North Shore Arts Scene

 

The Polar Vortex has passed us by, but it left lots of stories in its wake. It also left memories, paintings and photographs of this incredibly cold time. Last week, the Winter Plein Air exhibit opened at the Johnson Heritage Post with lots of paintings created in that winter cold, and a new show just opened at Tettegouche State Park. Entitled The Polar Vortex, it features photographs from nine frozen-fingered photographers who were out shooting during a John Gregor workshop.

Two Harbors photographer, Christian Dalbec, also helped during the workshop. The photographs are currently on view in the Great Hall at Tettegouche State Park. A closing reception for the exhibit will be at 7 p.m. March 1.

The opening reception for the Winter Plein Air exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post was well-attended and highlighted work by 20 plein air painters, many of whom have been trekking out to YMCA Camp Menogyn  for 10 years to spend a week warming up by the fireplace and then venturing out to paint in the frigid cold.

The exhibit features work made during the Polar Vortex as well as others painted in the last 10 years. The exhibit continues through Feb. 24. The Heritage Post is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and from 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

There are lots of other things to see and do this week, too.

On Thursday, North House Folk School will screen the film of the winter season. “The Islands and the Whales” is a powerful film about the Faroe Islands and whale hunting.  The pilot whale hunters of the Faroe Islands believe that hunting is vital to their way of life, but when a local professor makes a grim discovery about the effects of marine pollution, and the seabird populations collapses, environmental changes threaten to change the community and their way of life forever. The Faroese are among the first to feel the effects of our ever more polluted oceans; what once secured their survival now endangers their children and the Faroe Islanders must make a choice between health and tradition.

Here’s the trailer:

The Islands and the Whales trailer from Intrepid Cinema on Vimeo.

The film will screen in the Blue Building at North House at 7 p.m. Free. All invited.

On Friday, the Grand Marais Public Library will screen “Akron,” a film about two college freshmen who  meet playing football and fall in love. Here’e the trailer:

This film is also free. It starts at 6 p.m. at the library.

This is the week for the Third Annual Hygge Festival, which runs from Feb. 8-14.

The Danish concept of “hygge” (pronounced hoo-gah) has been around for a long time. It refers to the ritual of embracing life’s simple pleasures. Feeling relaxed, cozy and surrounded by the warmth of family, friends, community and fire all encompass the idea of hygge. In Cook County, it also means exploring the Northwoods by skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, dogsledding, skating and more. There are lots of activities planned for this special time in winter. To see them all, click here.

There are some special music events, too. On Saturday night, the Plucked Up String Band will play for a Mukluk Ball at Voyageur Brewing from 6-9 p.m., and the wildly popular band, Cloud Cult, will  perform at Papa Charlie’s starting at 8 p.m. The Mukluk Ball is free. Oops. Just announced. Tickets for Cloud Cult are sold out.

On Sunday, Voyageur Brewing will hold a Chalk Art event at the Brewery. The public is invited to come watch the creation of artwork by chalk artist Max Holmgren of Bear Fox Chalk from 4-7 p.m.

To see his beautiful work, click here.

In Thunder Bay, the Baggage Building Arts Center will hold an “Introduction to Snow Carving” during the day. Learn how to carve a snow sculpture and make your own set of carving tools. Open to adult beginners, dabblers, hobbyists, and the simply curious. Youth 13 and older may participate if accompanied by a participating adult. Space is limited.

The workshop starts at 12:30 p.m., EDT. To register at 1-807-625-8463 with the course code: 408289.

And on Wednesday, the Northern Fibers Retreat starts at North House Folk School. It’s always such a great event, featuring lots of interesting classes and workshops as well as presentations and Lunch and Learns.

Stay tuned for details next week. Meanwhile, click here to find out more and register for classes.

Exhibits:

We’ve already talked about the new exhibits at the Johnson Heritage Post and Tettegouche State Park. Both worth visits.

In Duluth, the Duluth Art Institute has opened four new exhibits: the Arrowhead Regional Biennial, the Annual Member Show, Vern Northrup-Akinomaage and Ray Allard, Jazz Forest. The Member Show closes Feb. 24, but all the others continue at least through March.

Also in Duluth, the Lakeside Gallery, 4431 East Superior St., is featuring work by Sue Rauschenfels this month.

In Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery invites people to come and warm up as they view Riaz Mahmood’s “Burning” video series.

 Upcoming: 

The 3rd annual Hygge Festival continues in Grand Marais through next Friday. Check out all the events here. 

Next Friday, Feb. 15, SVEA will give an outdoor concert (weather permitting) at Drury Lane Books featuring Swedish folk stories and songs, This event is in conjunction with the Many Tiny Lights PTA Fundraiser for the local elementary school. Come see  the lakefront decorated with hundreds of ice lanterns.

Also on Friday, Feb. 15, landscape photographer Craig Blacklock will give an Artist Talk at 7 p.m. at the Grand Marais Art Colony. He is currently exhibiting his work there.

In Two Harbors, painter Bonnie Cutts will give a free artist lecture and demo at the Two Harbors Community Center from 6-8 p.m. If you plan on attending, email authenticartist@sandipillsbury.com The event is sponsored by the Two Harbors Voyageur Art Club. All invited.

And on Saturday, Feb. 16, join local author and spiritual leader Mary Ellen Ashcroft for a reading and signing of her new book, OMG: Growing Our God Images at Drury Lane Books. The event starts at 5 p.m. Stay tuned.

FYI:

The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council is conducting a survey on artists’ needs in the Arrowhead Region. Every two to four years, the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council conducts a needs assessment to help determine its programming for the future. This year, ARAC is using a combination of methods to listen to the public, including summaries from outreach efforts, special meetings to get feedback, and this online survey. Your input is welcomed. Take the survey here.

Artist Opportunities:

 Seeking Illustrator: Request for Proposals: The 1854 Treaty Authority is developing a youth activity book which will focus on contemporary and historical practices of maple sugar harvesting. It is now seeking proposals for an illustrator to work with a cultural/language author to complete this educational tool. Proposals must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 28. The request for proposals can be found on the QuickLinks of their website: www.1854treatyauthority.org

Fun Stuff:

Lutsen painter Anna Hess was featured on a recent airing of WDSE’s Making It Up North. Check it out.

And, if you’re curious about dog mushing and the couple who won first and second place in this year’s John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, here’s a great video that tells their story. Blake and Jennifer Freking live in Finland, MN.

Lure of the North from Jonathan Chapman | JCP on Vimeo.

 Music:

Here’s the live music schedule for this week:

Thursday, Feb. 7:

• Gordon Thorne & the Wildcats, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Fred Anderson, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• DJ Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 8:

• Matt Browne, Voyageur Brewing  Co., 4 p.m.
• Portage, Grandma Ray’s, 6 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 9:

• Voyageur Brewing Mukluk Ball, Plucked Up. String Band, 6 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Christopher David Hanson Band, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Brothers in Arms, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Rage N Country, Grand Portage Lodge, 8 p.m.
• Brothers in Arms, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Cloud Cult, Papa Charlie’s, 9 p.m. (Sold Out.)

Sunday, Feb. 10:

Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.

Monday, Feb. 11:

• Shane Martin, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Jeremy Messersmith, Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 12:

• Jon Kallberg, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Open Mic Night at Papa Charlie’s with Eric Frost, 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 13:

• Pieta Brown, Songwriter’s Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

 Photographs:

Luckily, we found some great photos this week, many of them ice-bound. Here are some wildlife shots:

 

 

 

 

And we found plenty of photos reminding us of how chilly it’s been.

 

 

 

 

 

And finally these great shots:

 

Have a great weekend, everyone. Stay warm!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Undoubtedly the 20 people who signed up for the 10th annual Winter Plein Air event at YMCA Camp Menogyn this year knew what they were getting into —  a week of painting at below zero temps, (hopefully) gorgeous sunlit days to paint Northwoods winter landscapes, camaraderie with fellow artists, hot meals and toasty places to sleep — those things are always on the menu at this popular Winter Plein Air event.

But windchills at  -50F?  Maybe not. Nevertheless, that’s what the Winter Plein Air artists had to deal with this week as the Polar Vortex plunged into the Midwest, bringing high winds along for the ride. From all reports, the painters have taken it all in stride and ventured out in the cold to paint what they see.

The Outdoor Painters of Minnesota sponsored the event, and the exhibit at Johnson Heritage Post, which opens on Friday and runs through Feb. 24, should be a great show. Not only will the exhibits include work that was completed this week, but selected paintings from the last 10 years as well. In all, more than 100 paintings will be on display.

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

In other braving the elements news, the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon was run in this freezing weather, too, with Blake Freking winning the race and his wife, Jennifer, coming in second. It is the first time a husband and wife team have made the top two in this race. The couple raises their dogs in Finland.

And, for those who want to get outdoors and experience dogsledding for themselves, Skyport Lodge offers sled dog tours all day every Tuesday and Saturday in the winter. The next one is set for Feb. 2.

