Flooding, Art, Book Talks & A Gospel Music Bonanza

Everybody breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday as the weeks-long drought in Cook County was broken with a 3-inch rain. Well, maybe not everybody. As per usual, the parking lot in front of the Cook County Whole Foods Co-op flooded. The upside? A stand-up paddleboard heaven. In past years, kayaks and canoes plied the “lake” in the parking lot after a hard rain. It took about eight hours for all the water to drain away.

The weather should be great this weekend. though, so plan to explore all the cool things happening in Cook County.

There are several  exhibits to enjoy.  Susan Frame’s Sumi-e Painting Exhibit opened at the Johnson Heritage Post last weekend to critical acclaim. The exhibit continues through Sept. 13. The Heritage Post is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday and Monday.

The “Archives & Extras” exhibit continues at Betsy Bowen’s Studio & Galleries through Aug. 23. The show includes selected woodcut prints (some never seen before)  by Betsy Bowen as well as works from her favorite artists.  Stephan Hoglund is also exhibiting his photographs in the show, as well as his paintings by local and regional artists. The studio and galleries are open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

The Cross River Heritage Center is exhibiting works by painters Sandi Pillsbury-Gredzens, Charlotte Durie and David Hahn and mixed media art by Kim Knutson. The Heritage Center in Schroeder is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. The Lake Superior Watercolor Society opens an exhibit there Sept. 1.

For events this weekend, there will be a Nature Journaling Workshop at Sugarloaf Cove from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.  Participants will be supplied with a small sketch book and variety of drawing and painting equipment for the day. Cost is $20 non-members/$18 members. Preregistration is required. To register, click here.

The Cook County Farm & Craft Market opens at 9 a.m. Saturday in the Senior Center Parking lot. It features vegetables in season as well as a variety of arts & crafts. It runs through 1 p.m.

Melissa Wickwire will give a demo in the ceramics studio of the Grand Marais Art Colony at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

And at 5 p.m, Saturday, award-winning Duluth author Margi Preus will talk about her latest book, “Enchantment Lake,” at a Writer’s Salon at Drury Lane Books. All invited. Preus’ first novel for young people, “Heart of a Samurai,” is a Newbery Honor Book, a recipient of the Asian Pacific American Award for Children’s Literature, and an NPR Backseat Book Club pick.
Preus served as the artistic director of Colder by the Lake Comedy Theatre for 25 years and. with her collaborator, Jean Sramek, has written hundreds of comedy sketches, a couple of comic operas and dozens of plays for young people and grown-ups.

And finally, on Saturday night, the North Shore Music Association will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a gospel music bonanza with Rev. R.L. Bush and the Revived Sons at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts. Rev. Bush was born into a legacy of great gospel music. His grandfather, Louis Johnson, was on of the lead singers for the Swan Silvertones, one of the greatest gospel quartets of all time. Now, with more than 20 years of singing and spreading the gospel under his belt, Rev. Bush is recognized as one of the strongest performers on the circuit. His most recent performance in Cook County was as lead singer for The Carpenter Ants at WTIP’s Radio Waves Music Festival last year. The music (and dancing) start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 adults, $5 18 and under.

On Wednesday, Aug. 26, cellist Yvonne Caruthers, flutist Gina Macy and oboist Philis Anderson will present “Musical Animals”  at 10:30 a.m. at the Grand Marais Public Library as part of the celebration of the completion of the Summer Reading Program. The presentation includes a butterfly, busy bees and the duck from Peter and the Wolf.  There will be a picnic and games on the front lawn at noon, too.

