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Potpourri Part II

"Calm, powerful, beautiful. Relax, take stock, go with the program," by Phil Kruse.

“Calm, powerful, beautiful. Relax, take stock, go with the program,” by Phil Kruse.

Greetings from the North Shore, where all is quiet on the Western Front, so to speak. Absolutely. People are taking the Stay-At-Home to heart here. In fact, some are joking that if this keeps up, they’ll forget to look both ways when crossing Hwy. 61. Not good news for all the small businesses and artists up here, though. But, resiliency is the name of the game, and people are going virtual, curbside and practicing vigorous social distancing.

Businesses are being really creative, too, as is the county and city administrations, so things are changing by the week, and it’s good to keep up on the latest. For example, Hungry Hippie Tacos, which was closed for awhile, is now going to offer a special menu curbside Thursday through Saturday, and the Grand Marais Liquor Store opened on Wednesday, also offering curbside service.

For that info and more, check out Exploring North Shore by clicking here. The site will include information, phone numbers and emails to contact the businesses and arrange for pick-up.

Cook County has set up a Coronavirus Response Hub at the Cook County Community Center, which is closed to the public, BUT it has launched a web site that provides all kinds of information: latest updates on the virus and the community, how to find food and other necessities, community information, health information, including health care providers, videos and much more. It’s a very flexible site and changes daily. Check it out here.

And WTIP Community Radio at 90.7 FM  always has lots of  great information and interviews during the day.

Facebook and Instagram have also been really important in communicating information, ideas, projects and more over the last few weeks. Add to that — Zoom meetings are being held everywhere.

And since everybody is staying at home, artists are doing some interesting work. Here are a few examples.

Julie Arthur has been dyeing yarn.

Julie Arthur's newly dyed yarn hangs from a clothesline in a snowy landscape.

Julie Arthur’s newly dyed yarn hangs from a clothesline in a snowy landscape.

Mona Abdel-Rahman made some new dishrags.

New dishrages by Monday Abdel-Rahman.

New dishrages by Monday Abdel-Rahman.

Potter Jason Trebs has been busy.

Potter Jason Trebs is in his studio. Here a tray begins to take shape.

Potter Jason Trebs is in his studio. Here a tray begins to take shape.

 Tim Young continues to paint.

What do you see? by Tim Young.

What do you see? by Tim Young.

ISD 166 student Hazel Oberholtzer said she has really appreciated being able to do more art at home. Here’s a piece she did for an assignment by her teacher Mila Horak.

Illustration of a Great Horned Owl's song by Hazel Oberholtzer.

Illustration of a Great Horned Owl’s song by Hazel Oberholtzer.

Paula Gustafson has been painting.

Pristine Path by Paul Gustafson.

Pristine Path by Paul Gustafson.

Authors have a local champion. too–Gwen Danfelt at Drury Lane Books.

Gwen Danfelt of Drury Lane Books is making home deliveries for everyone's reading pleasure.

Gwen Danfelt of Drury Lane Books is making home deliveries for everyone’s reading pleasure.

And Betsy Bowen has been uploading “Comfort” drawings to her Facebook page frequently. Here are a few:

Comfort. Pear. by Betsy Bowen.

Comfort. Pear. By Betsy Bowen.

 

Comfort. Seeds. By Betsy Bowen.

Comfort. Seeds. By Betsy Bowen.

 

Comfort. Music. John Prine. by Betsy Bowen.

Comfort. Music. John Prine. By Betsy Bowen.

 

Comfort. Dreaming. by Betsy Bowen.

Comfort. Dreaming. By Betsy Bowen.

Virtual events have also blossomed.

North House Folk School  is organizing “Crafting in Place,” a series of  live videos featuring crafters doing their work or teaching a technique on Facebook or Instagram. That schedule is being constantly updated. So far this week:

  • April 2: Live at 7 p.m.: At the Forge with Elizabeth BelzInstagram
  • April 3: How to Sew a Button on with Tasha Miller GriffithFacebook

The Grand Marais Writer’s Guild has gone virtual too, through Zoom. Writing sessions will be held every Sunday and Tuesday at 2 p.m. via Zoom.

The Grand Marais Writer's Guild has gone virtual, with Zoom sessions every Sunday and Tuesday at 2 p.m.

The Grand Marais Writer’s Guild has gone virtual, with Zoom sessions every Sunday and Tuesday at 2 p.m.

The guild is open to everyone who writes anything. One of the writer’s prompts that will be used in these sessions: “Pick a book, open at random, close your eyes and touch the page, then  open your eyes and use the part of the sentence you touched to start writing.” To connect with this writing opportunity, click on the Zoom link at 2 p.m. on Sunday and Tuesday, and then enter the Meeting ID: 266 766 226 and the Password: 976225.