There are lots of indoor things to do this week, too.

North House Folk School continues its series of movies this Thursday with the screening of “Virginia Minnesota.” The movie was filmed in Grand Marais and on the North Shore and includes local cameos, including World’s Best Doughnuts, North House and the schooner Hjørdis. The film is about two young women, torn apart by a childhood tragedy, unexpectedly reuniting and embarking on an illuminating 24-hour journey.

VIRGINIA MINNESOTA – Trailer from Daniel Stine on Vimeo.

The film will be screened in the Blue Building at North House at 7 p.m. Free. Bring your own refreshments.

Also on Thursday, WDSE’s Making It Up North will feature interviews with three North Shore residents: Teri Davis-Downing, owner of the Wunderbar Campground and Eatery in Grand Marais, Frank Sander, who is building an artist’s sanctuary in Knife River and Lutsen painter Anna Hess. Check out the trailer below. Making It Up North is broadcast at 8 p.m.

And on Friday, the Grand Marais Public Library will screen “The Little Pink House,” a drama about a Connecticut nurse who finds herself at the center of a political firestorm and a Supreme Court case centering on eminent domain. Here’s the trailer:

The film screens at 6 p.m. on Friday. Free.

On Saturday, the Grand Marais Art Colony will hold a Community Ink Day from 1-3:30 p.m. in the print studio. This time, it’s Monoprint Saturday, and participants will have a chance to create their own, unique monoprint art piece for personal use or to give as a gift. Drop in to experiment with design and learn more about the art of printmaking. Youth under 8 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Instructor is on-site. The tuition is $5. No registration is required.

And Saturday at 6 p.m. is French Film Night at Cook County Higher Education.  The French movie, “The Intouchables”‘ will be screened. The film has English subtitles, so those of varying French language skills can easily enjoy the film. Nancy Dumas will be a host during the event to answer any French language questions that come up. She will also be providing a handout that includes some items to consider while watching the film.

The award-winning film is about a a rich, Parisian quadriplegic who hires an ex-con as his live-in personal assistant. It is loosely based on a true story. Check out the trailer below.

Popcorn and pop will also be provided. The suggested donation is $5.

On Monday, the Mountain Thyme Music Studio will host Celtic Sessions at the Wunderbar from 7-9 p.m. All are welcome. Bring an instrument! Fiddles, whistles, flutes, pipes, bodhrans, guitars, mandolins, banjos, accordions, your voice …  all are welceome. A group of Celtic musicians from Thunder Bay will participate as well.

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The first hour will be a ‘slow session’ dedicated to teaching one or two tunes, by ear, for everyone to learn. Tunes are played slowly, broken down into phrases and repeated until everyone has the opportunity to learn the tune. This is a fantastic way to improve playing skills.

The second hour will be a regular open session, with participants sharing songs around the circle and playing tunes together for all to enjoy. The group will meet in the lounge area between the pub and the game room. All invited. Questions? Call Michele Miller: 218-475-2656.

On Tuesday, North House Folk School will hold a community class with April Stone entiteld “Weave a Plaited Black Ash Basket.” Participants will learn how to weave a basket of their own in two sessions, Feb. 5 and Feb. 7. Tuition is free. There’s a $20 materials fee. Call North House at 387-9762 to register.

And on Wednesday, Tim Cochrane will speak about the Linklaters: People of the Border Lakes and Isle Royale, at the Grand Marais Public Library at 6 p.m.

Exhibits:

The Johnson Heritage Post‘s “Winter Plein Air | 10 years of Painting in the BWCAW” continues through Feb. 24. All of the artists will have recent paintings as well as some favorites from earlier years.

The Duluth Art Institute has just opened four new exhibits, including the Member Show and the Arrowhead Biennial. The exhibits continue through March.

At the Thunder Bay Art Gallery in Thunder Bay, “Lessons: The Artistry of Learning,” features a wide variety of works and mediums and continues through March 3. Video artist Zoe Gordon is showing her video, “You couldn’t identify a sound looking at a sound wave.”

The video is an eight-second conversation excerpt shared through a visualizer.

Also in Thunder Bay, the Baggage Building Arts Centre continues its Fibre Art Exhibit through February.

The exhibit features a wide variety of fiber art by artists in the region.

Upcoming:

 Photographer Craig Blacklock will exhibit his work at the Grand Marais Art Colony in February. Entitled “Lake Superior and the Enduring Gift,” the exhibit features photographs of Lake Superior as well as the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Blacklock’s photographs also features the beauty of the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers.

Blacklock will be giving an Artist Talk at the Art Colony at 7 p.m. Feb. 15. He will also be teaching “Photograhing Superior’s Frozen Landscape” from Feb. 11-15. For more info, call the Art Colony at 387-2737.

And the Northern Fibers Retreat, sponsored by North House Folk School, is set for Feb. 13-17 this year with lots of classes, demonstrations, presentations, lunch-and-learn events and more. The featured instructor this year is Karin Flatøy Svarstad of Kalvåg, Norway. Stay tuned for details and/or click here.

Artist News:

 Two Harbors photographer, Christian Dalbec, has the cover photograph in the March issue of Lake Superior Magazine.

Timothy Cochrane was nominated for the 2019 Minnesota Book Award for this book, “Gichi Bitobig, Grand Marais: Early Accounts of the Anishinaabeg and the North Shore Fur Trade.”

The awards will be announced April 6.

Josie Lewis, who grew up in Hovland, but now resides in Minneapolis, is putting in a tile installation featuring butterflies at the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport, Concourse F at F4.

And, if you have some extra time, check out this video of a painting restoration. It’s really fun to watch.

Also, there’s a call out to artists to participate in the Art of Healing exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post that opens March 1. Organized by the Violence Prevention Center, it’s an open submission show. If you or someone you love has been affected by domestic or sexual violence and has used art as a means to respond, express or heal, they are invited to submit a piece or pieces to the show. Anonymous submissions, including 2D, 3D or written works accepted. For more info, call 387-1262.  Deadline to submit work is Feb. 14.

Music:

 Thursday, Jan. 31

• Gordon Thorne & the Wildcats, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• DJ Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 1:

• Jim McGowan, Voyageur Brewing, 4 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Lutsen resort, 7 p.m.
• Charlie Roth, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Pete K, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• The Dead Pigeons, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 2:

• Briand Morrison, The Cove at Best Western in Grand Marais, 5 p.m.
• Pete K, Cascade Restaurant, 6 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• The Dead Pigeons, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 3:

• Brian Morrison, Mogul’s Grile, 10 a.m.

Monday, Feb. 4:

• Timmy Haus, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Celtic Sessions with Wild Thyme Music Studio,  Wunderbar, 5-7 p.m.

 Tuesday, Feb. 5:

• Gordon Thorne, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Open Mic Night with Eric Frost, Papa Charlie’s, 7 p.m.

Photographs:

Lots of photos of the cold this week. Go figure. Let’s start with some wildlife shots:

 

 

 

 

 

And now, for some brrrrr, cold shots:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally, this one…

Stay warm, everyone!

If you’ve enjoyed reading this week’s NorthShore ArtScene, consider making a donation today. And thank you to everyone who has sent in a donation! Such an honor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hunkering down in sub-zero temps is certainly an option this week, but getting outside and enjoying winter is always a great way to celebrate the season, too. Of particular interest: the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, which starts in Duluth on Sunday and finishes in two locations in Cook County: Lutsen Mountains and the Grand Portage Lodge & Casino.

It will be an exciting series of races. Here’s a video of scenes from 2018 to give you a taste of what to expect:

The Mid-Distance race will end at Lutsen Mountains, with the first teams expected to arrive around 7 a.m. on Monday. In all, 20 mushers have signed up to compete in this race.

The Marathon features 12 teams this year, including local favorites Erin Altemus, Frank Moe, Mary Manning and Blake and Jennifer Freking. The teams are expected to start arriving at Grand Portage around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday and will be arriving through the night. You can watch the race on-line, too, as all the mushers carry devices to show their locations. To watch it, click here.

Best places to watch the race? Favorite check points are the Sawbill Trail, Trail Center, Skyport Lodge and Mineral Center. It’s definitely going to be cold this year, and there’s lots of snow, so look for a great race.

Meanwhile, indoors, there’s lots to do, too.

Thursday is turning into one of those winter evenings where you really need to put on your time-travel suit to enjoy everything that is being offered. This week is no exception.

First up on Thursday is the North Shore Arts League meeting, a continuation of the organizational meeting that was held a few weeks ago. The meeting will be held from 4-6 p.m. at the Johnson Heritage Post. All artists in any media are invited to attend. The Arts League is a network of Arrowhead artists who share their time, talent and knowledge to support each other as artists and artisans. There will be a member show at the Johnson Heritage Post in April. All invited. For more information, contact Kathy Weinberg at klweinberg@gmail.com.

