North Shore Arts Scene

Layne Kennedy took this iconic shot of Grand Marais in summer a few years ago. Enjoy!

Grand Marais and the North Shore celebrate history and their connections to Lake Superior this weekend during the 89th annual Fisherman’s Picnic. This iconic celebration, which includes everyone in the community as well as visitors from throughout the region, is a 4-day event featuring everything from trail runs to a cutest puppy contest, craft shows to candy corn and, of course, the famous fish burger.

Fish Burgers, crafted from herring caught in Lake Superior, are one of the icons of Fisherman’s Picnic, which Isi  sponsored by the Grand Marais Lions.

Fish Pic starts on Thursday and runs through Sunday in downtown Grand Marais as well as throughout the county. There is lots to do for all ages. Besides all the contests and events in town, there is live music on the Harbor Park stage, three nights of street dancing, as well as a tennis tournament, a softball tournament, a log rolling tournament and the Big Fish contest. There are three different craft markets open this weekend, too, and lots of kids’ activities and daily contests. And not to forget–there’s a fireworks show on Saturday night and the Fisherman’s Picnic Parade at 1 p.m.

The Fisherman’s Picnic Parade begins at 1 p.m. on Sunday. It’s the best parade of the year.

In short, the Fish Pic schedule is crowded with lots of things to do all weekend.

Download the schedule  here. And come on down and be entertained this weekend!

There are lots of other things to do in the community this weekend, too. Here are a few of them:

North House Folk School will hold two sessions of  “Try It: Wood-fired Baking” classes on Thursday, Aug. 2. The sessions are from 1-3 p.m. and from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Participants will have a chance to try their hands at baking bread in North House’s wood-fired oven.

Two sessions of Try It: Baking Bread” will be held at North House Folk School on Thursday. Call 387-9762 for more info and to register.

Also, the Folk School’s artisan-instructor of the week is broom-maker Marybeth Garmoe. Garmoe will be demonstrating her craft all weekend at North House and will teach a mini-class at 10 a.m. on Saturday. For more info and to register, call 387-9762.

Also on Thursday, the 40th annual Friends of the Library Used Book Sale begins at the Cook County Community Center. The first session, from 5-7 p.m. Thursday night is open to members, but memberships will be on sale one hour prior to the sale. The book sale continues from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and from 8 .m. to noon on Saturday. Saturday is the bag sale… fill a bag up with books for a small fee. All are invited to come up and check out this sale, which features hundreds of books on every subject.

Also on Thursday, the Grand Marais Theater Festival continues with “Shrek The Musical,” which will be performed at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts at 7 p.m. Thursday and 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are available at the door. “Mom’s Gift,” a comedy which is also part of the festival, will be performed on Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., after the Fisherman’s Picnic Parade.

On Friday, Drury Lane Books will hold a Writer’s Salon at 7 p.m. with Kelly Barnhill, author of the Newbery Medal-winning novel, “The Girl Who Drank the Moon.”

Author Kelly Barnhill will be featured at a Writer’s Salon at Drury Lane Books at 7 p.m. Friday.

Barnhill will read from her latest work,“Dreadful Young Ladies,”  a collection of short stories for adults. She will also discuss writing and take questions from the audience. All invited. Free.

On Saturday, the Lake Superior International Yacht Race, one of the oldest annual races on Lake Superior, will start in the Grand Marais Harbor at 11 a.m. The boats will race to Thunder Bay.

The Lake Superior International Yacht Race is from Grand Marais to Thunder Bay this year. The start is at 11 a.m. in the Grand Marais Harbor.

The race is hosted by the Thunder Bay Yacht Club.

And there are lots of mini-classes and events at the Grand Marais Art Colony on Saturday. Andy Ness will teach a free, drop-in mask-making class from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday. Lissa Grover will teach a class in making glass window ornaments from 9-11 a.m. and from 1-3 p.m. in the glass studio. To register, call 387-2737. And Twin Cities potter Mark Lusardi will be teaching a raku class at the Grand Marais Art Colony on Saturday and Sunday. (There is still time to register for the class.)

Raku potter, Mark Lusardi, will hold a rake-firing event for the public on Saturday from 5-7 p.m. at the Grand Marais Art Colony.

Also on Saturday from 5-7 p.m., Lusardi will also hold a drop-in raku firing event for the public. Small pots will be available for purchase, and participants can glaze it and watch as Lusardi fires it in his raku kiln. For more info, call 387-2737.

And not to forget, street dances will be held in Harbor Park starting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Fireworks will go off around 9:45 p.m. And on  On Sunday, the Fisherman’s Picnic Parade will begin at 1 p.m. It’s a great parade.

In Hovland, artists and artisans will hold the Third Annual Art Sale at the Chicago Bay Marketplace from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Chicago Bay Market’s parking lot. Expect to find pottery, photography and crafts, as well as yummy treats at the Market.

On Wednesday, a fundraiser for the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department will be held at Fire Hall No. 1 at Mid-Trail from noon to 4 p.m.

It features a flea market and boutique, and a live auction at 1:30 p.m. under the big tent. Raffle tickets to win a handcrafted quilt donated by the Mid-Trail Quilters will be sold as well.

Exhibits:

 Hazel Belvo and Marcia Cushmore are exhibiting new work at the Johnson Heritage Post this month, including paintings, drawings and prints.

“Old Norway” by Marcia Cushmore is at the Johnson Heritage Post Gallery.

The exhibit continues through Aug. 12. The Heritage Post is closed on Tuesdays. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and Monday and from 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

In Duluth, the Zeitgeist Arts Cafe will hold an opening reception for an exhibit of photographs by Kerry Gauthier.

Photography by Kerry Gauthier. He will be exhibiting his work at the Zeitgeist Arts Cafe in Duluth.

The opening reception for Gauthier is from 5-7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 6.

Also in Duluth, the Tweed Museum of Art continues its exhibit, “Treasures from Home.”

“Four Horsemen,” print by Dean Meeker is at the Tweed Museum of Art.

“Treasures from Home” features favorite works of local collectors. The exhibit concludes at the end of this month.

In Thunder Bay, Christi Belcourt’s retrospective with Isaac Murdock, “Uprising: The Power of Mother Earth”continues at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.

“Honoring My Spirit Helpers” by Christi Belcourt is at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.

The Art of the Elements Gallery in rural Grand Marais at the Frykman Art Studio is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the summer. The gallery will be participating in the Fall Studio Tour Sept. 28-Oct. 7.

Martye Allen’s sculpture, Bear with Raven” is one of the pieces at the Art of the Elements Gallery in rural Grand Marais.

The Art of the Elements Gallery is located at 306 County Rd. 44. Call 387-1949 for more info.

Two Harbors painter David Gilsvik has new work at Sivertson Gallery.

Jasper Lake Sunset by David Gilsvik.

And new work by regional artists as well as prints by Betsy Bowen are being exhibited at Betsy Bowen’s Studio & Galleries.

Jeanne Hedstrom is exhibiting this painting at Betsy Bowen’s Studio & Galleries.

Kristin Blomberg is exhibiting her work at the North Shore Winery.

“North Shore” by Kristin Blomberg is at the North Shore Winery.

Upcoming:

 A picnic operetta is coming to the Finland Historical Society in Finland on Aug 17. “Falstaff and the Working Wives of Lake County,” a production of the Twin Cities opera group, Mixed Precipitation, is an edible opera adventure that is touring Minnesota this summer. The operetta, an adaptation of Otto Nicolai’s German opera, “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” includes a bit of Minnesota history and the music of Bruce Springsteen.

The cast from Mixed Precipation, in one of their performances.

“Falstaff and the Working Wives of Lake County” will be performed at 2 p.m. Aug. 17. Stay tuned for details.

The Carpenter Ants are one of the bands scheduled to perform for this year’s Radio Waves Music Festival sponsored by WTIP Community Radio. The festival will be held at Sweetheart’s Bluff in the Grand Marais Rec Park Sept. 7-9 under the Big Tent. In all, 25 acts will take the stage at this year’s festival. To see the complete line-up and for more info, click here.

Art News:

In other WTIP news, the radio station was recently featured in a story in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Marnie McMillan, one of the co-hosts for WTIP’s morning show. Photo by Anthony Souffle, Star-Tribune.

The headline for the story is “WTIP in Grand Marais: A Deep Woods Dose of Radio Charm.” To read the story, click here.

Members of the Northwoods Fiber Guild recently spent a day at North House Folk School colorful book bags for the Grand Marais Public Library. The idea to make cloth book bags for the library came from Jo Wood, as part of project to encourage choosing a reusable cloth bag over a plastic or paper bag.

Nancy Backlund, incoming president of the Northwoods Fiber Guild and Amanda St. John, assistant director of the library, show to cloth book bags now available for use at the library. They are free for everyone to use.

The book bags come in two types: a traditional cloth bag with handles and a T-shirt bag, with the collar and sleeves cut out to make a great book bag. All the bags will be at the library and available for anyone to use, free of charge. The Fiber Guild has already scheduled another sewing session at North House to make more of them.

And singer/songwriter Maria Nickolay has some news:

Maria Nickolsy’s CD, “Through the Ashes” is now on Spotify.

Music:

Here’s the music schedule for this week:

Thursday, Aug. 2

Fisherman’s Picnic Harbor Park Stage:

• Joe Paulik, 11 a.m.
• Maria Nickolay, 1 p.m.
• Clearwater Hot Club, 3 p.m.
• Common Ground, 7 p.m. (Street Dance)

Other Venues:

• Cooper and Muska, Grandma Ray’s, 6 p.m.
• Cook County’s Most Wanted, Grandma Ray’s, 9 p.m.
• Maria Nickolay, Cascade Lodge Restaurant, 6 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Lutsen Resort, 6:30 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band with The Cuckoo Bees, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Billy Johnson, Gun Flint Tavern, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 3

Fisherman’s Picnic Harbor Park Stage:

• Joe Paulik, 11 a.m.
• Michael Monroe, 1 p.m.
• Bug Dope, 3 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, 7 p.m., (Street Dance)

Other venues:

• Cooper and Muska, Voyageur Brewing, 4 p.m.
• 4-Shore, Grandma Ray’s, 6 p.m.
• The Cruisers, outside, Grandma Ray’s, 7:30 p.m.
• Kutdown, Grandma Ray’s, 9 p.m.
• True Grass Trio, The Wunderbar, 6 p.m.
• Ben Cook-Felz, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Gene & Amy Grillo, Eagle Ridge Resort, 7 p.m.
• Common Ground, Voyageur Brewing, outside in the tent, 7 p.m.
• Floydian Slip, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Pete Kavanaugh, Bluefin Bay, 9 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 4:

Fisherman’s Picnic Harbor Park Stage:

• Community Swing Band, 11 a.m.
• Michael Monroe, 1 p.m.
• 71 Trio, 3 p.m.
• SplinterTones, 7 p.m. (Street Dance)

Other venues:

• Cook County’s Most Wanted, Birch terrace, 3 p.m.
• Billy Johnson, North Shore Winery, 3 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Cascade Lodge Restaurant, 6 p.m.
• 4-Shore, Grandma Ray’s, 6 p.m.
• J Squared & the Makers, Papa Charlie’s, 6:30 p.m.
• Michael Monroe, Log Cabin Concert, 7 p.m. www.michaelmonroemusic.com
• Floydian Slip, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Kutdown, Grandma Ray’s, 9 p.m
• DJBeavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 5:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• Fish Heads, Skyport Lodge, 4 p.m.

Monday, Aug. 5:

• Jack Klatt, Monday Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8:30 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Bluefin Bay, 9 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 8:

• Eric Frost, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.

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

First, some wildlife photos …

“Good Morning” by Christian Dalbec.

Green heron youngsters by Michael Furtman.

I spotted this  three hoof-headed moose this morning.

Watching the trout today by Sandra Updike.

And here are some moonscapes:

Red moon rising in Duluth by Ken Harmon.

July full moon passing through the Aerial Lift Bridge in Duluth by Jan Swart.

Crescent moon and Mars by David Johnson.

And here are some landscapes:

Tis the season by Cary Schmies.

Happy Birthday Split Rock Lighthouse, 108-years young — a ship’s view by Christian Dalbec.

Blue Hour at Hidden Beach by Don Tredinnick.

Northern Minnesota in Mid-Summer by Sandra Updyke.

High Falls at the Baptism River by Jackie Feil.

:

Steps leading to Lake Superior near Cascade River State Park by Curt Brown.

And finally, this shot of a peaceful summer day in the Northwoods:

Cruising the Tall Grass by Thomas Spence.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

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

Split Rock Lighthouse by Peggy Knotts.

The beauteous summer continues, with balmy days and blue skies, and just enough wind to ruffle the water and, perhaps, give the good ship the Hjordis, just enough air to fill her sails and glide away.

