Welcome to Grand Marais by David Johnson.
There are some pretty amazing things to do and see this weekend on the North Shore, including an art opening, a chance to make a bowl for Empty Bowls, a presentation about buttons, a fantastic film festival, a concert/fundraiser and some great art shows as well as the last performances of “Fences.” Here are the details:
The Voyageur Art Club, which opened its spring exhibition at the Cedar Coffee Shop (1130 – 11th Street, County Road 26 – just a block north of Super One Grocery Store), will hold an Opening Reception on Thursday, April 12, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The show it entitled “Petals and Wings” and features a variety of artwork in different media from member artists.
“Pond” by Elsie Cook, is one of the works in the Voyageur show at the Cedar Coffee Company.
The exhibit is in memory of Jason Wilkes, the son of Arlee Wilkes. Arlee is a longtime member and instructor at the club. Jason was killed in a head-on collision on his way to work as head pastry chef at Grand Superior Lodge.
“Jason” by Arlee Wilkes.
The “Petals and Wings” exhibit continues through April 30.
On Friday, the Grand Marais Art Colony will host the first sessions of the Spring Make-A-Bowl for Empty Bowls in the ceramics studio. Potter Hannah Laky will run the sessions, which are open to all.
Potter Maggie Anderson helps a youngster make a bowl for Empty Bowls laslt year. The Spring Make-A-Bowl sessions will be held this Friday and Saturday.
The Make-A-Bowl sessions will be held from 4-5 p.m. and 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. on Friday, April 13, and from 1 – 2 p.m. and 2:15 – 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, April 14. The public is invited to come throw a bowl and handbuild a bowl to donate to the Empty Bowls Fundraiser, which will be held this fall. Registration is required and a small materials fee ($5) is requested. To register, click here.
Also on Friday, the North Shore Community Theater’s blockbuster production of August Wilson’s “Fences” comes to Silver Bay where it will be performed at the William M. Kelley High School Auditorium Friday through Sunday. This is the last weekend that you can see this outstanding play.
The set from “Fences,” which will be performed in Silver Bay this weekend. Check tix.com for tickets.
“Fences” opened on Broadway in 1986 and won the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for Drama plus The Tony Award & Drama Desk Award for Best/Outstanding Play. The 2016 movie starring Denzel Washington & Viola Davis won the Academy Award for Best Actress. The film was recently screened at the Grand Marais Public Library. For tickets, visit www.tix.com.
On Saturday, The Northwoods Fiber Guild will host Rebecca Lyon for a presentation about buttons at the Wunderbar.
Rebecca Lyon will give a presentation about buttons at the Wunderbar on Saturday, April 14 at 10 a.m. An optional lunch and discussion to follow.
Lyon will present “A Button Timeline,” and talk about the history of clothing buttons and how they have changed over the years. The Show and Tell is free for members of the Northwoods Fiber Guild. A $5 donation is requested for nonmembers. The presentation will be at 10 a.m. An optional lunch and discussion will follow. Open to the public.
Also on Saturday, the Minnesota Theater Alliance will hold a gathering of Northeast Minnesota theater makers at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts from 7-8:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 14. The executive director of the Minnesota Fringe Festival will attend, as well. to provide information about participating in the annual event.
Regional Network Meetings are open gatherings where theater folks can get together to connect about what’s happening in the community, and learn about resources and programs the Minnesota Theater Alliance provides to support the statewide theater community. It’s also a chance to listen to the needs and desires of the artists our area. The gathering is free and open to all.
On Sunday, the First Congregational Church will host a Raise the Roof Fundraiser/Concert starting at 3 p.m. The benefit concert will “Raise the Roof” with jazz and gospel music with Chris Gillis, Thomas Stamps & Friends. Featured will be the recently renovated, 1915 Mason Hamlin piano, previously owned and played by traditional jazz pianist, band leader and ethnomusicologist, Frank Gillis, Chris’ father. The piano has been donated to the congregation, who desires to share its beautifully resorted sound with the community.
This 1915 Mason Hamlin piano, previously owned by jazzman Frank Gillis, Chris Gillis’ father, will be featured at the concert. It was recently donated to the First Congregational Church.
The benefit concert will raise funds to repair the church roof and other building upgrades to further enable the church to provide meeting space for a wide variety of community groups and programs. A free-will offering will be received. All invited.
