Lake Trout catch on Saganaga Lake by Layne Kennedy.
Greetings from the North Shore, where we have counted four days of sunshine so far in the last week or so. We love the counting part. May it continue.
We also love inspiring words which help us focus, and this week, guest writer David Seaton wrote a beautiful New Year piece about the inspiring beauty of Hungry Jack Lake, which we are publishing here for you. Enjoy!
Hungry Jack Lake in winter by David Seaton.
New Year Thoughts by David Seaton:
“And now we welcome the New Year. Full of things that have never been. -Rilke
Standing on the frozen surface of Hungry Jack Lake, waiting for the sun to peek over the horizon. It is below zero. The air is dead still. I followed the tracks from our friendly Mr. Fox out onto the lake knowing he avoids the soft spots.
To my right, two miles away, the cacophony of 100-plus sled dogs howling and barking pierces the air as they wait for each team to start their race. To them it is like any other day – they get to run and pull. It is all they need.
To my left, somewhere across the lake, a raven croaks out his notice to the world that the day has begun, that he is alive. A family of blue jays proclaim territory, “Thief! Thief!” Chickadees remind us that the days are getting longer as their song changes. A woodpecker drums.
In front of me the trees are tinged with thick, delicate frost. A gift from the heavens overnight. One tree lets out a sharp pop protesting the cold. Smoke curls from our chimney, maple and birch keeping our sanctuary warm and cozy.
The lake cracks under my feet, acknowledging the burden as if to say, “Get on with it”. Nancy, growing cold, flops down and makes a snow angel. We continue to wait for the moment. Thirty winters we have waited for these moments and it has always been grand.
Then it happens. Sunlight peeks over the ridge, dazzling frosted tips of branches and bringing light to our hearts. A few crystals, too heavy to cling to a branch, tumble slowly to the ground. Each one sparkling to make a diamond envy its perfection.
What will the New Year bring? We will wait, patiently, to find out. And it will be grand. May your patience be rewarded too.”
We don’t have a friendly fox trotting around the yard today, but we do have a few things happening this week which might be of interest.
First up: The Hygge Festival is this month and there are a number of events scheduled, including the Cook County Fireplace tour, where lodges and resorts invite the public to visit, have a warm drink, and enjoy their outstanding fireplaces alight with a crackling fire.
The Big Bear Lodge fireplace is one of the fireplaces on the Cook County Fireplace Tour.
To see the list of places that are on the Fireplace Tour, click here.
There are a number of events happening this month during the Hygge Festival. Hygge” (pronounced hoo-gah), a Danish word, 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. There’s a great selection of events in the county this month to celebrate this winter festival. Check them out here,
One of the events is Art Night at Joy and Company. Every Thursday night from 4-6 p.m. through the month of February, the shop will hold Art Night, a chance to experiment with a variety of different art and craft mediums.
Joy and Company will hold Art Night from 4-6 pm every Thursday this month.
The public is invited to come to the shop and try their hand at making. All supplies are provided. Free.
Here’s the schedule:
- Feb. 2: Stamping – make a school of fish
- Feb. 9: Explore Watercolor – Viviva Color Sheet
- Feb. 16: Gouache- what is it?
- Feb. 23: Pastels on colored paper
On Friday, a film screening will be held at the Grand Marais Public Library as part of its winter series, Cinema on the Shore: North Shore Reels. The film is called “Nomadland.” The films are screened every other week through March 10 at 6 pm and are free. Note: These are films meant for adults.
Here’s the trailer for Nomadland:
Here’s the trailer for the film that will be screened on Feb. 17: “A Girl Missing.”
February 24: “They Say Nothing Stays the Same”
March 3: “A Song Without a Name”
March 10: “Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul.”
The films start at 6 pm and audiences are advised to come early to secure a good seat. They are free.
Also on Friday, the Johnson Heritage Post will hold an opening reception for a new exhibit. Entitled “Northern Light,” the exhibition features plein air paintings by Brock Larson, the Plein Air Grand Marais ’23 Grand Prize Winner.
Plein air painter Brock Larson opens an exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post on Friday. The reception is from 5 – 7 pm.
Also on Friday, the Cook County Pond Hockey Tournament opens at the hockey rink at the Cook County Community Center from 5-7 pm. The tournament continues through Saturday.
The Pond Hockey Tournament will be at the Cook County hockey rink on Friday night and all day Saturday.
The concession stand will be open and a variety of delicious food will be available. It should be an exciting weekend of hockey. As of press time, five teams had signed up, and more are expected. Open to all. Free.
Saturday starts out with the Fiber Circle at Dappled Fern Fibers in downtown Grand Marais.
The Fiber Circle at Dappled Fern Fibers is held from 10 am to noon on Saturdays.
This free, drop-in group is a great place to work on easy projects and connect with other fiber folks in the area! Dappled Fern is a local yarn shop offering a curated collection of high-end yarn, tools, and gifts. We offer a place to make, gather, and be during your visit to the North Shore. Knitting instruction is not provided in this group, so bring a simple project that doesn’t take much thought. Slip into this comfortable space for a cozy morning. Saturdays, 10 am to noon. No sign-up is needed.
