Happy Summer Solstice!

by Joan Farnam on June 21, 2018

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 is front and center as you enter the exhibit.

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, and a chance to take a sail on the Hordes.

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 an historic eight-day canoe trip in the Superior National Forest from 100 years ago. June 23 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

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," beadwork by Christi Belcourt.

“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.