Then, at 6 p.m., Natalie Sobanja will lead a session of the Critical Response session at the Grand Marais Art Colony. This is an artist-led multi-step, group system for giving and receiving feedback on creative processes and works-in-progress. This process allows artists to ask questions about their work in a non-judgmental setting through a facilitated dialogue between artists, peers, and audiences. Students who sign up will be part of the peer critique group and are not asked to bring in their own artwork to this training session. For more information, call the Art Colony at 387-2737. The session will run until 8:30 p.m.

Then, there are two events that start at 7 p.m. — a film screening at North House Folk School and a house concert at the Art House B&B.

The film at North House is entitled “24 Snow” and is a Mikhail Barynin film about raising horses in the Arctic.  Here’s the trailer:

The film is free and will be screened in the Green Building. All invited.

Also on Thursday night, Iron Range musicians Sara Pajunen and Sam Miltich will play for a house concert at the Art House B& B starting at 7 p.m. Both musicians have performed at Art House before, but this is the first time they’ll be playing together, sharing music from the Iron Range. Sam’s father will join them on upright bass.

All invited. The suggested donation is $10. Refreshments will be served. Art House is located arts 8 7th Ave. W. in Grand Marais.

If you’re really determined to stay at home, WDSE’s “Making It Up North” might be of interest. The Emmy nominated program highlights creative entrepreneurs who know what it takes to make it in today’s business environment. Two Cook County residents will be featured: Wunderbar’s Teri Downing and painter Anna Hess. Others on this week’s program are Frank Sander, as he builds his Little Knife Sanctuary/Artist Retreat at Knife River and Patrick Krekelberg and his start-up tech concern, Krekletronics. The program airs at 8 p.m.

On Friday, the Grand Marais Public Library continues its movie series with the screening of “Marshall,” a drama about Thurgood Marshall, the crusading lawyer who would become the first African-American Supreme Court Justice, as he battles through one of his career-defining cases. Here’s the trailer:

The film is screened at 6 p.m. at the library. Free.

And on Saturday, if you’re in Thunder Bay, consider attending “Direlecte,” a fashion odyssey put on by the Definitely Superior Art Gallery. It’s a pretty crazy time with 27 acts of wearable art, fashion and music from 8 p.m.-2 a.m.. at the Black Pirates Pub in Thunder Bay. Expect large crowds, out-of-the-box fashions and lots of music. Here’a video of snippets from last year’s event.

Derelicte 11 from Definitely Superior Art Gallery on Vimeo.

Tickets are $15 at the door.

A little closer to home: the continuation of the Lake Effect Ski/Music Festival at Papa Charlie’s with the bands the People Brothers Band and Pho on Saturday night. The music starts at 9:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, the Reading Groups start at the Grand Marais Art Colony with sessions in the morning and evening.

Each group will be led by a different facilitator and read different books. They will meet in their groups on Jan. 29 and then reconvene at the Art Colony on Feb. 21 for a final discussion. Books and facilitators include:

• “The Death and Life of the Great Lakes” with Ann Possis
• “Blue Arabesque: A Search for the Sublime” with Nina Simonowicz
• “The Gift: Creativity and the Artist in the Modern World” with John Books
• “Wired for Story: The Writer’s Guild to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence” with Rose Arrowsmith DeCoux
• “Water and What We Know: Following the Roots of a Nothern Life” with Lin Salisbury

For more information, contact the Art Colony at 387-2737.

The community listening sessions with Julia Klatt Singer and Craig Carnahan scheduled for next week have been cancelled due to the weather.

The three Community Listening Sessions are:

• Wednesday, Jan.30, 7-8:30 p.m., North House Folk School.
• Thursday, Jan. 31, 11 a.m-12:30 p.m., Grand Marais Public Library.
• Thursday, Jan., 31, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Cook County Community Center.

Exhibits

The Johnson Heritage Post is closed until Feb. 1, when the Winter Plein Air Exhibit opens. Stay tuned.

This is the final week of the Group of Finland Painters exhibit at Tettegouche State Park, featuring a wide variety of work in oil, acrylic and watercolors. Gary Olson is showing the painting below, a reminder of a different season, for sure.

The exhibit of George Morrison prints continues at the Cedar Coffee Company in Two Harbors as well as the North Shore Winery in Lutsen..

And the Tweed Museum of Art is featuring work by Morrison as well, including this painting, which is part of its Intersections exhibit.

Four new exhibits opened at the Duluth Art Institute with a reception Thursday from 5-7 p.m. They will continue through February.  On tap are the Annual Member Show, the Arrowhead Regional Biennial, Akinomaage (Vern Northrup), and Jazz Forest (Ray Allard).

Patricia Lenz has opened an exhibit of her work at the Zeitgeist Cafe in Duluth.

In Thunder Bay, the Baggage Building  Arts Centre is featuring the Fibre Exhibition, featuring work by 24 different Thunder Bay fiber artists. Work includes knitting, crocheting, weaving, quilting and textiles.

The exhibit continues through March 24.

Upcoming:

The Violence Prevention Center is organizing an art exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post entitled “The Art of Healing” that opens March 1. If you or someone you love have been affected by domestic or sexual violence and has used art as a means to respond, explore, express or heal from their experience, they are invited to share in this first Art of Healing event. Everyone has the option to submit work anonymously if they choose to do so. For more information, contact the Violence Prevention Center at 387-1262 or email hope4u@boreal.org

 Music:

Thursday, Jan. 24:

• Gordon Thorne & the Wildcats, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Gene Lafond and Amy Grillo, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Iron Range Music with Sara Pajunen and Sam Miltich, Art House B&B, 7 p.m.
• DJ Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 25:

• North Country Fair, The Wunderbar, 6 p.m.
• Gene Lafond and Amy Grillo, Cascade Lodge Restaurant, 6 p.m.
• North Country Fair, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Matt Griswald, Voyageur Brewing, 8 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Lake Effect Ski Music Festival,, Nooky Jone and Jaedyn James & The Hunger, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 26:

• Jim McGowan, Cascade Lodge Restaurant, 6 p.m.
• Brothers in Arms, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Jacob Mahon & the Salty Dogs, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Lake Effect Ski/Music Festival, The People Brothers Band and Pho, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 27:

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

Monday, Jan. 28:

• Joe Paulik, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 29:

• Eric Frost, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Open Mic with Boyd Blomberg, Papa Charlie’s, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 30:

• Singer/Songwriter Series, Teague Alexy, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

Photographs:

We found only a few wildlife shots this week:

 

And we found lots of moon shots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also found some landscapes:

 

 

 

And finally, this:

Enjoy your winter weekend, everyone!

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So, when January really rolls around, as it has this week, Minnesotans either layer up and go outside to play, or they find out what’s happening indoors. More often than not, they do a little of both, and there’s lots to choose from this week.

First up on Thursday, is the screening of the film, “Tarfala,” at North House Folk School. This documentary film by Johannnes Ostergard, follows a man who has chosen to spend his life as a caretaker of a lonely ski hut north of the Arctic Circle, right next to Sweden’s highest mountain. It’s fascinating study of a man’s love for solitude in wilds of an Arctic winter.

Check out the trailer here:

The film will be screened at 7 p.m. in the Blue Building. Free. Open to all! Bring your own snacks.

At 8 p..m., local ceramic artist Hannah Palma Laky and Big Lake shopowner Abby Tofte will be featured on the WDSE’s “Making It Up North.”  The Emmy-nominated program is in its second season, and it highlights creative entrepreneurs in northern Minnesota who know what it takes to make it in today’s business climate.

This episode will feature entrepreneurs who have made a living “by hand,” whether through through mediums such as ceramics, jewelry, or photography, or they’ve built a business to showcase local works.  The show will also highlight how jewelry artist Louise Pajack Guillou built Atelier & Stone by collaborating with Wolfskull Creative’s Michelle Bennett, and musician Peter Witrak, who creates kinetic sculptures with statewide appeal.

Check out a snippet of the trailer here:

The program airs on WDSE at 8 p.m. on Thursday. In two weeks, on Jan. 31, Making  It Up North will feature The Wunderbar and a segment on Lutsen artist Anna Hess. Same time, same station.

Scroll down a day to Friday, and go to the Grand Marais Public Library at 6 p.m. to see the film “Chappaquiddick.” The film covers the scandal and mysterious events surrounding the tragic drowning of Mary Jo Kopechne, as Ted Kennedy drove his car off the infamous bridge, are revealed in the new movie starring Jason Clarke as Kennedy and Kate Mara as Mary Jo.

Through true accounts, documented in the inquest from the investigation in 1969, director John Curran and writers Andrew Logan and Taylor Allen, intimately expose the broad reach of political power, the influence of America’s most celebrated family; and the vulnerability of Ted Kennedy, the youngest son, in the shadow of his family legacy.

Check out the trailer here:

The film is free and starts at 6 p.m.

