A Wintery Mix: Empty Bowls & Frozen Photographers

Winter has set in very early this year, but that hasn’t stopped Cook County from organizing fun events, playing live music, performing in the theater or exhibiting artwork. Here is what’s happening this week:

After months of preparation and planning, Empty Bowls 2019 is here. The fundraiser to help feed the hungry in Cook County will be held at St. John’s Catholic Church on Thursday, Nov. 14, with two seatings: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.

The event features a simple meal with soup and bread provided by local restaurants, and a sale of beautiful handcrafted bowls made at the Grand Marais Art Colony. After the soup meal, participants can satisfy their sweet tooth with a delicious homemade treat from the bake sale. This year, Northwoods Fiber Guild members have made microwave bowl cozies as well.

Proceeds from Empty Bowls 2019 will fight hunger in Cook County by funding community hunger programs.

Funds from last year’s Empty Bowls event were distributed to the Cook County Food Shelf, Birch Grove Community Center’s WE Connect, Cook County Youth Agency Coalition, Cook County Public Health and Human Services, local schools, Snacks and Packs, and the Violence Prevention Center to help nourish those in need.

All invited. The soup meal is $6. (Kids under 12 eat free). The handcrafted bowls are $10 and up.

Not to forget: Thursday is also MN Give to the Max Day, the time to support your favorite nonprofits, including Empty Bowls, if you wish. Click here to learn more and to select organizations and schools you would like to support.

The Grand Marais Playhouse is presenting Disney’s The Little Mermaid as the youth community play this year, and this is the final weekend to see it. The musical has received rave reviews and is highly recommended. Performances are at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets for the play are available at the door. Tickets are $12 adults, $5 youth, and $3 for children under 12.

On Saturday, the North Shore Winery will hold a “Paint & Sip” at the winery, giving everyone a chance to create a holiday painting and sip some great wine at the same time.

Cost for the Paint & Sip event is $45 per person which includes a glass of wine or cider. RSVP at (218) 481-9280 or email info@northshorewinery.us

On Saturday night, The Evening Stars,  the new 6-piece dance band playing soul, funk, classics and modern songs as well as original interpretations, will be performing at Grandma Ray’s.

Members include Todd Miller, lead guitar and vocals; Jonathan Steckelberg, bass and vocals; Thomas Stamps, drums and vocals; Tina Haeg Raway, lead vocals, Erik Hahn, saxaphone and vocals, and Drew Heinonan, guitar and vocals. The music starts at 8 p.m.

If you’re going to be in Duluth on Saturday, stop by Wild State Cider at 2515 Superior St., for the Grand Marais Craft Shop Takover. Participants include: The Big Lake, Hannah Palma Ceramics, Katie Mumm Photography, Nan Onkka Prints, North Woven Goods by Emily Wick, Ebenezer Stone Jewelry by Katy Attleson and Hungry Hippie Tacos. The event is from 1-5 p.m.

On Tuesday, Nov. 19, A Critical Response Critique Session will be held at the Grand Marais Art Colony from 6-8 p.m, with, instructor Natalie Sobanja. The Critical Response Critique allows artists to ask questions about their work in a non-judgmental setting and nurtures the development of artistic works through a facilitated dialogue between artists, peers, and audiences. Simple snacks are provided and welcomed! Free. For more info, call the Art Colony at 387-2737.

In other Art Colony news,  “Opportunities for Ceramic Artists,” a conversation with the staff at the Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis through a video conference, will be held from noon to 1 p.m. will be held at the Art Colony on Wednesday, Nov. 20. All invited. Free.

And, Making a Mark: Life Drawing, is being held in the Founders Hall at the Art Colony on Wednesday evenings from 5:30-8 p.m. through Dec. 18. (There will be no session on Nov. 27.) The cost is $20 per session, $70 for the full series. Drop-ins are welcome.

Life drawing is for artists what jogging is for athletes—essential practice. Students can choose to draw in a highly detailed representational manner or to create loose and expressive sketches. As models work through a variety of postures and artists have the opportunity to study muscle detail, facial expressions, and overall form in a way that is not possible with a two-dimensional image. This session is open to all media and skill levels. Students younger than 18 must be accompanied by or have the permission of a parent or guardian. No formal instruction is included.

FYI: Lutsen Resort will host Wine & Trivia Wednesdays through the winter at the resort from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesdays. Each week a variety of wine specials will be made available at a wine bar in the lobby and paired with an evening of fine trivia. Open to all.

Also, not to forget, Grandma Ray’s holds Trivia Night every Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Exhibits:

“The Changing Seasons,” an exhibit by the Facebook group, Frozen Photographers, continues at the Johnson Heritage Post. This is a great exhibit featuring a wide variety of photographs of landscapes and more from this talented group.