Drury Lane Books will kick-off the Cook County Hygge Festival with a Full Moon Readings event in partnership with Cook County School District 166 PTA on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 5:30 pm on the East Bay shore in front of the store in downtown Grand Marais.
The “Many Tiny Lights” PTA fundraiser and Drury Lane Books Full Moon Reading will be held on Saturday, Feb. 4, starting at 5:30 pm. Open to all.
This year’s “Many Tiny Lights” PTA fundraiser will include ice globe luminaria, a friendly bonfire, sweet cider, delicious cookies, a capella songs, poetry, readings, stories….and maybe a puppet or two.
The event is a fundraiser for the PTA. The public is invited to sponsor an ice globe in memory of someone, to honor a loved one, or just for fun, for $5 each. Multiple globe sponsorships are happily encouraged. The suggested donation of $5 supports teacher/classroom supplies, End-of-Year treats for all PK-12th graders, library books, field trips, teacher conference snacks, Staff Appreciation Week gifts, and much, much more.
To sponsor a luminary at $5 per luminary, please fill out the form below and return to the ISD 166 office with cash or a check. Click here to see the form.
This event is free and open to the public. All are welcome.
On Tuesday, Feb. 7, the Grand Portage Monument will host Ojibwe storyteller Jason Jones for an evening of Aadizookewin: Traditional Ojibwe Storytelling.
Aadizookewin, Traditional Ojibwe Storytelling will be held at the Grand Portage National Monument starting at 6 pm on Tuesday, Feb 7.
Jones is of the Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation. The event will start at 6 p.m. Refreshments provided by the Grand Portage Band. The public is invited.
Next Saturday, Feb. 11, North Shore Winery will hold the 2nd annual Galentines Market from 12:30 to 5 pm.
The Second annual Galentines Market will be held at the North Shore Winery on Saturday, Feb 11.
Look for work by Kari Carter Pottery, Northern Shift Vintage and collections from The Big Lake.
The public is invited to have an afternoon out, grab a drink and see what these artists and artisans have to offer as a precede for Valentine’s Day, only a few days away.
Fiber Week at North House Folk School starts on Monday, Feb. 13, offering a wide variety of classes, workshops, and presentations throughout the week.
Fiber Week at North House Folk School opens Feb. 13. Anishinaabe artisan Leon Ozaawaagosh Valliere will teach traditional Ojibwe finger weaving. For more information about his class and other classes that will be offered, click here.
Wool, woodstoves, and winter weave together for the cozy week at North House each February. The event features speakers, demonstrations, community gatherings, and coursework from long-time North House instructors as well as new guest artisans.
This year’s featured guest instructor is Leon Ozaawaagosh Valliere, a recognized elder, spiritual leader, and teacher from Waaswaaganing or Lac du Flambeau in Northern Wisconsin. He was raised in a traditional Ojibwe hunting and gathering culture. Ozaawaagosh will offer a course in traditional Anishinaabe Finger Weaving.
Registration for courses is open now, Find out more here.
Upcoming:
Tettegouche State Park will hold Winter Fest at the park on Feb.18 featuring a wide variety of events and crafts for the whole family. Snacks will also be served. Everyone is invited.
Tettegouche State Park will hold Winter Fest on Feb. 18 with lots of activities and presentations for the whole family.
The award-winning High 48s with Becky Schlegel headline North Shore Music Association’s 6th Grand Marais Ole Opry which will be held at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on Feb. 25.
The High 48s with Becky Schlegel will be in concert at the AC on Feb. 25.
The event, also featuring North Shore old-time string band Up Jumped Trouble, gets the crowd hopping. Talented young fiddler Martine Redshaw shines alongside her father, John Redshaw. This locally loved showcase always offers a lively and heart-warming mix of classic country, old-time, and bluegrass music. The concert starts at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $20 for adults, and $10 for youth (18 & under). They can be purchased online here or at the door.
Kudos
Staci Lola Drouillard’s second book, Seven Aunts, is a finalist in the Memoir & Creative Nonfiction in the Minnesota Book Awards.
Opportunities:
Public registration for the Grand Marais Art Colony’s 2023 May – October classes is now open.
Registration is now open for classes at the Grand Marais Art Colony.
View its lineup of classes and sign up on its website Click here to learn more.
Exhibits:
Wildlife photographs by Gordon Dietzman are currently on view in the Great Hall at Tettegouche State Park.
Photograph by Gordon Dietzman, who is currently exhibiting at Tettegouche State Park.
Dietzman has photographed nature for 40 years and has traveled extensively throughout North America, Southeast Asia, and his own backyard. His photography spans a wide range of wildlife including tiny insects to North America’s largest mammals and he often provides presentations not only on nature photography but his personal experience on conservation issues. His exhibit continues through the end of February.
Susan Hensel is exhibiting work at the Duluth Art Institute.