And Friday night will feature a fascinating Artist Talk at the Grand Marais Art Colony with Karen Owlsey Nease, a painter and co-owner of the Joseph Nease Gallery in Duluth. Lake Superior is the primary subject matter in Karen’s work, and she will discuss her depiction of its waters as points of departure in the development of a painting, as well as her uses of it, which span from metaphor to emotional driver to design element.

It should be a fascinating presentation, especially for those who love Lake Superior in all her moods. The Artist Talk is free and will be from 7-8:30 p.m. on Friday. All invited.

For those cozying up at home, listen to WTIP’s The Roadhouse on Friday night. Eric Frost and Friends will be on for the first slot of the show to talk about their music and play a few tunes. The show airs from 5-7 p.m. on Fridays.

On Saturday night, go for the heat and show up for the Winter Gathering and Dance at the Hovland Town Hall from 7-10 p.m. The event is sponsored by the North Shore Music Association.

The SplinterTones are on tap to play for the dance and they’re one of the best dance bands in the county. The band features: Leah Thomas, accordion and vocals; Rick Brandenburg, drums; Jeff DeShaw, bass and vocals; Max Bichel, violin and vocals; Liz Sivertson, saxophone.

There is no admission fee, but donations are appreciated. Families welcome.

There’s lots of great music this weekend (see the schedule below), and some interesting performances during the Singer/Songwriter sessions at Papa Charlie’s next week. On Monday night, Moors &McCumber perform, and on Wednesday night, Rachel Kilgour is on-stage. Music starts at 8 p.m. Free.

Exhibits:

 The Johnson Heritage Post is closed for the rest of the month and opening for the Winter Plein Air Exhibit on Feb. 1. Stay tuned.

Fika Coffee in Lutsen has just mounted an exhibit of prints by Carie Schaefer.

 

At Tettegouche State Park, the Finland Group of Painters are exhibiting a collection of works in oils and watercolors. The exhibit is the Great Hall and continues through the end of the month.

The Cedar Coffee Company in Two Harbors will hold an opening reception for the George Morrison Poster Prints show from 5-7 p.m. Friday.

At the Tweed Museum of Art, the exhibit “Intersections,” featuring 46 selected artworks by 19 Native artists continues through January.

In Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery continues its exhibit, “Lessons: The Artistry of Learning.”

In other Thunder Bay Art Gallery news, the gallery just received word that it was awarded a $2.5 million grant by the Canadian government to be used for the construction of a new gallery in Prince Arthur Park, which is on the shores of Lake Superior. “It’s a go,” gallery director Sharon Godwin told CBC News. Exciting news for the gallery, for sure.

 Upcoming:

Next Wednesday, the Grand Marais Playhouse, in collaboration with the Grand Marais Public Library, will hold a reading of the “It Can’t Happen Here” by Sinclair Lewis. The public is invited to to come, read a few lines or just watch as this historic play unfolds. The reading starts at 6 p.m. Free.

On Thursday, the Arts League of the North Shore will hold its second organizational meeting from 4-6 p.m. at the Johnson Heritage Post. The organization is a network of Arrowhead artists who share their time, talent and knowledge to support each other as artists and artisans. All artists are invited. The Arts League plans to hold a group show at the Heritage Post in April.

Also on Thursday, Natalie Sobanja will convene a Critical Response training session at the Grand Marais Art Colony from 6-8:30 p.m. The process allows artists to ask questions about their work in a non-judgmental setting through a facilitated dialogue between artists, peers, and audiences. Students who sign up will be part of the peer critique group and are not asked to bring in their own artwork to this training session.

Should you want to have your work critiqued for feedback, please call the Art Colony at 387-2737.

And at 7 p.m.  on Thursday, Jan. 24, Sara Pajunen and Sam Miltich will perform  “Iron Range Music” at a house concert at the Art House B&B.

The concert starts at 7 p.m.  $10 suggested donation. Refreshments will be served. The Art B&B is located at 8 7th Ave. West in Grand Marais.

A series of Winter Reading Groups will be meeting at the Grand Marais Art Colony on Jan 29. Each group will be led by a different facilitator and read different books. They will meet in their groups on Jan. 29 and then reconvene at the Art Colony on Feb. 21 for a final discussion. Books and facilitators include:

• “The Death and Life of the Great Lakes” with Ann Possis
• “Blue Arabesque: A Search for the Sublime” with Nina Simonowicz
• “The Gift: Creativity and the Artist in the Modern World” with John Books
• “Wired for Story: The Writer’s Guild to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence” with Rose Arrowsmith DeCoux
• “Water and What We Know: Following the Roots of a Nothern Life” Lin Salisbury

The deadline to sign up is Jan. 22. For more info, click here.

Also at the Art Colony, photographer Jess Oulis Smith with hold photography sessions for artists who want to develop their portfolios. Sessions will be held Feb 5, Feb. 9 and Feb. 12. For more info, click here or call the Art Colony at 387-2737

  Artist Opportunities:

 The applications for the Grand Marais Arts Festival are now open. The deadline to apply is March 7.

The festival Isi July 13-14 this year. To find all the details and apply, click here.

Call for Artists: Artists of every age are invited to participatd in this year’s Spirit of the Wilderness community exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post, which opens March 16. The theme of this year’s exhibit is “Thin Places: Encountering the Surprising Spirit Along the North Shore.” Artwork must be dropped off on Wednesday, March 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Johnson Heritage Post.

For more information about participating in this exhibit, call 387-2314.

Music:

Here’s the music schedule for this week:

Thursday, Jan 17:

• Timmy Haus Bent Paddle Takeover, Wunderbar 5 p.m.
• Eric Frost, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Briand Morrison. Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Billy Johnson, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.
• DJ Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 18:

• Billy Johnson, voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Cascade Lodge Restaurant, 6 p.m.
• JohnRuss, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Eric Frost Band, Wunder bar, 7 p.m.
• Brotherless Arms (Drew Heinonen & Jim Miller), Bluefi Grille, 8 p.m.
• The Millers, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 19:

• Billy Johnson, North Shore Winery, 3 p.m.
• Roxann Bergland, The Cover at Best Western, 5 p.m.
• Cherry Dirt, Cascade Lodge Restaurant, 6 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, Poplar River Pub, 7 p.m.
• Common Ground, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Mysterious Ways, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• The Sprigs, Poplar Haus, 8 p.m.
• Eric Frost Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 20:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• Open Stage, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.
• Billy Johnson, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Monday, Jan 21:

• Gordon Thorne, Bluefin Grille,  8 p.m.
• Moors  & McCumber, Monday Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 22:

• Gordon Thorne, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Open Mic Night with Boyd Blomberg, Papa Charlie’s, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 23

• Jon Kalberg, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Rachel Kilgour, Singer/Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

Photographs:

We found some great photos this week. Here’s a selection:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here are some landscapes.

A window-scape  …

More landscapes …

 

Some shipping photos:

 

 

 

 

And finally, this beauty:

Have a great weekend, everyone!

(If you’d like to help support this blog, consider donating today. Just click on the button below and donate any amount you want. And thank you!!)

 

 

 

January! When snow falls, and it starts getting lighter every day. The trails and hills are groomed and ready, and artists hunker down to start making for the coming year.

This January is no exception, although the deep snow and ice this early in the season is somewhat unusual. What is not unusual are the opportunities to get together, watch movies, listen to lots of live music, and get things done in the studio.

We have two movie opportunities this month: North House Folk School is running a movie series every Thursday night and the Grand Marais Pubic Library is screening films on Friday nights.

This week, North House Folk School will host the Back Country Film Festival on Thursday, Jan. 10, featuring a variety of films of the backcountry, human-powered recreation and environmental preservation.

Hosted by Superior Highlands Backcountry and produced by the Winter Wildlands Alliance, the film festival will promote the work of compelling storytellers. Doors open at 6 p.m., films start at 7 p.m. There will be raffles and silent auction. Admission is $10, kids are free. All invited.

On Friday, the Grand Marais Public Library will host Friday Night Reels and screen a documentary about Mister Fred Rogers starting at 6 p.m. The film, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” takes an intimate look at Mister Rogers, his work and his views on how to get along with each other. Check out the trailer here:

The film will be screened at 6 p.m. Free. Come early to make sure you get a seat.

On Saturday, the Grand Marais Music Collaborative will host an open mic at Wunderbar starting at 7 p.m. The Music Collaborative brings local music students and experienced music instructors together, fostering the region’s next generation of musicians. The entire GMMC board will be at the event, and many will bring their instruments. The Open Mic will be hosted by Joe Paulik and Pat Flack.

The public is invited to this once-a-year event. It should be a fun evening of music and talk.

