Big Waves on the Grand Marais breakwall today by Jim Sannerud.
The sun has finally started to come out up here, and it has energized everyone. At least that seems to be the case, given what’s happening this week. It’s going to be busy.
One of the major reasons is that the Hygge Festival starts this week and continues through Feb. 16 with all kinds of events and activities. To get a head start and begin planning, click here for the complete schedule.
And there’s more.
First up, North House Folk School will hold a Contra Dance on Thursday, Feb. 6 from 6:30-9 p.m. in the Blue Building.
North House Folk School will host a Contra Dance from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6.
This is a family friendly event, and will feature live music and a caller to teach you the dances. It’s always great fun. There is a $5-$10 donation at the door. Open to everyone.
Also on Thursday evening, WTIP Community Radio is hosting B.J. Muus and Leonard Sobanja for this month’s Community Conversation.
B.J Muus, left, and Leonard Sobanja will be guests on this month’s Community Conversation on WTIP Community Radio.
The two men are well-known in the community. Muus was the long-time director of the Community Christmas concert and recently retired as host of WTIP’s “The Sound of the Spirit.” Leonard Sobanja was principal of ISD 166 for years and later joined the school board. He has been a volunteer at the Cook County Historical Society and helped create WTIP’s “Moments in Time” feature.
The title of the show? “Wit and Wisdom from Two Local Men.” Tune in at 90.7 from 7-8 p.m. on Thursday.
In Duluth, the Duluth Art Institute‘s Member Show opens with a reception from 5-8 p.m. The show, one of the highlights of year, features work by member artists in every medium.
The Duluth Art Institute‘s Member Show and Opening Reception will be held at The Depot from 5-8 p.m. Thursday. The exhibit continues through March 1. Pictured are a few of the works dropped off at the DAI last week.
The evening will feature the ever popular People’s Choice Award, light appetizers, artist talks by Tommy Kronquist, Laura Andrews, and Paula Gudmundson, as well as live music. All invited.
The Hygge Festival officially opens on Friday with art events, a night ski and a snowshoe outings and the Snowarama at Grand Portage. There are great events every day during this 10-day festival.
On Friday, the Hygge Market opens at Voyageur Brewing, featuring local artists and artisans. The Big Lake, Hannah Palma Ceramics and glass artist Nancy Seaton will be among those exhibiting at the market.
Fused glass artist Nancy Seaton will have a variety of hearts at the Hygge Market at Voyageur Brewing. The market will be held from 3-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The market will be held from 3-8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Also on Friday, Mick Caouette, the director of the documentary film “Summoned: Frances Perkins and the General Welfare” will be interviewed on WTIP’s The Roadhouse. The Roadhouse airs from 5-7 p.m.Caouette, an independent filmmaker, will be at the Grand Marais Public Library next Wednesday for a preview screening of his film, which is scheduled to be broadcast by PBS later this month. (See below for details for the screening as well as a trailer.)
Friday is movie night at the Grand Marais Public Library during the winter months, and this week, “Amazing Grace: Aretha Franklin” will be screened. Check out this trailer:
The film starts at 6 p.m. and is free. Come early to get a good seat.
On Saturday, the Snowarama continues at Grand Portage, with award ceremonies, a dinner and music by the Blue Collar Cocktail.
And Voyageur Brewing is hosting the Mukluk Ball on Saturday night. Everybody’s encourage to put on their mukuks (or boots) and head down to Voyageur to dance to Rod Dockan and the Sled Hounds.
The Mukluk Ball is from 6-9 p.m. on Saturday at Voyageur Brewing.
The music starts at 6 p.m.
There’s other great music in the county on Saturday night, including Cloud Cult, which plays at Papa Charlie’s starting at 8:30 p.m. See the music schedule below for more.
On Sunday, Cook County Higher Education launches a new winter series entitled “Genocide & Peace-Building: Germany to Minnesota.” The series will provide opportunities for academic learning on a subject as well as workshops. To see the full schedule of events, click here.
The series begins with the screening of the film, “Watchers of the Sky.” Inspired by Samantha Power’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book, “A Problem From Hell,” the film takes you on a provocative journey from Nuremberg to The Hague, from Bosnia to Darfur, from criminality to justice, and from apathy to action. Here’s the trailer:
The film will be screened from 2-4 p.m. Sunday. A $15 donation at the door would be appreciated.
Then on Monday, the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra String Quartet will be at Voyageur Brewing to play classical music at 6 p.m. These are always fun, laid-back but inspiring events, and jokes are not uncommon.
The Duluth-Symphony Orchestra String Quartet will be at Voyaguer Brewing at 6 p.m. on Monday.
The event is free and open to all.
On Tuesday, events continue for the Hygge Festival, including a Family Night Ski and Dessert Potluck at Pincushion Mountain Trails. Participants are invited to bring a dessert to share and ski the trails starting at 6 p.m., followed by a return to the chalet to enjoy the treats. Free.
Tuesday is also the day that this year’s Fiber Week starts at North House Folk School.
Fiber Week is held at North House Folk School from Feb. 11-17.
This very popular event features lots of classes and workshops, but includes free events for the public, including skill shares, films and presentations. Check out the schedule here.
On Wednesday, the Grand Marais Public Library will screen the new documentary, “Summoned: Frances Perkins and the General Welfare,” directed Mick Caouette of South Hill Films. Caouette will be at the library to answer questions and discuss the film, The film tells the story of Labor Secretary Frances Perkins,who overcame overwhelming odds to become the first woman appointed to a Presidential Cabinet and the driving force behind Social Security, the 40-hour work week, the eight-hour day, minimum wage and unemployment compensation. Check out the trailer below.