On land, there’s plenty to do, too.

Thursday is a busy day. First up are woodcarving demonstrations by Mike Loeffler, who is the instructor-in-residence at North House Folk School this week. Loeffler will be demonstrating all weekend and will teach a mini-class, Carving a Songbird, at 10 a.m. Saturday. To register for the class and for more info, call 387-9762. The public is invited to campus and to see him work.

The Johnson Heritage Post will host a panel discussion about the historic rescue attempt of local legend Carl Hammer by Helmer Aakvik in 1958. The young fisherman was lost in a nasty Lake Superior storm.

The Cook County Historical Society’s presentation will include a panel discussion by David Hammer, Ray Nagy and Gene Hagen recalling the events of that day. The presentation is free and will be at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. All invited.

Also on Thursday, the North Shore Winery in Lutsen will open a new exhibition of artwork by Grand Marais artist Kristin Blomberg with a reception from 6-9 p.m.

Kristin Blomberg will have a solo exhibition at the North Shore Winery. The opening reception is from 6-9 p.m. Thursday. All invited.

The Grand Marais Playhouse‘s Summer Theater Festival continues this week with the comedy “Mom’s Gift” and “Shrek the Musical” performed in repertory at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts from Thursday through Sunday.

“Shrek the Musical” (photo of the cast, above) and the comedy “Mom’s Gift” will be performed this weekend and next at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts.

Performances are at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. “Mom’s Gift” will be performed on Thursday and Saturday, “Shrek the Musical” will be performed Friday and Sunday this week. Tickets are available online or at the door. Click here for tickets and more info.

Also, at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Briand Morrison and Roxann Berglund will play Full Moon Music by the bonfire at Drury Lane Books.

Briand Morrison and Roxann Berglund will play music by the bonfire at Drury Lane Books on Thursday.

Morrison and Berglund share bossas, ballads, summer songs and more around the fire to celebrate the full moon rising over the East Bay of Lake Superior. All invited. Free.

On Friday, look for the Stars of the North Music Festival, which opens at the main stage in Harbor Park on Friday afternoon and continues through Sunday. The event, organized by the Grand Marais Music Collaborative, is free, and will feature a beer and wine bar and a food truck.

Stars of the North Music Festival will be in Harbor Park from Friday afternoon to Sunday with live music performances from a great selection of local musicians. See Music Schedule, below, for details.

The event is a fundraiser for the Collaborative’s Youth Music Lesson program. Raffle tickets and T-shirts will be sold to raise funds for the program. All are invited to come listen to great music and help support youth musicians at the same time. See Music Schedule, below, for details of who will be playing when. Briand Morrison kicks off the festival at 3 p.m. Friday and the Plucked Up String Band concludes Friday’s music from 8-10 p.m. Other bands include Mysterious Ways, the SplinterTones, the Sky Blue Quartet, Joe Paulik, Michael Monroe, Katy Vernon, DJ Beavstar, Common Ground, Chris Gillis and Gordon Thorne & Friends. There will also be student performances. It should be a great time.

Breaking News: Rumor has it that Angel Hair Rasta, a local al dente rasta band, will play at Grandma Ray’s after 10 p.m. on Friday night. The band includes Michael Monroe, Chris Gillis, Thomas Stamps, Jonathan Steckleburg and Todd Miller.

Also on Friday, singer/songwriter Mary Bue will be on WTIP’s The Roadhouse to talk about her music and play a few songs. The program will also feature interviews with photographer Layne Kennedy and musicians Todd Miller and Chris Gillis, who will talk about the Stars of the North Music Festival. The program airs from 5-7 p.m.

Saturday kicks off with the Cook County Market, which is held in the Senior Center parking lot from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Cook County Market is held in the Senior Center parking lot from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

The Market features a wide variety of artisans exhibiting their work, as well as produce from Round River Farm in Finland. (The produce arrives at 10 a.m.)

Drury Lane Books will host children’s author Yvonne Pearson from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

Yvonne Pearson will read from her latest Sadie book at Drury Lane Books from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

Pearson will read from her latest book, “Sadie Braves the Wilderness” and will discuss the writing process with the audience. All invited. Free.

And starting at noon on Saturday, the Grand Marais Garden Club will hold its annual Flower Show at the Cook County Community Center from noon to 5 p.m.

The Grand Marais Garden Club will hold its annual flower show at the Cook County Community Center from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

The public is invited to enjoy the beauty of local flowers and enjoy a snack at the same time. Master Gardeners will have a “Ask a Question” booth, and there will be a plant exchange/sale as well. All invited. Free.

And finally, on Wednesday, Aug. 1, Hazel Belvo will give an Artist Talk at Cook County Higher Education at 7 p.m.

Hazel Belvo will give an Artist Talk at Cook County Higher Education at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Her topic will be “Creativity: Intuition and Intellect.” All invited. Free.

Exhibits:

 The exhibit, “Belvo/Cushmore: Paintings & Drawings 2018″ continues at the Johnson Heritage Post. This is a fascinating exhibit and well-worth lots of walk-throughs.

“Rose Garden,” triptych, by Hazel Belvo, is one of many works in the Johnson Heritage Post exhibit.

The Duluth Art Institute is featuring three exhibits in the Depot this month including  “Jonathan Thunder: Suspension of Disbelief,” “Chholing Taha: Every Spirit Tells a Story” and “Payton MacDonald: Sonic Divide: Art Meets Endurance.”

Thunder’s exhibit features sound and what he calls “animated canvases,” a hybrid of hand-painting and animation.

This painting by Jonathan Thunder is at the Duluth Art Institute. Thunder and Brenda Child will be at Drury Lane Books for a Writer’s Salon Aug. 25.

The exhibit at the Art Institute serves as an area for the artist to experiment with a variety of media and modes of installation in working towards a large-scale exhibition. There will be an artist talk at the close of the exhibition. And, Thunder and Brenda Child will be at Drury Lane Books on Aug. 25 to talk about their new book, “Bowwow Powwow,” an Ojibwe/English bilingual children’s book translated by Gordan Jourdain.

At the Thunder Bay Art Gallery in Thunder Bay, Christi Belcourt’s exhibition “Uprising: The Power of Mother Earth–A Retrospective with Isaac Murdoch” continues.

“Tree Spirits Leaving Before the Fire,” by Christi Belcourt.

The exhibit features a wide selection of her work and is a must-see for art lovers.

Opportunities:

 The Grand Marais Art Colony has extended its search for its next executive director.  The Executive Director role at the Art Colony is that of a vocal and visible advocate and leader of the arts, both locally and regionally. Applications are due Friday, Aug. 10. Follow the link below for more info about the position and how to apply: https://grandmaraisartcolony.org/internships-and-employment/

Upcoming:

 Fisherman’s Picnic starts next week in Grand Marais and will be held Aug. 2-5.

The 88th annual Fisherman’s Picnic will be in Grand Marais Aug. 2-5. (Photo courtesy of the Cook County Historical Society.)

This historic festival celebrates its 88th anniversary this year, and features Crazy Days sales, craft shows, daily contests and prizes, a wide variety of live music, kids activities, food, including the fish burgers, and much more. There are fireworks Saturday night and the best parade of the year on Sunday. Other events include Buck’s Hardware Big Fish Contest, a trail run, tennis and softball tournaments and a log rolling tournament. For the complete event schedule, click here.

Author Kelly Barnhill will be at Writer’s Salon at Drury Lane Books at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3.  Barnhill,a Minnesota native and author of the Newbery Medal–winning novel,”The Girl Who Drank the Moon.” She will read from her new collection of short stories for adults, discuss writing, and take questions from the audience.

Artist News:

The Grace Notes played at the final stop of the Cross River Heritage Center’s Lundie Tour last week.

The Grace Notes played at the final stop of the Lundie Tour last week. They are, from left, Sherrie Lindskog, March Marocha and Karen Obinger.

They were included in a piece about the tour by WDIO-TV. Click here to see the segment.

A new band, the North Country Fair, will play the the Wunderbar at 7 p.m. Thursday night.

The North Country Fair will play at the Wunderbar on Thursday starting at 7 p.m.

The band includes: Brenda Benson (pedal steel guitar), Maria Nickolay (vocals, guitar, mandolin) Georgene Daubanton (vocals, percussion), Michele Miller (vocals,guitar, mandolin, fiddle)

 Music Schedule:

 Here’s the music schedule for the week:

Thursday, July 26:

• Common Ground, Cascade Restaurant, 6 p.m.
• North Country Fair, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Ian Alexy, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne & the Wildcats, North Shore Winery, 7 p.m.
• Briand Morrision & Roxann Berglund, Drury Lane Books, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, July 27:

• Briand Morrison,  Stars of the North Music Festival, Harbor Park, 3 p.m.
• Matt & Laurel, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
• Mysterious Ways, Stars of the North Music Festival, Harbor Park, 4:30 p.m.
• Portage, Grandma Ray’s, 6 p.m.
• SplinterTones, Stars of the North Music Festival, Harbor Park, 6:30 p.m.,
• Crazy Chester, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Stars of the North Music Festival, 8 p.m.
• Matt and Laurel, Voyageur Brewing, 8 p.m.
• Mary Bue and Lowray, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, Bluefin Grille, 9 p.m.

Saturday, July 28:

• Sky Blue Quartet, Stars of the North Music Festival, Harbor Park, 10 a.m.
• Joe Paulik, Stars of the North Music Festival, Harbor Park, 11 a.m.
• Michael Monroe, Stars of the North Music Festival, Harbor Park, 12:30 p.m.
• Katy Vernon, Stars of the North Music Festival, Harbor Park, 2 p.m.
• Amy Grillo and Gene LaFond, Stars of the North Music Festival, Harbor Park, 4:30 p.m.
• Bug Dope, Papa Charlie’s, 6 p.m.
• Common Ground, Stars of the North Music Festival, Harbor Park, 6:30 p.m.
• North Shore Community Swing Band, Clearwater Historic Lodge, 7 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Eagle Ridge Resort, 7 p.m.
• JohnRuss, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Michael Monroe, Log Cabin Concert, rural Grand Marais, www.michaelmonroemusic.com
• North Country Fair, Cascade Lodge Pub, 8 p.m.
• The Gentleman’s Anti-Temperance League, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Crazy Chester, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 29:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s, 10 a.m.
• Chris Gillis with Gordon Thorne & Friends, Stars of the North Music Festival, Harbor Park, 10 a.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, North Shore Winery, 3 p.m.
• Cook County’s Most Wanted, Skyport Lodge, 4 p.m.

Monday, July 30:

• Coral Creek, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.
• The Sea The Sea, Monday Songwriter’s Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8:30 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Bluefin Bay, 9 p.m.

Tuesday, July 31:

• Coral Creek, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 1:

• Brothers in Arms, Grandma Ray’s, 4 p.m.
• Jam Session, Gun Flint Tavern, 6:30 p.m.
• Maria Nickolay, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, Bluefin Bay, 9 p.m.

We found lots of photos this week, including a great selection of wild (and not so wild) animal shots. Here’s a selection:

First. a photo of birds to come:

Merganser eggs by Craig Hunter.

Bald eagle catches lunch by David Johnson.

And otter catches his lunch by Sarah Erickson.

A trout explores the rocks in the Grand Marais harbor. Photo by Christian Dalbec.

Honey Bee by Matt Pastick.

A baby tests out its wings by John Alexander.

Young mink by Paul Sundberg.

Swan parents with their baby by Matt Herberg.

These youngsters are just starting to lose their orange color. Photo by Nace Hagemann.

Sit. Stay. Red Fox, Superior National Forest by Thomas Spence.

A warm day for a lynx by David Johnson.

Babysitting for friends in Lake Bimidji by Brent Cizek. The New York Times ran this photo.

Moose by Nace Hagemann.

My yard toad ty Waven Wind.

We also found some great landscapes/seascapes/skyscapes.

Lake Superior by Abby Tofte, the Big Lake.

Her dark side by Ann Bowman.

Sunrise at Stoney Point by Jake Trout.

A beautiful morning for a little kayaking. Photo courtesy of Golden Eagle Lodge.

Christian Dalbec was diving in the Grand Marais harbor over the weekend.

A section of the Liberty shipwreck on the west side of the Grand Marais harbor by Christian Dalbec.

And finally, the 2nd annual Biggest Blueberry Contest has started. The blueberries are fantastic on the Gunflint Trail this year. It should be interesting to see who finds the biggest. Meanwhile, there’s lots to pick.

Corey Cochrane went picking with her parents and they came up with these three buckets of blueberries. Yum!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

(BTW: If you’d like to support NorthShore ArtScene, consider giving a donation today. And Thank You!)

