Beautiful autumn morning providing much needed mental floss. Photo by Maggie Anderson.
The silken days of fall have arrived — those smooth, calm days where the fragrances speak of finished growing seasons and skittering leaves remind us of what is to come. For many in Cook County, the first frosts have already touched the land, but in some spots, like in one of my gardens closer to Lake Superior, everything is still green. But that, as we all know, won’t last forever.
Meanwhile, enjoy this respite from the cold to come.
Artists, of course, look forward and backward, inward and outward and, sometimes, in-between. Here’s a great little piece by Betsy Bowen that was posted on her Facebook page the other day. It’s part of her letter “W” series that she’s doing for an Apostle Islands project. Made us smile, for sure, and then realize that, hmmmm, those times aren’t that far off.
“Stay Tuned for Winter” by Betsy Bowen.
The Art Along the Lake Fall Studio Tour ended on Sunday, and from all accounts, was a success. And since many of the artists chose to exhibit virtually this year, their sites are still live. Given that, you can still peruse their work and see what you can find. To help out, here are some links.
- Betsy Bowen Studio
- Elise Kyllo/Works in Wool
- Christine Novotny, weaving
- Melissa Wickwire/Wickwire Clay Works
- Maxene Linehan, https://www.
northshoreartistsleague.org/ Artists-Directory - Nancy Hemstad Seaton, glass
- Seaton Guitars,
- Joan Farnam, pottery
- Neil Sherman, Plein air painter
- Lou Pignolet Bowls
- Jason Trebs, pottery
- Greg Mueller, Mueller Studio
- Kari Vick, Ink,
- Kathy Fox Weinberg, painting
- Kat Gabrielsen, jewelry
- Sharon & Steve Frykman | Art of the Elements gallery
- Mary Reichert | Otlak Felt Studio
- Jim Sannerud | J. Sannerud Studios
- Hannah Palma Laky | Hannah Palma Ceramics
- Julie Arthur,Wif-Man Weaving
- Jo Wood | Jo Wood Bead Art
- Dan & Lee Ross, Stone & Clay Sculptures, collage
A Creativity Share:
North House Folk School recognizes our need to “make” to keep our hands and hearts happy, and hass put out a call for artists and artisans to participate in a Community Show & Share. The Show and Share, originally scheduled for tonight, Thursday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. as a Zoom event. has been postponed. Stay tuned.
North House Folk School has put out a call for artists and artisans to participate in a live Zoom event, “Show and Share,” documenting what they have made in the last several months. The event, which was originally set for 7 p.m. Oct. 8 has been postponed to a later date. Pictured are a spoon blank and a knife.
“Everyone is invited to join us in Zoom to share their work: either hold up your items or have an image on your screen ready to share,” North House posted on its web page. “We’ll use smaller groups to keep things manageable if the size is large. Prepare to be inspired and impressed by your fellow humans—we all need more of that right now.”
It sounds like a great time. Stay tuned. It will be rescheduled.
It’s going to be a pretty quiet weekend, but there are things to do and see.
This is the last weekend to see Grand Marais Plein Air, the exhibit of work created for the Plein Air event this year that is currently on view at the Johnson Heritage Post.
As in most events this summer, it was a combo of in-person and virtual participation. Painters from throughout the region participated, although some chose to paint-in-place rather than traveling to Grand Marais for the week-long event. The in-person exhibit is at the Johnson Heritage Post and features lots of interesting work.
“Artist’s Point Calm,” by James Turner, is one of the plein air paintings currently on view at the Johnson Heritage Post. This is the last weekend to see the work at the gallery. The Heritage Post is open from 1-4 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
The work can also be seen (and purchased) online at pleinairgrandmarais.org.
For virtual music, check out WTIP Community Radio’s The Roadhouse on Friday night when Jim McGowan will talk about his music and play a few tunes. The show airs from 5-7 p.m., and McGowan will be featured around 6:20 p.m.
Saturday is busy. Two artisan markets, the Cook County Market and the Maker’s Market will be held in downtown Grand Marais to start the day.
The Cook County Market is held in The Hub’s parking lot from (new hours) 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Cook County Market, which is held in the parking lot of The Hub with new hours: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 17.
The market closes for the season next Saturday, Oct. 17.
The Maker’s Market is located next to the Beaver House and is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Also on Saturday, the North Shore Winery will hold Plein Air Art at the Winery featuring weaver Emily Wick. Wick will talk about her work and show how she creates it.
Weaving by Emily Wick. She will be at the North Shore Winery on Saturday for an outdoors event, weather permitting.
To find out more about her work, click here. Reservations are required. To make a reservation, click here or call (218) 481-9280.This event is weather dependent – if it’s raining, we can’t hold the event. Not sure? Check for more information.
For a very interesting time, consider attending the opening reception for Sam Zimmerman’s exhibit at Joy & Co from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday. The title of the exhibit is “Coming Home–Chapter 3.”
Ajijaak – Those Shores. Painting by Sam Zimmerman. He will open an exhibit at Joy & Co. on Saturday night with a reception from 5-8 p.m.
The exhibit and reception is free and open to the public. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served. Some of Samuel’s original works will be for sale along with some of his prints and smaller gift items.
Zimmerman has a Bachelor of Fine Art in Studio Art from the Rochester Institute of Technology and has participated in numerous exhibits in the region over the past few years. He’s also known in Grand Marais for his barrels painted with traditional Anishinaabe animals and symbols scattered around town.
Upcoming:
Moose Madness is still happening this year during MEA Weekend, although some of the events are virtual. Nevertheless, the Moose Medallion Hunt, for example, is on, with online clues, as are other events.
North House Folk School will hold Family Weekend Oct. 15-19, and will host a number of short drop-by activities for family small groups on campus: outdoors and/or windows open, masks on (probably coats too!). The public is invited to drop by and observe craftspeople demonstrating or try their hand at a small family project.
Also, the 2nd annual Grand Marais Apple Festival will be held on Oct. 17 at local farms, schools and the Cook County Community Center.
The 2nd annual Grand Marais Apple Festival will be held on Saturday, Oct. 17 and includes apple farm tours and picking, apple cider-making, presentations and more. Open to all. Click here for more information.
This is a multi-pronged event featuring everything from picking apples in local orchards, making apple cider, presentations and a chance to take home apple goodies, produce and more. Click here for more info.
Artist Opportunities:
The Arrowhead Regional Art Council is joining with other arts councils around the state to offer free workshops to help artists navigate digital spaces to promote and exhibit their work.
The Arts in Digital Spaces Virtual Workshops are free and open to all artists. To learn more and to register, click here.
The first workshops are focused on teaching the basics. Later, artists will have some free cohort work and individualized support. For more information and to register, click here.
Artists at Work:
Carol Harris has been making quilts for Care Partners of Cook County fundraisers. The minimum bid on this quilt is $150. To bid and find out more, click here.
DeLiz Sivertson has new work at Sivertson Gallery, including this otter.
Virtual Delicacies:
Opera
“Tales from a Safe Distance,” Fridays, October 9, 16, 23, 30 at 7-8 p.m. Created by the Decameron Opera Coalition, “Tales from a Safe Distance” features nine one-act operas and a tenth wrap-around story. Each Friday in October, an episode with two or three of these operas will premier virtually. A $15 ticket gives you access to all four episodes, with the flexibility to watch any time after first airing.
Lyric Opera of the North, Duluth’s premier opera company, is part of these performances with their opera, Everything Comes to a Head.
The one-act opera, Everything Comes to a Head” by the Lyric Opera of the North, will be performed virtually, and with Margi Preus and Jean Sramek writing the libretto, it is bound to be very funny. Click here to learn more.
“Everything Comes to a Head” is part of is part of Episode 1: Both Gladsome and Grievous. This newly commissioned, 30-minute horror-romance-comedy is sung in English and features illustrated, animated sets. Music is by Rachel J. Peters. Libretto by Margi Preus and Jean Sramek. Learn more and buy tickets at decameronoperacoalition.org
The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra will perform “Love’s Longing” for a free digital concert on Facebook. from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18.
Billy Childs will perform his “Unrequited” for the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra’s free digital concert Oct. 18.
.Click here to see and learn more.
Tofte photographer Thomas Spence was out in the Superior National Forest the other day and got to see this:
And here’s a music video to enjoy.
Live Music:
Thursday, Oct. 8:
- Gordon Thorne & Friends, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m. Reservations are required. Reserve here or call at (218) 481-9280.
Saturday, Oct. 10:
- Boyd Bump Blomberg, Cook County Market, 10:30 a.m.
Sunday Oct. 11:
- Eric Frost, Weekend Wine Down, North Shore Winery, 3 p.m.
Photographs:
We found some interesting photographs this week. Here’s a selection: Let’s start with wildlife:
Liking our new home in Grand Marais and our daily visitors by Rob Osborne.
Spider web at dawn by Paul Pluskwik.
Look who cheered me on as I drove home – Timothy Shortbread. Photograph by Kristofer Bowman.
And plantscapes:
Unfinsied summer green, shadows and dew by Mary Beams.
Snow by Kristofer Bowman.
Treescapes, landscapes, waterscapes and skyscapes:
Hanging out in the River Arts District, Asheville, N.C. by John Jacobson.
Tunnel of Love by Roxanne Distad.
Beautiful back roads by Chris Robinson.
From an overlook by Jesse Olson.
Fall by Teresa Chmelik.
Quiet in the bogs this morning by Jan Swart.
Boulder Lake by Judy Gray.
Split Rock Lighthouse draped in autumn colors by Roxanne Distad.
Fall colors by Paul Sundberg.
A stormy sunrise on Lake Superior by Bryan Hansel.
The towering cliffs of Tettegouche by Manasi Chaphalkar.
Check out this sequence of photographs taken by Susanne von Schroeder in a few minutes as the sun seems to light the island on fire.
First, this view:
First one… Susanne von Schroeder.
A few minutes later by Susanne von Schroeder.
A few minutes after that by Susanne von Schroeder.
A waterfall:
A little different view of Gooseberry bu Carol Bauer.
And two night views:
Artist’s Point by Paul Maloney.
The waning full moon by Thomas Demma.
Have a great weekend, everyone! Stay safe.
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