North Shore Arts Scene

Welcome to winter!

There are lots of celebrations on the snow-covered hills of Cook County this weekend. There’s a sled dog race, a fat bike race and a (downhill) ski festival, not to mention the hundreds of people who will be out on the cross country ski trails.  snowmobile trails and snowshoe trails enjoying the heart of winter.

The weekend starts with a few indoor events, too.

On Thursday, John Tolkan and John Beltman will lead a discussion about the Herring Skiff Project at a Brown Bag Lunch from noon to 1 p.m. in the Boat Barn at North House Folk School.

The two-year-long project is a partnership between the Cook County Historical Society and North House to build a replica of a herring skiff. The public is invited to come hear about the project’s progress and learn how to get involved. Free. Open to all. It’s from noon to 1 p.m. and is the first in a series on building various craft at the Folk School.

And then, on Thursday night at 8 pm., WDSE-TV will be screening “Making It: Crafting a Life,” featuring the the four artists currently enrolled in the Artisan Development Program at the Folk School.Josh Tolkan (boat building), Mike Loeffler (wood craft including his bird bowls,) MaryBeth Garmoe (broom-making, birchbark) and Elise Kyllo (felting) are all featured on the show.

The show will be aired at 8 p.m. on Thursday. Here’s a great interview of Making It’s producer, Karen Sunderman, by WTIP’s Joe Frederichs. Click here to listen.

There’s quite a list to choose from on Friday.

The Grand Marais Art Colony will hold the opening reception for “Along Shifting Surfaces” by David Andree at the Art Colony from 5-7 p.m. on Friday.

During his residency, Andree has been on the shore investigating the transitory topography of snow drifts and shoreline spaces through painting and sculptural intervention. The (indoor) exhibition at the Art Colony  will include paintings, drawings and photographic prints of his work here. All invited. The exhibit in the Founders Hall continues through Feb. 16.

For movie lovers, Friday Night Reels continues at the Grand Marais Public Library with the screening of “Ulysses & Mona,” at 6 p.m. Friday. It’s a great story about a 55-year-old contemporary artist who spends his life in seclusion and a 20-year-old art student who meets him and changes their lives forever. The movie is in French, with subtitles. Free. Here’s the trailer.

 

Also on Friday, the Ski Party Music Festival starts at Papa Charlie’s featuring six different bands featured over the weekend. On Friday night, Portal III, Dead Man Winter and the Black-eyed Snakes will perform. On Saturday night, Humbird, Charlie Parr and the Cactus Blossoms will be on stage. Great music, and the look for new snow on the hills.

On Saturday, there are two outdoor races: The Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race and the Norpine Fat Bike Classic.

The Fat Bike race will be start at Cascade Lodge at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday. Click here for more info.

The popular Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race begins at Trail Center where more than 25 local and regional mushers have signed up, including winners of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon.

There are two classes in the race: a 12-dog, 100-mile race and an 8-dog, 65-mile race. The races will start and finish at Trail Center, with a rest break halfway through (also at Trail Center). The races start around 8 a.m.

If you want to see the dogs on the trail, check out the north end of the trail: there is a spectator area at the Old Blankenberg Pit, where the 12-dog teams are turning around. Great viewing is also available at Big Bear Lodge and Rockwood Lodge.

For all the details of the race, including the mushers, routes, photographs, dogs and more, click here.

Here’s an interesting sidebar.

Frank Moe will be in the race, and one of the people who has been helping him with his dogs this winter is Anastasia Gill, a CPA from Houston, Texas, who needed a break from urban life. She took up his offer to help out with Moe’s dogs this winter and has been having a great time. She even has a podcast on WTIP Community Radio where she talks about her adventures. It’s called “Sled Dogs, Cold Toes and a Gal from Texas.” You can listen to it here.

To read the article about her in the Houston Chronicle. click here. The headline reads: “A Houston CPA felt a slow-burning burnout, so she traded skyscrapers for sled dogs.”

Also on Saturday, the North Shore Music Association will present “Cantus: One Giant Leap” at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts at 7 p.m.

Hailed as “the premier men’s vocal ensemble in the United States” (Fanfare), Cantus is known for its trademark warmth and blend, innovative programming, and riveting performances of music ranging from the Renaissance to the 21st century. The program is entitled “One Giant Leap” and celebrates the group’s 25th anniversary and 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing with music inspired by the celestial skies.

Tickets are general admission, $25 adults, $10 youth 18 & under.

Here’s a clip of their work.

On Wednesday, Jan. 15, the Grand Marais Art Colony will host “Community Conversations: Hanging and Displaying Your Work” in the Founders Hall from noon to 2 p.m. The event will feature Joseph Nease, owner of the Joseph Nease Gallery in Duluth and Neil Sherman, a plein air painter who won the Best Booth Award in last year’s Grand Marais Arts Festival and is a framer at Sivertson Gallery.

Nease and Sherman will be on hand to give tips and pointers that could apply to hanging or displaying both two and three-dimensional work in a home, gallery or in an arts festival booth. Also, information about the 100Day Project will be available. The project launches on Jan. 22. The event is open to the public and free.

Exhibits:

 “Wood Swept,” an exhibit of work by wood worker and North House Folk School instructor, Marybeth Garmoe, is on exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post.

Garmoe works in wood and fiber, making brooms, dustpans and carved pieces. The exhibit continues  through Jan. 26. The Heritage Post is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

This is the final week to see Mike Loeffler’s Artisan Development Final Show at North House Folk School. The exhibit features his bird bowls as well as wooden furniture and more.

Grand Marais plein air painter Tom McCann is exhibiting his work at the Cook County Courthouse.

Minnetonka artist Jane Johnson is exhibiting her abstract landscape paintings in the Great Hall at Tettegouche State Park.

The exhibit continues through Jan. 31.

The Thunder Bay Art Gallery is featuring work by Benjamin Chee Chee this winter.

Artist Opportunities:

Call to North Shore Artists: The 10th annual Spirit of the Wilderness Show, featuring work by artists of every age, will be held in the halls of North Shore Community Health this year. The theme of this year’s exhibit is “Kintsugi,” the Japanese art of repairing pottery by mending areas of breakage with precious metals. Artists are invited to consider these themes of brokenness, healing and learning through their chosen medium. The show will open Feb. 21 and run through April. The deadline to deliver work is Feb. 17 or 18. Stay tuned for details.

The applications for the Grand Marais Arts Festival 2020 are now available online.

Applications will be accepted until midnight on March 9. The festival will be July 11-12 this year. To find out more and to apply, click here.

Applications are being accepted for the Porcupine Mountains Artist-in-Residence Program for the 2020 Spring, Summer and Fall and the 2021 Winter Residences. It is open to artists, artisans and musicians whose work can be influenced by the unique northern wilderness setting of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.

Each year a number of artists will be selected for residencies lasting a minimum of two weeks. Artists will be given the use of a rustic cabin located on the Little Union River and, if requested, a three-night backcountry permit so that they may live in and explore the park’s 60,000 acres of natural beauty, ranging from stunning vistas to 90 miles of rugged backcountry trails.

During their residency, artists will be asked to share their experiences with the public through demonstrations or talks. The artists are required to contribute an art piece representative of their stay.

To find out more and apply, click here.

The Art Colony is offering two major mentorship opportunities for experienced printmaking artists and writers: Peter Geye’s “Writing the North Shore,” and Jeff Hirst’s “Mentorship in Printmaking.” For more information about each, click on the above links.

Upcoming:

 Auditions for the community youth play, “Cinderella,” will be held at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts Jan. 27 at 3:35 p.m. This community youth play is for actors in Grades 3-8. The play includes four fairy tales with similar themes to the story commonly known as Cinderella. For more info, click here.

The 2nd annual Robert Burns Dinner will be held at the Wunderbar on Saturday, Jan. 25.

This is the traditional birthday of Scottish poet, Robert Burns, who is revered throughout the world. The evening starts at 5:30 p.m. with a social hour and live music including piping, highland dancing and fiddle tunes. A full course dinner is served at 7 p.m. followed by a program of Burns’ poetry readings and some of his more famous songs. Reservations are $50 per person and may be made on evenbrite.com. Call Wunderbar at 218-877-7655 for more information.

Ann and Wayne Russ will teach an 8-week dance class on Tuesdays, Feb. 4-March 31 at the 4-H Building at the Community Center. The classes will be from 7:15-9 p.m. For more information and to register, email russ@boreal.org

 Music:

Thursday, Jan. 9:

• Jim Miller, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne & Friends, North Shore Winery, 7 p.m.

Friday, Jan.10:

Jim Miller, Moguls Grille, 4 p.m.

Portage, Grandma Ray’s, 6 p.m.

• Saints of Circumstance, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
• Ski Party Music Festival, 3 bands, Papa Charlie’s, 9 p.m.– Portal III, 9 p.m., Dead Man Winter, 9:55 p.m., Black Eyed Snakes, 11:15 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 11:

• Briand Morrison, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Cantus: One Giant Leap, Arrowhead Center for the Arts, 7 p.m.
• Brother’s in Arms, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Saints of Circumstance, Gun Flint Ta vern, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 12:

• Open Stage with Joe Paulik & Pat Flack, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 13:

• Dave Simonett, Monday Night Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

Photographs:

Here are some of the photographs we found this week. First, wildlife:

 

 

 

Kristofer Bowman calls this Seasonal Housing.

Evidence of human life:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Photographer Christian Dalbec was at Crystal Bay at Tettegouche State Park on Sunday, Dec. 29, and took this video of Lake Superior waves crashing into the cliffs. It was the last storm of 2019.

But then, 2020 came in pretty quietly here on the North Shore, mirroring, perhaps, the mood of the communities. Snow lovers are having a great time, however. The trails are packed with new snow as are the ski slopes, and everyone is taking advantage of the warm temps we’re having this week.

And there’s some great music:

Gordon Thorne & Friends will be playing for Date Night at the North Shore Winery, always a good place to be on a cold winter evening.

And The Sky Blue Trio will play at the Cascade Lodge Restaurant and Pub on Saturday at 6 p.m. They will be playing upbeat jazz on the first Saturday of every month this winter. Something to look forward to.

And Papa Charlie’s returns with its Monday Night Songwriter Series on Jan. 6. The Sarah Morris Trio will play starting at 8:30 p.m. This is billed as a quiet time to just listen to music at the Lutsen Mountains venue.

There are lots of other great bands playing this weekend, too, Check the Music Schedule below for dates and times.

First up for 2020, is an art opening at the Johnson Heritage Post. “Wood Swept,” a fascinating exhibit by North House artisan Marybeth Garmoe, featuring works in broommaking, woodcarving, and woodturning. The opening reception is from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 3.

Garmoe is just finishing up her two-year participation in North House’s Artisan Development Program. This is her final show.

To find out more about Garmoe and the process to make her work, click here.. The exhibit at the Heritage Post continues through Jan. 26.

Also on Friday, the Director’s Cut of “Bladerunner” will be screened at the Grand Marais Public Library at 6 p.m. Free.

Also this weekend, the Grand Opening for the Warming House at the Cook County Community Center will be from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 5.

The new warming house has technically taken 20 years to build. Thanks to community commitment and perseverance, it was built this summer and is now ready to be enjoyed. There will be free skating all day on Sunday and refreshments, including soups, will be served. All invited.

At noon next Thursday, Jan. 9, North House Folk School starts its Brown Bag Lunch Series to introduce information about different water crafts. The presentation on Jan. 9 is entitled Herring Skiff Project with Josh Tolkan and John Beltman.

The 2-year project, in collaboration with the Cook County Historical Society, is to build a replica of a historic herring skiff, representative of the boats used by fishermen in the 1940s. The brown bag lunch series are free. All invited.

Lots of events next weekend

And next weekend, look forward to the Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race Jan. 11-12. Trail Center Lodge is the center of the races, which consist of two legs of equal distance separated by a mandatory layover. There are two classes in the race: a 12-dog, 100-mile race and an 8-dog, 65-mile race. T

At last count, more than 25 mushers are registered for the race. Volunteers are still needed. For more info on the race, who’s racing and more, click here. Stay tuned for more info next week.

Also on Saturday, Jan. 11, the Norpine Fat Bike Classic will be held with a new course and a new venue.

Cascade Lodge is the host this year, and the races will start from there. For more info and to register, click here. Stay tuned for more info next week.

Also next weekend, Lutsen Mountains will hold the Ski Party Music and Ski Festival Jan. 10-12. Bands include Black-Eyed Snakes,  Dead Man Winter, Portal III, the Cactus Blossoms, Charlie Parr and Humbird. For more info, click here.

Also on Saturday, Jan. 11, the North Shore Music Association presents “Cantus: One Giant Leap.” The group is hailed at the “premier men’s vocal ensemble in the United States.” This concert celebrates the group’s 25th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing with a special program. Tickets are $25 adults, $10 youth 18 and under. Stay tuned for more info next week.

Here’s a clip:

Kudos

“The Lost Forest” by Phyllis Root with illustrations by Betsy Bowen received an honorable mention in the National Outdoor Book Award 2019 contest.

 Extra Reading/Viewing

Grand Marais photographer Bryan Hansel has just published a year-end update about how he felt he did as an artist in 2019.

The blog includes his favorite shots of 2019 as well as the essay. Click here for the link.

 And here’s an interesting article. Entitled “What Was the Most Influential (Art) Work of the Decade?,” dozens of art-world experts weigh-in. It’s fun to scroll through.

To see the complete article, click here.

 Music Schedule:

 Thursday, Jan. 2:

• Jon Kalberg, Lutsen Resort, 6 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 7 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 3:

• Joe Paulik, Cascade Lodge Restaurant, 6 p.m.
• Jill and Rob, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Odd Man Out, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 4:

• Sky Blue Trio, Cascade Lodge Restaurant, 6 p.m.
• 4 Shore, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Joe Paulik Band, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Odd Man Out, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
• Yam Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 5:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• Open Stage with Joe Paulik & Pat Flack, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 6:

• LaFond & Grillo,  Voyageur Brewing, 5 p.m.
• Sarah Morris Trio, Monday Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, Lutsen Resort, 6 p.m.

 Photographs:

We found some interesting photographs this week. Here’s a selection:

First, wildlife:

 

 

We’ve had such a variety of weather here on the North Shore over the holiday season.

First, rain/sleet/ice, then gentle snow, then wild winds … here are some examples:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 And then it got cold:

And then it got windy:

And windier:

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then, the storm was over:

Happy New Year, everyone!

This is the week to settle back and enjoy family and winter in Cook County. 2020 is just around the corner, but meanwhile, the hills and trails are in great shape for everyone to enjoy.

Visitcookcounty.com has a special page where it is posting the latest info on the condition of all the winter trails in Cook County, including snowmobile and winter biking trails. Check it out here.

Just in: Due to predictions of a major winter storm hitting the North Shore on Sunday, Dec. 29, the Grand Opening event for the Warming House at the Cook County Community Center has been rescheduled for Sunday, Jan. 5. After 20 years of plans, hopes and dreams,  the warming house has finally been built and is now operational. To celebrate this event, the official Grand Opening will be  from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan.5. Free ice skating all day from 11 a.m. t0 7 p.m. Cookies and other refreshments will be served. All welcome!

Another news item this week: the great selection of New Year’s Eve parties to ring in the new decade. Here’s the list:

Gunflint Lodge, dinner and live music,  5:30-11 p.m.

New Year’s Eve with the North Shore Swing Band, Wunderbar, 6-8 p.m

Log Cabin Concert with Michael Monroe, rural Grand Marais, 7 p.m

New Year’s with Cook County’s Most Wanted, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.

Boogie Wonderland New Year’s Eve Dance, Grand Portage Lodge & Casino,  8 p.m.

New Year’s Eve Party with 4 Shore, Grandma Ray’s, 9:30 p.m.

New Year’s Eve Dance Party with DJ Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 10 p.m.

Exhibits:

There are some interesting exhibits to see this week as well.

This is the last weekend to see the Holiday Art Underground Show at Betsy Bowen’s Studio.

The show, featuring more than 40 local and regional artists, including prints, cards and books by Betsy Bowen, closes Dec. 29.

This is also the last weekend to see Molly Ovenden’s “Art in Process: The Exhibition” at the Johnson Heritage Post.

The Johnson Heritage Post is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and from 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

Mike Loeffler’s final show as he concludes his time in North House Folk School‘s Artisan Development Program, continues at North House through Jan. 13.

During this 2-year period, Loeffler continued to develop his skills as an artisan, with a focus on timber framing and woodcarving, including beautiful bird bowls, wooden furniture, and more. Stop by the Yellow House at North House to get directions to Loeffler’s exhibit.

At the Tweed Museum of Art in Duluth, an exhibit of bandolier bags continues.

In Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery is exhibiting “The North Now,” an exhibit that showcases work by artists from Northern Ontario.

The exhibit continues through Feb. 16.

Upcoming:

 Next Friday, Jan 3, there are two art openings: one at the Johnson Heritage Post and one in the Great Hall at Tettegouche State Park.

Marybeth Garmoe will open an exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post with a reception from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 3.

And Jane Johnson, an abstract painter from the Twin Cities, will open an exhibit at Tettegouche State Park on Friday, Jan. 3, with a reception from 7-8:30 p.m. Stay tuned for details.

And last, but not least, the Grand Marais Public Library announces the return of Friday Night Reels, a film series that takes place at the library each Friday night at 6 p.m. through March 6.

This year’s first film is Blade Runner. starring Harrison Ford. The film to be screened is The Director’s Cut, which removes the voice-over narration and forced happy ending. No registration is required for this event, but seating is limited. Come early. Free.

Here’s the trailer:

 Music:

Here’s the music schedule for the week, including New Year’s parties.

Thursday, Dec. 26:

• Jim Miller with Max Bichel, Lutsen Resort lobby, 7 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 27:

• Portage, Grandma Ray’s, 6 p.m.
• Terry V and Friends, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Pushing Chain, Gun Flint Tavern, 7:30 p.m.
• Jim Miller with Max Bichel, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 28:

• Joe Paulik Band, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Micheal Monroe Log Cabin Concert, rural Grand Marais, 7 p.m. Reservations at michealmonroemusic.com
• Mysterious Ways, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 29:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille & Tap Room, 10 a.m.
• Open Stage with Joe Paulik and Pat Flack, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 31:

• Brothers in Arms, Cascade Restaurant & Pub. 6 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, Lutsen Resort, 7-10 p.m.
• Log Cabin Concert with Michael Monroe, rural grand marais, 8 p.m.
• Cook County’s Most Wanted, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
• Fireworks at Papa Charlie’s, 8-8:30 p.m.
• New Year’s Eve with Cook County’s Most Wanted, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
• Boogie Wonderland New Year’s Eve Dance, Grand Portage Loge & Casino, 8 p.m..
• New Year’s Eve Party with 4 Shore, Grandma Ray’s, 9:30 p.m.
• New Year’s Dance Party with DJ Beavstar, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Photographs

It’s been pretty quiet on the photographic front this week. Here’s a selection from what we found:

First, wildlife:

 

 

 

And the not-so-wild:

Here’s an interesting study of light, shadows, ice and color:

A few winter landscapes:

 

 

A few cold, winter sunsets:

 

And some great water shots:

 

And finally, a welcome for the New Year:

Have a great week, everyone!BTW: If you’d like to consider making a year-end contribution to NorthShore ArtScene, click on the icon below. And Thank You!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Season’s Greetings! The North Shore certainly looks like it’s welcoming the holiday season, with lots of great snow and winter sunsets brightening the sky.

This is also the month for marking the conclusion of successful projects (and the year), and, at North House Folk School, wood artisan Mark Loeffler will hold a final show as he concludes his time in North House’s Artisan Development Program.

Over the two years of the program, Mike has continued to develop his skills as an artisan, with a focus on timber framing and woodcarving, including his beautiful bird bowls, wooden furniture, and more.

The opening reception includes a presentation by Loeffler and will be held in the North House Blue Building on Thursday, Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m. The presentation will highlight Mike’s timber framing projects.

An added perk: Loeffler’s work will be on display at North House from from Dec. 20-Jan. 13 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors should check in at the Yellow Building.

On Friday, shops and galleries all over town will be open for Christmas cheer. On Friday night, WTIP’s The Roadhouse will feature two musicians who will be performing this weekend: Craig Baumann and Jim McGowan. The Roadhouse is aired from 5-7 p.m. on Fridays.

At  7 p.m. on Friday, SVEA will give a holiday concert at the Grand Marais Art Colony.

The a cappella group will sing a variety of songs, including many traditional ones from Sweden.Treats, cider, and glögg plus great music and stories are on the menu. There’s a.$10 suggested donation at the door. All invited.

On Saturday, look for the highlight of the winter pageant season: The Winter Solstice Shadow Puppet Show. The show, presented by the Good Harbor Hill Players, is held outside at North House Folk School, and features great shadow puppets, a quirky and funny storyline, live music, a bonfire and a few surprises. This year’s story? A Loggers’ Solstice.

In past years, the audience has stood outdoors at -20, stamping their feet and clapping with well-mittened hands. This year, it’ll be a lot easier. The low for the evening is +27 degrees. Easy peasy.

As a fan, we highly recommend this  event. And don’t forget to write out your gloomies and toss them into the bonfire to send your worries up in smoke. Bring a dish to share, too. Open to all.

On Sunday, Voyageur Brewing Co will host Crosby Bakery for a gingerbread house decorating and cookie exchange from noon to 4 p.m.

Crosby Bakery will provide a non-assembled house ($20) and an assembled house ($25) and all the decorating supplied. To reserve a house, email Hana at crosbyharvest@gmail.com or test 218-370-1417.  For the cookie exchange, bring 2 dozen cookies to exchange for a mix of cookies. Cookie boxes will also be available.

And on Monday, artist Molly Ovenden will host a Brown Bag Lunch at Johnson Heritage Post. The artist, who is currently exhibiting her work at the gallery, will talk about the exhibit, as well as lead a walk through. The event will be held from noon to 1 p.m. All invited. Free.

Exhibits:

Molly Ovenden’s exhibit, “Art in Process: The Exhibit” continues at the Johnson Heritage Post through the end of the month.

The Holiday Art Underground Show at Betsy Bowen’s Studio continues through Dec. 29, featuring a wide variety of work by local and regional artists.

The gallery is open most days from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Landscape painter Lisa Kosmo is exhibiting her work in the Great Hall at Tettegouche State Park through Dec. 29.

The Tweed Museum of Art in Duluth continues its exhibit of pieces from its collections, including this painting by Wendy Rouse.

At the Thunder Bay Art Gallery in Thunder Bay, a new juried exhibit, The North Now, features a selection of artists from Northern Ontario.

The exhibit continues through February.

A dragon has taken up residenc eat the Baggage Building Arts Centre in Thunder Bay.

And, in case you missed it, Shelly McIntire’s delightful short stories about her experiences with the night sky and the northern lights, are available for a listen on WTIP Community Radio. The piece was produced by WTIP’s Joe Frederichs. with music by Michael Monroe, and was played during the Dark Sky Festival last weekend. The event, which was held at North House Folk School, highlighted the work of her cousin, photographer Travis Novitsky.

Click here to listen to the broadcast.

Music:

 Here’s the music schedule for the weekend:

Thursday, Dec. 19:

• Jim McGowan, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 20:

• Gene & Amy, Wunderbar, 7 p.m..
• Pete K. Bluefin Grille at Bluefin Bay, 8 p.m.
• Craig Baumann, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
• Kevin Buck, Grandma Ray’s, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday,Dec. 21:

• WunderDogs, Grandma Ray’s, 7 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Max Finn, Gun Flint Tavern 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 22:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• Open Stage with Joe Paulik & Pat Flack, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 24:

• Gordon Thorne, Lutsen Resort, 6 p.m.

Photographs:

 We found some great photographs this week. Here’s a sampling. First, wildlife:

 

 

And then this one: not exactly wildlife, but maybe wild life.

 And then, some proof-of-snow:

 

Proof of cold:

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here are some studies in light:

 

 

 

 

 

And finally, this shot. It’s a great reminder of what to do if conversations get a little heated over the table this holiday season.

Have a great holiday season everyone!

If you’d like to make a donation to keep NorthShore ArtScene alive and healthy for the next year, consider making a donation by clicking on the icon below. ArtScene is a volunteer effort and financial support is welcomed.  Thank You!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are in the final countdown of the holiday season, and winter is upon us. Sea smoke, icy shores, snow drifts on the Gunflint Trail, glimpses of mushers training their dogs — all point to signs of the season.

The week kicks off with one of the newest holiday markets in Grand Marais–“It’s a Wunderbar Life: Holiday Market.”

Organized by Abby Tofte, owner of The Big Lake, this is the third year the event opens up the entire Wunderbar building to artists, artisans and local businesses for a very busy four hours of holiday shopping. Prints, pottery, fiber art, jewelry, glass artists will be represented, as well as a number of local businesses, including The Big Lake, Crosby Bakery and Sawbill Outfitters, to name a few. DJ Beavstar will play the music. The event is free and is from 4-8 p.m. Dec. 12.

Also on Thursday, the 11th annual Light Up a Life, a tree lighting ceremony organized by Care Partners, will be held at the Johnson Heritage Post at 5:30 p.m. Dr. Mary Ellen Ashcroft will speak. All invited.

On Friday, woodblock print maker Betsy Bowen, sculptor Tom Christiansen and ceramics/glass/monoprint artist Lee Ross will give an Artists Talk at the Grand Marais Art Colony entitled “Crafting the Artist’s Life” from 5-7 p.m.

The artists will speak about what inspires them, turning points in their careers and how they see their homes on the North Shore influencing their work. Refreshments will be served. Suggested donation, $5. Open to all.

This is also the weekend for the 2nd annual Dark Sky Festival, celebrating the beauty of dark skies on the North Shore.

The festival kicks off on Friday night with “Turn Out the Lights!” at 6 p.m. in Harbor Park, as Grand Marais goes dark for a moment or two. The UMD Geodome will be set up at Voyageur Brewing Co.,  to show off the beauties of the night sky, and photographer Bryan Hansel will give a presentation at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts at 6:30 p.m.

Cook County has some of the darkest skies in the lower 48, and Hansel will talk about this and its importance, as well as share some of the images he has made of the dark sky in the Lake Superior region and beyond.

By the way, Hansel has offered to give away a print of the image below through comments on Facebook about a favorite dark sky memory. Check it out here and make a comment to win the drawing.

Then at 7:30 p.m., the screening “City Lights, Starry Night,” a documentary film with IDA, the International Dark Sky Assocation, will be screened at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts.

On Saturday, the Dark Sky Festival continues at North House Folk School with an open forum panel discussion with Bryan Hansel, Joel Halvorson, a naturalist from the Superior National Forest and a representative from the Duluth chapter of the International Dark Sky Association. The forum will be held at 3:15 at the North House Folk School.

At 6 p.m., author and ethnoastronomer Mark Hollabaugh will give a presentation at North House entitled “Dancers in the Sky: Native Americans and the Night Sky.” Hollabaugh has just published “Spirit and the Sky: Lakota Visions of the Cosmos.” The presentation is free and open to all.

Then at 7 p.m. Mike Lynch, meterologist at WCCO, will give a presentation and guided telescope time, also at North House. If conditions are good, participants can look through Lynch’s telescope.

And finally, at 8 p.m. photographer Travis Novitsky and Joel Halvorson will give a presentation at North House entitled “Dark Sky Adventures.”

For the complete schedule of the Dark Sky Festival, videos and interviews, click here.

Also this weekend, the final Downtown Duluth Arts Walk for the season will be held in downtown Duluth from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13.

The event features a variety of art shows, entertainment as well as holiday sales in the downtown area. For a complete listing, click here.

Registration is closed, but stop by Voyageur’s Brewing from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday and check out “Paint Your Dog’s Portrait,” a paint-by-number opportunity to paint a portrait of the family dog.

Also this week, those who want to learn about and participate in the 100 Day Project can meet at the Grand Marais Art Colony from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18. The 100 Day Project was developed by a group in Michigan and has spread all over the country. Participants commit to working on an artistic project (even if only five minutes a day)for 100 days. It is an extraordinary experience, according to all accounts. Artists not only discover new techniques and interests, they also explore their own artistic views and philosophies as the project progresses. The event is free. All invited.

Exhibits:

The Johnson Heritage Post exhibit, “Art In Process: The Exhibition,” with works by Molly Ovenden continues through Dec. 29.

The Heritage Post will host a brown bag lunch at noon on Monday, Dec. 23 with Ovenden. The artist will lead a walk-through of her exhibit at that time. All invited. The Heritage Post is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and from 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

The Holiday Art Underground Show continues at Betsy Bowen’s Gallery and Studio exhibiting work by more than 40 local and regional artists.

The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. most days. The show continues through Dec. 29.

Wednesday, Dec. 18, is the final week for Artists in the Taproom & Holiday Music at Voyageur’s Brewing Co. Potter Kari Carter, weaver Mary MacDonald and glass artist Jeff Morgan will be exhibiting their work. Roxann Berglund will play.

At the Tweed Museum of Art. the photographic exhibit, “Space” Time and Place” continues.

The exhibit is open through February 2020.

And Shannon Cousino’s exhibit of her woodcut prints at the Duluth Art Institute closes this Sunday.

The Art Institute galleries are located in the Depot building in Duluth.

Music:

Here’s the music schedule for this week:

Thursday, Dec. 12:

• Gordon Thorne & Friends, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 13:

• Portage, Grandma Ray’s, 6 p.m.
• Fred Anderson, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec.` 14:

• Joe Paulik, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Brothers in Arms, Grandma Ray’s. 8 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 15:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• Open Stage with Joe Paulik & Pat Flack, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 16: 

• Joe Paulik, Lutsen Resort, 6 p.m.