“The woman I am leaving”  by Stephan Hoglund.

Greetings from Grand Marais where glorious summer days have arrived, bringing beauty and warmth and new hatchlings cheeping from nests. This week, look for the opening of the Summer Theater Festival, a new Hazel Belvo/Marcia Cushmore art exhibit, the North Shore Water Festival and the first summer flower show of the season. It’s also the weekend of WTIP Community Radio’s summer membership drive with lots of live music scheduled outdoors as well as in the studios.

First up is a chance to learn about knot work at North House Folk School. Knotmaster Ben Byron is the summer resident at North House Folk School this week and will be demonstrating the craft from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. He will also teach a mini-course on Saturday at 10 a.m. where participants can learn how to make a nautical key chain.

Ben Byron will be demonstrating knotowk at North House Folk School this weekend. He will also teach a mini-class on Saturday on making a knot work key chain.

For more information about the class, call North House at 387-9762. Click here for complete info about the mini-courses this summer at North House.

Also on Thursday, the Grand Marais Writer’s Guild will meet at the Grand Marais Public Library at 6 p.m. Each month local writers get together to chat about what they’re working on and do a few writing prompts. Participants are asked to bring a notebook. The event is facilitated by Rose Arrowsmith DeCoux. Free.

The big event of the week is the opening of this season’s Summer Theater Festival at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts. This year, the Grand Marais Playhouse will present “Shrek The Musical” and a comedy, “Mom’s Gift.” They will be performed in repertory Thursday through Sunday from July 19-Aug. 12.

“Shrek the Musical” opens tonight at the ACA at 7 p.m. and features a stellar cast performing the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film.

Shrek the Musical opens at the Arrowhead Center on Thursday at 7 p.m.

“Mom’s Gift,” an award-winning comedy, opens on Friday, July 20, at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts and will be performed in repertory with Shrek through Aug. 12.

The Grand Marais Playhouse‘s production of “Mom’s Gift” opens at the ACA on Friday at 7 p.m.

All performances are at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $25 adults, $15 under 18 and can be purchased at www.grandmaraisplayhouse.com or at the door. For the schedule of the performances, click here.  Tickets can also be purchased through the Playhouse’s Facebook page.

On Friday, the North Shore Water Festival kicks off in Harbor Park and runs through the weekend.

The North Shore Water Festival will be held in Harbor Park this weekend.

Experts will be on-hand offering fishing, touring kayak and canoe demonstrations, stand-up paddle board (SUP) demo activities in the harbor, including SUP yoga. Most activities are free and only require a waiver and/or registering in advance for SUP board yoga. The event continues through Sunday.

The pièce de résistance this weekend is the exhibit “Belvo/Cushmore: Paintings & Drawings 2018.” which opens at the Johnson Heritage Post with a reception from 5-7:30 p.m. on Friday.

A new exhibit featuring the works of Hazel Belvo and Marcia Cushmore opens at the Johnson Heritage Post on Friday.

This promises to be a fascinating exhibit, featuring the work of these famed artists. Cushmore will give an Artist Talk about the exhibit at 2 p.m. on Saturday. All invited. The exhibit continues through Aug. 12. The Heritage Post is closed on Tuesdays. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and Monday and from 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

On Saturday, the Cook County Market continues in the Senior Center parking lot with lots of arts and crafts from local artisans. Fresh produce and homebaked goods are also featured. The Market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Also on Saturday, Andy Ness will give an artist talk at the Grand Marais Art Colony from noon to 1 p.m. entitled “Blurring the Lines Between Fine Art and Fashion.”

Andy Ness will give an Artist Talk at the Grand Marais Art Colony at noon on Saturday entitled “Blurring the Lines Between Fine Art and Fashion.”

Ness will discuss the works of Hussein Chalayan, Leigh Bowery and Yayoi Kusama, artists who often integrate an array of artistic media and influences into their clothing. The presentation is free. All invited.

Also on Saturday, the West End Garden Club will host its annual summer flower show at the Birch Grove Community Center in Tofte entitled “Birds, Bees and Flowers” from 1-4 p.m.

The West End Garden Club’s flower show will be from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday at the Birch Grove Community Center. Refreshments will be served. All invited. Free.

Two Master Gardeners from Cook County Extension will be on hand to answer questions. The show features unique floral displays created by garden club members using the best of what’s locally in bloom. Many different varieties of garden and wildflowers will be on display. Refreshments will be served. All invited. Free.

On Sunday, Chik-Wauk Nature Center on the Gunflint Trail will host David Battistel, who will talk about John Paulson and the Paulson Mine, at 2 p.m. The Paulson Mine is located in western Cook County.

Touted as one of the great mining projects of the era, the failure of the Paulson Mine in the early 1890s had a devastating impact on local economies, spanning both sides of the border. The man behind this venture, John Paulson, was until recently an almost mythological figure. His life story however, from Norwegian immigrant, to Civil War veteran, to entrepreneur and finally to widowed farmer, is one of triumph and tragedy that exemplifies the North American experience in the 19th Century.

Dave Battistel is a history teacher and instructional leader at St. Patrick High School in Thunder Bay. Since 1994 he has been actively researching and writing about the history of the Port Arthur, Duluth and Western Railway, as well as its associated ventures (silver and iron mining and logging). He is currently writing a book on the Gunflint & Lake Superior Railroad.

All presentations are family friendly and free to the public and are held inside Chik-Wauk Nature Center.

And on Monday, the Grand Marais Art Colony will host a demo on Troubleshooting Intaglio Techniques at noon in the Print Studio and on Wednesday, Andy Ness will teach a mini-class on paper making. For more info, call the Art Colony at 387-2737 or visit www.grandmaraisartcolony.org.

Window Shopping:

Shiny Brookie by Ted C. Hansen is at Fly Box & Co.

Hannah Palma Laky has her pottery at The Big Lake.

Upstate MN is featuring Adam Gruetzmacher pottery as well as Baltic birch crates by Waam Industries. Peonies courtesy of Loren Stoner.

Breaking News:

Canadian governments gives $11.5 million to Thunder Bay Art Gallery relocation project.

The vision to relocate the Thunder Bay Art Gallery to a prominent location along the city’s waterfront is now in crystal clear focus. The art gallery received word this week that it will receive $11.5 million from Ottawa through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, the largest allocation to be spent from that envelope to date across the country.

The Thunder Bay Art Gallery is planning to relocate along the Lake Superior waterfront and just received a hefty grant from the Canadian government. Above is the proposed drawing of the new facility.

Sharon Godwin, the director of the Thunder Bay Art Gallery , said the federal dollars means that 80 per cent of the required $33 million in capital funding has been secured.

“This is a day we know the gallery will be built. This is a reality now,” Godwin said after the funding announcement, which was made on the site of the planned new waterfront gallery at Tugboat Basin immediately south of the Pearl Street entrance to Prince Arthur’s Landing. Stay tuned for details.

Artist News:

Singh-Ray Filters just released a filter that Bryan Hansel dreamed up and prototyped over the last year. You can learn about it here.

Photo by Bryan Hansel, taken with the polarizer he developed with Singh-Ray Filters.

And here’s a little music to enjoy. Axtell will be be playing at the Wunderbar next Wednesday.

Axtell plays at Wunderbar next Wednesday.

Click here to listen to one of Axtell’s songs.

Here’s the music schedule for this weekend:

Thursday, July 19:

• Live Music on WTIP:  SVEA, 1 p.m.;  Briand Morrison & Roxann Berglund, 4 p.m.; Andrew Norcross Band, 8 p.m.
• Pete K, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Live Music by the Campfire, Lutsen Resort, 6:30 p.m.
• Maria Nickolay, North Shore Winery, 7 p.m.
• Common Ground, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne & the Wildcats, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.

Friday, July 20:

• Live Music on WTIP, Fred Anderson, 1 p.m.; Gene Lafond and Amy Grillo, 4 p.m.;  Mysterious Ways, 6 p.m.
• Emily Haavik and the 35s, Voyageur Brewing, 4 p.m.
• North Shore Community Swing Band,  Grandma Ray’s, 6 p.m.
• The Cruisers, Grandma Ray’s, 9 p.m.
• Brothers in Arms, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Northland Timberland Band, Bluefin Grille, 9 p.m.

Saturday, July 21:

• Live on WTIP: Plucked Up String Band, 2 p.m.; Saints of Circumstance, 4 p.m.; The Cruisers, 5 p.m.
• Cook County’s Most Wanted, Birch Terrace, 3 p.m.
• Pete K, Papa Charlie’s, 6 p.m.
• Maria Nickolay, Cascade Lodge Pub, 8 p.m.
• Saints of Circumstance, Gunflint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• The Cruisers, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, Lutsen Resort, 8 p.m.
• Michael Monroe, Log Cabin Concert, rural Grand Marais, 7 p.m., reservations at www.michaelmonroemusic.com
• New Legacy Project, Zoar Lutheran Church, 8 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s. 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 22:

• Briand Morrison, Moguls Grille, 10 a.m.
• Mark Milner, Wunderbar, 11 a.m.
• Spruce Roots play for Bluegrass Sunday at the North Shore Winery, 3 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Skyport Lodge, 4 p.m.
• Open Stage with Joe Paulik, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.
• Joshua Schmidt Duo, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Monday, July 23:

• Live Music on WTIP: Chris Gillis, 1 p.m.,
• Open Mic Night, Grandma Ray’s, 7 p.m.
• Joshua Schmidt Duo, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.
• Pete Kavanaugh, Bluefin Grille, 9 p.m.

Tuesday, July 24:

• Joe Paulik Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, July 25:

• Jam Session, Gun Flint Tavern, 6:30 p.m.
• Axtell, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Maria Nickolay, Bluefin Grille, 9 p.m.

Here are some of the photos we found this week:

First, a beauteous water lily.

Photo by Kristofer Bowman.

Some wildlife shots:

American Bittern by Vicki Geretschlaeger.

Just a little bit of fog above the water this week by Nace Hagemann.

Northern lights by David Johnson.

What a crazy sunset by Justin Vrba.

The setting crescent moon and Venus over Elbow Lake by Bryan Hansel.

The Hordis at sunset by Joey Jerkovich.

On a beach at Tettegouche State Park by Matt Herberg.

Ahhh…summer in Lutsen by Annie Possis.

And, finally, this salute to summer.

At the waterpark–Gooseberry Falls State Park by Mary American.

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

Cascade River falls by  Mike Chrun.

This is the weekend artists and art lovers look forward to every year — the Grand Marais Arts Festival, which features 80 artists exhibiting their colorful and creative work in tents along the shore in downtown Grand Marais. The festival runs from Saturday at 9 a.m. through Sunday at 4 p.m.

The Grand Marais Arts Festival in downtown Grand Marais features 70 local and regional artists this year as well as An Artful Evening, a fundraiser for the Art Colony, featuring tasty local cuisine, beverages and live music in Harbor Park on Saturday night. Tickets are still available. Call 387-2737 for more info.

Paintings, pottery, photography, weaving, metalwork, jewelry, multi-media works. sculpture, prints and more are featured in this outstanding festival, which brought in an estimated 15,000 visitors last year.

Artist booths are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The Art Colony has also organized a wide variety of fun art activities during the event, including lots of activities for kids in the Art Colony’s booth including an art-making table, screen printing T-shirts and more. And David Hahn will be there to draw your portrait.

And, new this year, the Art Colony will host “An Artful Evening,” a fundraiser for the Art Colony in Harbor Park from 5-7 p.m. Saturday. The event will feature tempting food from local restaurants, craft beer and wine and live music, as well as a silent auction. Tickets are still available. Call 387-2737 or click here.

Other fun activities include Mila Horak’s Paint-by-Number Mural Project in Harbor Park. Horak has developed a design for another mural to be installed on the outside wall of Birchbark Books & Gifts  and everyone is invited to come paint it. Horak will set up a tent in Harbor Park and everyone is invited to come paint a number or two. Free.

This mural on an outside wall at Birchbark Books & Gifts was the Paint-by-Number Mural project last year. Mila Horak has designed another mural for this year, and people are invited to come and paint it during the Arts Festival.

Other events during the Arts Festival include the Clothesline Art Sale, a Scratch Block Aluminum Pour by Greg Mueller, Making Textured Prints and paper-making, as well as interviews with the artists on WTIP Community Radio on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon.  For the complete schedule, click here.

Meanwhile, there are lots of other fun things to do this weekend, too.

North House Folk School will have two instructors in residence this weekend who will be doing demonstrations from Thursday through Sunday and teaching a mini-course on Saturday. The instructors are Allen Holzhueter, who will be showing and teaching spinning and knitting techniques, and Carla Hall, who will be in the blacksmith shop doing demos all weekend. Her mini-class will be on forging a hook.

