Plein Air 2015 and Unplugged XIV

by Joan Farnam on September 17, 2015

David Johnson took this photograph of a sunrise in Grand Marais recently. He calls it: Sunrise – No Color Correction. Enjoy!

Only 4 days to the first day of fall, and the celebration begins this weekend with two of the most popular events of the season: the Grand Marais Art Colony‘s Plein Air Competition and Exhibit, and North House Folk School’s Unplugged XIV.

There’s lots of other fun activities and things to do this weekend, too, so read on.

Plein air painter, David Gilsvik, at work during the Quick Paint Competition on Artist Point.

Plein Air 2015 began last Friday, Sept. 11, as more than 70 plein air artists from throughout the region descended on the Grand Marais Art Colony to get their canvases stamped and head out to their favorite spots in Cook County to paint. During the week, there was a Paint-Out on Lutsen Mountains, and artist’s talks by Lisa Stauffer and David Gilsvik.

The “Quick Paint,” one of the outstanding features of the event, will be held at

The Playlist‘s Karen Sunderman interviews Lloyd Scott Anderson and Neil Sherman at Artists’ Point.

Artists’ Point at 4 p.m. on Thursday. Here, with a shotgun start, the artists are allowed an hour and a half to complete a painting. This is always a fun event for the public watch, as blank canvases turn into images of beauty in only 90 minutes.

Want a preview? WDSE’s The Playlist crafted an Emmy Award-winning video of the event. Called the Plein Air Brush Off, you can view it here.

All the paintings completed during the week go on exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post on Friday and the juror for the show, Tom Nachreiner, will give a

“Coast Guardian” by Tom Nachreiner, the award juror for Plein Air 2015.

presentation at the Art Colony at 11 a.m. entitled “How to Improve as an Artist.” He will teach a plein air class at the Art Colony Sept. 19-21.

The exhibit and opening gala reception is from 5-7 p.m. on Friday at the Johnson Heritage Post which, if past years are any indication, is a sumptuous display of the beauties and quirks in Cook County. Awards will be announced, including the Red Suspender Award. The exhibit and sale continues through Nov. 15.

On Saturday, Hazel Belvo will lead an Artist Talk at the Heritage Post gallery entitled “The Art of Seeing: Developing a Visual Literacy.” There is a $5 suggested donation.

Mountain Stage returns to Unplugged XIV with concerts on Thursday and Friday nights.

Meanwhile, a few blocks away, Unplugged XIV: The Northern Harvest continues at North House Folk School with three days of craft and three nights of music. The weekend also features a variety of classes, including songwriting workshops, and a Folk Artisan Marketplace and craft demonstrations.

NPR’s Mountain Stage Radio with Larry Groce returns for shows on Thursday and Friday nights and the classic Unplugged Singer/Songwriter Circle hosted by Jon Vezner is on Saturday night. Here’s the line-up:

Unplugged XIV — under the big tent this weekend.

Thursday: Plucked Up String Band opens at 6 p.m., Mountain Stage concert in the big tent at 7 p.m. with Martha Scanlan, Tift Merritt, Charlie Parr, Haley Bonar, and Pieta Brown.

Friday: Eric Frost & Bill Hansen open at 6 p.m., Mountain Stage concert in the big tent at 7 p.m. with Ron Sexsmith, Serena Ryder, John Mark Nelson, Mandolin Orange and Jimmy LaFave.

Saturday: Lake Effect opens at 6 p.m. Classic Unplugged Concert with Jon Vezner in the big tent at 7 p.m. with Unplugged songwriters Alice Peacock, Don Henry and Tom Paxton.

For the complete schedule and tickets, visit www.northhouse.org.

Don Ness will sign his book at Voyageur Brewing from 2-4 p.m. Thursday.

Also this weekend, Duluth mayor, Don Ness, will make his first top on his book tour at Voyageur Brewing Co. from 2-4 p.m. on Thursday for a special reading and book signing and live music from the Boomchucks.

The book is entitled “Hillsider: Snapshots of a Curious Political Journey,” a fun, visual book about an unconventional political journey and the remarkable revitalization of Duluth. The public is invited.

On Friday night, “Summer Rain” featuring Zeitgeist, Nirmala Rajasekar and Thanjavur

“Summer Rain” will be performed at the ACA on Friday.

Marugaboopathi will perform at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. The performance blends Indian classical music and Western classical new music. To hear examples of their music, click here. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at www.tix.com.

On Sunday morning, cellist Yvonne Caruthers plays Bach for Breakfast at Sydney’s from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. This is the last one of the season, so don’t miss it!

The SplinterTones play their last outdoor concert in Harbor Park on Saturday from 1-4 p.m. They’re calling it “Plugged in the Park Concert.” Free and open to the public.

On Saturday at 5 p.m., co-authors Jim Armstrong and Kim Chapman will speak at a Writer’s Salon at at 5 p.m about their book, “Nature, Culture, and Two Friends Talking.”

And on Sunday, Tom Christiansen & Friends will host a ‘Pour at Four” at Last Chance Gallery in Lutsen from 4-5 p.m. There will be an art demonstration of making a moose or vase. A bronze pour is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 27 at 4 p.m.

Painting by Sandi Pillsbury Gredzens.

The fall art tour season begins this weekend in nearby Lake and St. Louis counties with the Lake Superior 20/20 Studio Art Tour Sept. 18-20 and Sept. 25-27. Hosted by a number of different artists in their studios, the art tour offers a wide variety of work to see as well as refreshments and live music. More than 20 artists participate in this tour including painters David Gilsvik and Sandi Pillsbury Gredzens. Potters Bob Husby and Rose Kadera Vastila as well as glass artist Ron Benson are also among those exhibiting during this tour. For more info, maps and more, see www.lakesuperior2020.com.

And speaking of Lake County, Two Harbor’s new Community Radio Station, KTwH, went on-air on Monday. To find out more, click here.

“Lake Superior Hiking Trail” by Mary Beth Downs.

The Cross River Heritage Center in Schroeder will host a Wine & Beer Tasting Gala on Thursday, Sept. 24, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The event is a fundraiser for the Heritage Center. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. This is a great opportunity to support the Heritage Center and see the wonderful exhibit by the Lake Superior Watercolor Society. For more info, visit www.crossriverheritage.org.

Upcoming:

The Crossing Borders Studio Tour & Sale begins next Friday, Sept. 25 and runs through Sunday. Oct. 4. Studios in Cook County participating in the tour include Last Chance Fabricating Studio in Lutsen, Betsy Bowen Studio in Grand Marais, Lee & Dan Ross in Hovland and Ningii-Ozhitoomin Ojibwe Art Gallery in Grand Portage. Stay tuned for details.

The Grand Marais Art Colony‘s fundraiser, Tour D’Art: Artful Abodes, an exclusive home tour, reception and exhibit highlighting the art of architecture, home design, and functional art, will be Oct. 3. There are a number of sponsorship options. To find out more, call the Art Colony at 218-387-2737.

Here’s the music schedule for this weekend:

Thursday, Sept. 17: