Navigating

Greetings from the North Shore, where summer is making the transition from lock-down to phased Covid-19 openings a lot easier with lots of sun, a shimmering Lake Superior and flowers blooming everywhere. It’s not “back-to-normal” by any means, but businesses, campgrounds, outfitting, restaurants and lodging have definitely changed from a few weeks ago. The only advice we can give here is “Bring a Mask” with you when you leave your house.

For details, check out these links:  visitcookcounty.com and exploringnorthshore.com . Also, WTIP Community Radio has lots updates and latest news from the region as well.

We thought it might be fun to highlight some of the businesses that have opened for the season. All have various protocols in place. But, in downtown Grand Marais:

Drury Lane Books is now open for in-store browsing:

Upstate MN opened this week with proprietor Kristofer Bowman masked and ready to give visitors a virtual hug.

Sivertson Gallery has been open for in-store shopping for a few weeks now.

The Big Lake is open for curbside pick-up.  Check here for more info and to shop online.

Joy and Co. is open for in-store browsing. This week, the store received a wide selection of silk fabric dyes.

 Also, the Makers Cooperative, an outdoor market located in the alley next to the Beaver House, has opened, and vendors are there from Thursday through Sunday. A new food stand, The Bad Seed by Rebel Girls, is featured this year.

The Cook County Market, which celebrates its 24th season this year, will open in the Senior Center’s parking lot on Saturday, July 4. The Market has featured all local artists “through rain, or snow or Covid,” says Jennifer Shoals, president of the organization.

 The Grand Marais Art Colony is slowly re-opening, with artists now using some of its studios (strict Covid-19 protocols in place.) Three outdoor classes have been organized for this summer. as well: Youth: Outdoor Sketching and Painting with David Hahn, which begins July 9; Out and About Sketchbook with Nan Onkka, beginning Aug. 5 and Plein Air Oil Painting with Neil Sherman, Aug. 22. To find out more and register, click here.

Meanwhile, check out an on-going art project in front to the Art Colony’s new space at 17 W. Hwy 61, next to the the Hungry Hippie. The collaborative project between North House Folk School, the Hungry Hippie and the Art Colony has created a series of flower boxes on the sidewalk. Timothy Young has drawn designs on the boxes, with will be painted-by-number by youth in the Y’s summer program. Stay tuned.

 All this aside, we are still living in a virtual world. The Summer Solstice Pageant by the Good Harbor Hill Players, which has been held at North House Folk School, was cancelled this year, but Naomi Tracy-Hegg and Olya Wright decided to produce a Crankie Box replacement for the beloved event. Check it out:

And Lutsen-based metals master and sculptor Greg Mueller will be featured in an Instagram takeover on the Grand Marais Art Colony’s Instagram account June 25-26.

 To view, click here.

Also, for virtual entertainment. check out North House Folk School’s Crafting in Place pages, where many of the virtual events during last week’s Wooden Boat Show can be seen, as well as a great video of Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe tribal member Biskakone Greg Johnson giving a quick teaching about harvesting cedar bark for mat-making. (Note: There are LOTS of mosquitoes in cedar swamps in the summer.)

Also, Staci Drouillard gave a great presentation about her book, “Walking the Old Road” entitled “Indian Maidens and Plastic Tomahawks: How to Make a Living” during the Wooden Boat Show, with lots of the historic photographs she used in her book. You can watch it below.

A Movie on the Lake

Cook County YMCA is pleased to present the Broadway musical “Hamilton” at 9:15 p.m. on Friday, July 3 for part of its “Movie by the Lake” series at Devil’s Track Lodge. This is for the entire community, All are welcome. Bring blankets, chairs, or watch from your vehicles. Pizza can be ordered from Devil’s Track, or bring your own snacks! No registration required.

Artists at Work:

 Glass artist Nancy Seaton has been busy in her studio this winter.  Here is one of her latest glass pieces:

Steve Hahn, the Jeweler of the North Shore, has been busy this winter, too, working with copper and sterling silver in this piece. His shop is located at 5339 W. Hwy. 61 in Lutsen.

Duluth painter and musician Arna Rennan is painting again. Here’s one of her latest.

And Betsy Bowen is continuing her Comfort series. Here is one of her latest.

Paula Sundet Wolf is making baskets, twig furniture and paintings in her studio, and the public is invited to stop by. Look for the sign at 503 Caribou Trail in Lutsen. 

 Artist Covid-19 Relief Funds

Emergency relief grants continue to be offered to artists in Minnesota. Springboard for the Arts, for example, has allocated have allocated $1,050,000 to support 2,131 artists, creative workers, and culture bearers in Minnesota. The organization is currently putting the program on hold, but there are lots of other resources out there. To find out more, click here.

Another Virtual Presentation: 

History of Burned buildings in Grand Marais: Picnic & Pine, the Crooked Spoon and White Pine North, produced by the Cook County Historical Museum.

Music:

Here’s a collection of a few of the videos we found this week:

 

This one is way out of my comfort zone, but this group is popular with teenagers around the world. Highly produced, for sure. It’s by K-Pop, and is called “Stray Kids.”

And one of our own, Tina Hegg Raway, singing “There is a Balm in Gilead,” her personal memorial for Black Lives.

Bob Dylan has a new album out, “Rough and Rowdy Ways.” Here’s a cut from it: “I made up my mind to give myself to you.”

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Photographs:

Lots of lively photographs this week. Here’s a selection.

Let’s start with flowers, which are blooming like crazy in gardens and in the woods.

And a few shots of trees:

And rocks:

And a moose for the week:

We found some beautiful landscapes/skyscapes/waterscapes, too.

Have a good weekend, everyone. And stay safe!

Note: Artists, please send images of your latest work to joan.farnam@gmail.com

And, if you enjoyed NorthShore ArtScene this week, this might be a good time to donate. Just click on the button below. And Thank You!