Blacksmith instructor will be at North House this weekend, doing demos and offering a mini course on Saturday.

For more info, call 387-9762. And on Friday, the Youth Series at North House continues. On July 13, the course will be Making Ice Cream.

There will be a Raku Firing at the Maker’s Market on Thursday from 5-8 p.m.,weather permitting.

There will be a raku firing at the Maker’s Market on Thursday.

Participants can purchase a tea bowl, glaze it and then watch as its fired in a raku kiln. The Maker’s Market is located in the alley next to the Beaver House in Downtown Grand Marais. All invited.

Also on Friday, author Kim Woodward Osterholzer, will discuss her recent book, “Midwife in Amish Country,” at the Grand Marais Public Library at 3:30 p.m.

Author Kim Woodward Osterholzer will give a presentation at the Grand Marais Public Library at 3:30 p.m. Friday.

Osterholzer’s book is a memoir of her experience as a midwife who’s caught over 500 babies since 1993, and in her presentation, she recounts her lively, entertaining, and life-changing adventures learning the heart and art and craft of midwifery. The event is free and open to the public.

Continuing the book theme, author and adventurer Lonnie Dupre and author Jack Blackwell will be on WTIP’s The Roadhouse on Friday night. Dupre will discuss his recent book. “Alone at the Top: Climbing Denali in the Dead of Winter.” Blackwell has written a book about his grandfather Alec Boostrom entitled “Boundary Waters Boy.” Blackwell will bring Sawbill Outfitter’s Bill Hansen into the studio with him, as Hansen knew Boostrom, too. It should be an interesting discussion. The Roadhouse airs from 5-7 p.m. on Friday.

To cap off the authors/books being highlighted this weekend, Bart Sutter, former Duluth Poet Laureate, musician and author, will be featured at a Writer’s Salon at Drury Lane Books at 7 p.m. on Saturday. He will discuss his latest book “Nordic Accordion: Poems in a Scandinavian Mood.”

Author Bart Sutter will be at Drury Lane Books to talk about his latest book  at 7 p.m. Saturday.

In “Nordic Accordion” Sutter fulfills the covenant he made with his elders long ago—to dramatize, critique, and honor their struggles, their culture, their peculiar ways. The book explores the experience of Scandinavian immigrants, their ancestors, and their descendants. At the heart of the book lies a cycle of dramatic monologues by old women about their half-pagan younger years as cowherders in the mountain pasture camps of Sweden. “This,” says David Ray of Sutter’s work, “is poetic storytelling at its best.” The event is free. All invited.

Also this weekend, the Cook County Market continues in the Senior Center’s parking lot from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. The Market features a great selection of arts and crafts by local artisans as well as produce from Round River Farm in Finland.

And the 8th annual Caribou Highlands Hopped Up Beer Festival is this weekend, featuring craft beer, live music and more.

Also on Saturday, juggler Sean Emery will be at the Grand Marais Public Library at 10:30 a.m. Emery is an eccentric and talented entertainer, wowing the crowd with jaw-dropping juggling stunts that will have you asking yourself how did he do that??! Show length is 45 min. This program is suitable for all ages.

Exhibits:

 This is the last weekend to see Through Our Hands V: Sun, Moon Stars, featuring a wide variety of beautiful work by the Northwoods Fiber Quild. The exhibit is at the Johnson Heritage Post.

Beth Blank’s “Child’s Nap Quilt” is one of the pieces exhibited at the Northwood Fiber Guild’s show at the Johnson Heritage Post.

Fiber Guild members will be giving demonstrations on the lawn outside the Heritage Post on Saturday, during the Grand Marais Arts Festival. Their work is available for purchase in the Heritage Post’s gift shop.

Three new art exhibits open at the Duluth Art Institute on Thursday night and continue through August. The exhibits include “Chholing Taha: Every Spirit Tells a Story,” Payton MacDonald’s “Sonic Divide: States,” and  Jonathan Thunder’s “Suspension of Belief.”

“River Spirit” by Chholing Taha, is one of the works on exhibit at the Duluth Art Institute.

Payton MacDonald’s work, “Sonic Divide: States” is a film features which 30 comissioned scores from 30 different composers performed during MacDonald’s mountain bike journey along the Great Divide. Each musical work was scored specifically for his voice or found percussion instruments, like logs, rocks, or the bicycle itself. The exhibit includes four paintings by Duluth painter Kenneth D. Johnson, which accompany the film.

The Tweed Museum of Art continues its exhibit: In Solidarity: Revolutionary Women of Print.

La Frontera, 1996, lithograph, by Sue Coe, is on exhibit at the Tweed Museum of Art.

The Thunder Bay Art Gallery‘s exhibit.  “Uprising: The Power of Mother Earth,” a retrospective of Christi Belcourt’s work, including her collaboration with Isaac Murdoch, continues through the summer.

“Revolution of Love” by Christi Belcourt is at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery in Thunder Bay.

The exhibit is spectacular and worth a trip to Thunder Bay to see it. The exhibit continues through Nov. 25.

Upcoming:

The Grand Marais Playhouse‘s Summer Theatre Festival opens next Thursday, July 19, with the musical “Shreck.” It plays in repertory with the award-winning comedy, “Mom’s Gift.”  Stay tuned for details.

Belvo/Cushmore: Paintings & Drawings 2018, an exhibit of work by Hazel Belvo and Marcia Cushmore, opens at the Johnson Heritage Post with a reception on Friday, July 20, from 5-7 p.m.

‘Old Norway,” acrylic, by Marcia Cushmore. The painting is part of the exhibit that opens July 20 at the Johnson Heritage Post.

The exhibit continues through Aug. 12.

The West End Garden Club’s annual flower show will be next Saturday, July 21, at the Birch Grove Community Center featuring unique floral displays created by garden club members. The flower show is from 1-5 p.m. and features refreshments. Free. All invited.

The Stars of the North Music Festival, a collection of area and regional musicians coming out to support the Youth Music Program will be in Harbor Park July 27-29. Stay tuned for details.

Music:

Here’s the music schedule for this week:

Thursday, July 12:

• Frozen Britches, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Lutsen Resort, 6:30 p.m.
• Ladies Music Club, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne & Friends, North Shore Winery, 7 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, July 13:
• Harbor & Home, Voyageur Brewing, 4 p.m.
• Portage, Grandma Ray’s, 6 p.m.
• Minnesota Mice, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Gene Lafond & Amy Grillo, Eagle Ridge Resort, 8 p.m.
• Josh Cleveland and the Cedar Street Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Caribou Highlands, 8 p.m.
• The Millers, Bluefin Grille, 9 p.m.
• Cook County’s Most Wanted, Grandma Ray’s, 9 p.m.

Saturday, July 14:

• Chris Gillis & Thomas Stamps, Fundraiser for Arrowhead Animal Rescue, Wunderbar, 4-8 p.m.
• Cherry Dirt, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• J Squared and the Makers, Papa Charlie’s, 6 p.m.
• Michael Monroe- Log Cabin Concert, rural Grand Marais, 7 p.m., reservations at www.michaelmonroemusic.com
• Brothers in Arms, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, Lutsen Resort, 8 p.m.
• Big Wave Dave & the Ripples, Caribou Highlands, 8 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9:00 p.m.
• Josh Cleveland and the Cedar Street Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 9 p.m.

Sunday, July 15:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• Black River Revue, North Shore Wintery, 3 p.m.
• SplinterTones, Skyport Lodge, 4 p.m.
• Open Stage with Joe Paulik, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.

Monday, July 16:

• Open Mic Night, Grandma Ray’s, 7 p.m.
• Eric Frost Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.
• Shane Martin, Bluefin Bay, 9 p.m.

Tuesday, July 17:

• Bug Dope, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, July 18:

• Gordon Thorne, Bluefin Bay, 9 p.m.

Photographs:

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

First, wildlife:

Loon Family by Paul Sundberg.

A moose in the morning. Photo by Nace Hagemann.

Flowers:

Rose by Michele Miller.

A birch tree:

Birch by Rose Arrowsmith-Decoux.

Rainbows:

Double rainbow in fog by Greg Fangel.

Rainbow sunset by Wendy Bergljot Larson.

Lightning:

Mother Nature’s fireworks by Kathy Vanderwall.

Here comes the storm by Travis Novitsky.

Cloudscapes:

Something nasty coming this way by Ann Bowman.

Morning blanket by Christian Dalbec.

Artist Point in-between the rain by Anthony Kosobud.

Waterfalls:

High Falls at Grand Portage by Mike Chrun.

Durfee Creek by Ben Cooper.

Beaver River by Gary Schmies.

Arrow River Falls by Travis Notisky.

Lake Superior:

Cool, clean water by Trish Francis.

Lake Superior Showing Its Heart by Maria Isley.

And finally, this:

Photo by Ali McDonald.

Have a great weekend, everyone! Enjoy the art and artists!

A perfect moment in summer: A young boy skipping rocks on the harbor as the good ship Hjordis sails by.  Photo  by Molly Hicken.

Summer is totally here. This weekend, look for the the Hovland Arts Festival, the Book Arts Weekend at the Grand Marais Art Colony, Artist Talks, mini classes at North House Folk School and the Art Colony, art openings, arts & crafts markets and lots of places to hear music. Next weekend, the huge Grand Marais Arts Festival in downtown Grand Marais will be held July 14-15. Good times!

We start with the Book Arts Weekend at the Grand Marais Art Colony where a wide variety of classes are being offered in this historic art form.

Book Arts Weekend will be held at the Grand Marais Art Colony July 5-7, including a tour of a bookbinding studio in Cook County.

There are still openings in a few of the classes, including the Bookbinding Studio Tour with Conservation Bookbinder Scott Husby in Hovland on Saturday at 7 p.m. For more info and to register, click here or call 387-2737.

The bookbinding theme for this weekend continues at North House Folk School where bookbinder Skyler Hawkins will be doing demonstrations on the campus Thursday through Sunday as well as holding a mini-class on Saturday.

Also, July is Youth Series Month at North House, where a different course will be offered to children from 9-14 on Friday afternoons from 1-4 p.m. This week, they will learned how to make folded paper boxes. The class is $15. For more info and to register, call North House at 387-2737.

Tettegouche State Park will open “Un Petit Monde: A Solo Photographic Exhibition by Kurt Moses” with a reception from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Great Hall on Friday, July 6.

From Kurt Moses’ “North Shore Collection. His exhibit opens in the Great Hall at Tettegouche State Park with a reception from 7-8:30 p.m. on Friday.

Photographer Kurt Moses uses miniature model figures the size of a penny, and photographs them on location in real-world environments. “My goal is to capture a whimsical, evocative photo which initiates a storyline and allows the viewer to draw their own conclusion,” he says. Moses is a Minnesota native and a professional photographer with a graphic design background, He is the creative mind behind the project. His wife, Edwige, comes from the tiny French island of St Martin. The husband and wife team started this fine art photography project called Un Petit Monde (a small world) in 2010. They live on the road full-time and volunteer in State and National Parks across the country. The exhibit continues throughout July.

In Thunder Bay, the Definitely Superior Art Gallery opens its July exhibits with a Gala Opening Reception from 7-10 p.m. (EDT) on Friday. The event celebrates the 30th anniversary of the member-run gallery and features the Members Exhibition as well as an interdisciplinary installation by internationally acclaimed artist Ann Hamilton.

The Event of a Threat-Creators Project by Ann Hamilton.

The opening receptions at DefSup are always a huge community affair in Thunder Bay and include music, food and a great selection of art. Highly recommended. The exhibit continues through July.

On Saturday, look for the Cook County Market in the Senior Center parking lot in Grand Marais, which opens at 9 a.m. featuring a wide variety of arts and crafts from Cook County residents. Work in clay, metal, wood, fiber as well as jewelry and stones are exhibited here. Produce from Round River Farm is available at 10 a.m. The weekly Market is held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Hovland Arts Festival is on for this weekend, too. One of the highlights of the Cook County summer season, the Hovland Arts Festival is held at the Hovland Town Hall from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The festival features talented local artisan/crafters and local musicians along with other folks from the surrounding area, including neighbors from across the border in Thunder Bay.

The festival is a family-friendly event, and includes great live music, food and a playground for the kids. Here’s the music schedule for the festival:

Saturday music: 10 – 11:30 p.m. Jim McGowan, 12-1:15 p.m. Joe Paulik, 1:30 -3 p.m. Briand Morrison & Roxann Berglund

Sunday music:  10:30 – 12:30 p.m. Bump Blomberg, 1:00 – 3 pm. Axtel

Everyone is invited to this fun event. Free.

Andy Ness, the Print Studio Intern at the Grand Marais Art Colony, will be very busy this week. On Saturday, Ness will give an Artist Talk about his work from noon to 1 p.m. in the Print Studio.