On Sunday, the Grand Marais Playhouse will hold a meeting at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts about next summer’s Summer Repertory line-up at 6:30 p.m.. Two shows will be performed in repertory on the weekends from July 18 through Aug. 11. A musical or a farce will be selected based on the interest of the group. For more info, contact Sue Hennessy at 387-1284, ext 2 or send an email to: sue@grandmaraisplayhouse.com

And on Monday, the Playhouse will hold auditions for the play “Quilters” at 3:30 p.m. at the ACA.  This is the annual community youth production with an emphasis on high school actors. There are roles for six women of high school age as well as an adult.  Musicians are also needed for this play. For more information, contact Sue Hennessy at sue@grandmaraisplayhouse.com. She can also be reached at 387-1284.

And at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 16, the Grand Marais Art Colony will host an informational session about this year’s 100-Day Project, The project, developed by an artists’ group in Michigan, invites artists to commit to an artistic pursuit for 100 days — whether it’s writing a book, crafting cartoons, working a new musical composition or just playing with art. The process develops new skills and habits and can be transforming for participants. It’s also fun.

To find out more, come to the Art Colony at noon on Jan. 16. The actual 100-Day Project starts on Jan. 20. For more info, contact the Art Colony at 387-2737.

Exhibits:

 This is the last week to see the exhibit, “Remains of the Lake & the Northern Landscape” at the Johnson Heritage Post featuring a collection of black and white photographs by John Gregor focused on Lake Superior and landscapes by Tami Phillippi.

The exhibit has been well-received and continues through Jan. 13. The Heritage Post is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and from 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

An exhibit of George Morrison prints is currently on view at the North Shore Winery.

The Cedar Coffee House in Two Harbors will also mount an exhibit of George Morrison’s prints, with the opening reception set for Jan. 18. Stayed tuned.

A new exhibit has opened at Tettegouche State Park, featuring a variety of work by the Finland Group of Painters, including watercolors and oils.

The exhibit in the Great Hall continues through January.

In Duluth, the “Quiet Simplicity” exhibit at the Tweed Museum of Art continues, with a painting by Richard Emil Miller added this week.

In Thunder Bay, the Definitely Superior Art Gallery, 250 Park Ave.,  has extended its exhibits through Jan. 19 due to public demand. On view are a film,”Qaleidoscope” Untamed: The Annual Regional Juried Show and Comet Chaser: Sarah Mason: A Retrospective.

The exhibits at Def Sup continue through Jan. 19.

At the Thunder Bay Art Gallery, this is the last weekend to see “Reclaimed,” an exhibition of hand-restored axes, hatchets, and sledges by Curtis MacKay Wilson of Fablewood Homestead.

The restored artifacts are important pieces of material and cultural history of Northern Ontario, as well as examples of skilled restoration techniques.

Upcoming:

 Learn to waltz, two-step, foxtrot and swing dance with Ann and Wayne Russ this winter. The couple will be teaching dance classes at the 4-H Building at the Community Center from 7:15-9 p.m. starting Jan. 22. Singles welcome. For more info and to register, call 218 370-8949 or email russ@boreal.org

The Art House B&B will host a House Concert with Iron Range musicians Sara Pajunen and Sam Miltich at 7 p.m. Jan. 24. Tickets are $10 at the door. Refreshments will be served.

The Grand Marais Art Colony will host solar plate printmaker Dan Welden and photographer Craig Blacklock in a series of workshops, exhibits and artist talks in February. Stay tuned.

 

Grand Marais photographer, Bryan Hansel, will give a presentation at the Grand Marais Public Library Feb. 20. His topic?  “100 Days on the Road: The Life of a Landscape Photographer.” Here’s a Google map of where he traveled to take photos and teach workshops last year.

Here is one of the images he captured:

The presentation is free. Stay tuned.

Opportunities:

 More than 20 artists from every medium turned up for the first organizational meeting of the North Shore Arts League at the Johnson Heritage Post on Tuesday. The group discussed how and if they wanted to organize an artist network and support group. The decision? Yes! A steering committee was formed  to guide organizational structure in its early days. The steering committee members are Natalie Sobanja, Maxine Linehan, Bob Swanson, Julie Arthur and Kathy Weinberg.

The group also decided to have a group show at the Johnson Heritage Post in April. The next organizational meeting is set for Jan. 24 from 5-7 p.m. All artists invited. For more info, contact Kathy Weinberg at klweinberg@gmail.com

A call for artists of every age has gone out for the spring exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post sponsored by the Spirit of the Wilderness Church. The exhibit opens in March. The theme this year is “Thin Place.” For more info, contact Greg Mueller at glmuellerstudio@gmail.com and stay tuned for details.

And finally, a call for artists has gone out for the Bimidji Sculpture Walk.

The sculpture festival is held in June. This is the 20th year the event has been held on the streets of the town. Selected artists will receive a $500 honorarium. For more info, click here.

  Music:

Here’s the music schedule for this week:

Thursday, Jan. 10:

• Gordon Thorne & the Wildcats, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Pete K, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 11:

• Briand Morrison, Voyageur Brewing, 4 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• North Shore Community Swing Band, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Colleen Myhre and Ton Peterson, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Pete K, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 12:

• Harris Mills, The Cove, Best Western Plus Superior Inn, 5-8 p.m.
• Frozen Britches, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Common Ground, Poplar River Pub, 7 p.m.
• Grand Marais Music Collaborative, Open Mic, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Colleen Myhre and Tony Peterson, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 14:

• Chris Koza, Singer/Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 15:

• Jim & Michele Miller, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Open Mic with Boyd Blomberg, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 16:

• Singer/Songwriters Sarah Morris Trio, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

We found lots of photos this week. Here’s a selection:

First, wildlife:

 

 

 

 

 

We found these northern light shots.

 

And snow:

And grey beauty.

And some wonderful sunrise/sunsets:

 

 

 

 

And a double sunset/double exposure:

 

And finally, this shot, which certainly tells a story…

Heidi Pinkerton caught this scene when she was out driving the other day. When she got out of her car, the wolf left, but the deer stayed in that freezing river for another hour before venturing onto dry ground, she said.

So that’s it for this week! Enjoy your weekend!

(If you’ve enjoyed NorthShore ArtScene this week, consider making a donation today. And thank you!)

 

 

Welcome to 2019!

We’re excited to report that winter has clamped down on the North Shore with more than a foot of fluffy white snow, coating the trees in splendor and the trails with deep coverings for skis, snowshoes, fat tires and mukluks.

It’s a great harbinger for one of the most popular sled dog races on the North Shore, too –the Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race , which starts 8 a.m.  on Saturday at Trail Center, with a full complement of enthusiastic mushers and sled dogs.

There are several exciting things to do and see before then.

First up is the launch of the Friday Night Reels, the winter film series at the Grand Marais Public Library on Friday at 6 p.m. when it will screen the film “Neither Wolf Nor Dog,” based on the novel of the same name by author Kent Nerburn. This is a great opportunity to see the film because it is not in general circulation yet. Check out the trailer here:

The screening is free. All invited.

Also on Friday night, the Finland Group of Painters will open an exhibit in the Great Hall at Tettegouche State Park with a reception at 7 p.m. Friday. Exhibitors include oil painters Gary Olson, Marc Smith and Deb Birkeland and watercolorist Sandy Maxwell.

The exhibit, which is free and open to the public, continues through January.

Also on Friday, Papa Charlie’s and Lutsen Mountains will host the 4th annual Ski Party featuring singer/songwriter Erik Koskinen and Trampled by Turtles on Friday night and Superior Siren and Lissie on Saturday night. On Friday night, Koskinen plays at 9 p.m., Trampled by Turtles at 10:45 p.m. Here’s a video of a favorite Trampled by Turtles song:

Doors open at 8 p.m. on Friday night. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. For more info and tickets, click here.

The Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race begins and ends at Trail Center this weekend. It is a continuous race consisting 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. The races begin at 8 a.m. at Trail Center.

Temps won’t be nearly as cold as they were last year. At the start in 2018, the temperature was -27℉, according to local reports. This year, it will be considerably warmer with a projected high of 37℉.

The race will feature lots of great mushers, including Ryan Redington, who has won the past two Mail Runs and also won last winter’s John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. Also competing this year is Ryan Anderson, who has won the Beargrease three times, most recently in 2017. Local mushers include Erin Altemus, Frank Moe, Matt Schmidt and Mary Manning, to name a few.

Check out this video about the start of the Mail Run:

Everyone is invited to come watch. The race will also be covered on the event’s Facebook page here as well as team tracking on the race website, here.

Also this weekend,  the 3rd annual Norpine Fat Bike Classic will be held. The long course is 24 miles long, the short course is 16 miles. The racers will compete  predominately on the Norpine cross country ski trails.

The mass start is at the Superior National clubhouse at 10:30 a.m. For details about this weekend event, click here.

Indoors, look for the first organizational meeting of the North Shore Arts League at the Johnson Heritage Post on Tuesday, Jan. 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. All fine art artists are invited, including painters, writers, sculptors, potters,  photographers and fiber artists — in short, any artist who may benefit from having a go-to network is welcome to attend. The group will discuss organizational details as well as make plans for a group show at the Heritage Post in April. Participants are welcome to bring their lunch. For more information, click here. 

