Winter sunrise in northern Minnesota by Paul Pluskwik.
Season’s Greetings! The North Shore certainly looks like it’s welcoming the holiday season, with lots of great snow and winter sunsets brightening the sky.
This is also the month for marking the conclusion of successful projects (and the year), and, at North House Folk School, wood artisan Mark Loeffler will hold a final show as he concludes his time in North House’s Artisan Development Program.
Over the two years of the program, Mike has continued to develop his skills as an artisan, with a focus on timber framing and woodcarving, including his beautiful bird bowls, wooden furniture, and more.
Bird Bowl by Mike Loeffler. The artist will hold an opening reception and presentation at North House Folk School’s Blue Building at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19.
The opening reception includes a presentation by Loeffler and will be held in the North House Blue Building on Thursday, Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m. The presentation will highlight Mike’s timber framing projects.
An added perk: Loeffler’s work will be on display at North House from from Dec. 20-Jan. 13 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors should check in at the Yellow Building.
On Friday, shops and galleries all over town will be open for Christmas cheer. On Friday night, WTIP’s The Roadhouse will feature two musicians who will be performing this weekend: Craig Baumann and Jim McGowan. The Roadhouse is aired from 5-7 p.m. on Fridays.
At 7 p.m. on Friday, SVEA will give a holiday concert at the Grand Marais Art Colony.
SVEA will present a Holiday Concert at the Grand Marais Art Colony on Friday at 7 p.m.
The a cappella group will sing a variety of songs, including many traditional ones from Sweden.Treats, cider, and glögg plus great music and stories are on the menu. There’s a.$10 suggested donation at the door. All invited.
On Saturday, look for the highlight of the winter pageant season: The Winter Solstice Shadow Puppet Show. The show, presented by the Good Harbor Hill Players, is held outside at North House Folk School, and features great shadow puppets, a quirky and funny storyline, live music, a bonfire and a few surprises. This year’s story? A Loggers’ Solstice.
In past years, the audience has stood outdoors at -20, stamping their feet and clapping with well-mittened hands. This year, it’ll be a lot easier. The low for the evening is +27 degrees. Easy peasy.
The Good Harbor Hill Players will present A Loggers’ Solstice, a shadow puppet show, at North House Folk School at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, followed by an indoors potluck.
As a fan, we highly recommend this event. And don’t forget to write out your gloomies and toss them into the bonfire to send your worries up in smoke. Bring a dish to share, too. Open to all.
On Sunday, Voyageur Brewing Co will host Crosby Bakery for a gingerbread house decorating and cookie exchange from noon to 4 p.m.
Crosby Bakery will host a gingerbread house decorating and cooking exchange at Voyageur Brewing from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 22.
Crosby Bakery will provide a non-assembled house ($20) and an assembled house ($25) and all the decorating supplied. To reserve a house, email Hana at crosbyharvest@gmail.com or test 218-370-1417. For the cookie exchange, bring 2 dozen cookies to exchange for a mix of cookies. Cookie boxes will also be available.
And on Monday, artist Molly Ovenden will host a Brown Bag Lunch at Johnson Heritage Post. The artist, who is currently exhibiting her work at the gallery, will talk about the exhibit, as well as lead a walk through. The event will be held from noon to 1 p.m. All invited. Free.
Exhibits:
Molly Ovenden’s exhibit, “Art in Process: The Exhibit” continues at the Johnson Heritage Post through the end of the month.
(detail) Painting by Molly Ovenden is one of the works currently on exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post.
The Holiday Art Underground Show at Betsy Bowen’s Studio continues through Dec. 29, featuring a wide variety of work by local and regional artists.
Lutsen potter Maggie Anderson is one of the local artists who has work at the Holiday Art Underground Show at Betsy Bowen’s Studio Gallery.
The gallery is open most days from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Landscape painter Lisa Kosmo is exhibiting her work in the Great Hall at Tettegouche State Park through Dec. 29.
Landscape painter is exhibiting her work at Tettegouche State Park this month.
The Tweed Museum of Art in Duluth continues its exhibit of pieces from its collections, including this painting by Wendy Rouse.
Wendy Rouse’s “Harvey’s Decoy,” oil on canvas, is currently on view at the Tweed Museum of Art. It is part of the Tweed’s collection.
At the Thunder Bay Art Gallery in Thunder Bay, a new juried exhibit, The North Now, features a selection of artists from Northern Ontario.
“Vision after the sermon” by Christian Chapman, is one of the pieces in the North Now exhibit at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.
The exhibit continues through February.
A dragon has taken up residenc eat the Baggage Building Arts Centre in Thunder Bay.
The new resident dragon at the Baggage Building Arts Centre in Thunder Bay.
And, in case you missed it, Shelly McIntire’s delightful short stories about her experiences with the night sky and the northern lights, are available for a listen on WTIP Community Radio. The piece was produced by WTIP’s Joe Frederichs. with music by Michael Monroe, and was played during the Dark Sky Festival last weekend. The event, which was held at North House Folk School, highlighted the work of her cousin, photographer Travis Novitsky.
Northern Lights in Cook County with Shelley McIntire is being aired on WTIP Community Radio. Photo above, by Travis Novitsky.
Click here to listen to the broadcast.
Music:
Here’s the music schedule for the weekend:
Thursday, Dec. 19:
- Jim McGowan, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 20:
- Gene & Amy, Wunderbar, 7 p.m..
- Pete K. Bluefin Grille at Bluefin Bay, 8 p.m.
- Craig Baumann, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
- Kevin Buck, Grandma Ray’s, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday,Dec. 21:
- WunderDogs, Grandma Ray’s, 7 p.m.
- Gordon Thorne, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
- Joe Paulik, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
- Max Finn, Gun Flint Tavern 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 22:
- Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
- Open Stage with Joe Paulik & Pat Flack, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 24:
- Gordon Thorne, Lutsen Resort, 6 p.m.
Photographs:
We found some great photographs this week. Here’s a sampling. First, wildlife:
Bobcat looking in window to see what’s going on by Ken Hostetler.
Menace of the Deep by Janice Latz.
I had fun with this moose as it kept coming back to eat the salt by MaryJane Van Den Heuvel.
And then this one: not exactly wildlife, but maybe wild life.
Checking the nets at -25 wind-chill by David Johnson.
And then, some proof-of-snow:
Morning hike around our house near Silver Creek by Emily Lauren.
Winter wonderland: more than 45 inches of snow in Lutsen by Judy Sillman.
Proof of cold:
There’s something about these winter lights by Justin Vrba.
A beautiful morning on the North Shore by Jamie Rabold.
I could all along the lakeshore anywhere and not get bored by Stephen Wilson.
Cold light by Tom Fiero.
Sea smoke in Duluth by Mark Tarello.
Double vision by Bill Donovan.
And here are some studies in light:
-15 F at Split Rock Lighthouse this morning by Christian Dalbec.
Back by sundown by Adam Malmanger.
Morning on Lake Superior by Billy Stechyshyn.
Rise of the Cold Moon by Paul Sundberg.
Hollow Rock Sunrise by Garrick Meyer.
Grand Marais tonight by John Cory.
And finally, this shot. It’s a great reminder of what to do if conversations get a little heated over the table this holiday season.
Hey guys, that’s enough. Let’s play! by Gerry Sibell.
Have a great holiday season everyone!
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