Artwork by Andy Ness. Ness will give an Artist Talk at the Grand Marais Art Colony from noon to 1 p.m. on Friday in the Print Studio.

Ness received his BFA in sculpture from Pratt Institute and his MFA from RISD. He has participated in both group and solo shows in New York City, England, and Italy. Participants will learn about his wide-ranging artistic endeavors. Free. All invited, but come early — space is limited.

On Sunday, Ness will teach a mini-class at the Art Colony entitled “Printmaking Outdoors: Solar Prints and Drain Covers” from 9-11 a.m. The cost is $15. For more info and to register, call 387-2737.

And then on Tuesday, July 10, Ness will give an Artist Talk about the art of Paul Thek, an American sculptor who was one of the first artists to create environments or installations.

Sculpture by Paul Thek. Andy Ness will give an Artist Talk about Thek’s work from noon to 1 p.m. at the Grand Marais Art Colony.

The Artist Talk is free. All invited.

Also this weekend, the Johnson Heritage Post will host author Jennifer Case, who will give a presentation on her research into her family’s ownership of the former Sawbill Lodge at 4 p.m. on Saturday. She is the author of “Sawbill: A Search for Place.”

Sawbill Lodge was built in the 1930s on Sawbill Lake, where the campground and canoe launch near Sawbill Outfitters currently are. The Lodge was removed in the early 1980s and the cabins were demolished. Solbakken Lodge ended up buying the lodge structure and moving it to their site on Lake Superior, where it still exists. The presentation is free. All invited.

And, on Wednesday, Boreal Corps will hold “Letters on the Library Lawn, ” a children’s public health writing kiosk, at the Grand Marais Public Library from 2:30 to 8 p.m.  BorealCorps is a Cook County children’s story scouts club for all ages able to write, up to 16, seeking to improve and protect public health, civic life and the Northwoods environment by writing letters, creating newspapers, and making activist art. Free.

Exhibits:

The Northwoods Fiber Guild exhibit, “Through Our Hands V: Sun, Moon, Stars” continues at the Johnson Heritage Post with a wide selection of works by local artisans including weaving, felting, quilting, knitting, paper art, multi-media works and more.

Beth Blank’s “Child’s Nap Quilt” is one of the pieces exhibited at the Northwood Fiber Guild’s show at the Johnson Heritage Post.

The Johnson Heritage Post is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday as well as Monday, and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. It is closed on Tuesdays.

The Duluth Art Institute continues the exhibit  Niiyo-wiij-anishinaabe (Four Friends), works by Carl Gowboy, George Morrison and Joe Geshick.

This painting by Carl Gawboy is at the Duluth Art Institute.

Niiyo-wiij-anishinaabe (Four Friends) celebrates the individual’s journey including the viewer, the fourth friend. The exhibit continues through July 24.

The Tweed Museum of Art is featuring a number of exhibits, including this work by Grant Wood.

Lithograph on paper by Grant Wood is at the Tweed Museum of Art.

In Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery‘s spectacular exhibit, “Uprising: The Power of Mother Earth: A retrospective of Christi Belcourt with Isaac Murdoch” continues.

“What the Sturgeon Told Me,” by Christi Belcourt, is one of the paintings at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.

Spanning more than 25 years of art-making, the exhibition of about 35 works celebrates Belcourt’s many inspirational, artistic, and collective achievements. The exhibit also features Murdoch’s art whose iconic images, including Thunderbird woman, has been become an international symbol of the Indigenous resistance movement against resource extraction.

Upcoming

 The Grand Marais Arts Festival is next weekend, July 14-15, in downtown Grand Marais. More than 70 local and regional artists are featured in this great show, which includes art-making activities, demonstrations and more.

The Grand Marais Arts Festival is next weekend, July 14-15.

Also during the Arts Festival, the Art Colony will hold “An Artful Evening on the Harbor,” a fundraiser event for the Art Colony. The event will be held in Harbor Park on Friday, July 14, and will feature food, beverages, and live music, as well as live and silent auctions.

This painting by Hazel Belvo will be offered at auction during the Grand Marais Art Colony‘s “Artful Evening” next Friday.

Tickets to the Artful Evening are limited, although some may be available at the door. For more info, click here.

Artist News:

And finally, a little note: Jim Sannerud took sculptor Greg Mueller‘s chair-making class last week. This is what he built… he calls it “High Chair.”

Jim Sannerud and his “High Chair,” which was briefly on display outside the Art Colony until he took it home.

Here’s the music for the week;

Thursday, July 5:

• Gordon Thorne & Friends, North Shore Wintery, 6 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Lutsen Resort, 6:30 p.m.
• Wunderdogs, Wunderbar,  7 p.m.
• Ma’iingan Duo, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Shaky Ground, Gunflint Tavern, 8 p.m.

Friday, July 6;

• Gene Lafond and Amy Grillo, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
• Kilborn Quartet + Boats and Bridges, Grandma Ray’s, 6 p.m.
• The Yellow-Bellied Sap Suckers, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• The Thirsty River, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Bluefin Grille, 9 p.m.

Saturday, July 7:

• Cook County’s Most Wanted, Birch Terrace, 3 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Cascade Lodge Pub,  6 p.m.
• Dave Cofell, Voyageur Brewing Co., 6 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, Music on the Deck, Papa Charlie’s, 6:30 p.m.
• Michael Monroe, Log Cabin Concert, 7 p.m., rural Grand Marais, www.michaelmonroemusic.com
• Pushing Chain, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• The Thirsty River, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Average Mammals, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Circuit Breakers, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• DJ Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 8:

• Dave Cofell, Wunderbar, 11 a.m.
• Spruce Roots, North Shore Wintery, 3 p.m.
• Virgil Cain Band, Skyport Lodge, 4 p.m.
• Ocelot Wizard, Gunf Flint Tavern, 7:30 p..

Monday, July 9:

• Ocelot Wizard, Gun Flint Tavern, 7:30 p.m.
• Courtney Yasmineh, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Bug Lite, Bluefin Grille, 9 p.m.

Tuesday, July 10:

• Ocelot Wizard, Gun Flint Tavern, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, July 11:

• Old Sap, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.

We are so grateful for our photographers that capture these beautiful images of the North Shore. Here’s our selection for the week — let’s start with wildlife.

Pileated woodpecker with its young by Travis Novitsky.

Maybe these two don’t quite qualify as wild …

Thelma and Louis waiting for breakfast by Vicki Biggs-Anderson.

Look at this youngster’s huge feet!

Loon Family by Paul Sundberg.

Bull Moose by David Johnson.

A morning drink by Erick Johnson.

Here are some “flowerscapes.”

“Birthday Bliss” by Shawna Willis.

Showy Lady Slipper by Paul Pluskwik.

And we found some beautiful landscapes:

Out chasing the storm this morning by David Johnson.

Clouds and blue sky by Kristofer Bowman.

Full Strawberry Moon over Lake Superior by Bryan Hansel.

Golden Fog by David Johnson.

Wildflower Sanctuary at Devil Track.

Harbor Light by Mark Tessier.

Split Rock and the Wave by Christian Dalbec.

Here are a few local event photos that might be of interest.

This schooner arrived in the Grand Marais Harbor, a visitor for North House Folk School‘s Wooden Boat Show. David Johnson took the photo, but it looks like it was taken in 1908, doesn’t it? Enjoy!

4th of July in Tofte by Thomas Spence.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

(Here’s a great opportunity to support this weekly blog that keeps you up-to-date with what’s happening on the North Shore. Consider donating today, and Thanks!)

‘Tis the season. Lupines bloom at the edge of the woods by Judi Barsness.

Summer continues in Cook County this week, with poetry, Artist Talks, music and some great art exhibits, not to mention fireworks and July 4th celebrations throughout the county.

Up front and center are two events at Drury Lane Books- a Full Moon Reading with Amy Schmidt  from 8-9 p.m. on Thursday and a Writer’s Salon with Margo Galt from 7-8 p.m. on Saturday.

Poet and musician Amy Schmidt will give a Full Moon Reading at Drury Lane Books from 8-9  p.m. Thursday, June 28 and poet Margot Galt will read from her work at a Writer’s Salon from 7-8 p.m. Saturday.

Schmidt is a talented and published poet as well as a musician. She lives with her family in Hovland and will be reading from her work by the bonfire at Drury Lane Books as the moon rises over Lake Superior.

Amy Schmidt will read at a Full Moon Reading by the campfire at Drury Lane Books from 8-9 p.m. Thursday.

 To listen to an interview on WTIP Community Radio by Jay Andersen with Amy about her work, click here. The public is invited to the Full Moon Reading by the bonfire. Free.

Margot Galt, author of “The Heart Beat of Wings” will read from her chapbook at a Writer’s Salon at Drury Lane Books from 7-8 p.m. Saturday. Galt is also the author of “Turning the Feather Around: My Life in Art,”  her 1998 biography of George Morrison, Minnesota’s premier Ojibwe artist. Margot spent years as a Minnesota writer-in-the-schools, traveling the state in all weather to inspire young people to write.

Margot Galt will be featured in a Writer’s Salon at Drury Lane Books from 7-8 p.m. Saturday.

Galt has also taught writing at the University of Minnesota, Hamline University, and Metro State. She lives in St. Paul. The Writer’s Salon is free and open to the public.

The Grand Marais Art Colony will feature two Artist Talks this weekend, too.

On Friday, sculpture artist Greg Mueller will present images of his work and discuss recent projects that have come to fruition through the collaborative effort of diverse players at an Artist Talk at the Cook County Higher Education at 7 p.m. Friday.

Sculptor Greg Mueller will give an Artist Talk at Cook County Higher Educationy at 7 p.m. Friday. Free. All invited.

Note that painter Kami Mendlik, who was originally scheduled to be a part of this event, is not able to be present.

And then on Saturday, Andy Ness, who is the summer intern in the Grand Marais Art Colony‘s Print Studio, will give an Artist Talk from noon to 1 p.m.

Andy Ness will give an Artist Talk from noon to 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Grand Marais Art Colony.

The title of his talk, “Artists Who Explore Memory” will include a presentation and a discussion of artist who explore memory, including Louise Bourgeois and Christian Boltanski. The event is free and open to the public, although space is limited, so come early.

Other events of note this weekend is an Artist Reception and Talk at North Shore Health for its inaugural art exhibit on Friday, June 29 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the North Shore Health Front Lobby and Multi-purpose Room. The two artists currently being displayed are the late painter Ade Toftey and photographer Lynn Anderson. Anderson will speak about her photography and Ade’s daughter, Susan Hildebrand will speak about her father’s art. All invited.

Musician Jim McGowan will be on WTIP’s The Roadhouse on Friday to talk about his music and play a few songs. The Roadhouse airs from 5-7 p.m

And the Cook County Market will be held in the Senior Center parking lot from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 30, featuring a variety of work by local artists and artisans in wood, clay, rock, wool, metal and glass as well as baked goods and produce from Round River Farm in Finland. This week, jazz musician Fred Anderson will play at 10 a.m.

Cheryl Syrett’s Northwoods ornaments are at the Cook County Market.

And, to top off the week, July 4th celebrations will be held throughout the county, including the July 4th Celebration in downtown Tofte, which includes live music with  Cook County’s Most Wanted, activities, booths and a parade at 1 p.m. Fireworks are scheduled in Tofte, Grand Marais and Grand Portage around 10 p.m. on Wednesday.

And here’s a newbie: The Johnson Heritage Post has installed a blow-up of a historic photo by Maude Small Toftey in front of the gallery for the public to enjoy. It’s also a great place to take a memory photo.

Maude Small Toftey took this photo years ago. The Johnson Heritage Post has installed a blow-up of the great image on its front lawn this summer as a photo-op for visitors and eye-catcher.

In Duluth, the Duluth Art Institute will hold an opening reception for “Niiyo-wiij-anishinaabeg” in the Great Hall at the Depot on Friday from 5-9 p.m. The exhibit, a collaboration between the Duluth Art Institute and the St. Louis County Historical Society, will showcase more than 50 pivotal works by three prolific artists: Carl Gawboy, George Morrison and Joe Geshick. Each artist has had a profound impact on contemporary art and  has a unique voice that celebrates Anishinaabe life.

This drawing by George Morrison is one of the works on  exhibit at the Duluth Art Institute.

This painting is among the works of Carl Gawboy on exhibit at the DAI.

The work is by Joe Geshick and is part of the Niiyo-wiij-anishinaabeg” exhibit at the Depot in Duluth.

The exhibit continues through July 24.

The opening of this exhibit will be held in conjunction with the Duluth Art Walk, which will be held from 4-8 p.m. in galleries in downtown Duluth.