And then on Wednesday, the Grand Marais Public Library will begin it’s Winter Wednesday series with the reading of Henrik Ibsen’s play, “An Enemy of the People” in conjunction with the Grand Marais Playhouse. This is an opportunity for participants to gather together to read and/or just listen to the play in an informal setting. All invited. The event starts at 6 p.m.

Exhibits:

 The exhibit, “Remains of the Lake & the Northern Landscape” featuring black and white photographs of historic sites on Lake Superior by John Gregor and colorful North Shore landscapes by Tami Phillippi continues at the Johnson Heritage Post.

The exhibit continues through Jan. 13. The Heritage Post is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and from 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

The Betsy Bowen Studio and Galleries will be open on Friday and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. all winter. The studio features a variety of local artists’ work as well as Bowen’s woodcuts. And it’s an active studio as Bowen continues to make woodcut prints.

Lauri Slanga has work at Kah-Nee-Tah Gallery in Lutsen.

This is the last weekend to see Anne Labovitz’ exhibit, 122 Conversations, at the Tweed Museum of Art. It closes Jan.6.

The Joseph Nease Gallery in Duluth is exhibiting work by Allison Aune.

The Thunder Bay Art Gallery has a number of exhibits this month, including “Exorcism” by Carl Beams.

 Upcoming:

 North House Folk School will hold Thursday Night Film screenings starting next Thursday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m. This week’s films: The Backcountry Film Festival, featuring a compilation of films orbiting around human-powered outdoor winter experiences. Doors open at 6 p.m. The films start at 7 p.m. $10 admission, kids are free. There will also be a raffle and silent auction.

Hovland’s annual Winter Gathering & Dance will be held at the Hovland Town Hall from 7-10 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19 with the SplinterTones. All invited. Sponsored by the North Shore Music Association.

The Robert Burns Dinner honoring the Scottish poet’s birthday will be held Jan. 26 at The Wunderbar. The event includes piping in the haggis,  a full-course dinner, poetry readings, and a sing-a-long.

Reservations are required and must be made by Jan. 19. For more information and to make reservations, contact Jeff or Mary MacDonald at (218) 387-1221 or creative@boreal.org

And the Grand Marais Art Colony will host a series of Winter Reading Groups, which will read a book and discuss it within the group. Each group will meet on Jan. 29 and then again on Feb. 21. Open to all. The suggested donation is $10, and registration is open through Jan. 22.

The morning groups meet from 9:30-11:30 a.m., the evening groups meet from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Founders Hall at the Art Colony. Click on the listings below to learn more.

• Winter Morning Reading Group: The Blue Arabesque: A Search for the Sublime by Patricia Hampl with facilitator Nina Simonwicz.
• Winter Morning Reading Group: The Death and Life of the Great Lakes  by Dan Egan with facilitator Ann Possis.
• Winter Evening Reading Group: The Gift: Creativity and the Artist in the Modern World  by Lewis Hyde with facilitator John Books.
• Winter Evening Reading Group: Wired for Story: The Writer’s Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence by  Lisa Cron with Rose Arrowsmith DeCoux.

Homage

And last, but not least, we are sad to report that internationally acclaimed potter, Warren MacKenzie, has died. He was 94.

In his lifetime, MacKenzie taught hundreds if not thousands of students about how to make pots. and dedicated his life to crafting clay into usable, functional and beautiful vessels. He is the father of the Minnesota pottery tradition, which combines Japanese, English and American techniques and values into making a pot. His creative life is honored all over the world. In 1981, he was named one of the 12 greatest potters in the world, and his work is featured in museums and collections world-wide. His studio is in Stillwater.

For a great story about MacKenzie’s life and wonderful photographs of him and his work, click here.

Music:

Here’s the music schedule for this week:

Thursday, Jan. 3:

• Eric Frost, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Briand Morrison & Roxann Berglund, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 4:

• One Less Guest, Voyageur Brewing, 4 p.m.
• JohnRuss, Cascade Lodge Restaurant, 6 p.m.
• Jon Kalberg, Poplar River Pub, 7 p.m.
• Ski Party with Erik Koskinen, 9 p.m., Trampled by Turtles, 10:45 p.m. Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 5:

• SonofMel, Cascade Lodge, 6 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Woodblind, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Ski Party at Papa Charlie’s, Superior Siren, 9 p.m., Lissie, 10:45 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 5:

• Open Mic with Joe Paulik, Wunderbar, 5:30 p.m.

 Monday, Jan. 6:

• Briand Morrison, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Erik Koskinen, Singer/Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

 Tuesday, Jan. 7:

• Joe Paulik, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Open Mic at Papa Charlie’s with Boyd Blomberg,  7 p.m.

 Wednesday, Jan. 8:

• Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8:30 p.m.

Lots of photos this week. Let’s start with a vegetable.

And a droplet of water:

And a burning meteor in the sky: (Look for it)

And clouds:

And an ice mushroom:

And a bear cloud:

Surfing at Stoney Point at -10℉.

 

And a few wildlife shots:

:

 

 

And lots of icy shots:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a good weekend, everyone!

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s pretty quiet in Cook County this week, which is good. It gives us all a chance to recharge.

There’s plenty of snow, with more to come, making it picture-perfect for the Holiday Season. The night life is pretty good, too. Look for great music at all the venues over the weekend, and lots of New Year’s Eve parties on New Year’s Eve. (See schedule, below).

For Thursday, Dec. 27, consider participating in a “Let’s Paint” at Lutsen Resort. The wine-art event is hosted by Kathy Fox Weinberg from 1-4 p.m. on Thursday. Participants will learn the basics of painting landscapes with acrylic, and walk away with a landscape painting featuring the resort’s historic Poplar River Bridge. The best part? You don’t have to be an artist to have an awesome time (or drink wine).

The cost of the wine-art event is $40. All invited. For more info and to register, click here.

And from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, North House Folk School will hold an open house to view a Tiny House built in the Boat Barn, the new classroom at North House. It is located in the Morton building behind Dockside Fish Market. The Tiny House, a Mark Hansen-inspired design, was built with timbers milled at Hedstrom Lumber Company by instructor Andy Keith and resident artisans Angela Robins and Mike Loeffler.

Art Museums, galleries and shops have different hours over the next week… many will be closed, at least, on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, but when they’re open, here’s what you can see:

“The Remains of the Lake & Northern Landscapes” with photographs by John Gregor and Tami Phillippi continues at the Johnson Heritage Post through Jan. 13.

Gregor’s stunning black & white photographs document old industrial sites on Lake Superior, while Phillippi’s North Shore colorful landscapes inspire. It’s an interesting exhibit.

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

Betsy Bowen’s Studio and Galleries is open all winter, Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Holiday Art Underground show continues at the gallery through the first of the year.

This is the final week to see two exhibits at the Duluth Art Institute: Patrick Luber’s “Exceptionally Ordinary,” and Darren Houser’s “Real-Unreal.” They close Dec. 30. Also on view, “Alien Ship” by Stephanie Wilcox, a pencil and ink drawing.

The Duluth Art Institute‘s Annual Member Show opens Jan. 24. Stay tuned for details.

The Thunder Bay Art Gallery continues its three exhibits: “21 Pillows,” an installation by Cheryl Wilson-Smith, From the Permanent Collection; Carl Beam’s “Exorcism,” “Reclaimed,” an exhibition of hand restored axes, hatchets, and sledges and “Lessons: The Artistry of Learning.”

The exhibit “Lessons: Artistry of Learning,” features work by artists dedicated to the accumulation and sharing of knowledge, and includes works by Moses Amik Beaver (1960-2017), Zoe Gordon, Sarah Link, Jean Marshall, Riaz Mehmood, Crystal Nielsen, Frank Shebageget and Mavourneen Trainor.

The exhibits at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery continue through March 3.

Upcoming:

 The Grand Marais Public Library will hold two winter programming lineups this year: Friday Night Reels, a series of films screened on Friday nights. The series starts on Jan. 4, and Winter Wednesdays, a series of presentations Jan. 9.

Next Friday, Jan. 4, “Neither Wolf Nor Dog” will be screened at 6 p.m.. It based on Kent Nerburn’s novel. Because “Neither Wolf Nor Dog” is only available for licensed viewing, this may be the only chance people from Cook County will have to see the film without having to travel to a more metropolitan destination where it might play in an arthouse style theater. Free. Here’s a trailer:

 Friday. Jan. 4., 6 p.m., Grand Marais Public Library. Free.

The first Winter Wednesday event is scheduled to be a reading of a play, Henrik Ibsen’s “An Enemy of the People,” in conjunction with the Grand Marais Playhouse. Stay tuned for details.

Also next weekend, the Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race will be held at Trail Center. This is always an exciting time for mushers and is a fun race to watch. Details next week.