With limited color palettes and basic techniques, Minnesota artist Susan Hensel creates textile sculptures and mixed media works. Spanning a wide range of sizes, Hensel investigates a variety of forms: The exhibit is in the John Steffl Gallery and continues through March 13.
Bryan Hansel is exhibiting his photographs in St. Paul.
Bryan Hansel is exhibiting work at St. Paul’s Egg and I.
The NWO Now exhibit continues at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery with more than 60 Northwest Ontario artists represented.
Old Mill Bay, Lake Superior, acrylic, by Taimi Poldmaa is currently on view at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.
Online Findings:
Bally Creek Ski with music by Barb LaVigne:
Artist Johnathan Harris and his painting titled Critical Race Theory.
Check out this photo from 1858.
Encampment on the Red River, 1858 by Lloyd Hine. The North Canoe. Very slow and bad traveling. Read more here.
Artists At Work:
The Streets. Taken Nov. 16 by Brian Dinielli.
Wood-turned cherry bowl by Lou Pignolet.
WIP by Andy Ness.
Fantasy Grand Marais by Bryan Hansel.
Cold Spirits teach us to keep close together to create warmth by Roy Thomas.
Downy Woodpeckers at the farm by Betsy Bowen.
A Sunday in winter by Mary Beams.
Brooms by Marybeth Garmoe. She is teaching a class at the North House Folk School on Feb. 24.
Online Music:
Have you heard this one?
Live Music:
Thursday, Feb. 2:
- Acoustic Night, Mogul’s Grille & Tap Room, 4-6 pm
- Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6-9 pm
Friday, Feb. 3:
- Acoustic Night, Mogul’s Grille & Tap Room, 4-6 pm
- John Gruber, Bluefin Grille, 7-9 pm
Saturday, Feb. 4:
- Gene Lafond and Amy Grillo, Cascade Restaurant and Pub, 6-8 pm.
Monday, Feb. 6:
- Pete Kavanaugh, Bluefin Grille, 7-9 pm
Tuesday, Feb. 7:
- Eric Frost, North Shore Winery, 4:30-6:30 pm
Wednesday, Feb. 8:
- Charlie Parr, Papa Charlie’s Songwriter Series, 7 pm
Thursday, Feb. 9:
- Acoustic Night, Mogul’s Grille & Tap Room, 4-6 pm
- Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6-9 pm
Friday, Feb. 10:
- Acoustic Night, Mogul’s Grille & Tap Room, 4-6 pm
- Joe Paulik, Bluefin Grille, 7-9 pm
Saturday, Jan. 28:
- Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9-11:30 pm
Monday, Feb. 13:
- Shane Martin, Bluefin Grille, 7-9 pm
Tuesday, Feb. 14:
- Eric Frost, North Shore Winery, 4:30-6:30 pm
- Shane Martin, Bluefin Grille, 7-9 pm
Photographs:
We found some interesting photos again this week. Here’s a selection:
Wildlife:
Canada Jay in the heart of winter by Jim Brandenburg.
Winter weasel by Sungho Lee.
A matter of balance. A Wild Turkey near Hibbing by John Heino.
Moose eyelashes by Chris Artist.
Sitting pretty in the Superior National Forest by Thomas Spence.
Great Horned Owl in winter by Mark Schocken.
Gotcha! Common Kingfisher by Tariq Abrijn.
Some Not So Wilds:
Icelandic sheep in Bozeman by Mary Boyle Anderson.
Year of the Rabbit stamps from USPS by Brigette Binesikwe Nies.
Felted beaver friend by Elise Kyllo.
Icescapes, Landscapes, Waterscapes & Moonscapes:
Art in nature by Kristofer Bowman.
The view by Drury Lane Books.
Moon Dog Jan 21 by Keith Jentoft
Keeping the cabin vibes cozy by Dave Somers.
Sunrise and sea fog by Kristofer Bowman.
Icehenge by Bryan Hansel.
Enjoying the sun in Thunder Bay by Chris Artist.
Skiing at Bally Creek by Nancy Haarmeyer.
Artist Point by Paul Sundberg.
Road to Moon, Saskatchewan Canada by Herry.with.an.e.
Oh, deer, it’s snowing again on the Gunflint Trail by Thomas Spence.
Sea Smoke by Paul Sundberg.
28 degrees F by Kalli Hawkins.
Saturday Below by Christian Dalbec.
The North Shore by Jamie Rabold.
Another one with the sun. Rare this month by Kristofer Bowman.
Sunset by David Somers.
Moody winter drive by Tim Graul.
January glow by John Heino.
An Inland Sea, indeed by Elizabeth Miller.
Sunset over Lake Superior by Bryan Hansel.
Just look up by Olivia Dreger.
And finally, this one– the flirt.
A bear selfie.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
If you would like to support NorthShore ArtScene with a donation, just click on the icon below or snail mail a check to NorthShore ArtScene, PO Box 1232, Grand Marais, MN 55604. We really appreciate financial support. Thank you!
We’d also like to thank the volunteers who helped this week with captions, proofreading, technical issues, and videos. They include Jeremy Lopez, Yvonne Mills, Kari Carter, and M Baxley. Thank you all!