greg Lecker will give a plein air painting demo at the North Shore Winery from 3-6 p.m.

Lecker is working on “Watersheds,” portraits of Minnesota’s three watersheds while engaging viewers in conversation and painting demonstrations.

For more information about Lecker’s work, visit his website at www.greglecker.com. Make a reservation to attend Saturday’s demonstration at https://www.exploretock.com/northshorewinery or call North Shore Winery at (218) 481-9280.

This event is weather dependent – if it’s raining, the event will be cancelled.  Click here for updates   Also, Lecker will be interviewed about his project on WTIP on Friday at 8:40 a.m.

And on Monday, the Grand Marais Art Colony will hold an Open House at its new space at 21 W. Hwy 61 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Exhibits:

The exhibit “George Morrison and Marcia Cushmore” continues at the Johnson Heritage Post, featuring archival prints and posters by both artists.

The gallery is open from 1-4 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

In other gallery news, Plein Air Grand Marais, sponsored and organized by the Outdoor Painters of Minnesota, is both virtual and in-person this year. Participating artists have been invited to paint-in-place, or come up to the North Shore and paint here.

The Plein Air competition runs from Sept. 11-18, but a new Plein Air Grand Marais website is live now, with artists posting their paintings on it as they’re completed. An exhibit will open at the Johnson Heritage ge Post Sept. 19. Stay tuned.

Upcoming:

Music lovers look forward to September for two outstanding music festivals: WTIP’s Radio Waves Music Festival and North House Folk School’s Unplugged. Both will be virtual this year, with their individual twists.

Radio Waves will be free and will feature 13 acts in 13 hours broadcast on WTIP, 90.7 FM, and streamed through the website at www.wtip.org. This is the 13th anniversary of the popular music festival.

The jazz band, Sky Blue with Horns, kicks it off at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12 with a live online and broadcast performance from the deck at WTIP.

Highlights include virtual performances by Red Lips from Hovland, Jim McGowan from St. Paul, and Lady Spruce from Minneapolis, as well as on-the-back-deck performances by One Less Guest, The Aho Family,  the Kilborn Quartet and Chris Gillis with the Grand Marais Music Collaborative. It’s free,  online and on the radio.

North House Folk School‘s “Unplugged” will be live-streamed this year, with music, craft and food.

To kick off the live-streamed show on Sept. 19,  Grand Marais-based Plucked Up String Band  will play and Chef Beth Dooley will show how to mix a signature cocktail for the evening. Later  Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of Braiding Sweetgrass, will give the featured presentation, which will be followed by a live auction and Fund-a-Need opportunities. Then Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Eliza Gilkyson will take the stage.

 

Tickets can be purchased online here.

 Artists at Work

A ground-breaking book about Hazel Belvo, her life and her art,  will be published this fall. Entitled, “A Matriarch of Art: An Illustrated art biography of one of Minnesota’s best-known feminist artists,”  art historian Julie L’Enfant reviews Belvo’s focus on nature, spirituality, mythology, and eroticism during more than 40 years of making and teaching art in Minnesota.

More great trash barrels for Grand Marais will appear on the streets soon, crafted by Sam Zimmerman featuring paintings of clan animals of the Ojibwe and their Anishinaabe names.

Jeweler Steve Hahn has been busy.

Knitter Katie Viren‘s latest:

BetsyA Bowen’s latest project is drawing for the Apostle Islands’ Alphabet Project. Her letter: W.

Flower artist Monica Anderson has been growing flowers and making beautiful arrangements this summer. She can be reached at 218-370-8479.

Actor opportunities: The Grand Marais Playhouse is holding auditions for the upcoming live stream production of “The Remarkable Susan” by Tim Kelly. Contact the Playhouse for more information.

The Practice: Anishinaabe cultural practitioner Greg Johnson is teaching winter birch bark basketry on campus at North House September 26-28.

 

To find out more, click here.

More artwork completed this summer:

 

 

Videos:

We found two train videos for you to watch: a historic video about the Flying Train in Germany crafted in 1902 and discoveries on an old railroad grade in Nipigon,

 

And a little music:

 

Live Music: 

Thursday, Sept. 3:

• Gordon Thorne & Friends, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m. Make reservations at https://www.exploretock.com/northshorewinery
  or call  (218) 481-9280.

Saturday, Sept. 5:

• Boyd Bump Blomberg, Cook County Market, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m

Sunday, Sept. 6

• Chris Gillis & Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, Sunday Wine Down, 3 p.m., Make reservations at https://www.exploretock.com/northshorewinery
  or call  (218) 481-9280.