1. 

   “The Dog and the Boy–Lake Superior” by Ann Berget, is one of the photographs in the new exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post.

The exhibit continues through Dec. 3. Winter hours at the Heritage Post are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

Landscape painter Greg Lecker is the featured artist in the Great Hall at Tettegouche State Park this month, featuring a selection of paintings of water.  The exhibit is entitled “Watershed.”

In Duluth, at the Duluth Art Institute:

And at the Tweed Museum of Art in Duluth:

 Opportunities:

Registration for the Winter Plein Air Retreat at YMCA Camp Menogyn has opened. The retreat will be held Jan. 26-Jan. 31, with an exhibit to open at the Johnson Heritage Post Jan. 31. The registration deadline is Dec. 24. For more info and to register, click here.

 Upcoming:

Winterer’s Gathering and Arctic Film Festival will be at North House Folk School Nov. 22-24 this year, featuring winter-centric coursework, a winter tent camp, a gear swap, dancing, a film festival, speakers and more. It’s the classic event to welcome winter on the North Shore. All welcome.

The featured speaker this year is Bill Hanlon. An avid backcountry hunter, Hanlon made an amazing discovery of a mummified ancient hunter while in the Tatshenshini/Alsek Wilderness Park in 1999. Bill will share the story of Kwäday Dän Ts’ìnchi or “Long Ago Person Found” on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 7:30 p.m.  He will also offer a seminar on backcountry expeditions during the weekend.

The Arctic Film Festival is always a popular part of the event, too.  To see the film schedule and all the events, click here.

Holiday Sales & Celebrations:

Here’s a brief outline of some of the holiday fairs/events planned for the next few weeks:

Nov. 23:

• Holidays in Schroeder features the North County Creations Bazaar at the Schoeder Town Hall and events at the Cross River Heritage Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Nov. 29:

• European Christmas Market, North Shore Winery, featuring a variety of vendors and live music, 1-4 p.m.
• Holiday Art Underground opening reception at Betsy Bowen’s Studio. 3-5:30 p.m. featuring a wide range of local and regional artists.
• Light Up Lutsen featuring open houses and special events in downtown Lutsen from 1-4 p.m. A hot metal pour will be held at the Mueller Studio at 5 p.m.
• Oh Ole Night Parade, downtown Grand Marais and kicks of holiday celebrations in Grand Marais, 6 p.m.

Nov. 30:

• Hovland Holiday Arts Festival. Hovland Town Hall, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This arts festival features a wide range of local artists and artisans and includes everything from wood carving, fiber art, pottery, photographs, painting, glass and more.

Dec. 7:

• Northwoods Fiber Guild Holiday Sale and Open House, Grand Marais Art Colony, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event is a tradition on the North Shore featuring high quality one-of-a kind fiber crafts.

The event also features tasty treats, hands-on activities, fiber demos, music, and plenty of holiday spirit.

• Holiday Craft Fair, Grand Portage Lodge & Casino, featuring Ojibwe art, jewelry, baked goods and more, 10 a.m to 3 p.m.

Artist News:

David Huckfelt of The Pines was recently interviewed on WTIP Community Radio about his first solo album, written during his artist residency on Isle Royale National Park.

 To hear the interview and some of his new songs, click here.

And last, but not least, Grand Marais Mayor Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux and Grand Rapids jazz musician Sam Miltich were among those featured on a PBS special on the impact of the arts in northern Minnesota. Check it out.

 Music:

Here’s the music schedule for this week:

Thursday, Nov. 14:

• Fred Anderson, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Terry V & Friends, Wunder bar, 7 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne & Friends, North Shore Winery, 7 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 15:

• Joe Paulik, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Mark Joseph, CD Release, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov 16:

• Gordon Thorne, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Mysterious Ways, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Evening Stars, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Javier Trejo & Clayton Mohr, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p..m

Sunday, Nov. 17:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• Open Stage with Joe Paulik & Pat Flack, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 18:

• North Country Fair, Voyageur Brewing, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 19:

• Eric Frost, Lutsen Resort, 6 p.m.

Photographs

No wild Lake Superior scenes, this week, but there are plenty of other interesting images. First, wildlife:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some still shots:

 

 

 

And a few full moon photographs:

 

 

 

And The Light at Split River Lighthouse:

Calm Grand Marais:

 

 

Color:

 

Frozen:

 

And first of the season sea smoke!

 

Have a great weekend, everyone!

(BTW: Feel free to make a donation to NorthShore ArtScene today by clicking on the icon below. And thank you!)