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Spring Has Sprung!

Paul Sundberg took this photo beautiful photo recently. He said i is the most intense sunrise he's seen in Grand Marais in years. Enjoy!

Paul Sundberg took this beautiful photo recently. He said it is the most intense sunrise he’s seen in Grand Marais in years. Enjoy!

Welcome back to NorthShore ArtScene!
It took longer than we expected to change to a new server, but we’re online again! Hope you enjoy this issue.

And please re-subscribe, so we can appear in your email every week. (The sign-up button is in the right column.)

Otherwise, you can find us at www.northshoreartscene.com each week with all the latest North Shore art news & events, art gossip, music and more, as well as lots of beautiful landscape photos.

April is a quiet month in Cook County, as everybody is getting ready for the start of the summer season, but there’s still plenty of great music out there and lots to see and do.

First up is a newly formed duo, “Roddy & Caribou,” (Rod Dockan and Carah Thomas) who will play at the American Legion from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday. Roddy & Caribou will perform there on Tuesday and Thursday nights through the early summer.

Boyd "Bump"Blomberg and Adam Moe perform on The Playlist on Thursday night.

Boyd “Bump”Blomberg and Adam Moe perform on The Playlist on Thursday night.

At 9 p.m. on Thursday, WDSE’s The Playlist will feature Pushing Chain (Boyd “Bump” Blomberg and Adam Moe) when they played at a special night of music organized by The Playlist at Papa Charlie’s earlier this winter. The show will also feature Jim Perlman of Holy Cow! Press and jewelry artist Michelle Ronning. The Playlist airs at 9 p.m. on Thursday nights.

"The Source" by Birney Quick, 1939, will be on exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post.

“The Source” by Birney Quick, 1939, is on exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post.

On Friday, the Johnson Heritage Post celebrates its 25th anniversary with an opening reception from 5-7 p.m. for a new exhibit, “The Permanent Collection.” The exhibit will feature new acquisitions and donations to the Heritage Post, including works by Birney Quick, Anna Johnson, Helga Moe and Mary Pratt as well as others. The exhibit will continue through April 19.

On April 24, Art ‘Round Town (A’RT), a fundraiser for local public art projects, opens with a reception from 5-7 p.m. at the Heritage Post for a three-day exhibit. The opening reception will feature live jazz, hors d’oeuvres and wine. Local artists from every media will display a work in a 12 x 12 square, which will be sold for $100 each. There will be other items in the exhibit as well. Stay tuned for details.

On Saturday, April 4, the annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held at the Cook County Community Center featuring games, food, a visit with the Easter Bunny and hundreds of eggs hidden around the grounds. The event is a fundraiser for Kids Plus. There will also be a raffle. Tickets for the event are $5 per child, $10 per family. The Easter Egg hunt starts at 10 a.m.

Randy Sabien plays with Chris Gillis and    Chenowith for a Spring Dance on Saturday night.

Randy Sabien plays with Chris Gillis and JIm Chenowith for a Spring Dance on Saturday night.

On Saturday night, the North Shore Music Association presents a community “Spring Dance with Randy Sabien & The Unusual Suspects” at North House Folk School from 7:30-10:30 p.m. This should be a fun dance. Sabien, dubbed as the past, present and future of jazz violin, will play with our own Chris Gillis  (keyboards and trumpet) and Jim Chenoweth, an upright bass player who has played for more than 30 years.
The trio will play a foot-stomping storm of traditional folk favorites, clever originals and an occasional jazz surprise. For those familiar with dance steps, there will be multiple styles presented, including: swing, 2-step, foxtrot, waltz, polka, and Latin (rumba, cumbia, salsa, and samba). Tickets sold at the door — $10 adults, $5 youth (18 and under.)

Also on Saturday night, Kah Nee Tah Gallery in Lutsen is holding “Women’s Night Out” at the gallery from 5-8 p.m. To sign up, email danielle@kahneetah.com. Complimentary drinks & appetizers will be served.

And on Monday night, Twin Cities guitarist and songwriter Erik Koskinen will be featured at Papa Charlie’s at 8 p.m. in its Songwriter Series. Free.

Also, swing dance sessions start up again with Beginning East Coast Swing dance lessons on April 7 from 7-8 p.m. and an open dance session from 8-8:45 p.m. They will be held at the 4-H Log Building. All welcome.

"Catching Some Wind" by David Gilsvik is at Sivertson Gallery.