Photographs:

We found some unusual as well as beautiful photographs this week.

Here are some unusual shots:

Other wildlife photographs:

A few great shots of people that we couldn’t pass up.

Just a foot …

It was the Full Corn Moon:

And here are some beautiful landscapes/seascapes:

And I just couldn’t resist this one: I found it on Facebook and couldn’t trace it back to the photographer, but decided it is worth a run.

Have a good weekend everyone. And stay safe!

And if you’ve enjoyed NorthShore ArtScene this week, you can make a donation to help support this local effort. Click on the icon below.

This weekend — yep — this weekend, the last one in August, we tread lightly, for the end of summer is nigh. Not that it’s going to start snowing tomorrow, but, we’re a little wary about when the warm weather will change. Meanwhile, time to enjoy…

This is also the weekend of the Minnesota State Fair, and although it won’t be a huge get-together, there are things to do on the fairgrounds as well as a few virtual events. One of the most anticipated events, the Food Parade, which has been organized as a drive-through to sample favorite foods, is sold out. However, art can still be enjoyed. The Fine Arts Exhibition is open and can be viewed by reservation, video and a free virtual catalog.

To view more info, see the State Fair’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube pages.

Here on the North Shore, it continues to be wonder-weather, with lots of sun and warm breezes from the Big Lake. Covid-19 is still around, though, and protocols are in place in our businesses. Social distancing is recommended, as are masks. Click here to read the latest Cook County news.

North House Folk School continues its Crafting in Place Series, featuring an instructor/artisan demonstrating on-campus Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., as well as a Lunch & Learn session on Thursdays at noon.

This week, MaryBeth Garmoe is the featured artist and she will be demonstrating broom-making.

To see MaryBeth Garmoe at the Lunch & Learn on Thursday, click here. The video will be posted to North House’s Facebook page and can be viewed at any time.

We can’t go to Thunder Bay right now, but this news needs to be shared. The Definitely Superior Art Gallery in Thunder Bay had to move from it’s rented building in the fall, but has found a new home and will hold a grand opening this weekend in the new space at 115 Cumberland St. N. in downtown Thunder Bay. The event will showcase the gallery’s incredible new space as well as work by 40 regional and national visual artists.

We always enjoyed visiting this gallery when we were permitted across the border, and when the border opens again, it will definitely be worth a visit. Here’s a short sneak-peak video of the new space.

Defsup Sneak Peek from Definitely Superior Art Gallery on Vimeo.

And in more Thunder Bay news, the Magnus Theatre will hold outdoor performances of  “A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline” in the park next to the theater from Sept. 3-13. Covid-19 protocols will be in place. Click here to learn more.

Back to our side of the border — Saturday features two local arts and craft markets in downtown Grand Marais: The Cook County Market and the Maker’s Market.

The Cook County Market is held in the parking lot of The Hub from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. The Maker’s Market is held in the alley next to the Beaver House and is open Thursday through Sunday. Both feature work by local artists and artisans.

Exhibits:

 This the last weekend to see the latest exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post: framed archival prints and posters by George Morrison and Marcia Cushmore. Evelyn Konrad, a watercolor artist from Thunder Bay, Ontario is the artist of the month.

The Heritage Post is open from Fridays from 1-4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Covid protocols are in place.

Yellowbird Fine Art is open and features a wide variety of artists and artwork, including new work by Jeanne Hedstrom.

This is the last weekend to see the “Upscale” exhibit in the window at the Grand Marais Art Colony‘s new building at 17 W. Hwy 61.

And here’s something to look forward to at the Tweed Museum of Art. It continues to be closed, but virtual access is possible. It is planning to mount a great retrospective of the paintings of Carl Gawboy. Entitled “A Life Well-Painted: The Art of Carl Gawboy.” The exhibit covers work by the artist who is a Bois Forte Anishinaabe tribal member and Finnish.

Here are two examples of Gawboy’s work.

Much further down the road: The Minneapolis Institute of Art is currently open and features a variety of exhibits. Free ticketed admission.

Reservations for the free tickets are required. To find out more, click here.

Upcoming:

 The two big fall music events in Cook County will be virtual this year: WTIP’s Radio Waves Music Festival and North House Folk School‘s Unplugged.

Radio Waves will feature a day-long program of on-line and broadcast music on Saturday, Sept. 12.  It’s a great line-up of musicians. To see, click here.

North House Folk School‘s Unplugged will be Sept. 19 featuring Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of “Braiding Sweetgrass,” as the featured speaker, a live concert with two-time Grammy-nominated musician Eliza Gilkyson, as well as the annual Fund-a-Need Auction. Tickets for the streaming event are available here.