Upcoming:

Aug. 27: Art Exhibit “Sofia” by Daniel Hansen, North House Folk School.
Aug. 28: Outdoor film screening of “Kharma Bums,” North House Folk School, 8:30 p.m
Aug. 29: William Kent Krueger, Arrowhead Center for the Arts, 3p.m.                                                          Aug. 29: Full Moon Reading with Kate Fitzgerald, Drury Lane Books, 5 p.m.
Sept. 3: Monroe Crossing, Arrowhead Center for the Arts, 7 p.m.
Sept. 4: Hand-painted Woodcuts Art Show, Betsy Bowen Studio & Galleries
Sept.  5:  Writer’s Salon with Jim Perlman, Drury Lane Books, 5 p.m.
Sept. 11-18: Plein Air 2015: Grand Marais Art Colony. Exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery opens Sept. 18
Sept. 11-13: Eighth annual Radio Waves Music Festival, Sweetheart’s Bluff, Grand Marais
Sept. 17-19: Unplugged XIV, North House Folk School. Tickets on sale at www.northhouse.org.

In other art news, Sivertson Gallery has just received a new Cape Dorset print as well as four new tin collages by Michael Sweere.

Tickets are now on sale for the Grand Marais Art Colony‘s annual fundraiser: Tour d’Art: Artful Abodes, an exclusive home tour, reception, exhibit highlighting the art of architecture, home design, and functional art. The tour is Oct. 3. Click here for more info.

Definitely Superior Art Gallery in Thunder Bay announced this week that Sarah Link’s exhibit, which was to open in September, has been postponed until next year. The gallery will have a grand reveal party in the streets for the new Die Active wall-art creation during Culture Days and Open Days and Open Streets Sept. 26-27 in Thunder Bay.

And you might have missed this one: The Really, Really, Really Long Table event on Saint Paul St. in Thunder Bay, where more than 300 people will sit down to an outdoor five-course feast prepared by Steve Simpson, owner and head chef of Tomlin Restaurant. The event is a fundraiser for Roots to Harvest, a non-profit in the city. It was fully booked this week. Tickets went for $125.

For old-time fun this weekend, check out the Lake County Fair at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Two Harbors, Aug. 20-23. It’s an old-fashioned county fair with livestock, entertainment, a Midway and more. No chickens, though. Bird exhibits are prohibited because of the avian flu scare.

For music in Cook County this weekend:

Thursday, Aug. 2o:

• Joe Paulik, Music by the Campfire, Lutsen Resort, 6 p.m.
• Evergreen Grass Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 21:

• Gordon Thorne & Bob Bingham, Camp 61, Main St., Beaver Bay 6 p.m.
• Maria Nickolay, Music by the Campfire, Eagle Ridge Resort, 7 p.m.
• Bug Lite, Cascade Lodge Pub, 7:30 p.m.
• Evergreen Grass Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 22:

• Joe Paulik, Voyageur Brewing Co., 3 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, Patio, Superior National Golf Course, 3 p.m.
• Pete Kavanaugh, Music on the Deck, Papa Charlie’s, 6 p.m.
• Bughouse, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Music by the Campfire, Bluefin Bay Resort, 7 p.m.
• Rev. R.L. Bush and the Revived Sons, Arrowhead Center for the Arts, 7:30p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, Cascade Restaurant, 7:30 p.m.
• Evergreen Grass Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 9 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 23:

• Yvonne Caruthers, Bach with Breakfast, Sydney’s, 7:30 a.m.
• Pete Kavanaugh, Music on the Mountain, Caribou Highlands, 5 p.m.
• Yvonne Caruthers, Gunflint Lodge, 6 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Big Bear Lodge, 6:30 p.m.
• Bug Lite, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Monday, Aug. 24:

• Timmy Haus, Gun Flint Tavern, 6:30 p.m.

This isn’t exactly a landscape photo, but it is a charming representation of Betsy Bowen’s Studio & Galleries. The painter, Pam Fioritto, led an evening of painting and wine at Kah-Nee-Tah Gallery last weekend.

 

Christian Dalbec caught these fox cuties the other day.

Here’s a sweet photo of the Cross River flowing into Lake Superior, courtesy of Lamb’s Resort.

Sandra Updyke captured this wonderful shot the other day.

 

Lots of people were out shooting at night last week. Here are a few of the beauties we found:

 

 

 

 

 

And last, but not least, this gorgeous shot of the Milky Way by Nace Hagemann.

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!