The Downtown Arts Walk in Duluth will be from 4-8 p.m. on Friday and includes special exhibits, music and more at a variety of galleries in downtown Duluth.

The event is organized by the Downtown Duluth Arts Collective, a group of committed colleagues, representing over 25 arts businesses & groups, individual artist studios and cultural centers in the downtown neighborhood.  Participating galleries include the Joseph Nease Gallery, Lizzard’s Gallery, Ryan Tischer Photography, Zeitgiest Arts Cafe and AICHO gallery, just to name a few.  For more info about the Arts Walk, click here.

Exhibits:

 The exhibit, “Through Our Hands V: Sun, Moon, Stars,” featuring a wide variety of work by members of the Northwoods Fiber Quild, continues at the Johnson Heritage Post.

“Nature in Turmoil” by Max Linehan, is one of the works at the “Through Our Hands V” exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post.

The exhibit, which features everything from beading to stained glass, felted sculptures, knitting, quilting, fiber paintings  — in short, any art form using fibers, continues through the Grand Marais Arts Festival, July 15.  The Heritage Post is closed on Tuesdays. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and Mondays and from 1-4 p.m. on Sundays.

This is the last weekend to see the Peregrine Falcon Exhibit at Tettegouche State Park. The exhibit, which features work by a number of different artists who have previously shown their work in the Great Hall, is a celebration of the 30-year successful effort to save the falcon from extinction.

Peregrine Falcon by Deborah Kirkeeide is one of the works in the exhibit at Tettegouche State Park.

In Two Harbors, Wood-fired potter Dick Cooter and Handweaver Debbie Cooter are exhibiting their work at the Cedar Coffee House.

Dick and Debbie Cooter have their work at the Cedar Coffee House this month.

• There are several exhibits at the Tweed Museum of Art, including “In Solidarity: Women of Print.”

This print by Yreina Cervantz entitled “Majur de Much Enagua Pa Ti Xicana” is at the Tweed Museum of Art.

In Thunder Bay, the exhibit “Uprising: The Power of Mother Earth: Christi Belcourt — A Retrospective with Isaac Murdoch” opened to accolades at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.

“New Beginnings”, Christi Belcourt and Isaac Murdoch, is one of the works at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.

“Uprising” continues at the gallery through Nov. 25.

Upcoming:

The Hovland Arts Festival will be held July 7-8 in the Hovland Town Hall this year, featuring a wide variety of work by local artisans and artists.

The Hovland Arts Festival is next weekend, July 7-8.

The festival also features live music and refreshments. Musicians include Jim McGowan, Joe Paulik, Brian Morrison and Roxann Berglund, Boyd Blomberg and Axtell. Stay tuned for details.

Also that weekend, the Grand Marais Art Colony will host “Book Arts Weekend” featuring a variety of workshops and classes as well as a tour of a Book Binding Studio.

Book Arts Weekend will be held at the Grand Marais Art Colony July 5-7, including a tour of a bookbinding studio in Cook County.

The classes include a variety of ways to bind books (click here for classes.)

Also, Scott Husby will host a Bookbinding Studio Tour on July 7. Husby has been conservation bookbinder since the 1970s, and has worked at the Library of Congress, the Folger Shakespeare Library, and the Smithsonian, and also served as the rare books conservator for Princeton University. Participants will have the chance to visit Scott’s hand bookbindery and learn about his more than 40-year career.

Scott Husby will give a tour of his bookbinding studio during the Book Arts Weekend at the Grand Marais Art Colony.

Husby will showcase the tools, equipment, and materials used in making hand-bound books as well as an assortment of historical bookbinding models. To sign up, click here.

And finally, the Grand Marais Art Colony has introduced a new component the Grand Marais Arts Festival, which will be held in downtown Grand Marais July 14-15.

An Artful Evening, a fundraiser for the Grand Marais Art Colony, will be held during the Grand Marais Arts Festival.

Entitled An Artful Evening, the fundraising event will be held in Harbor Park from 5-7 p.m. on Saturday, July 14 and features live music, an artful auction, the Taste of Cook County food and beverages and more. For tickets, click here.

Here’s the music for the week:

Thursday, June 28:

• Frozen Britches, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Lutsen Resort, 6:30 p..
• Eric Frost, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 7 p.m.
• Don Juan Trio, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.

Friday, June 29:

• Josh Cleveland, Voyageur Brewing, 4 p.m.
• Dead Larry, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m
• KutDown, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Cook County’s Most Wanted, Birch Terrace, 5-9 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Bluefin Grille, 9 p.m.

Saturday, June 20:

• Jim McGowan, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Gene Lafond and Amy Grillo, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Dead Larry, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Woodblind, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 1:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• Boyd Blomberg, Wunderbar, 11 a.m.
• Black River Revue, North Shore Winery, 3 p.m.
• Cook County’s Most Wanted, Skyport Lodge, 4 p.m.
• Open Stage with Joe Paulik, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.
• SplinterTones, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Monday, July 2:

• Open Mic, Grandma Ray’s, 7 p.m.
• Eric Frost Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, Bluefin Bay, 9 p.m.

Tuesday, July 3:

• Mysterious Ways, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.

Wednesday, July 4:

• Cook County’s Most Wanted, Tofte 4th of July celebration, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Jam Session, Gun Flint Tavern, 6:30 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Bluefin Bay, 9 p.m.

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

As usual, let’s start with wildlife.

“Can you hear this picture? by Name Hagemann.

Parenting by Gary Jacobson.

Caption this. Black bear walks through the Duluth International Airport.

Grand Marais Harbor this summer by Mike Carlson.

“Up close and personal” by Kirk Schleife.

We found some wonderful landscapes, too.

Two Harbors lighthouses by Trich Shiply.

Stoney Point at dusky by Kyle Arndt.

A little storm rolled through the BWCA by Matt Herberg.

Moonrise in Two Harbors by Christian Dalbec.

Croftville Road by Don Davison.

The morning sun was about to come up and washout the night sky by Matt Herberg.

 And finally, this cutie pie:

The cutest by Shawn Zierman.

Have a great weekend, everyone! And Happy 4th!

P.S. If you enjoy reading NorthShore ArtScene every week, consider making a donation today. Just click on the button below, and Thank You!

Palisade Head at sunrise by Ben Cooper.

Happy Summer Solstice! The longest day of the year dawned bright and clear on the North Shore this morning, with the promise of of a perfect day to come. This weekend, the Solstice will be celebrated with  the opening of the Northwoods Fiber Guild’s exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post,  the North House Folk School‘s Wooden Boat Show & Summer Solstice Festival, a presentation about canoe trips in the Boundary Waters more than 100 years ago, workshops, classes, craft markets and more. In short, lots to do.

Let’s start with the Northwoods Fiber Guild’s exhibit, “Through Our Hands V: Sun, Moon, Stars,” which opens at the Johnson Heritage Post with a gala reception from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, June 22. This should be a fabulous show, featuring a wide variety of work. The Fiber Guild has more than 50 active members, and they have crafted some incredible pieces for this show–everything from quilting, weaving and felting, scarves and shawls, wall hangings and sculptures … it’s truly a celebration of all things fiber.  Here’s a small selection of what you’ll see.

The source of it all. “Natural Animal Fibers” by Kay Rosenthal. Hands-on alpaca, camel, dog, goat, llama, sheep, silk, yak.

This fabulous quilt by Nancy Backlund is front and center as you enter the exhibit.

Little Spirit Tree, felted painting by Mary MacDonald.

Zippered brooch by Linda Otis.

Felted birch tree sculpture by Marlys Johnson.

The opening reception for the Northwoods Fiber Guild shows are well-known for their amazing selection of hors d’oeuvres created by Guild members as well as spectacular summer flower arrangements. It is, in short, an event not be be missed. The exhibit continues through July 16. The Heritage Post is closed on Tuesdays. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and Mondays, and from 1-4 p.m. Sundays.

Another huge event this weekend is North House Folk School‘s Wooden Boat Show & Summer Solstice Pageant.

Everything from handmade canoes to antique boats are on display at the Wooden Boat Show.

One of the highlights of the summer season, the Wooden Boat Show offers rows of hand-made and unique watercraft to look at and enjoy, a boat parade, craft demonstrations, an evening contra dance, a boat and tool auction, chili and brats, mini-courses, a Speaker Series and much more.

The Boat Parade begins at 6 p.m. on Friday.

The Wooden Boat Show features a great variety of boats to look at, and a chance to take a sail on the Hjordis.

The event starts on Friday and concludes on Sunday with the Annual Member Gathering followed by featured Speaker Martha Greene Phillips, “Canoeing with Dad and the Gang, circa 1900. For the complete schedule, click here.

One of the highlights of the Wooden Boat Show will be a pictorial presentation by Dan Helmerson entitled “Canoe Trip-1917 Style”  at the Johnson Heritage Post at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

This photo was taken in 1917 on South Temperance Lake. Dan Helmerson will be giving a pictorial presentation of a historic 8-day canoe trip in the Superior National Forest 101 years ago. The presentation is Saturday, June 23 at 4 p.m. at the Johnson Heritage Post.

The historic photos document a historic 8-day canoe trip in the Superior National Forest 101 years ago. All invited. Free.

And, then, of course, the highly anticipated Summer Solstice Pageant with the Good Harbor Players and GAMEPELAG. The title of this year’s presentation? “Coverest Thyself with Light.” The pageant starts at 8 p.m. on Saturday.

The Summer Solstice Pageant with the Good Harbor Hill Players will be presented at the North House Folk School Commons at 8 p.m. on Saturday.

We’ll find out the story line when we watch it, but it’s a pageant full of wonderful puppets of every age, music, laughter and dancing. Come early to get a good spot. Bring a chair if you want.

Also on Saturday, the Cook County Market opens at the Senior Center parking lot at 9 a.m., featuring a wide variety of arts and crafts as well as produce from Round River Farm in Finland. (The produce arrives around 10 a.m.). The Market continues through 1 p.m.

Also on Saturday, the Grand Marais Public Library will host nationally recognized trans activist Ellie Krug, who will speak at 3 p.m. Her topic will be “Living as Other in America: How to Bridge our Divides.”

Ellie Krug will speak at the Grand Marais Public Library at 3 p.m. Saturday.

She addresses topics of diversity and inclusion, and speaks about transgender issues, matters of inclusivity, and strategies organizations and individuals may use to create alliances and tools that foster inclusion.  She will be on WTIP’s The Roadhouse on Friday to give a preview of her talk. The Roadhouse airs from 5-7 p.m.

Also, check out demos and class at the Grand Marais Art Colony this week. Click here for more info.

Exhibits:

The Joseph Nease Gallery in Duluth will open an exhibit,  “James Brinsfield, A Twenty Year Retrospective” with a reception from 2-5 p.m. on Saturday.

A retrospective of work by abstract artists James Brinfield opens at the T the Joseph Nease Gallery in Duluth on Saturday.

In Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery has just opened a retrospective of work by Christi Belcourt entitled “Uprising: The Power of Mother Earth.”

“Conversation,” dot painting by Christi Belcourt.

The opening reception for the exhibit is at 7:30 p.m. (EDT) on June 26.

Artist News

 The Stone Bridge Singers of Grand Portage have been offered a unique opportunity—they have been invited to take part in a music festival in France, the Musiques entre Pierres.  Two events are planned to help the Stone Bridge Singers make this journey: a Bingo on Thursday, June 21, at 6 p.m. at the Grand Portage Lodge Event Center. And then Thursday, July 5 at 5 p.m. at the Grand Portage Community Center. Both events will also have Indian tacos and raffles.
For more information, contact Agatha at the Grand Portage Tribal Council office at 218-475-2800.
Here’s a video of the Stone Bridge Singers:

Window Shopping:

Hand-made flutes by Christopher at at Joy & Co.

Kari Weber is exhibiting her paintings at Yellow Bird Fine Art.

Fair Trade handwoven wool rugs at at Upstate MN.

Anna Hess has new work at The Big Lake, including this piece, Raven Currents.

Here’s the music schedule for this week:

Thursday, June 21:

• Kyle Ollah, Voyageur Brewing Co., 5 p.m.
• JohnRuss, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Music by the Campfire, Lutsen Resort, 6:30 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Friday, June 22:

• Timmy Haus, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
• Brothers in Arms, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Jon Miller and the Home Brews, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Brianne Marie and the Front Porch Sinners, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.

Saturday, June 23;

• Gene Lafond & Amy Grillo, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Jim & Michelle Miller, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Michael Monroe, Log Cabin Concert, 7 p.m.
• Jon Miller and the Home Brews, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Bluefin Grille, 9 p.m.
• Summer Solstice Pageant featuring Good Harbor Hill Players & GAMEPALAJ, North House Folk School, 8 p.m.
• Gambler’s Daughter, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Sweet Siren, Papa Charlie’s, 9 p.m.