Artist Opportunities:

Check out the Arrowhead Regional Art Council’s Web site for information about grant opportunity here.

The North Shore Winery has put out a Call to Artists to demonstrate outdoors on weekends from Sept. 5 through Oct. 17. Electricity and water are available. For more information and how to apply, contact Kim Corliss at kim@northshorewinery.us/

 Artists at Work:

Here are some examples of artists’ work we found this week:

This video, “Fevered Spring,” was created when John Gruber posted a photo of a log of ash he split because he was so inspired by its beauty, despite the onset of Covid-19. Maryl Skinner was also inspired by the photo and shared some of her thoughts about living in the pandemic.  These thoughts became lyrics for the song, “Fevered Spring,” which Gruber had written a few years ago. In this recording, Russ Viton plays lead guitar, Gruber plays guitars and sings and John Koscielak plays keyboard.

Other artwork that caught our attention this week:

And here is a wonderful piece penned by local author Staci Lola Drouillard and posted on her Facebook page this week about living in rural Minnesota during the pandemic and wildlife she sees. She is the author of the award-winning book: “Walking the Old Road: A People’s History of Chippewa City and the Grand Marais Anishinaabe.” And yes, she is working on a new book.

Here’s what Staci sees:

“We’ve got a young bear who passes through, sometimes closer than we’d like. We’ve got a skunk who digs divots in the lawn, looking for grubs to eat. We’ve got hummingbirds buzzing around in pairs and Bard owls asking “who-cooks-for-you?” at night. Waxwings are here eating chokecherries and I woke up to find bees sleeping inside delicate, pink hollyhock flowers.

Yesterday I watched a kestrel bomb in from the trees after a hummingbird. The little birds scattered and the kestrel missed its target. The hummingbirds made themselves scarce for a long time, and there were no bird sounds at all for about 30 minutes. Then, with their wings beating 70 times per second, they resumed their own hunt for nectar.

The Broadwing hawks are migrating and before the young birds flew south, a pair of them would perch on our backyard fence and feed on the abundance of frogs we have in the yard.

Earlier this summer we watched a mother Downy woodpecker teach its baby how to peck for bugs on a dead stalk of Queen Anne’s Lace. I wonder if we would have experienced any of this if things were “normal” and we were at the office and not work.”

Live Music:

Thursday, Aug. 27:

• Gordon Thorne & Friends, Date Night at the Winery, 7 p.m., Make reservations at https://www.exploretock.com/northshorewinery
  or call (218) 481-9280

Sunday, Aug. 30:

• Cook County’s Most Wanted, Skyport Lodge, 4 p.m.

Photographs:

Here are some of the photographs we found this week:

 

 

And a few wildlife shots:

 

 

 

 

 

And here are some landscapes:

 

 

 

And last, but not least, we thought we should share this song by Eliza Gilkyson, “Peace in Our Hearts.”  She is the featured artist on North House Folk School‘s on-line Unplugged concert this year.

Peace to you. And be safe.

Note: I am accepting donations to keep this blog a vital part of your North Shore art news source. Click below to make a donation to support this volunteer effort.

 

 

 

Hmmmm…this is hard to admit, but fall is in the air. For the past two mornings, dew has covered everything, as temps hovered in the low 50s, if that. The days have continued to be glorious, though, and it seems like summer will never end. The town of Grand Marais is buzzing with visitors, grateful to bask in the unending expanse of blues, as Lake Superior continues to show off. And, as we have been mentioning every week this month, basil is still plentiful. So are newly hatched monarch butterflies:

Meanwhile, Covid-19 is still a presence here, and masking and social distancing are important. Here’s the latest  information about the pandemic in this small community.  

We are still virtual but live as well.

This week, weaver Christine Novotny is the instructor-in-residence at North House Folk School, where she will be demonstrating her craft from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday on campus.

She will also present a Lunch & Learn session on North House’s Facebook page at noon on Thursday, Aug. 20. It’s free, and live, so it’s possible to ask her questions, as well as watch her presentation. Check it out here.

BTW:Tickets are now on sale for the virtual Unplugged Concert at North House. Reservations for a cruise on the good ship The Hjordis are also available. And some classes are being held. For more info, visit www.northhouse.org

Singer/songwriter Joe Paulik plays music on the beach at Lutsen Resort starting at 7 p.m. and Eric Frost is the guest musician at North Shore Winery’s Date Night, which also starts at 7 p.m.. Reservations are required at the Winery. See below for details.