“Catching Some Wind” by David Gilsvik is at Sivertson Gallery.

In other art news, Sivertson Gallery is exhibiting a new painting by David Gilsvik entitled “Catching Some Wind,” a portrait of Howard, Liz and Jan Sivertson in celebration of the 35th anniversary of the gallery.

Lutsen sculptor Tom Christiansen is beginning work on the public art project that will be installed in  front of the Grand Marais Public Library. He is working at Last Chance Gallery and Fabricating, which he co-owns with his wife, Marcia Hyatt. His assistant, Josh Rice, Kathy Rice’s son, is also helping on the library project. The art gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and “by chance.”

"Winter Creek" by Lisa Stauffer.

“Winter Creek” by Lisa Stauffer.

The Grand Marais Art Colony is holding a number of classes in April, including a pottery class with Joan Farnam, a pastel class with Lisa Stauffer, writing classes with Marcia Hyatt and Mary Ellen Ashcroft and many youth classes.  For more information, see www.grandmaraisartcolony.org or its Facebook page.

Lisa Stauffer, who is featured in this month’s newsletter from the Art Colony,  recently won the Best of Show award at the Paint the Point– Winter Edition plein air competition in Mineral Point, Wis. Her painting, entitled “Winter Creek,” was published in the magazine PleinAir Collector.

Also, the Art Colony brought in two artists-in-residence this year: Marty Harris and Mary Bergs. Each worked in separate studios for two weeks, held open studios as well as half-day classes.

Paintings by Marty Harris.

Paintings by Marty Harris.

Pictured at left are two of the paintings that Harris completed during his residency.

Bowl turner Cooper Ternes is setting up shop in The Garage, where he will be turning bowls as well as selling some of his work. He expects to be ready to open after Memorial Day.

Threads continues to add art supplies for local artists. The latest? Non-toxic spray paints made from sugar cane.

Also, Tara Block has brought in lots of new beautiful porcelain teacups she made in the ceramic studios at the Art Colony.

This felted painting by Bonnie Gay Hedstrom is at Kah Nee Tah Gallery.

This felted painting by Bonnie Gay Hedstrom is at Kah Nee Tah Gallery.

Bonnie Gay Hedstrom has felted paintings at the Kah Nee Tah Gallery.

The Grand Marais Playhouse has announced the cast of “Moon Over Buffalo” by Ken Ludwig, which will be performed during the Summer Theater Festival. The cast includes Bob Carter, Marcia Hyatt, Sarah Stover, Jan Healy, Braidy Powers, Kevin Kager, Sarah Metis and Tom Christiansen. It is directed by Sue Hennessy.

“Moon Over Buffalo” will be performed in repertory this summer with “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” a musical with Mark Abrahamson, Rose Arrowsmith DeCoux, Jack Nickolay, and Karina Roth, with Kay Costello on piano and Daniel Dittmanson on violin.

Kim Adams' installations are currently on exhibit at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.

The Lakehead University Studio Exhibition is currently showing at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.

In Thunder Bay, the Lakehead University Studio Exhibition continues at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery through April 12, and the Kim Adams installations are up through May 24.

Three exhibits continue at the Definitely Superior Art Gallery, 250 Park Ave., in Thunder Bay, following the successful opening during their Urban Infill–Art in the Core 9 last weekend. More than 350 artists participated in 18 projects in the Waterfront District during the event, drawing hundreds to see and experience the art, music and performances. The current exhibits at Def-Sup include a video installation by Kelly Richardson, “Contemporary 14,” from the collection of Dr. Bob Chaudhuri and sculpture by Brandon Vickerd. The gallery is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m.

The Walker Museum's International Cat Video Festival comes to Duluth on Monday.

The Walker Art Center’s  International Cat Video Festival comes to Duluth on Monday. Pictured, above, is “Grumpy Cat.”

For the quirky cat-video lover, the Duluth Art Institute is bringing the Walker Art Center’s International Cat Video Festival back to Duluth. There will two showings at the Zinema 2 at 7 and 9 p.m. on Monday, April 6.

The 2015 iteration of this event features a new selection of videos curated by Will Braden, the creator of the Henri Le Chat Noir videos and recipient of the festival’s first Golden Kitty (People’s Choice) Award. Participants are encouraged to get dressed up like a cat for the festival.

There’s a fun video about the International Cat Video Festival. Check it out here.

