Toasty Cuba to Fat Bikes and Sled Dogs in the Snow

It’s pretty quiet here on the North Shore. Quiet and beautiful. The snow isn’t that deep, but it’s gorgeous and fluffy, and, if you go over the hill on the Gunflint Trail, it’s deep and great for cross county skiing. Downhill skiing in Lutsen is good, too, but a little chilly this week.

If you look at Lake Superior, it’s surging with sea smoke every day, as sub-zero winds condense into beautiful mists and swirling fog as far as the eye can see.

Obviously it’s time to sit at home and enjoy a good book by a crackling fire …

or

Check out the action in galleries, music venues and restaurants that are planned for the next few weeks.

First up are modern square dancing lessons held at the Cook County Community Center Thursday nights, Jan. 4  through Feb. 15. The Thursday night event runs from 7:30-9 p.m. and includes instruction. No experience or partner needed. Donation requested. For more information, click here. Or contact dance caller  John Mattice at jmattice@uark.edu or 218-877-7654.

The Grand Marais Public Library‘s Friday night movie series, called Friday Night Reels, starts this week with the screening of “Havana Curveball,” a documentary about Cuba. See the trailer, below. The movies are free and start at 6 p.m.

Havana Curveball – Trailer from PatchWorks Films on Vimeo.

Also on Friday night, Papa Charlie’s is holding a mini music festival with a number of different bands playing on Friday and Saturday nights. On Friday, Dead Man Winter, Charlie Parr and the Black-Eyed Snakes perform. On Saturday night Roma Di Luna, All Tomorrow’s Petty and Invisible Boy play. The music starts at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 advance/$18 at the door on Friday and Saturday. A two-day advance pass is $28. For more info, click here.

For art, winter encourages artists to get into the studio, and Betsy Bowen has just come out with a new print.

 

And there’s an art opening scheduled for Friday night at Tettegouche State Park for Badger resident, Sherri Kruger. Kruger is exhibiting her glass mosaic multi-media pieces in the Great Hall at the park through January.

The reception will be held Friday, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. Kruger will talk about her art and answer questions. Refreshments will be served. All invited.

(Note: The Johnson Heritage Post in Grand Marais will be closed until Jan. 26, when it will feature works painted by the Minnesota Outdoor Painters who participate in the Winter Plein Air Retreat at YMCA Camp Menogyn. The opening is Friday, Jan. 26. The exhibit continues through Jan. 28. Stay tuned for details.)

In Duluth, an opening reception for the exhibit “His and Hers” –New Year, Old and New Work” with paintings and prints by Tom Rauschenfels and Sue Rauschenfels will be held at the Zeitgeist Atrium Gallery, 222 E Superior St.

The opening reception is from 7-9 p.m. The exhibit will continue through Jan. 31.

Also, a stop at the Tweed Museum of Art might be of interest. Its exhibit “Modern(ism)” continues, featuring smaller works by some of the most famous artists of our time.

The Tweed staff has also developed an exhibit of their favorite pieces from the museum’s collection, fittingly called “Out of Context.” Here’s an example:

Also this weekend, there are some fun outdoor events. The Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race will be held on Saturday and Sunday, with Trail Center the home base. The Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race is a continuous race consisting of two legs of equal distance, separated by a mandatory layover. There are two classes: a 12-dog race,100-mile race and n 8-dog, 65-mile race. There are lots of great places to watch this race. Stop by Trail Center and find out more this weekend.

This is also the weekend of the Norpine Fat Bike Classic, which will start at the Superior National clubhouse. The race is from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For more info, click here.

And for a cozy evening of spinning knitting, woodcarving or basketmaking, consider North House Folk School’s Open Crafting nights. Basketmakers and/or woodcarvers are invited to come work at North House from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 9 and spinners and knitters are invited on Wednesday, Jan. 10 from 5-7 p.m. Both events are free. For more info, click here.

Opportunities:

 Call to Artists: The 2018 Spirit of the Wilderness Art Exhibit will open at the Johnson Heritage on March 9. Artists of every age and in every media are invited to explore this year’s theme: “Chaos, Cracks, Creativity!” Artists are invited to consider the following: When the cracks of prejudice, greed and fear seem inescapable, how do you as a writer, sculptor, ceramist, wood-worker, glass-worker, painter or fiber artist encounter the chaos? How does your creative process invite the light in? Where do you see muddle and magnificence in the natural world or on the North Shore? How does the natural world create new models for you? Do you seek to soothe or expose, clarify or challenge?
Entries for the show are due at the Johnson Heritage Post March 5 & 6. Stay tuned for details.

John Gregor of Coldsnap Photography is holding a workshop entitled “Winter Wonderland: From Concept to Exhibit.” During the 4-day workshop, participants will have opportunities to photograph, edit, print, and prepare for an exhibit in the Great Hall at Tettegouche State Park. Two Harbors photographer Christian Dalbec is the guest instructor for the workshop. For more info, click here.

Here’s a heads-up for artists from every discipline–consider enrolling in the 100day Project, a way to hone your skills and discover new ways to be creative. It’s free.

Here’s a really inspiring video about how the 100Day project changed an artist’s life. It’s from MN Original. 

And check out the 100Day Project’s web site for more info. The winter project starts Jan. 21.

And not to forget, the Northern Fibers Retreat is Feb. 14-18 this year.

For more information about classes and events during the retreat, click here.

And finally, plein air painter Neil Sherman reminds us of what is outside our doors right now with this painting.

This painting is currently being exhibited at the Grand Hill Gallery in St. Paul. Sherman is was recently in Denver for the Coors Western Art Show as a Club Artist.

And now, for the music this week:

Thursday, Jan. 4:

• Timmy Haus, Mogul’s Grille, 4 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 5:

• Gordon Thorne, Mogul’s Grille, 4 p.m.
• Matt & Laurel, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
• Gene Lafond & Amy Grillo, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• TBA, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.

GNDWIRE Ski Party, (3 bands), Papa Charlie’s, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 6:

• Tim Fast, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Epiphany, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• GNDWIRE Ski Party, Papa Charlie’s, 8:30 p.m.
• Mysterious Ways, Grandma Ray’s, 8:30 p.m.
• Common Ground, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 7:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• Boyd Blomberg, Wunderbvar, 11 a.m.
• TBA, Gun Flint Tavern, 6:30 p.m.

Monday, Jan 8:

• Gordon Thorne, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Erik Koskinen, Singer/songwriter Series, Papa Charlies, 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 10:

• Boyd Bump Blomberg, Skyport Lodge, 5:30 p.m.

You might want to put on a hat and mittens or turn up the heat for this next segment, because we found a lot of ice and cold photos this week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The wildlife are adapting to the cold.

Here’s a grouse hunkering down in a snow drift.

 

 

Surfers seem to be “adapting” to the cold, too.

And the cold continues …

 

 

 

 

It was hard to decide which photo to use to finish off this exhibit. Both are great. Enjoy!

 

Keep warm, everybody!

(P.S. If you had a great time looking at and reading this blog, consider making a donation to keep it alive and healthy. Thank you!)