Happy Sunday from Artist’s Point by Bryan Hansel. Bryan and Grand Portage photographer, Travis Novitsky, will host “Dueling Photographers” at North House Folk School on Saturday, one of the events in the Dark Sky Festival this weekend. See below for details.
Never underestimate the creativity of people in Cook County. This weekend is no exception. On tap is the Dark Sky Festival, Wunderbar’s Holiday Market, a Curry Cook-off and Broadway Showcase, and a Holiday Character Dress-Up Contest, just to name a few things scheduled for this weekend.
Let’s start with author Tim Cochrane, who will give a presentation about his latest book, “Gichi Bitobig, Grand Marais: Early Accounts of the Anishinaabeg and the North Shore Fur Trade” at the Heritage Visitor Center at the National Monument in Grand Portage from 2-4 p.m. on Thursday. All invited. Free. The book is available at local booksellers as well.
Tim Cochrane will give a presentation on his new book in Grand Portage on Thursday.
On Thursday night, Wunderbar hosts more than 20 artists, artisans, local businesses and galleries for its second annual Holiday Market.
Wunderbar’s Holiday Market is on Thursday from 5-8 p.m.
Local artists at the Holiday Market include painter Anna Hess, potters Hannah Palma, Natalie Sobanja and Kari Carter, weaver Julie Arthur, illustrator Kari Vick, felter Mary Reichert, author Rose Arrowsmith Decoux and Mueller Studio and Sannerud Studios Furniture. Local galleries and shops, even a few restaurants will be there. Open to all.
On Friday and Saturday, Grand Marais will host the first annual Dark Sky Festival, honoring the fact that Cook County has one of the darkest skies in the nation.
UMD’s Traveling GeoDome, which provides guided tours through the night skies, will be set up at Voyageur Brewing Co. on both days. The GeoDome will be open from 5-9 p.m. on Friday and from 8-10 p.m. on Saturday. There will be telescopes set up outdoors as well, weather permitting. On Saturday, photographers Bryan Hansel and Travis Novitsky will host “Dueling Photographers,” a friendly showing of their nightscape photographs. The “duel” will be held at North House Folk School from 5-6:30 p.m.
A quiet night at Esther Like by Travis Novitsky. Novitsky and Bryan Hansel will present their night sky photographs in “Dueling Photographers” at 5 p.m. Saturday at North House Folk School.
At 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jim Rock and Joel Halvorson will present “Native Skies: The Stars and Indigenous Peoples,” also at North House. After the presentations, there will be a bonfire and s’mores as well as more stargazing, weather permitting, and the GeoDome will re-open at Voyageur’s. And finally, Wunderbar will Twilight Zone Move Marathon starting at 9 p.m.
Also on Saturday, the Grand Marais Art Colony will hold Community Ink Day, a chance to learn about making prints and create one of your own. It will be held in the Art Colony’s print studio from 1-3:30 p.m.
The Grand Marais Art Colony will hold a Community Ink Day in the print studio on Saturday from 1-3:30 p.m.
Everyone is invited, but children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. This is a drop-in event — no registration is required — but a $5 donation to cover materials expenses is requested.
And, an added perk for the weekend, the annual Curry Cook-Off and Broadway Showcase, a fundraiser for the Grand Marais Playhouse, will be held at the 1st Congregational Church on Saturday, Dec. 15.
The annual CurryCook-Off and Broadway Showcase will be held at the First Congregational Church on Saturday.
This is always a tasty event, in more ways than one. This year, 10 different curries will be in competition, and the public is invite to vote for their favorite. The tasting feast is followed by holiday and Broadway music performances by local actors. The curry tasting starts at 6:30 p.m, the showcase is at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices vary. The event is a fundraiser for the Playhouse. It will hold a membership meeting at 5:30 p.m before the event. For details, click here.
Also on Saturday night, Voyageur Brewing Co. will hold a Holiday Character Costume Contest and Elves off the Shelves Party starting at 5 p.m. Everyone is invited to come dressed as their favorite holiday character, whether Frosty, Rudolph, the Grinch, Santa or ??? Best costumes will win gift cards, judging is at 7 p.m. Bring along your elf and some props to create a winning scene for a prize. Judging is at 7:30 p.m.
In Duluth, raku potters Richard Gruchalla and Carrin Rosetti will be having their annual Christmas sale at their studio in Duluth Dec. 14-16, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
Raku potters Richard Gruchalla and Carrin Rosetti will hold their annual Christmas sale in their studio in Duluth this weekend.
The raku artists are well-known in Grand Marais. They hold a “Do You Raku? We Do” event at Siverston Gallery every fall. Their studio in Duluth is located at 1600 London Rd. It’s at the east end of the building, lower level.
On Wednesday, Dec. 19, the Grand Marais Art Colony will host “Community Conversations with Neil Sherman: Let’s Finish It!” from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Sherman, a plein air painter, will lead a discussion on how to finish two-dimensional pieces with the most appropriate and long-lasting framing materials. He will be demonstrating as well. Everyone invited. Free.
Also on Wednesday, Voyageur Brewing Co. will host the Artisan Spotlight and Sale from 4:30 pm. to 6:30 p.m. at the brewery. The artists include potter Kari Carter and jewelry maker Terry Lord-Lewis.
Potter Kari Carter will be one of the artists at Wednesday’s Artist Spotlight at Voyageur Brewing Co.
Terry Lord-Lewis will be showing her jewelry at the brewery as well.