Printmaker Nan Onkka was scheduled to open an exhibit of her work at the Johnson Heritage Post this month, but that is not possible. So instead, she re-scheduled her exhibit for next year and will hold a virtual exhibit on April 10 on Etsy, Instagram and Facebook.

Nan Onkka will hold a virtual event featuring new work on April 10.

Nan Onkka will hold a virtual event featuring new work on April 10.

Stay tuned for details.

And abstract painter Tara Austin, who recently exhibited work at the Johnson Heritage Post, is exhibiting new work at the Joseph Nease Gallery in Duluth. The exhibit is virtual on the gallery’s web page.

Green Mantle is one of the pieces at the Joseph Nease Gallery in Duluth, which is providing a virtual tour of the exhibit on its web page.

“Green Mantle” is one of the pieces at the Joseph Nease Gallery in Duluth, which is providing a virtual tour of the exhibit on its web page.

The title of the show is “Boreal Ornament III.” Click here to see the exhibit.

We invite you to check out your favorite gallery’s Web sites. Many of them are incorporating virtual tours and interviews with artists. And the Downtown Duluth Arts Walk Facebook page has great virtual tours of a number of exhibits in the city. Check it out here.

For those wanting to just paint something, here’s a free coloring page with art by Christi Belcourt, thanks to the Thunder Bay Art Gallery. Click on the image and you can download it to your printer. Make copies for everyone for a fun family project. If you can’t print it, try saving it as a digital file and using a “paint” app or program to paint it digitally. Enjoy! Here it is. It is from Belcourt’s painting “Joy” and was turned into a colouring page by Mariah Meawasige.

Christi Belcourt's coloring page, from her painting "Joy"

Christi Belcourt’s coloring page, from her painting “Joy.”

Music:

And here are a few (virtual) music selections for the week:

Playing for Change: “Higher Ground”

Here is “Helplessly Hoping,” a song by Crosby, Stills & Nash, performed by Italian students from their homes.

Here’s Cat Stevens performing “Peace Train.”

 

Check out this video of two Mayo Clinic doctors, Elvis Francois and William Robinson, performing John Lennon’s “Imagine. 

 

And for some Blues, here’s Duane Allman and Boz Scaggs, “Loan Me a Dime.”

 Photographs:

 Thomas Spence has posted a compilation of photographs he calls “Stay Connected to the North Shore from Afar.” You can look at them here.

Good morning from Tofte by Thomas Spence.

Good morning from Tofte by Thomas Spence.

Wildlife shots.

Otters in spring by David Johnson.

Otters in spring by David Johnson.

 

As long as I'm home; Day 13, American Kestral by Keith Crowley.

As long as I’m home; Day 13, American Kestral by Keith Crowley.

 

Hooded Merganser displaying for hen by Michael Furtman.

Hooded Merganser displaying for hen by Michael Furtman.

 

When her ears went back and the hair on her neck stood up, I slowly backed away and talked to her in a low-soothing voice until she relaxed, by Sparky Stensaas.

When her ears went back and the hair on her neck stood up, I slowly backed away and talked to her in a low-soothing voice until she relaxed, by Sparky Stensaas.

 

Northern Saw-Whet Owl by Paul Sundberg.

Northern Saw-Whet Owl by Paul Sundberg.

Spring has arrived on the North Shore.

Vicki's gift by Shawn Perich.

Vicki’s Gift by Shawn Perich.

 

On my walk by Kristofer Bowman.

On my walk by Kristofer Bowman.

 

Sunrise over Lake Superior by Bryan Hansel.

Sunrise over Lake Superior by Bryan Hansel.

 

Spring break-up on Tischer Creek in Duluth by Karen Sunderman.

Spring break-up on Tischer Creek in Duluth by Karen Sunderman.

 

I found my car by Therese Misgen.

I found my car by Therese Misgen.

 

Lake Superior gems by Roxanne Distad.

Lake Superior gems by Roxanne Distad.

 

The Lee A Tregurtha, 78-years-old. Pushing hard today by Gordon Salisbury.

The Lee A Tregurtha, 78-years-old. Pushing hard today by Gordon Salisbury.

 

Have a good day by Ilena Berg.

Have a good day by Ilena Berg.

 

Lots of great energy on the Big Lake today. How can we put it to use? by Scot Bol.

Lots of great energy on the Big Lake today. How can we put it to use? by Scot Bol.

 

And finally, this song by John Prine, who has been hospitalized with coronavirus but is in stable condition at last report.

May the week go well for you and your loved ones. Stay safe!

P.S. Email me with ideas/links for next week’s blog– joan.farnam@gmail.com

P.P.S. If you would like to contribute to NorthShore ArtScene, click on the logo below. And thank you!




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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