Here’s the music schedule for the week:

Thursday, April 2:

  • Gordon Thorne, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
  • Bump Blomberg, Gun Flint Tavern, 6:30 p.m.
  • Roddy & Caribou (Rod Dockan & Carah Thomas), American Legion, 7-9 p.m.
  • Dance Party with DJ Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9 p.m.

Friday, April 3:

  • Eric Frost & Friends, Voyageur Brewery, 8 p.m.
  • The Last Revel Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
  • Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9 p.m.

Saturday, April 4:

  • Gordon Thorne, Paul Mayasich & Al Oikari, Papa Charlie’s, 3:15 p.m.
  • Joe Paulik, Papa Charlie’s, 6:45 p.m.
  • Lane Trisko, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
  • Pete Kavanaugh,  Cascade Lodge Pub, 7 p.m.
  • Spring Dance! with Randy Sabien and the Unusual Suspects, North House Folk School, 7:30 p.m.
  • Bump Blomberg & Adam Moe, Voyageur Brewing Co., 8 p.m.
  • The Last Revel Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
  • Romantica, Papa Charlie’s, 11 p.m.

Sunday, April 5:

  • Eric  & Jessa Frost, Moguls Grille, 11 a.m.
  • The Lowest Pair, Papa Charlie’s, 3:30 P.M.
  • Billy Johnson, Papa Charlie’s,  7:30 p.m.

Monday, April 6:

  • Erik Koskinen, Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, April 7:

  • Pete Kavanaugh, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
  • Open Mic Night, Papa Charlie’s, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, April 8:

  • Open Mic Night, Gun Flint Tavern, 5 p.m.
  • Southwire, Spotlight North, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

Truth be told, there are lots of great photographs that have been taken in the last month. Here is a small selection. Enjoy!

Jamie Rabold took this incredible photo at the ice caves at the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore when it opened briefly this winter. He burns steel wool and then “spins” it, capturing wonderful movements of fire, which, in this case, are reflected off the ice.

"Ice Caves Spirits" by Jamie Rabold.

“Ice Caves Spirits” by Jamie Rabold.

 

Fire — now ice –Norman Larsen sent us this photo of  the Hovland dock surrounded by a broken ice pack on a very gray day.

Norman Larsen Hovland

“Hovland” by Norman Larsen.

 

We received some wonderful shots of last month’s full moon. Here are two of them.

Photo by Thomas Spence.

Full moon reflection. Photo by Thomas Spence.

 

 

Moonrise over Artist Point by Paul Sundberg.

Moonrise over Artist Point by Paul Sundberg.

 

We found some pretty amazing northern lights photos, too.

Photo by Matt Herberg.

Photo by Matt Herberg.

 

Photo by Kirk Schleife, taken by Island Lake near Duluth,

Photo by Kirk Schleife, taken by Island Lake near Duluth.

 

 

Photo by David Johnson.

Photo by David Johnson.

 

paul pluskwik northern lights

Photo by Paul Pluskwik.

 

And the skies were clear enough to see the Milky Way. Here are a few beauties.

Photo by Bryan Hansel.

Photo by Bryan Hansel.

 

Photo by David Johnson.

Photo by David Johnson.

 

And this classic Lake Superior in early spring is by Sandra Updyke.

Photo by Sandra Updyke.

Photo by Sandra Updyke.

 

Sandra Updyke also captured this fanciful ice formation.

Two ice elephants having a chat, by Sandra Updyke.

Two ice elephants having a chat, by Sandra Updyke.

 

And last, but not least, Kelly Marquardt posted this powerful image on her Facebook page.

kelly Marquardt

Photo by Kelly Marquardt.

 

Happy Easter, everyone!

 

 

{ 4 comments… add one }

  • Pete Harris April 2, 2015, 1:47 pm

    We survived without your weekly blog, but just barely. Glad that your are back.

  • ellen dolan April 2, 2015, 6:17 pm

    I have missed your email and was concerned about you. Almost called the Art Colony to see if you survived the winter. We stay in the RV park for the summer and I always enjoy visiting with you during the Farmer’s Market. Glad we are on the roll once again. I did manage to buy 2 of David Johnson’s poster sized photos of GM and even our boat docked at the marina. They are now framed and ready to hang. Lovely. See you in July and I hope to volunteer my services to the Art Colony this summer season.

    • Joan Farnam April 2, 2015, 9:49 pm

      Thanks, Ellen! So glad you got some of David Johnson’s beautiful work. See you this summer!

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