The Artist Spotlight and Sale runs from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Exhibits:
The exhibit, “Remains of the Lake & the Northern Landscape”continues at the Johnson Heritage Post. The exhibit features work by photographers John Gregor and Tami Phillippi. Gregor’s pieces feature his work in black and white highlighting Lake Superior’s past. Phillippi’s photographs focus on colorful northern landscapes.
Taconite Dock, Marquette, Mich., by John Gregor.
This is a highly regarded exhibit and a must-see. Gregor shows us parts of Lake Superior we’ve never known about or noticed, while Phillippi celebrates the beauty of the North Shore. The exhibit continues through Jan. 13. The Heritage Post is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday.
A new exhibit has opened in the Great Hall at Tettegouche State Park. Watercolor painter Dennis Murnyak has a wide variety of work on view.
Painting by Dennis Murnyak. He is exhibiting his watercolors at Tettegouche State Park.
Murnyak’s exhibit will be up through December.
In Duluth, the Tweed Museum of Art continues its exhibition of Manifest’o, an installation by Jonathan Thunder. There are three animation vignettes featuring Anishanaabe stories:” Supernaut Becomes The Water Lily”; :The Mishu Bizhiw Awakens” and “Goldfinch Counts Leaves.”
One of the vignettes from Jonathan Thunder’s exhibit, Manifest’o, currently on view at the Tweed.
Three are three exhibits currently on view at the Duluth Art Institute: Patrick Luber’s, “Exceptionally Ordinary,” Darren Houser’s, “Real-Unreal” and Nik Nerburn’s, “Nik Nuerburn is a Camera.” All the exhibits continue through Dec. 20.
One of Darren Houser’s pieces in his exhibit. “Real and Unreal,” at the Duluth Art Institute.
Also, Alyssa Johnson has opened a photography exhibit at the Red Herring Lounge entitled “Once Upon an Imagination.”
Alyssa Johnson opened an exhibit at the Red Herring Lounge in Duluth which continues through February.
In Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery has opened three new exhibits this week including “21 Pillows,” an installation by Cheryl Wilson-Smith, “Lessons: The Artistry of Learning” and “Carl Beam’s Exorcism,” from the Permanent Collection.
One of the pieces from Cheryl Wilson-Smith’s installation “21 Pillows” at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.
Window Shopping:
Black Bear recommends “The Mukluk Ball” by Katherine Johnson, illustrated by Alicia Schwab. Copies can be found at Drury Lane Books.
Charming mini pots by Wisconsin potter Evan Hestekin are at Betsy Bowen’s Studio Gallery.
This labradorite ring by Ron Piercy is at Yellow Bird Fine Art.
Upcoming:
One of the finest celebrations of the winter: The Winter Solstice Shadow Puppet Show by the Good Harbor Players is Friday, Dec. 21 at 6 p.m. outside at North House Folk School. All invited. Free.
The Shadow Puppet Show is on for Dec. 21 at North House Folk School. Here’s one of the shadow puppets used in past years.
The Shadow Puppet Show always includes great puppets, a funny storyline and music. And not to forget, the bonfire to throw in your “gloomies” and a community potluck afterwards. Partiipants are asked to bring their own plates and silverware to the potluck. Stay tuned for details.
The 2019 Winter Plein Air Retreat at YMCA Camp Menogyn is set for Jan. 27-Feb. 1 this year, with an exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post to open Feb. 1.
Winter Plein Air painters post after painting for a week at YMCA Camp Menogyn last year. The deadline to apply for this winter’s event is Dec. 24.
The application deadline is Dec. 24. To find out more and to apply, click here.
Music:
Here’s the music for this week:
Thursday, Dec. 13:
- Maria Nickolay, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
- Gordon Thorne & the Wildcats, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
- Plucked Up String Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 14:
- Nate Weiler, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
- Plucked Up String Band, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
- Shakey Ground, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
- Snowball Music & Ski Festival, Papa Charlie’s, Jon Wayne & The Pain, 9 p.m.; WookieFoot, 10:45 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 15:
- Snowball Music & Ski Festival, Papa Charlie’s, Smokin’ Joe, 12:30; The Limns, 2 p.m., Jon Wayne, 4 p.m.; Heatbox, 9 p.m., Wookiefoot, 10:45 p.m.
- A Hovland Family Christmas, Hovland Town Hall, 7 p.m.
- Gordon Thorne, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
- Eric Frost, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
- Plucked Up String Band, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 16:
- Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
- Open State with Joe Paulik, 6 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 17:
- Holiday Show with the North Shore Community Swing Band, Wunderbar, 6-8 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 18:
- Gordon Thorne, Poplar River Pub, 68 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 19:
- Jam Session, Gun Flint Tavern, 6:30 p.m.
We found some interesting photos this week. Here’s a selection:
Wildlife:
“Good morning, beautiful” by Sarah Hamilton.
“Nibbles” by Janice Latz.
Catching wildlife:
On the Job. Eric Sve on the Big Lake pulling in the catch. Photo by Christian Dalbec.
Ice photos:
Nature’s fractals by Jakub Sisak.
Ice on the lake by Mike Wiggins, Jr.
Frosty window by Sharon Frnak Wichman.
Sunset by Paul Sandberg.
The cross on the Brule by Bryan Hansel.
Frozen Flow by Wayne Ortloff.
Lake Superior:
Awesome morning at the office by David Johnson.
Morning stack at Tettegouche State Park by Christian Dalbec.
Potpourri:
International Space Station flies over by Thomas Spence.
Sun dogs in Wisconsin by Susanne Von Schroeder.
Fireball sunset by David Johnson.
Santa’s view by Christian Dalbec. (A drone photo)
And, a photo for the season.
First run of the season by Kjersti Vick.
Enjoy your weekend!
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