The event starts at 5:30 p.m at the library. It is made possible by partnership with Drury Lane Books and Minnesota Children’s Press. Open to the public. Free.
Exhibits:
The Winter Plein Air Exhibit continues at the Johnson Heritage Post with an inspiring collection of work created by artists during their week-long stay at YMCA Camp Menogyn, including paintings in acrylic, watercolors. pastels and oil as well as felted wool.
Here’s an oil by John McGregor.
More snow, please. oil. by John McGregor.
Here’s a felted wool painting by Elise Kyllo.
Sigurd Olson Narrows, felted wool, by Elise Kylo.
The exhibit continues through Feb. 23. The Heritage Post is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday.
Members of the Northwoods Fiber Guild are installing an exhibit of work at the Cook County Courthouse. Works by Carol Morgan, Max Linehan, Cheryl Larson, Nancy Haarmeyer and Jo Wood are on view so far. Stay tuned for details.
The Grand Marais Art Colony‘s exhibit, Along Shifting Surfaces: Snow Drifts and Shoreline Spaces by David Andree, continues through Feb. 16. The exhibit is in the Founders Hall.
The Nan Onkka Prints exhibit continues at the North Shore Winery.
Growing Darkness, print, by Nan Onkka. is on exhibit at the North Shore Winery.
Photographer Alyssa Johnson is exhibiting work at the Duluth Coffee Company in Duluth.
Photography by Alyssa Johnson. She is exhibiting her work at the Duluth Coffee Company. The title of this piece is “Sunday Shadow Goodbye.
The Thunder Bay Art Gallery is featuring “Water is Life,” a series of photographs of the Current River taken by Grade 7 & 8 students from Kingsway Park.
One of the photographs in the exhibit “Water is Life” at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.
Upcoming:
The Spirit of the Wilderness Church is accepting 2-D and 3-D artworks for the 10th annual Community Art Show. The exhibit will be held at North Shore Health. Submissions are due Feb. 17-18. For more information, email maryellenvicar@gmail.com
The Grand Marais Clay Studio Potters will hold a Seconds Sale as a fundraiser for the clay studio on Saturday and Sunday Feb. 22 & 23 in the Art Colony’s new building, Studio 21. The sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. Sales are by donation. Stay tuned.
Duluth painter Adam Swanson will teach a class entitled “Painting the Land We Love” at the Grand Marais Art Colony Feb. 27-March 1.
“Dreamers” by Adam Swanson.
To find out more about the class, click here.
FYI
The North Shore Music Association has launched a drive for used musical instruments to donate to ISD 166 band students. If you have an instrument in good or easily repairable condition that you would like to donate to the school, band director Mikkel Haas would love to hear from you.
If you would like to make a cash donation to the fund, please contact NSMA director, Kate Fitzgerald at 387-1272 or music@boreal.org.
Music:
Here’s the music schedule for the week:
Thursday, Jan. 6
- Jim Miller, Mogul’s Grille
- Gordon Thorne, North Shore Wintery, 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 7:
- Mysterious Ways, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.
- Tapt Out, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 8:
- Mukluk Ball, Rod Dockan and the Sled Hounds, Voyageur Brewing, 6 p.m.
- Mysterious Ways, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.
- Briand Morrison, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
- Brothers in Arms, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
- Cloud Cult, Papa Charlie’s, 8:30 p.m.
- Blue Collar Cocktail, Grand Portage Lodge & Casino, 9 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 9:
- Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 am.
- Open Stage with Joe Paulik & Pat Flack, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.
- Gene and Amy, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 10:
- Duluth-Superior Orchestra String Quartet, Voyageur Brewing, 6 p.m.
- Dan Rodriguez, Monday Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 11:
- Joe Paulik, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
Photographs:
We found some pretty interesting wildlife photographs this week. Take a look:
A moose smile by David Johnson.
Barred Owl by Amy Louhela.
Two bobcats racing through the Superior National Forest by Darcy Some.
You’re interrupting my lunch by Mike R. Mayer.
Winter robins enjoying Mountain Ash berries by David Johnson.
Axel and Grayson, International Wolf Center in Ely. Photography by Miranda Sibell.
“Incoming!” by Kelley Marquart.
And, not so wild:
Jen Freking’s lead sled dog at the Beargrease by Paul Sundberg.
We found some great winters landcapes, too.
Old fishing shacks near Grand Portage by Donald Jay Olson.
Lake Superior and the sun by Bryan Hansel.
Snow patterns on Trappers Pond by Layne Kennedy.
Smokey waves by Jamie Rabold.
Sunsets at the St. Louis River, Jay Cooke State Park by Ken Harmon.
Brighton Beach this morning by Jesse Nord.
And we found a few quirky ones:
Spiked Chevy by Layne Kennedy.
Lumpy snow by Jake Carr.
And this beauty by Nathan Klok on the cover of the February/March issue of the Lake Superior Magazine. This month’s issue features photographs of the legendary Sea Stack at Tettegouche State Park, which went down in a storm earlier this year.
Photograph by Nathan Klok.
Have a great weekend, this year. Enjoy the Hygge Festival!
BTW: NorthShore ArtScene is a volunteer effort. Help support it by donating today. Just click on the logo below. And Thanks!
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