Also, a new exhibit opens in the Great Hall at Tettegouche State Park with a reception on Friday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m. The exhibit features work by the Finland Group of Painters: Gary Olson, Marc Smith and Deb Birkeland, oil painters, and Sandy Maxwell, watercolorist.

The exhibit will continue through January.

The first organizational meeting of the North Shore Arts League will be held at the Johnson Heritage Post from 11 a.m to 1 p.m on Tuesday, Jan. 8.

According to a statement about the meeting, “artists are integral to the culture and history of the North Shore, while also playing a important role in today’s economy. To thrive and assure a vibrant art force, it is important that artisans have a nurturing, supportive community dedicated to their personal, social, educational and informational needs. The arts league will be a self-facilitated group organized by artists for artists. It will be organized as the group desires and based on the needs of the group.” All artists are welcome.

At the first meeting, the group will be considering and deciding on its first show/member exhibition with space offered by Johnson Heritage Post for April 12-May 5, 2019. For more info, click here.

Music:

Here’s the music for the week:

Thursday, Dec. 27:

• Apres-Ski Acoustic with Bug Dope, Papa Charlie’s, 3:15 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne & Friends, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, Papa Charlie’s, 6:30 p.m.
• Maria Nickolay, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 28:

• James Moors, Papa Charlie’s, 3:15 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Papa Charlie’s, 6:45 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 29:

• Eric Frost, Papa Charlie’s, 3:15 p.m.
• Jim McGowan, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Jon Cron, Papa Charlie’s, 6:45 p.m.
• Jim & Michele Miller, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Dance Party with DJ Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 30:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• James Moors, Papa Charlie’s, 3:15 p.m.
• Open Stage with Joe Paulik & Pat Flack, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.
• Michael Monroe, Log Cabin Concert, rural Grand Marais, www.michaelmonroemusic.com, 7 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 31:

• New Year’s Eve Celebration, Cascade Lodge Pub, 5-9 p.m.
• New Year’s Eve, Gunflint Lodge, 5:30-11 p.m.
• Boyd Blomberg, Papa Charlie’s, 6:45 p.m.
• Michael Monroe, Log Cabin Concerts, rural Grand Marais, www.michaelmonroemusic.com, 7 p.m.
• New Year’s Eve at Grandma Ray’s, Rich Mattson & the North Stars, 8:30 p.m.
• New Year’s Eve Karaoke, Gun Flint Tavern, 9 p.m.
• New Year’s Eve Dance Party with DJ Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 1:

• Timmy Haus, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 2:

• Singer/Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 3:

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

Friday, Jan. 4:

• Ski Party Weekend at Papa Charlie’s, Erik Koskinen, 9 p.m., Trampled by Turtles, 10:45 p.m.

Photographs:

 We found a few photos this week. Here’s a selection:

Let’s start with wildlife–all birds this week.

 

 

 

 

Catching wildlife….this is one in the series by Christian Dalbec.

The Winter Solstice:

Winter landscapes:

 

 

 

 

 

Lighthouses:

 

 

 

 

 

And last, but not least, this photograph, taken by a high school student as part of a photo assignment… a chicken at dawn.

Happy New Year! Best wishes for 2019.

(BTW: If you’d like to help support NorthShore ArtScene, you can donate at the button below. And thank you!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Winter Solstice! And Merry Christmas! Lots to celebrate this weekend!

There are lots of Winter Solstice celebrations scheduled for this week, as winter makes its official entry into our calendars. And Christmas is Tuesday!

And although it is wintery on Lake Superior (see photo, above), it’s been much warmer on the shore. That “heat wave” (around 32 degrees) is scheduled to last for awhile, or at least until Christmas. so getting out for events and/or final shopping should be pretty easy.

First up this week is a great opportunity for Cook County artists to learn about grant opportunities offered by the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council.

On Friday, Dec. 21, Holly Hackett-Rich, the grants manager at ARAC, will talk about its artistic grant programs at the Grand Marais Art Colony starting at noon. All artists are invited, whether they’re dancers or potters or writers, or sculptors or fiber artists, printmakers, painters or poets — the grant programs are open to all.

Local artists who have recently been awarded ARAC grants include Corrie Steckelberg, Hovland; Mary Beth Garmoe, Grand Marais; Greg Mueller, Lutsen; Mike Smieja, Grand Marais; Melissa Wickwire. Grand Marais, Elizabeth Belz, Grand Marais; Briand Morrison, Grand Portage and Neil Sherman, Grand Marais.

Hackett-Rich will give a presentation and then be available for questions. This is a free lunch-time event, and participants are welcome to bring their own brown bag lunch. To learn more about ARAC, click here.

And Russell DuFresne, who’s playing a Tom Petty Tribute Show at the Wunderbar on Friday night will be on WTIP’s The Roadhouse to talk about his music and play a few songs. The Roadhouse airs from 5-7 p.m. on Friday nights.

Not to be missed,  the Good Harbor Hill Players will present its annual Winter Solstice Shadow Puppet Show at North House Folk School on Friday night starting at 6 p.m. This show is always a great community event, and includes live music, crazy plots, funny shadow puppets, a bonfire, a potluck and a surprise or two.  The title of this year’s show? “Vexed by Beavers.”

The bonfire is lit after the show and the audience is invited to toss in their “gloomies,” handwritten notes about things they’d rather forget, things they want to change in the coming year, even things they are thankful for. Then everyone retires to the Blue Building for a celebratory potluck. (Please bring your own utensils.) All invited. Free.

If you’re going to be in Duluth on Friday night, check out the Downtown Duluth Winter Solstice Arts Walk which features exhibits, music, glass blowing, photography, card-making, art shopping and more from 5-8 p.m. in a variety of studios and galleries downtown.

Click here to see a map of all the venues.

This is the final weekend before Christmas, and it’s going to be pretty quiet in Cook County, as people make final preparations and shop for the Tuesday event.

At The Big Lake on Saturday, starting at 3 p.m., the shop will celebrate the first full moon of winter with the Cold Moon Fest. There will be refreshments, kids crafts, drawings and more starting at 3 p.m.

The Full Moon in December is traditionally called the Cold Moon.

There’s lots of great live music for the rest of the week, too, see the music schedule, below.

Exhibits: 

The exhibit, “Remains of the Lake & the Northern Landscape” continues at the Johnson Heritage Post through Jan. 13. The exhibit includes beautiful black and white photographs by John Gregor detailing industrial “leftovers” in Lake Superior as well as a series of colorful landscapes by Tami Phillippi.

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

Also on exhibit is the Holiday Art Underground Show at Betsy Bowen Gallery and Studios, featuring work by more than 30 local and regional artists.

The gallery is open from 11 a.m. 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. After Christmas, it will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m Thursday through Saturday, all through the winter.

At Tettegouche State Park, watercolor painter Dennis Murnyak is exhibiting a selection of his work in the Great Hall.

The exhibit continues through December.

The Tweed Museum of Art in Duluth continues its exhibit, “Intersections,” featuring work from its collections of Native American art.

The Duluth Art Institute is exhibiting a variety of art at the Duluth City Hall through March in collaboration with the Duluth Public Arts Commission.

In Thunder Bay, this is the last weekend to see the Definitely Superior Art Gallery‘s exhibits, the annual juried exhibit of DefSup members as well as works by Sarah Mason.

The Thunder Bay Art Gallery has opened a group exhibition, “Lessons: The Artistry of Learning.” which will be on view through March 3. The exhibit showcases works by seven artists from Thunder Bay and the region, including pieces by the late Moses Amik Beaver (1960-2017).

Upcoming:

Lots of places have scheduled New Year’s Eve Parties on Dec. 31. Check out them out here. And stay tuned for details next week.

Trampled by Turtles will be at Papa Charlie’s Friday, Jan. 4, to perform as part of Lutsen Mountains Ski Party Weekend, Jan.4-5. Erik Koskinen will also play on Friday night.  Details and tickets, here.

Here’s a video of this exciting band.

Also coming up that weekend, the popular Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race, sponsored by Trail Center Jan. 5.

A new arts organization is forming to provide networking for artists in the county. The North Shore Arts League will have its first organizational meeting at the Johnson Heritage Post from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 8. All artists welcome.

And finally, the Winter Gathering and Dance with the SplinterTones will be held at the Hovland Town Hall Jan. 19. It is sponsored by the North Shore Music Association.

Window Shopping:

Here is just a taste of a few tidbits you will find at galleries and shops in the county this weekend.

Music:

Here’s the music for the week:

Thursday, Dec. 20:

• Eric Frost, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne & the Wildcats– Holiday Show, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 21:

• Matt & Laurel, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
• A Very Petty Christmas with Free Falling, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Pushing Chain, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 22:

• Matt & Laurel, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Mysterious Ways, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 23:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• Open Stage with Joe Paulik, Wunderbar, 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 25:

Merry Christmas!