Sunday, June 24:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• SplinterTones, Skyport Lodge, 4 p.m.
• Open Mic with Joe Paulik, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Monday, June 25:

• Eric Frost, Bluefin Bay, 9 p.m.

Tuesday, June 26:

• Joe Paulik Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, June 27:

• Jam Session, Gun Flint Tavern, 6:30 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Pete Kavanaugh, Bluefin Bay, 9 p.m.

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

First, wildlife:

Peek-a-boo by David Johnson.

Loon by Thomas Spence.

Tree frog on lupine by Matthew Pastick.

Female snapping turtle stalks off after laying her eggs beside the road by Thomas Spence.

Moose on a foggy day by Nace Hagemann.

Dragon fly by Kristofer Bowman.

Lupines and Pileated woodpecker by Richard Hoeg.

Orange lupine by David Johnson.

Here are some raging river shots:

Big Manitou Falls after the 10-inch rain by Broc Allen.

Gooseberry Falls  after the rains by Laurie Malkovich.

And here are some landscapes:

My first experience with Hollow Rock by Justin Rogers.

Monday morning rush hour by Christian Dalbec.

Heading out to the nets by David Johnson.

The first day of summer is so lovely that even the fox had to stop and admire by Sarah Jorgenson.

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

(BTW: If you had a great time reading this blog and looking at all the photos, please consider donating today to keep it alive and well. Just click on the button below to make a donation of your choice. And Thank You!)

Twinsies! Photo courtesy of Trail Center Lodge.

New-borns cavorting in the woods, sailboats sliding on blue, blue waters and just enjoying the beauty of the North Shore coming into full life after a tough winter is what June is all about. And, since it’s the start of the summer season, there are all kinds of things to see and do.

First up is a fascinating sale of arts and crafts from Asia collected by Karen Flolid when she was a Peace Corps volunteer during the 60s and 70s. She needs to downsize and hopes to find appreciative homes for her prized collection. She will have them on display from 3:30 -5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 14  at the Cook County Community Center. All invited.

Dayak Beaded Hat.

The collection comes primarily from six Southeast Asian countries, notably Borneo, where she worked with headhunting tribes. The wide variety of items includes beaded hats, handpainted leather shadow puppets, a great collection of fabrics including batik, wool, intricately stitched pieces and more. She also has tribal aprons, Hmong patterns and batik, caftans, dresses and vests as well as Burmese lacquer boxes and other “hard goods”, to name a few. Flolid will speak at the opening at 3:30 p.m., but the public is invited to come at any time and see what she has collected.

Also on Thursday, North House Folk School will hold two sessions of Try-It: Wood-fired Baking where students will be introduced to baking bread using a wood-fired oven. Each student will get to bake carta di musica and focaccia while exploring the history and science of bread baking.

Students in a Try-it Wood Fired Baking class at North House Folk School. Two sessions will be held Thursday, from 1-3 p.m. and from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

The sessions are from 1-3 p.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m. Cost is $20/person or $30 for an adult/child pair. Call 387-9762 to register.

And, the Local Food Market, featuring produce and baked goods from Cook County residents, will open for the season in the parking lot of the Cook County Community Center on Thursday. The market is held from 5-6 p.m.  every Thursday during the growing season. Early vegetables, fresh eggs, artisan breads and more will be featured this week. Open to all. Free.

On Thursday night, listen to classic jazz and originals from two northern Minnesota legends: Briand Morrison and Sam Miltich. They will play for a house concert at the Art House B&B from 7-9 p.m.

Jazzmen Briand Morrison and Sam Miltich will play a house concert at Art House B&B at 7 p.m. Thursday. Art House is at 8 7th Ave. W. in Grand Marais.

Refreshments will be served, but BYOB. Tickets are $10 cash at the door. All invited.

To hear a preview of the concert, listen to WTIP Community Radio at 4 p.m. on Thursday where Will Moore will interview the musicians about their music and they’ll play a few tunes.

There are some interesting workshops on Friday.

North House will offer a Try-It: Timber Framing session from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, where students will be introduced to the concept of timber framing by exploring timber framing tools, joinery, and history. As a group, students will raise a small timber frame and take it apart.  Call 387-9762 to register. Free.

And the last Paint-A-Tile class in June will be held at the Grand Marais Art Colony‘s ceramics studio from 1-2:30 p.m. on Friday. The next Paint-A-Tile class won’t be held until the end of July.

The last Paint-A-Tile class in June will be held on Friday at the Grand Marais Art Colony. The next workshop will be held at the end of July.

Students will learn about ancient Majolica glazes and try their hand at it by painting two tiless. The tiles will be fired over the weekend and students can pick them up on Sunday morning. Pre-registration is required. Call the Grand Marais Art Colony at 387-2737 or click here to register online. Cost of the workshop is $25.

On Friday night, WTIP’s the Roadhouse will interview Duluth poet Bart Sutter on his latest book and Soozin Hirschmugl, creator of sPARKit!, who is coming to Cook County next week courtesy of the Grand Marais Public Library, will talk about the project and how residents can participate. The Roadhouse is aired from 5-7 p.m. Friday.

On Saturday, the Cook County Market, featuring arts and crafts by Cook County artists as well as fresh produce from Round River Farm in Finland, opens at the Cook County Senior Center parking lot at 9 a.m. The produce arrives around 10 a.m.

The Cook County Market is held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Senior Center parking lot every Saturday through MEA weekend, weather permitting. Pictured is a young man looking through the agates at Jim Cordis’ booth.

Also on Saturday, artist Andy Ness, who is the new intern at the Grand Marais Art Colony‘s Print Studio, will teach a mini-class on making sculptures with aqua resin, a non-toxic resin.

Andy Ness will teach a mini-class on sculpting with aqua resin on Saturday.

Ness will demonstrate how to use AquaResin in sculptural projects and students will have a chance to explore the medium. AquaResin is a water based, non-toxic, sculpting resin. Tuition isi $15. To register, click here or call 387-2737.

Also on Saturday, Voyageur Brewing will host “Painting with Artful Palette” from 2-5 p.m. The theme is Superior Love. The artist-led class includes a canvas and paints. Cost is $35. Prepayment is required.

For those who can’t make it up to the North Shore this weekend, consider attending the Midsommar celebration at the Swedish Institute from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. The event features live music, a Pop-up Shop, cow calling and a performance by our very own, SVEA singers.

SVEA will perform at the American Swedish Institute’s Midsommar celebration at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

SVEA is Erika Ternes, Rose Arrowsmith Decoux, Tina Hegg and Yvonne Mills.

Here in Grand Marasi on Tuesday, Bonnie Gay Hedstrom will lead a Dry Felting workshop at Wunderbar from 7-9 p.m. Hedstrom is well-known in the community for her beautiful felted paintings. She will provide materials and instruction. Cost is $20. All invited.

And on Wednesday, potter Guillermo Cuellar and painter David Feinberg will give an Artist Talk at Cook County Higher Education at 7 p.m. The title of the presentation is “Unfiltered: A Conversation about Art and Water.” Both artists will talk about the role of water in their own artistic lives. Free and open to the public. No registration is required. For more info, click here.

Exhibits:

This is the last weekend to see the exhibit, “Northerly Pots: The Long Pleasurable Carry” at the Johnson Heritage Post.

Thunder Bay potter, Fritz Lehmberg, is exhibiting his work at the Johnson Heritage Post.

Fritz Lehmberg, owner of Early Snows Pottery near Thunder Bay, has been working in wood-fired pottery for more than 30 years. The exhibit captures the excitement and commitment of this talented potter. The Heritage Post is closed on Tuesdays. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and Monday, and from 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Free.

The Prairie Falcon Show at Tettegouche State Park continues this weekend, with a variety of falcon artwork exhibits in the Great Hall

Jackie Fallon of the Midwest Peregrine Society compares a live falcon with a watercolor by Tim Pearson at Tettegouche State Park. The Peregrine exhibit continues through the end of June.

This weekend, wildlife photographer, Ryan Pennesi, will hold a workshop on photographing wild birds at Tettegouche starting at 9 a.m., and the park will host guest speakers to talk about the history and restoration efforts to save the species from 1-3 p.m. Both events are free. Call the park at 218-353-8809 to register for the photography workshop.

In Duluth, theNew-borns cavorting in the woods, sailboats sliding on blue, blue waters and just enjoying the beauty of the North Shore coming into full life after a tough winter is what June is all abou has a number of exhibits including “In Solidarity: Revolutionary Women of Print,” featuring a great collection of  work by women printmakers.

“Ash,” woodcut print by Cecilia Lieder, is at the Tweed Museum of Art as part of the “In Solidarity: Revolutionary Women of Print” exhibit.

In Thunder Bay, the Definitely Superior Art Gallery is featuring two exhibits, “Fortify This” and the Lakehead University Retrograduate exhibitions.

the “Fortify This” exhibition at the Definitely Superior Art Gallery in Thunder Bay continues through Saturday.

 Upcoming:

 The Northwoods Fiber Guild Exhibit, “Through Our Hands V: Sun, Moon, Stars” opens at the Johnson Heritage Post with a reception from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, June 22. The exhibit will feature all things fiber, including weaving, felting, paper art, knitting, beadwork and more. The exhibit runs through July 16.

Henna dyeing by Cheryl Larsen. Larsen is one of many artisans who will be exhibiting in the Northwoods Fiber Guild show which opens June 22.

The Wooden Boat Show and Summer Solstice Festival at North House Folk School is next weekend, too.

The Wooden Boat Show and Summer Solstice Festival is next weekend. Photo by Jean Cochrane.

Look for details next week. Meanwhile, here’s a link to all the events and classes.

Poet Amy Schmidt will give a Full Moon Reading at Drury Lane Books June 28. Stay tuned.

The Hovland Arts Festival is July 7 & 8 at the Hovland Town Hall in Hovland. The festival features everything from prints to pottery, paintings to photographs as well as woodwork, jewelry, handmade soaps and candles and more.

The Hovland Arts Festival is July 7 & 8 this year.

More than 20 local artists are featured in this show, which celebrates its 13th anniversary this year. There is live music and food available all day as well.

The Grand Marais Art Colony will hold a Book Arts Weekend July 5-7 with Sue Bjerke and Jana Pullmen. The class includes a tour of a local bookbindery studio. For more info, click here.

The Grand Marais Arts Festival is July 14-15, with 70 artists scheduled to set up their tents in downtown Grand Marais. The Art Colony has put out a call for submissions for the Clothesline Art Sale, the historic and popular fundraiser held during the festival. Started in 1947, this year’s “Clothesline Art Sale” features 5-inch x 7-inch original works of art hung in the Art Colony festival booth. Each piece will sell for $35. The artwork is actually hung on clotheslines and people can choose their favorites.

The Grand Marais Art Colony has put out a call for submissions for the Clothesline Art Sale. Deadline is June 29.

Artists are invited to donate one or more pieces of original works in any media that is hang-able (room for a few three-dimensional items). Draw, paint, collage, sketch, print, stitch, stamp – have fun while supporting the Art Colony! The submission deadline is June 29. For more info, click here.

Artist News:

Anna Hamilton’s first book, “Boy” is available locally at Birch Bark Books & Gifts , Joy & Co. and Trail Center Lodge. The book is a “journey of love, friendship and little white lies, discovered while in the fight against the monster Dementia.” It is also available on Amazon.com

Jim Sannerud has a number of his handmade cutting boards at Betsy Bowen Studios & Gallery.

Cutting boards by Jim Sannerud are available at Betsy Bowen’s Studio & Gallery.

Kim Knutson is exhibiting her feltwork at Kah-New-Tah Gallery in Lutsen.

Felted painting by Kim Knutsen is at the Kah-Nee-Tah Gallery.

Ron Piercy, owner of Yellow Bird Fine Art, makes jewelry, including this blue opal pendant.

The blue opal in this pendant  at Yellow Bird Fine Art is from Peru.

There’s lots of great music this week. Here’s the schedule:

Thursday, June 14:

• Frozen Britches, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Live Music by the Campfire, Lutsen Resort, 6:30 p.m.
• Briand Morrison with Sam Miltich, Art House B&B, 7 p.m.
• Billy Johnson, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne and Friends, North Shore Winery, 7 p.m.

Friday, June 15:

• Brian Morrison and Sam Miltich, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
• Rich Lewis Band, Gunflint, 8 p.m.
• DJ Real Pure Heart, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Billy Johnson, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Jim & Michele Miller, Bluefin Grille, 9 p.m.