Photographs

We found some interesting photographs this week. Here’s a selection.

Let’s start with wildlife:

 

And then, a few surprises:

And this intriguing shot taken after the Duluth blizzard:

And last, but not least, this evocative photograph by Christian Dalbec.

Last week, the Sea Stack at Tettegouche State Park fell into Lake Superior during a ferocious winter storm. Photographer Christian Dalbec, who regularly dons a wet suit and goes into Lake Superior to take photographs, found the spot where the Sea Stack tumbled into the sea and captured it in perfect light.

Have a good weekend, everyone!

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 Stormy weather, a snow dump in Duluth and the loss of the iconic Sea Stack in Tettegouche State Park marked the first few days of December on the North Shore. We have documented some of it in the photo section, see below.

Now, the wind has died down, Lake Superior is quiet, and we continue gearing up for the holidays.

This weekend is one of the high points of holiday celebrations in Cook County — the Northwoods Fiber Guild holds its annual open house and sale at the Grand Marais Art Colony, the Girl Scouts help youngsters secretly pick out and wrap presents for their families in Santa’s Workshop and more than 100 members of the Borealis Chorale and Orchestra hold their annual Christmas program on Sunday and Monday night.

.We start the week on Thursday, Dec. 5, when Grand Marais author Staci Drouillard will be the featured guest at a Writer’s Salon at Drury Lane Books to celebrate the publication of her book, “Walking the Old Road: A People’s History of Chippewa City and the Grand Marais Anishinaabe.”

The book, published by the University of Minnesota Press, is the story of a once vibrant, now vanished off-reservation Ojibwe village near Grand Marais, and it is a vital chapter in the history of the North Shore.

Blending memoir, oral history, and narrative, Walking the Old Road reaches back to a time when Chippewa City, then called Nishkwakwansing (at the edge of the forest), was home to generations of Ojibwe ancestors. Drouillard, whose family once lived in Chippewa City, draws on memories, family history, historical analysis, and testimony passed from one generation to the next to conduct us through the ages of early European contact, government land allotment, family relocation, and assimilation.

“A book 35 years in the making, “Walking the Old Road” adds an important layer of human history to the bedrock of the North Shore,” Drouillard writes.

The Writer’s Salon is from 5-6 p.m. Free and open to all.

Friday features two art openings:

“Art in Process: The Exhibition” featuring the work of Molly Ovenden, opens with a reception at the Johnson Heritage Post from 5-7 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

Ovenden primarily works in acrylics, watercolors and felt-tip pens. The exhibit continues through Dec. 29. The Heritage Post is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and from 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

Also on Friday, Tettegouche State Park will host the opening reception for an exhibit by landscape painter Lisa Kosmo. The opening reception is from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Great Hall at the park.

Kosmo’s exhibit continues through Dec. 29.

Also, starting on Friday, Lutsen Mountains will host the Snowball Music & Ski Festival, continuing through the weekend. One of the headline bands, Heatbox, will be on WTIP’s The Roadhouse on Friday, to talk about his music and play a few songs. The Roadhouse airs from 5-7 p.m. To see the band line-up for the festival, check the Music Schedule, below.

Saturday will be busy. Santa’s Workshop starts at 8 a.m. at the Cook County Community Center with a pancake breakfast, bake sale and kid’s play corner. Kids can start shopping in a separate space at 9 a.m. with Scout elves there to help them pick out presents and wrap them. Santa will be there for pictures from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. All invited.

At 9 a.m., the Northwoods Fiber Guild opens the doors at the Grand Marais Art Colony for the annual Open House and Holiday Sale. The sale runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and features high quality handmade clothing and gifts. Everything from mittens to scarves, sweaters to felted purses, socks and more are featured here.

There’s also a Christmas tree decorated with a wide variety of handmade ornaments. Homemade treats and refreshments, as well as spinning, knitting and weaving demonstrations are on-tap during the day and the craft table is open to all.

In annual Holiday Craft Sale will be held at the Grand Portage Lodge from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday featuring a variety of art and artisans as well as food and Ojibwe beadwork. All invited.

Saturday is also Community Ink Day at the Grand Marais Art Colony, and the public is invited to create their own art piece while learning about the print studio and techniques. Youth under 9 must be accompanied by an adult. A $5 donation is requested.

In Knife River, this is the weekend for the Julebyen or Christmas Village featuring a great variety of exhibits and activities throughout the weekend, including train rides. In fact, the North Shore Scenic Railroad is running a Julebyen Train from Duluth to Knife River on both Saturday and Sunday.  The Julebyen is right across from the train station in Knife River..

At the event, look for outdoor and indoor markets, a Troll Village, a book corner, the Gnome Dome as well as children’s activities.There will be lots of Scandinavian food as well as performances, and a great selection of art and artisans. Two Cook County residents, printmaker Betsy Bowen and illustrator Kari Vick, will be among the artists exhibiting at the event. Open to all. For more info,  Click here,

Quite a bit further down the road, SVEA, Grand Marais’ a cappella Swedish group, will be performing at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Saturday as part of the Institute’s Christmas activities.

On Sunday, Voyageur Brewing Co. continues its Artists and Holiday Music series with artists Hannah Palma Laky, Emily Wick, and Katy Attleson exhibiting their work from noon to 4 p.m. Roxann Berglund will play holiday favorites.

The Borealis Chorale and Orchestra will perform this weekend, too, with concerts at Bethlehem Lutheran Church at 7 p.m. on Sunday and Monday.

The concerts are an annual Cook County tradition that is nearly 70 years old. This year’s concert offers seasonal favorites and the world premiere of  “The Lingering Light of Day,” by composer Craig Carnahan and poet Julia Klatt Singer.

The creation of this new choral and orchestral work, written by Carnahan and Singer for the Borealis Chorale & Orchestra was funded in part by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. The piece is based on material gathered from community listening sessions the artists hosted in Cook County last February, in which participants discussed what makes the North Shore a unique place to live. The concert is free, but donations are welcome. And come early to get a good seat.

On Wednesday, Voyageur Brewing hosts three artists: Nancy Seaton, Terry Lewis and Joan Farnam, for its Artists and Live Holiday Music Series.

Roxann Berglund will play. The event runs from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

And last, but not least, Wunderbar hosts “It’s a Wunderbar Life: Holiday Market” on Thursday, Dec. 12 from 4-8 p.m. A popular holiday event, the market will feature more than 20 local artists and businesses scattered around the building as well as live music. Open to all.

Also on Thursday, the 11th annual “Light Up A Life,” sponsored by Care Partners, will be held at the Johnson Heritage Post at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The event offers community members the opportunity to celebrate the life of a loved one during the holiday season. Each $5 donation lights one bulb in memory of a loved one. The tree will be located in front of the Heritage Post. A Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held inside. Dr. Mary Ellen Ashcroft will lead a brief reflection, and Yvonne Mills will play. The ceremony will be followed by refreshments. For more information, contact Kay Grindland, Care Partners director at 387-3788 or email carepartners@boreal.org.

Exhibits:

 The Holiday Art Underground Show continues at Betsy Bowen’s Gallery, 301 1st Ave. W., featuring a wide variety of local artists and art.

Prints, paintings, jewelry, ceramics, glass, fiber art, photographs and more are on exhibit at the show. The artists are bringing in new work, too.