Wednesday, Dec. 26:

• Apres-ski Acoustic with Boyd Blomberg, Papa Charlie’s, 3:15 p.m.
• Tim Fast, Gun Flint Tavern,  7 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, Bluefin Bay, 8 p.m.

Photographs:

We are so lucky to have great local and regional photographers who are willing to share their work with us. Here are some of the photos we found this week:

First, wildlife:

Paul Sundberg met this momma bobcat and her kitten the other day.

Then another one showed up.

 

 

Here’s a photograph that looks like it’s been photoshopped, but the photographer says it wasn’t… just happy chance. He was taking photos of this Snowy Owl perched on the roof of a hospital in Superior, Wis., with the moon behind it, when an airplane flew into the frame.

Frozen water:

 

Here’s one from another Big Lake… Lake Michigan.

 

Rushing Water:

 

Curling water:

Quiet water:

Beauteous skies:

Meteor skies:

The moon as ornament:

And finally, what you do when the lakes freeze over.

Have a great weekend, everyone! And Happy Holidays!

(Holiday giving? Donate to NorthShore ArtScene today. And Thank You!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Never underestimate the creativity of people in Cook County. This weekend is no exception. On tap is the Dark Sky Festival, Wunderbar’s Holiday Market, a Curry Cook-off and Broadway Showcase, and a Holiday Character Dress-Up Contest, just to name a few things scheduled for this weekend.

Let’s start with author Tim Cochrane, who will give a presentation about his latest book, “Gichi Bitobig, Grand Marais: Early Accounts of the Anishinaabeg and the North Shore Fur Trade” at the Heritage Visitor Center at the National Monument in Grand Portage from 2-4 p.m. on Thursday. All invited. Free. The book is available at local booksellers as well.

On Thursday night, Wunderbar hosts more than 20 artists, artisans, local businesses and galleries for its second annual Holiday Market.

Local artists at the Holiday Market include painter Anna Hess, potters Hannah Palma, Natalie Sobanja and Kari Carter, weaver Julie Arthur, illustrator Kari Vick, felter Mary Reichert, author Rose Arrowsmith Decoux and Mueller Studio and Sannerud Studios Furniture. Local galleries and shops, even a few restaurants will be there. Open to all.

On Friday and Saturday, Grand Marais will host the first annual Dark Sky Festival, honoring the fact that Cook County has one of the darkest skies in the nation.

UMD’s Traveling GeoDome, which provides guided tours through the night skies, will be set up at Voyageur Brewing Co. on both days. The GeoDome will be open from 5-9 p.m. on Friday and from 8-10 p.m. on Saturday. There will be telescopes set up outdoors as well, weather permitting. On Saturday, photographers Bryan Hansel and Travis Novitsky will host “Dueling Photographers,” a friendly showing of their nightscape photographs. The “duel” will be held at North House Folk School from 5-6:30 p.m.

At 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jim Rock and Joel Halvorson will present “Native Skies: The Stars and Indigenous Peoples,” also at North House. After the presentations, there will be a bonfire and s’mores as well as more stargazing, weather permitting, and the GeoDome will re-open at Voyageur’s. And finally, Wunderbar will Twilight Zone Move Marathon starting at 9 p.m.

Also on Saturday, the Grand Marais Art Colony will hold Community Ink Day, a chance to learn about making prints and create one of your own. It will be held in the Art Colony’s print studio from 1-3:30 p.m.

Everyone is invited, but children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. This is a drop-in event — no registration is required — but a $5 donation to cover materials expenses is requested.

And, an added perk for the weekend, the annual Curry Cook-Off and Broadway Showcase, a fundraiser for the Grand Marais Playhouse, will be held at the 1st Congregational Church on Saturday, Dec. 15.

This is always a tasty event, in more ways than one. This year, 10 different curries will be in competition, and the public is invite to vote for their favorite. The tasting feast is followed by holiday and Broadway music performances by  local actors. The curry tasting starts at 6:30 p.m, the showcase is at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices vary. The event is a fundraiser for the Playhouse. It will hold a membership meeting at 5:30 p.m before the event. For details, click here.

Also on Saturday night, Voyageur Brewing Co. will hold a Holiday Character Costume Contest and Elves off the Shelves Party starting at 5 p.m. Everyone is invited to come dressed as their favorite holiday character, whether Frosty, Rudolph, the Grinch, Santa or ??? Best costumes will win gift cards, judging is at 7 p.m. Bring along your elf and some props to create a winning scene for a prize. Judging is at 7:30 p.m.

In Duluth, raku potters Richard Gruchalla and Carrin Rosetti will be having their annual Christmas sale at their studio in Duluth  Dec. 14-16, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

The raku artists are well-known in Grand Marais. They hold a “Do You Raku? We Do” event at Siverston Gallery every fall. Their studio in Duluth is located at 1600 London Rd. It’s at the east end of the building, lower level.

On Wednesday, Dec. 19, the Grand Marais Art Colony will host “Community Conversations with Neil Sherman: Let’s Finish It!” from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Sherman, a plein air painter, will lead a discussion on how to finish two-dimensional pieces with the most appropriate and long-lasting framing materials. He will be demonstrating as well. Everyone invited. Free.

Also on Wednesday, Voyageur Brewing Co. will host the Artisan Spotlight and Sale from 4:30 pm. to 6:30 p.m. at the brewery. The artists include potter Kari Carter and jewelry maker Terry Lord-Lewis.

The Artist Spotlight and Sale runs from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Exhibits:

The exhibit, “Remains of the Lake & the Northern Landscape”continues at the Johnson Heritage Post. The exhibit features work by photographers John Gregor and Tami Phillippi. Gregor’s pieces feature his work in black and white highlighting Lake Superior’s past. Phillippi’s photographs focus on colorful northern landscapes.

 This is a highly regarded exhibit and a must-see. Gregor shows us parts of Lake Superior we’ve never known about or noticed, while Phillippi celebrates the beauty of the North Shore. The exhibit continues through Jan. 13. The Heritage Post is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

A new exhibit has opened in the Great Hall at Tettegouche State Park. Watercolor painter Dennis Murnyak has a wide variety of work on view.

Murnyak’s exhibit will be up through December.

In Duluth, the Tweed Museum of Art continues its exhibition of Manifest’o, an installation by Jonathan Thunder. There are three animation vignettes featuring Anishanaabe stories:” Supernaut Becomes The Water Lily”; :The Mishu Bizhiw Awakens” and “Goldfinch Counts Leaves.”

Three are three exhibits currently on view at the Duluth Art Institute: Patrick Luber’s, “Exceptionally Ordinary,” Darren Houser’s, “Real-Unreal” and Nik Nerburn’s,  “Nik Nuerburn is a Camera.” All the exhibits continue through Dec. 20.

Also, Alyssa Johnson has opened a photography exhibit at the Red Herring Lounge entitled “Once Upon an Imagination.”

In Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery has opened three new exhibits this week including “21 Pillows,” an installation by Cheryl Wilson-Smith, “Lessons: The Artistry of Learning” and “Carl Beam’s Exorcism,” from the Permanent Collection.

Window Shopping:

Upcoming:

One of the finest celebrations of the winter: The Winter Solstice Shadow Puppet Show by the Good Harbor Players is Friday, Dec. 21 at 6 p.m. outside at North House Folk School. All invited. Free.

The Shadow Puppet Show always includes great puppets, a funny storyline and music. And not to forget, the bonfire to throw in your “gloomies” and a community potluck afterwards. Partiipants are asked to bring their own plates and silverware to the potluck. Stay tuned for details.

The 2019 Winter Plein Air Retreat at YMCA Camp Menogyn is set for Jan. 27-Feb. 1 this year, with an exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post to open Feb. 1.

The application deadline is Dec. 24. To find out more and to apply, click here.

Music:

Here’s the music for this week:

Thursday, Dec. 13:

• Maria Nickolay, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne & the Wildcats, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 14:

• Nate Weiler, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Shakey Ground, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Snowball Music & Ski Festival, Papa Charlie’s,  Jon Wayne & The Pain, 9 p.m.; WookieFoot, 10:45 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 15:

• Snowball Music & Ski Festival, Papa Charlie’s, Smokin’ Joe, 12:30; The Limns, 2 p.m., Jon Wayne, 4 p.m.; Heatbox, 9 p.m., Wookiefoot, 10:45 p.m.
• A Hovland Family Christmas,  Hovland Town Hall, 7 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 16:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• Open State with Joe Paulik, 6 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 17:

• Holiday Show with the North Shore Community Swing Band, Wunderbar, 6-8 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 18:

• Gordon Thorne, Poplar River Pub, 68 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 19:

• Jam Session, Gun Flint Tavern, 6:30 p.m.

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

Wildlife:

 

Catching wildlife:

Ice photos:

 

 

 

 

 

Lake Superior:

 

Potpourri:

 

 

 

And, a photo for the season.

Enjoy your weekend!

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