Saturday, June 16:

• Andrew D. Huber, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Rich Lewis Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Mysterious Ways, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Brothers in Arms, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Dance Party with DJ Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, June 17:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• Sky Blue Trio, Wunderbar, 11 a.m.
• Broken Hearted String Band, Skyport Lodge, 4 p.m.
• Open Stage with Joe Paulik, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.
• Rich Lewis Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.

Monday, June 19:

• Briand Morrison, Bluefin Grille, 9 p.m.

Wednesday, June 20:

• Jam Session, Gun Flint Tavern, 6:30 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.

As usual, we found lots of great photos this week. Here’s a selection.

Let’s start with wildlife —

First: Moose

Nace Hagemann caught this bull moose grazing in a local pond the other day.

“The moment you feel so doubly lucky you could almost drool,” by Mark Ellis.

Mom and her youngster by Nace Hagemann.

Kits nursing. Nace Hagemann said this was the first time he saw this. He watched for several minutes “until this little guy busted me.”

Quick capture of a newborn floundering around in the driveway by Natalie Sobanja.

“Out for a Ride” by Kirk Schleife.

For change of pace, this:

Photo by Kristofer Bowman.

Here are two views of the sacred tree in Grand Portage.

Manidoo giizhikens standing guard over the great Gitche Gumee by Kirk Schleife.

A glorious night sky makes the imagination run wild by Travis Novitsky.

And we found some gorgeous skyscapes:

Sunset on Devil Track Lake by Don Davison.

Superior sunset breaking through the clouds by Ann Bowman.

Reflecting on the river this evening by Thomas Spence.

Early summer fog by Travis Novitsky.

And these beauties:

Singin’ the blues at Brighton Beach by Mary Amerman.

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Crossing the Bridge by Mary Amerman.

Seven Bridges Road by Jeff Henningsgaard.

Gooseberry State Park by Mary Amerman.

Two Harbors breakwater by Michael Nesset.

And, this majestic one:

White Pine tree in the North Country by David Grinstead.

To finish off… a little pet humor.

Who? Me? Studio cats spell trouble by Randal Anderson.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

(Here’s a big Thank You! to all the people who have helped support NorthShore ArtScene. Grateful. If you’d also like to make a donation, click on the icon below. And Thanks!)

White Face River by Matt Herberg.

Last weekend was pretty busy and this weekend hikes it up a notch. There’s music, a Block Party, puppet workshops, a memoir writing workshop, art workshops, a Dixie dance, a backyard concert and more. The summer season continues …

First up is a Memoir Writing Workshop at the Grand Marais Public Library at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 7, conducted by memoir author Kate St. Vincent-Vogl.

Kate St. Vincent-Vogl will give a workshop on writing memoires at the Grand Marais Public Library on Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

Entitled “Writing Memoir, Writing Life,” St. Vincent-Vogl will give tips, suggestions and writing exercises on how to write the best story of your life. The workshop is free.

Also on Thursday, the first Good Harbor Hill Puppet Workshops to create puppets and backdrops for the Summer Solstice Pageant at North House Folk School later this month will be held at the Betsy Bowen Studio from 6-8 p.m.

Puppet-making workshops will be held at Betsy Bowen’s Studio starting on Thursday, June 7 at 6:30 p.m.

The workshops are open to everyone and are free … and lots of fun. Workshops will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, June 7 & June 14 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 9, and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 10. The Solstice Pageant will be performed at North House Folk School‘s Wooden Boat Show at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 23.

On Friday, a Paint-A-Tile workshop will be held at the Grand Marais Art Colony with a session from 1-2:30 p.m.

A Pint-A-Tile workshop will be held at the Grand Marais Art Colony from 1-2:30 p.m. on Friday.

Participants will paint two tiles using colorful Majolica glazes during the session. The tiles will be fired and ready to be picked up on Sunday morning. The workshop is open to ages 12 and older. To register, call the Grand Marais Art Colony at 387-2737. One other Paint-A-Tile workshop will be held this month, on June 15.

The Boundary Waters Expo will be held this weekend at Bearskin Lodge on the Gunflint Trail this weekend. The 2-day event celebrating the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness will feature speakers, exhibitors and activities for everyone. The event will be held on Friday and Saturday. Scheduled speakers include Bruce Kerfoot (“Gunflint Trail History,”) Sue Plankis (“Birding in the BWCA,”  as well as talks about wilderness First Aid, fishing in the Boundary Waters and more. For more info and the schedule, click here.

And, for your evening listening, WTIP’s The Roadhouse will feature an interview with naturalist Larry Weber, who will talking about his latest book, “Web Watching: A Guide to Webs and the Spiders that Make Them.” Also, a new band, The Wunderdogs with Pete K., John Mianowski and Thomas Stamps will be in the studio to talk about their music and play a few songs. The program airs from 5-7 p.m. on Fridays. (The Wunderdogs play at the Wunderbar on Friday night.)

There will be lots to do in Grand Marais on Saturday, too.

First up, the Cook County Market will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Senior Center parking lot, featuring a wide variety of artisans, food and live music. New this week: organic produce from Round River Farm in Finland.

Round River Farm will bring early summer produce to the Cook County Market this Saturday, starting around 10 a.m.

Round River Farm is located in Finland and produces a wide variety of produce for a CSA. This week, they will have spinach, lettuces, cilantro and (maybe) radishes. They plan to be at the Cook County Market every Saturday through the September.

Also new– the first Grand Marais Block Party will be held on Saturday with lots of live music, events, food, a Grand Marais Playhouse performance, a local author/illustrator reception, kite-making, print-making demos, wine tasting and more.

The Grand Marais Block Party will be held in downtown Grand Marais on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This should be a fun event. There will be a walk/run sponsored by Voyageur Brewing and a variety of musicians playing on 1st Ave. W. during the day, as well as a chance to explore all the interesting shops in the neighborhood. Picnic & Pine is even going to offer S’Mores in the afternoon. Click here for more information, maps and the complete schedule.

Also on Saturday, the Friction Farm, a modern folk duo that has written songs inspired by children’s books, will sing some songs and talk about reading at the Grand Marais Public Library at 10:30 p.m. Saturday.

Aidan and Christine of Friction Farm will perform at the Grand Marais Public Library at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Also, the Cook County Historical Society will hold at Open House at the Johnson Heritage Post from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday.

The Cook County Historical Society will hold at Open House at the Johnson Heritage Post from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday.

Participants will have the opportunity to meet the new staff and board members, and learn about future plans for the Society’s historic sites and art gallery. All five sites will be open for visits: the Lightkeeper’s House and Museum, Bally Blacksmith Shop, St. Francis Xavier Church and a 1930s fish house replica with fishing tug Neegee. There will be refreshments and activities at the Heritage Post. All invited.

And, a top-vote getter for Saturday: The Big Dixie Swingers, who will play at the Wunderbar on Saturday night from 8-10 p.m.

The Big Dixie Swingers will play at the Wunderbar on Saturday night.

Winners of the 2017 band division of the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Association’s Americana Roots Contest, the Big Dixie Swingers of New Orleans are a traveling musical collective headed up by fiddler Aaron Gunn and banjoist Elizabeth Vargas. The band is committed to reviving the music of America’s rural radio stations and stages and their sound blends old time country and pre-war era pop, spinning it back out as western swing-style dance band numbers. So, the event at the Wunderbar is an event for dancing! The North Shore Music Association is sponsoring the event. Tickets are $15 at the door. Here’s an example of their music:

It should be a fun time.

On Sunday, the Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center will host a Shrimp Bowl fom 4-6 p.m. as a fundraiser for the Gunflint Trail Historical Society. The event will be held at the Seagull Lake Community Center. All invited. The suggested donation is $15.

On Monday, the Voyageur Brewing Co. hosts a Community Collaborative Drawing session from 4-6 p.m. Open to all.

And, on Wednesday, June 13, Kristy Kutch will give a demonstration on creating with colored pencils at the Art Colony starting at 4:30 p.m.

Kristy Kutch will demo drawing with colored pencils at the Grand Marais Art Colony at 4:30 pm. on Wednesday, June 13.

Colored pencil is gaining prominence as a fine-art medium and it offers some remarkable techniques and tools. Kutch will demonstrate how to layer, blend, and create interesting textures painting with colored pencils. All invited. No registration necessary.

Exhibits:

 The exhibit, “Northerly Pots: The Long Pleasurable Carry” continues at the Johnson Heritage Post.

Early Snows potter potter, Fritz Lehmberg, is exhibiting work at the Johnson Heritage Post.

The exhibit features a variety of work by this acclaimed Thunder Bay potter. The exhibit continues through June 17. The Heritage Post is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays through Saturdays and from 1-4 p.m. Sundays. It is closed on Tuesdays.

The Spring Art Underground Show continues at Betsy Bowen’s Studio featuring works by more than 30 local and regional artists.

Misha Martin has paintings in the Spring Art Underground show at Betsy Bowen Studio.

Minnesota potter, Guillermo Cuellar, is the featured artist in the Grand Marais Art Colony‘s Gallery Store this month.

Guillermo Cuellar is the featured artist at the Grand Marais Art Colony‘s Gallery Store this month.

Cuellar is teaching a class the Art Colony this month and will be one of the featured speakers at an Artist Talk. Stay tuned for details.

The Peregrine Falcon Show continues at Tettegouche State Park with a wide variety of work by local and regional artists.

This painting by Laurie Olson Hohman is at the Peregrine Falcon exhibit at Tettegouche State Park.

Upcoming:

Jazz musicians Briand Morrison and Sam Miltich will be in house concert at the Art House B&B on June 14 at 7 p.m.

Briand Morrison and Sam Miltich will play at the Art House B&B on June 14.

The $10 admission fee includes a smorgasbord of snacks and punch. BYOB. All invited.

The Wooden Boat Show and Summer Solstice Festival will be at North House Folk School June 22-24.

The Wooden Boat Show and Summer Solstice Festival will be at North House Folk School June 22-24.

This highly anticipated event features workshops and presentations, lots of wooden boats, an auction, and the Summer Solstice Pageant, to name a few.Stay tuned for details.

The Northwoods Fiber Guild will hold an opening reception for its exhibit “Through Our Hands V: Sun, Moon, Stars” at the Johnson Heritage Post from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, June 22.

The Northwoods Fiber Guild will have an exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post that opens June 22.

The exhibit will include weaving, knitting, felting, basketry, beadwork, quilts, paper, clothing, jewelry, accessories, wood carving, rugs, wall hangings, and mixed media andn continues through July 16.

And here’s a great opportunity for opera fans and those who have never gone to an opera before. Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” will be performed at the renovated NorShor Theatre in Duluth on Friday, June 22 and Sunday, June 24. The NorShor used to be the Duluth Opera House back in the day, so it’s just great that opera is being performed there again.  The performance is a production of Lyric Opera of the North. Stay tuned for details For tickets, see www.loonopera.org

Here’s the local music schedule:

Thursday, June 7:

• Gordon Thorne & Friends, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Live Music by the Campfire, Lutsen Resort, 6:30 p.m.
• Billy Johnson, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.

Friday, June 8:

• Billy Johnson, Voyageur Brewing, 4 p.m.
• Black River Revue, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• WunderDogs, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Bug Dope, Bluefin Bay, 9 p.m.

Saturday, June 9:

• Mark Miller, Cook County Market, Senior Center parking lot, 9:30 a.m.
• Friction Farm, Grand Marais Library, 10:30 a.m.
• Live music on 1st St. and the Grand Marais Block Party.
• Common Ground, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• The Cruisers, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.
• Pete K, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Black River Revue, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• The Big Dixie Swingers, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.

 Sunday, June 10:

• Mark Miller, Wunderbar, 11 a.m.
• Open Stage with Joe Paulik, 6 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Monday, June 11:

• Mel Parsons, Monday Singer/Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 9 p.m.

 Thursday, June 14:

• Briand Morrison & Sam Miltich, Art House B&B, 7 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Bluefin Bay, 9 p.m.

As usual, we found some interesting photos this week. Here’s a selection.

Let’s start with some wildlife shots.

Getting a little crowded. Photo by Matthew Pastick.

A nesting loon by Paul Sundberg.

A visitor in my front yard by Therese Misgen.

Male Spruce Grouse by Thomas Spence.

And here’s a wildflower shot.

Bunchberry by Cary Schmies.

And  here are a few black and white beauties.

Playing with a new camera by Alec Johnson.

Fun to see this bull today by Nace Hagemann.

Split Rock Lighthouse by Scott Berglund.

A rain fills the Beaver River by Roxanne Distad.

The Temperance after ice-out by Thomas Spence.

And then two BWCA beauties– one at dawn, one at dusk.

Chasing First Light in the BWCA by Layne Kennedy.

The end of the day in the BWCA by Thomas Spence.

And finally, this evocative photo by Bryan Hansel.

A fishing boat at the end of the “fog bow” by Bryan Hansel.

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!