The Tweed Museum of Art has opened a new exhibit entitled “Ceramics by Glenn C. Nelson.”

Nelson taught at the University of Minnesota-Duluth for years and is well-known for the ceramics program he developed there, as well as his impressive international ceramics collection, which he donated to the Tweed. The exhibit continues through February.

A new exhibit has opened at the Duluth Art Institute. Entitled “Laura Andrews & Paul Gudmundson: Integrated Vision,” the exhibit combines digital landscapes with meditative harmonies. 

The Thunder Bay Art Gallery is opening a new exhibit on Friday. Benjamin Chee Chee: Life and Legacy, is a retrospective exhibit of the work of the Canadian artist. The exhibition presents a personal perspective, achieved through multifarious collaborations, including those with close friends of Chee Chee’s.

The exhibit runs through Feb. 23.

Upcoming:

Crafting an Artistic Life, an Artist Talk featuring Betsy Bowen, Tom Christianson and Lee Ross will be held at the Grand Marais Art Colony from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13. Participants will learn about the artists’ inspirations, their turning points and how they see their home on the North Shore influencing their work. Refreshments included. Suggested donation, $5.

Also, the Dark Sky Festival will be next weekend, Dec. 13-14. The event features a variety of events, including presentations, night sky viewing, slide shows and more. Stay tuned. And, to learn more, click here.

On Saturday, Dec. 14, the Grand Marais Playhouse will hold the Curry Cook-Off, a fundraiser for the Playhouse. The event will be held at the First Congregational Church and includes curries and musical performances. If you are interested in cooking up a curry for the event, contact Jane Gellner at kelner@boreal.org

FYI:

Visit Cook County has a page this year detailing Winter Trail Conditions.

Information about the condition of cross country ski trails, downhill skiing, snowmobile trails and winter bike trails is updated frequently. To find out more, click here.

Photographer Bryan Hansel is making a series of videos about the making of a photograph. Check this one out: It’s about photographing ice patterns in the Grand Marais Harbor.

 

And last, but not least, the North Shore Readers & Writers Festival got a thumbs-up from Publisher’s Weekly recently. The biennial festival was launched in 2015 and is a collaboration between the Grand Marais Art Colony, Drury Lane Books and the Grand Marais Public Library.

“This year’s festival, held Nov. 7–10, featured 18 authors and seven publishing professionals giving talks, participating on panels, leading seminars, and teaching classes on writing for about 175 attendees comprised of readers and aspiring writers from all over the state,” writes Claire Kirch, who wrote the article for Publishers Weekly.

To read the entire article, click here.

 Music Schedule:

Thursday, Dec. 5:

• Gordon Thorne & Friends, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Jon Kallberg, Lutsen Resort, 6 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 6:

• Southpaws Lite with Al Oikari, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Pushing Chain, Gun Flint tavern, 7:30 p.m.

Snowball Music & Ski Festival, Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen Mountains

• Heatbox, 9 p.m.
• Wookiefoot, 10:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 7:

Snowball Music & Ski Festival, Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen Mountains:

• Pat Forsyth & The Diggy Trio, 12:30 p.m.
• The Limns, 2 p.m.
• Smokin’ Joe, 4 p.m.
• Frogleg, 9 p.m.
• Wookiefoot, 10:30 p.m.

In other venues:

• Brothers in Arms, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Southpaws, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Jim McGowan, Lutsen Resort, 9 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 8:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• Open Stage with Joe Paulik & Pat Flack, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.
• Borealis Chorale & Orchestra, Christmas Concert, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 7 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 9:

• Luke LeBlanc, Voyageur Brewing, 5 p.m.
• Borealis Chorale & Orchestra, Christmas Concert, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 10:

• Jim Miller, Poplar River Pub at Lutsen Resort, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 11:

• Roxann Berglund, Holiday music, Voyageur Brewing, 4:30 p.m.
• Jam Session, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Photographs:

It was a wild week on the NorthShore, with a record-breaking blizzard and high winds roughing up Lake Superior and doing some damage. One of the results? The Sea Stack at Tettegouche State Park disappeared, falling in a jumble of rocks to the bed of the lake.

Here’s a photo of the Sea Stack before …

Here’s a photo of after …

NorthShore ArtScene put out a special issue in memory of the Sea Stack earlier this week, gathering some of the photographs posted by local and regional photographers of one of their favorite places. Like this one, by Jeffrey Doty.

If you haven’t seen the complete collection, click here for more.

Meanwhile, we found other photographs this week. Here’s a short selection:

First, wildlife:

 

 

 

 

 

And Lake Superior roared.

 

 

 

Even when the waves weren’t crashing on rocks, they still looked dangerous.

Waves plus freezing temps equals ice.

 

And, in Duluth, it snowed — a lot.

In short, it was quite a a storm.

Here’s to a quieter weekend:

Enjoy, everyone!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greetings, everyone.

The Sea Stack at Tettegouche State Park is gone, crumbling into Lake Superior during a storm over the weekend. What used to be the Sea Stack — above –is now gone.

As a tribute to this iconic rock along the North Shore, photographers have been sharing their favorite images. We thought you might like to see them. Here is what we’ve found so far.

The Sea Stack in winter:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are a few Sea Stack photographs from other seasons:

 

 

Here’s a photo of what it looked like to kayak under the arch.

 

 

 

And this image by Jim Schnortz.

Kurt Mead, the interpretive naturalist at Tettegouche State Park, wrote this today in an email: “The same forces that created the Sea Stack brought it down. The Sea Stack is dead. Long live the Sea Stack.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

The full season of winter has arrived, and snow lovers are celebrating this week. It’s beautiful to walk outdoors and see the white-covered landscapes shift and change with the wind … to hear the crunch of snow in the chilly night air, and to know that the ski trails and ski hills will be groomed and ready.

The week starts out with the Gobble, Gobble Fun Run sponsored by Voyageur Brewing Co. The run is held first thing Thanksgiving morning.

The Gobble Gobble Fun Run is an informal gathering of folks who want to get some exercise and get outside on Thanksgiving Day. The run of either 5k or 10k or anything in between begins at the east end of Cascade Beach Road at 9 a.m. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, participants who bring a monetary donation for the Cook County Food Shelf will receive a token for a free pint of beer at Voyageur Brewing. Note: This is not an official race. The road will not be closed and might be icy. Participants are responsible for their own safety. The event will not be timed and there will not be mile markers, awards or aid stations. But it is a chance to get a run before the feasts later in the day.

One of the most popular is the annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner held at the First Congregational Church starting at 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. This is the 45th year the church has opened its doors to the community to gather together and enjoy this traditional home-cooked meal. There is no charge. The church is located at the corner of 3rd Ave. W. and Second Street. Call the church at at 387-2113 for special considerations about home delivered/ take-out/rides to the dinner. All are welcome.

Thanksgiving buffets will also be served at Gunflint Lodge from 11:30-5:30 p.m. and at Caribou Lodge from 3-8 p.m.

This weekend is full of holiday fairs and shows. It starts on Friday with the opening of the Holiday Art Underground Show at Betsy Bowen Studio from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Dozens of local artists are showing their beautiful work here for the holidays, including a number of new artists. Come for cookies, hot tea and a colorful eyeful. The gallery will host an Opening Celebration from 3-5:30 p.m. on Friday, right before the parade. Refreshments will be served, with music by Fred Anderson. All invited.  The show continues through Dec. 29.

Also on Friday, the North Shore Winery will host a European-style Christmas Market from noon to 7 p.m..