Also on Sunday, the North of Superior Film Festival begins in Thunder Bay with a wide variety of films to be screened April 15 and April 22. The films will be screened at Silvercity, 850 N. May Street. The collection of films this year is truly outstanding, including “Loving Vincent,” a documentary about Vincent Van Gogh crafted from his paintings. Check out the trailer here:
“Loving Vincent” will be screened at 5 p.m. on Sunday (EDT) at Silvercity. Check out the complete schedule of films here.
Exhibits:
The exhibit, “Chroma, Creature, Vessel, Vision” continues at the Johnson Heritage Post through April 22 and features a wide variety of artwork by the Lewis family: Joel and his children Josie, Forest and Corrie Steckelberg.
Portraits of the Corrie Steckelberg, left, Forest Lewis and Josie Lewis by Josie Lewis is on exhibhit at the Johnson Heritage Post show.
Seagull (multi-media) by Corrie Steckelberg. Oil painting in background is by Joel Lewis.
Neil Sherman has an exhibit of his plein air paintings in the Great Hall at Tettegouche State Park.
“Tettegouche” by Neil Sherman. Oil.
Sherman’s exhibit continues through April.
In Aitkin. the Jacques Art Center, 121 2nd St. NW, the exhibit “The Art of Expressionistic Realism” opens with a reception on Saturday, April 14, from noon to 3 p.m. Artists in the show include Sandi Pillsbury, Gary Guderian, Mary White Kochenderfer and Diane Runberg.
“Across the Pond– Monet’s House, Giverny” by Sandi Pillsbury.
Pillsbury has a number of paintings in the exhibit, including those painted when she visited Europe as well as landscapes of the North Shore. The exhibit continues through May 26.
In Duluth, the Tweed Museum of Art continues its series “Quiet Simplicity”, a collection of works at the Tweed that fit this theme.
“The Footbath (The Toilet) by Helen Turner, 1917, oil on canvas.
In Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery, the Lakehead University Art Department Major Studio Exhibition continues through April 15.
“Unity” by Black Evans, (chalk pastel, copper wire, gold leaf), is at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.
Upcoming:
The Grand Marais Playhouse will present the community youth production of “Shrek The Musical JR” at the Arrowhead center for the Arts for two weekends: April 20 – 22 and 27-29. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7 p.m. and Sunday performances are at 2 p.m. Tickets for adults are $10, Youth $5 and children under 1 $1. Advance tickets are strongly recommended and can be purchased at www.grandmarisplayhouse.com
Artist-in-Residence Jonathan Herrera will open his installation and give an Artist Talk in the Founders Hall at the Grand Marais Art Colony at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 21. Stay tuned for details.
In other Art Colony news, the new website has been launched! Check it out here. Besides the modern design, the website also features on-line registration.
The Art Colony Member Show & Sale will be April 25 this year, featuring works in a variety of mediums by members throughout the region.
The Grand Marais Art Colony‘s Member Show & Sale opens with a reception on April 27. Photo at last year’s opening by Bryan Hansel.
The opening reception is from 5-7 p.m. Friday, April 27. The annual meeting precedes the opening and will be held at 3:30 p.m.
Here’s the music for this week:
Thursday, April 12:
- Maria Nickolay, Voyageur Brewing, 5 p.m.
- Joe Paulik, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
- Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
- Plucked Up String Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 7:30 p.m.
Friday April 13:
- Jim McGowan, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
- Portage, Grandma Ray’s, 6 p.m.
- SplinterTones, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
- Brothers in Arms, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
- Rich Mattson and the Northstars, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 14:
- Briand Morrison, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
- SplinterTones, Grandma Rays, 8 p.m.
- Rockabilly, Grand Portage Casino, 8 p.m.
- Brothers in Arms, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
- Rich Mattson and the Northstars, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 15:
- Joe Paulik, Wunderbar, 11 a.m.
- Andrew Huber, Gun Flint Tavern, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 17:
- Gene Lafond and Amy Grillo, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
Here are some of the photos we found this week. First, wildlife:
Sleeping in the sun by Chris Artist.
Dinner time in Two Harbors by Christian Dalbec.
Birch Inbetween by Ann Bowman.
Devil Track by Don Davison.
Long Gone by Kirk Schleife.
Looking Away from Hollow Rock by Kirk Schleife.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
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