Friday is quiet, as far as organized events go, but on Saturday, look for local artists and artisans in downtown Grand Marais. They set up in two locations.

The Cook County Market is held in the parking lot of The Hub from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays, featuring work by local artists, authors and crafters. Local musician Bump Blomberg plays from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Covid protocols are in place, including a mask requirement and social distancing.

The Maker’s Market is held in the alley beside the Beaver House and also features artists and artisans. It is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 or so.

Galleries:

Prints and posters by Marcia Cushmore and George Morrison are on view at the Johnson Heritage Post this month, as well as a selection of paintings by Thunder Bay painter Evelyn Konrad.

The Heritage Post is open from 1-4 p.m. on Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Covid protocols are in place. Click here to learn more.

Sivertson Gallery has a wonderful variety of art by local, regional and Inuit artists, including prints by Duluth printmaker Rick Allen.

Joy & Co. features a broad selection of works by local artists and artisans, including pottery by Tara Block.

The Duluth Art Institute, located in The Depot in Duluth, is open to visitors with Covid-19 protocols in place. There are several exhibits, including  “Odysseus & Penelope: the Long Journey” by Kari Halker-Saathoff in the George Morrison Gallery.

The DAI is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free.

And further down the road, the Minneapolis Institute of Art is now open to the public with Covid-19 protocols in place. Visitors are admitted free of charge.

For more information about the new rules and exhibits on display, click here.

And across the Big Lake, in Herbster, Wis., local artists recently held a virtual art tour, featuring woodworking, prints, multi-media works and more.

To find out more and see examples of their work, click here.

Opportunities:

Springboard for the Arts has a great website detailing the wide variety of grants available to artists. Check it out here

Arts Midwest just announced it has new funds available through the United States Regional Arts Resilience Fund. For more info, click here.

And the Minnesota State Arts Board has developed a new program for artists and art institutions located outside of the seven-county metro area of Minneapolis as one of three priority groups to benefit from the Creative Support grants.

Detailed program information can be found in the Creative Support for Individuals program guidelines: http://www.arts.state.mn.us/pubs/pubs/fy2021-csi-overview-instructions.pdf

There is a short video presentation available here as well: https://vimeo.com/444666292

Local Artists at Work:

Fiber artists continue to add creatures to The Felted Forest, located in the wooded lot in front of Sawtooth Elementary School.

The Grand Marais Playhouse held a youth theatre camp where the participants performed “The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss.”

To donate to the Grand Marais Playhouse, click here.

Tom McCann is working on his postcard series. Here’s a latest watercolor.

The YMCA Camp kids made signs of hope and love and then had a parade at the Care Center this week.

And here’s a pretty incredible painting by Ari, one of the YMCA kids camp participants. He is 7-years-old.

And here’s another inspiring painting by Ari.

And, thankfully, Betsy Bowen continues her Comfort series, which she started during our “Stay in Place” period in Minnesota.

Upcoming:

The Art Along the Lake: Fall Studio Tour will be Sept. 25-Oct. 4 this year, with lots of artists and galleries participating in Cook County. However, due to the pandemic, many will be showing their work online.

The pandemic continues to be a fluid situation in Minnesota and around the country, so it will be important to check the Fall Studio Tour online to see who is exhibiting live in their studios and who is exhibiting online. There will be links to each artist here.

Virtual Music:

 

 Live Music:

Thursday, Aug. 20:

• Joe Paulik, Music on the Beach, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Date Night at the Winery, North Shore Winery, 7 p.m., Make reservations at https://www.exploretock.com/northshorewinery
  or call at (218) 481-9280.

Saturday, Aug. 22:

• Bump Blomberg, Cook County Market in The Hub’s parking lot, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

 Sunday, Aug. 23

• Teague Alexy, Weekend Wine Down, North Shore Winery, 3 p.m., Make reservations at https://www.exploretock.com/northshorewinery
  or call at (218) 481-9280.
• Jacob Mahn and the Salty Dogs, Music by the Lake at Skyport Lodge, 4 p.m.

Photographs: 

 There was a good selection this week. First, monarchs:

 

And a great eagle shot.

 

 

 

And here are some beautiful landscapes, waterscapes, skyscapes and lighthouse-scapes.

 

 

Here’s a beautiful series by Mark Tessier on the Kadonce River, sometimes spelled Kadunce.

 

 

 Lightning!

 

 

Here’s a calmer sunset:

And another view of the harbor.

And this, a greeting for the day.

Have a good weekend, everyone! And stay safe!

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