The market will offer  holiday decorations, art, art gifts, sculpture, wreaths, soaps, maple syrup, and warm winter beverages. Among the artists featured at the market, look for work by Kari Vick, Mueller Studios, Anna Hess, Jillian Kratt, Kathy Weinberg and Jim Cordes, just to name a few.

Light-Up Lutsen, a holiday event held in downtown Lutsen featuring events and receptions at businesses, will be held from 2-5 p.m., including caroling, a tree lighting, tasting and a metal pour at 5 p.m. at the Mueller Studio. Open to all.

Friday caps off with the Oh Ole Night Parade in Grand Marais.

It’s Grand Marais’ quirky small-town Christmas parade with its Scandinavian heritage on full display. The parade starts at 5:30 p.m. on Wisconsin St., two loops around town and then a finish at Harbor Park for the tree lighting and fireworks, whatever the weather. DJ Beavstar will be emceeing the event, and there will be cookies from Crosby Bakery for munching. Murray the Moose will be out and about, too. To be in the parade, meet in the Senior Center parking lot at 5 p.m. Prizes will be awarded in a number of categories. All invited.

And finally, on Friday night, the New Standards Holiday Show will be featured at Papa Charlie’s starting at 8:30 p.m. This is the 12th year the New Standards have launched their Holiday Show on Lutsen Mountains. It’s one part variety show, one part homage to the season, one part irreverent, free-wheeling spectacle. The New Standards trio is joined by a supporting cast replete with vocalists and instrumentalists – and as always – a dazzling lineup of special surprise guests.

Here’s a clip from an earlier show:

Tickets are $20 in advance, $26 day of the show.

Saturday is very busy, too.

In Grand Marais, the annual Cook County Community Center Holiday Craft Sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Community Center.

This year, look for ornaments, wreaths, jewelry, artwork, pottery, knitted hats and mittens. Food by Rebel Girls Catering will be available as well.

In Hovland, the Hovland Arts Festival Christmas Sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Hovland Town Hall.

This popular Christmas sale features a variety of artists and artisans and includes booths featuring birchbark crafts, photography, watercolors, candles, knitting, jewelry, beading, pottery, wreaths, handmade lotions and Christmas ornaments. There are a number of new artists this year, too. Refreshments available. All invited.

Also on Saturday, two beloved Minnesota musicians, Chan Poling and Lucy Michell will entertain the audience at Drury Lane Books with a reading of their new book,  “Jack and the Ghost,” a discussion of how it came about, and, perhap, perform a few songs. The event will be from 7-8 p.m. “Jack and the Ghost” is a gothic, lyrical evocation of a shipwreck, ghosts, and living through grief in a seaside town told through pictures.

 

Poling is a founding member of the seminal New Wave rock group The Suburbs and the popular jazz/cabaret trio The New Standards. Michell is a musician and artist whose illustrations can be found on countless band posters, album covers, kids’ menus, and even T-shirts for Target. The event is free and open to the public.

And finally, this season’s best ski movie, “Return to Send’er” produced by Matchstick Productions, will be screened at Lutsen Mountains at 7 p.m. on Saturday. The exciting ski film is on a national tour and has some local connections: Beau Larson, son of Mike and Jana Larson, grew up on the slopes of Lutsen Mountains, fell in love with the out-of-doors and chased his dreams in college by pursing his arts degree in film and digital media. Beau now works for Matchstick Productions out of Crested Butte, Co., and served on the team that produced this movie. Also, photographs by Cook County graduate Emily Tidwell will be exhibited as well. She is now living in Reno, Nev.,, and is under exclusive contract to shoot photos for some Lake Tahoe’s largest ski areas.

But let this film speak for itself. Here’s the trailer:

Larson and Tidwell will talk about the film and their lives on WTIP’s The Roadhouse on Friday. The program airs from 5-7 p.m.  Note: Tickets are $5. Proceeds will be donated to the Lutsen Jr. Alpine Ski Team.

And finally on Wednesday, Dec. 4, Voyageur Brewing begins its Artists in the Taproom series featuring work by local artists and music by Roxann Berglund from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Kim Knutson and Abby Tofte will be on-site on Wednesday, Dec. 4.

And on Thursday, Dec. 5, Staci Drouillard will be at Drury Lane Books for a Writer’s Salon to read and sign her newly published book, “Walking the Old Road: A People’s History of Chipppewa City and the Grand Marais Anishinaabe.”

The Writer’s Salon is from 5-6 p.m. Drouillard will be on WTIP’s The Roadhouse on Friday, Nov. 29, to talk about her book. The Roadhouse airs from 5-7 p.m.

Exhibits: 

This is the last weekend to see “Changing Seasons: Photographs by the Frozen Photographers” exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post.

The Heritage Post is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

David Gilsvik has completed a number of new paintings, including “Turning of the Tamarack,” below.

Painter Tom McCann is exhibiting his work at the Cook County Courthouse.

The Tweed Museum of Art is currently featuring a special exhibition about Soviet-era art from The Museum of Russian Art, which includes this painting. The exhibition presents nonconformist and state-sanctioned art that spanned the final Soviet decades, from Stalin’s death in 1953 to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

The Thunder Bay Art Gallery has just opened a spectacular new exhibit entitled “The North Now,” featuring works by 47 artists from throughout Northern Ontario.

Artists throughout northern Ontario were invited to submit original works of art created within the last two years for consideration by a jury of arts professionals. Artists were encouraged to submit work that challenges, expands and innovates. The exhibit continues through Feb. 15.

 Upcoming:

Holiday events continue next weekend.

On Saturday, Dec. 7, the Northwoods Fiber Guild’s Open House and Holiday Sale will be held at the Grand Marais Art Colony from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event features a wide variety of fiber art. Stay tuned for details.

Santa’s Workshop, a chance for youngsters to pick out gifts for their family and have them wrapped, will be held at the Cook County Community Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7.

A Night Out in the Pottery Studio with Natalie Sobanja will be held at the Grand Marais Art Colony rom 6:30-9 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7.

Participants will learn the ins and outs of wheel-throwing and hand building during this event. Dessert and wine will be provided and all supplies are included. Projects will be glazed by the instructor and available for pick-up one week later. To register, call the Art Colony at 387-2737.

The Borealis Chorale & Orchestra Christmas Concert will be held at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church from 7-8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8 and Monday, Dec. 9. The concert features traditional holiday music as well as world premiere of  ““The Lingering Light of Day,” by composer Craig Carnahan and poet Julia Klatt Singer. The piece is based on material gathered from community listening sessions the artists hosted in Cook County last February, in which participants discussed what makes the North Shore a unique place to live. Open to all.

 Music:

Thursday, Nov. 28:

• Terry V &. Friends, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 29:

• Gene LaFond & Amy Grillo, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Super Duty, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
• The New Standards Holiday Show, Papa Charlie’s, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 20:

• Michael Monroe, Log Cabin Concert, 7 p.m.
• Pushing Chain, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Super Duty, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 1:

• Briand Morrison, Moguls Grille, 10 a.m.
• Open Stage with Joe Paulik & Pat Flack, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.
• Super Duty, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 3:

• Pete Kavanaugh, Lutsen Resort, 8 p.m.

Photographs:

We found some interesting photographs this week, including a fair number of deer photos.

Interested in deer:

Snow & ice shots:

 

Sunset light:

Northern lights:

Lake Superior light:

Peaceful light:

And stormy light.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

 As we know — there are no theaters in Grand Marais. Instead, we have to watch movies at home, or travel to another town to see them.  This is true, except, once a year, during Winterer’s Gathering, when North House Folk School holds the Arctic Film Festival, and we get to watch as many as we want.

Absolutely, Winterer’s Gathering is full of fascinating things to do and see –workshops, skill shares, talks and demonstrations — even a chili feed — all focused on winter and the craft of the north.

But the Arctic Film Festival is really the frosting on the cake, in this writer’s opinion. The films start at 9 a.m. on Friday and continue through Sunday. They include outdoor adventures, a day in the life of an Arctic community, a historical drama about a fight for the throne in 13th century Norway … the list is pretty amazing. Some of the offerings are national and international award-winners, others are crafted by local communities or small production companies.

They’re all free, screened in the Blue Building starting at 9 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 22.

And, to further whet your appetite: Here are three trailers. Enjoy!

“Koneline: Our Land Beautiful”: Friday, Nov. 22, 11:30 a.m.

“Angelique’s Isle” (An Isle Royale story): Saturday, Nov. 23: 9 p.m.

“Kaisa’s Enchanted Forest” (A film about the Sami): Sunday, Nov. 24, 11 a.m.

There are other great community events during Winterer’s Gathering as well. The  Snowshoe Shuffle Contra Dance is on Friday night. The family dance is at 7 p.m., the Community Dance at 8 p.m. There’s also a Cold Snap Poetry Slam. It starts at 8 p.m.

And on Saturday morning, don’t forget the Great Gear Swap, a North House tradition. People can bring their outdoor gear, clothing etc. to sell and/ swap and  participants, including the public, can find great bargains. Registration is required to swap. Forms are available online here or can be filled out the day of the event. The event starts at 10:30 a.m.

Also on Saturday, there’s a Winter Camp Tour at 2 p.m., and the Deep Freeze Chili Feed at 6 p.m. (Tickets are $10.), followed by a presentation by this year’s featured guest, Bill Hanlon at 7 p.m. Hanlon is a wilderness hunter, backcountry horseman and wilderness advocate who explores the backcountry of British Columbia.

For the full schedule of films, classwork and presentations, click here.

There are other interesting events happening this weekend as well.

On Thursday, Nov. 21,  the Grand Marais Writers’ Guild. which meets monthly at the Grand Marais Public Library, will host “Writing about Religion: A Community Writing Workshop” from 6-8 p.m. in the library. Faciliated by fiction writer and essayist Kasey Payette, the workshop will use the tools of narrative craft to explore painful, complex, or surprising memories around religion and spirituality. Participants will delve into personal memories and stories guided by writing prompts, study literary craft techniques and enjoy quiet writing and optional sharing. The workshop is open to writers at all levels, as well as all faith backgrounds.

Chan Poling and Lucy Michell, the acclaimed authors of  “Jack & the Ghost,” will be guests on WTIP’s The Roadhouse on Friday night.  The Roadhouse airs from 5-7 p.m. The authors will be featured at Drury Lane Books on Nov. 30.

On Friday and Saturday, there will a Winter Block Party in downtown Grand Marais to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season with wish list parties at Drury Lane Books, the Big Lake and Gunflint Mercantile. A party hub will be set up in Joyne’s parking lot with a bonfire, S-mores and craft opportunities on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. All welcome.

On Saturday, Holidays in Schroeder will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at two locations: the Schroeder Town Hall and the Cross River Heritage Center. The annual Creations Bazaar, featuring featuring hand-made items, baked goods, tasty treats and coffee will be held at the Schoeder Town Hall. The Cross River Heritage Center will be celebrating the holiday too with krumkake and lefse demos and card-making as well as a gift shop sale. All welcome.

Grand Portage Lodge will hold the 2nd annual Craft Beer Fest, too. The event, featuring a wide range of Minnesota Breweries, will be held from Wednesday through Saturday. Cook County’s Most Wanted will play at 8 p.m. on Saturday night at the Lodge.

This weekend is a big one in Duluth as well. On Friday night, the Christmas City of the North Parade will start at 6:30 p.m. near Fitger’s Brewery and continue down Superior St. And on Saturday night, the Bentleyville Tour of Lights  will open at 5 p.m. in Bayfront Festival Park. The light show continues through the New Year.

And the North American Comedy Brewery Tour returns to Voyageur Brewery on Wednesday, Nov. 27. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.

Exhibits:

 Changing Seasons, a juried show by members of the Frozen Photographers group, continues at the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery. The exhibit continues through Dec. 1.

 

The gallery’s winter hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

Plein Air painter Greg Lecker is currently showing his work in the Great Hall at Tettegouche State Park.

Lecker’s exhibit continues through November.

At the Tweed Museum of Art in Duluth, the exhibit of photographs from the Tweed’s collection “Space: Time and Place” continues.

The exhibit features a broad range of photographs, including “Horse Dive Show” by Toby Old, above.

Upcoming:

 Nov. 29:

• European Christmas Market, North Shore Winery, featuring a variety of vendors and live music, 1-4 p.m.
• Holiday Art Underground opening reception at Betsy Bowen’s Studio. 3-5:30 p.m. featuring a wide range of local and regional artists.
• Light Up Lutsen featuring open houses and special events in downtown Lutsen from 1-4 p.m. A hot metal pour will be held at the Mueller Studio at 5 p.m.
• Oh Ole Night Parade, downtown Grand Marais and kicks of holiday celebrations in Grand Marais, 6 p.m.

Nov. 30:

• Hovland Holiday Arts Festival. Hovland Town Hall, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This arts festival features a wide range of local artists and artisans and includes everything from wood carving, fiber art, pottery, photographs, painting, glass and more.
• Community Center Christmas Sale, featuring work by a variety of artists and artisans.  10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Dec. 7:

• Northwoods Fiber Guild Holiday Sale and Open House, Grand Marais Art Colony, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event is a tradition on the North Shore featuring high quality one-of-a kind fiber crafts. The event also features tasty treats, hands-on activities, fiber demos, music, and plenty of holiday spirit.
• Holiday Craft Fair, Grand Portage Lodge & Casino, featuring Ojibwe art, jewelry, baked goods and more, 10 a.m to 3 p.m.

Dec. 8 & 9:

• Borealis Chorale & Orchestra Christmas Concert, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 7 p.m. Featuring the talent of more than 100 cook county residents, the Borealis Chorale & Orchestra’s annual Christmas concerts are a Cook County tradition nearly 70 years old. Hosted by the North Shore Music Association. Donations accepted.

Dec. 12:

• It’s a Wunderbar Life: 3rd Annual Holiday Market, Wunderbar Eatery and Glampground,  4-8 p.m. More than 20 local artists and businesses present with their best and most “giftable” offerings. Hosted by The Big Lake.

Music:

Here’s the music schedule for the week:

Thursday, Nov. 21:

• Jon Kalberg, Lutsen Resort, 6 p.m.
• Terry V & Friends, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Eric Frost, North Shore Winery, 7 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 22:

• Portage, Grandma Ray’s, 6 p.m.
• Saints of Circumstance, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 23;

• Briand Morrison, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Craft Beer Fest, Cook County’s Most Wanted, Grand Portage Lodge, 8 p.m.
• Saints of Circumstance, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 24:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• Open Stage with Joe Paulik & Pat Flack, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.
• Monday, Nov. 24:
• Timmy Haus, Voyageur Brewing Co., 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 25:

• JohnRuss, Lutsen Resort, 6 p.m.

Photographs

Here are a few of the images we found this week. First, wildlife:

 

 

 

 

Signs of wildlife:

 

 

 

A few plants in winter:

 

 

And some icy shots:

 

 

Ice crystals in the air create pillars of light.

And finally, a portrait of the harbor.

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!