Greetings from Grand Marais, where unusual high temps are making it seem like early fall up here. And they will last until Tuesday, according to weather forecasts, so we’re all happy to find out about that. There’s still plenty of time to get out and enjoy the Northwoods, the wonders of Lake Superior and/or finish those final projects in the yard or house that need to be done before the snow flies.
Meanwhile, here on the North Shore, the virtual world continues with its gifts and surprises.
First up is a North House Folk School Crafting in Place presentation“The Utility and Artistry of Sami Knives” presented by Nathan Muus, Sami Cultural Center of North America board member and exhibit curator.
Muus will highlight the knives in the collection. Knife handles and sheaths of antler and bone are carefully detailed in scrimshaw—practical and portable works of art. They each have a story and often tell a tale in themselves. The presentation is free. To register, click here.
Also on Thursday evening, the Minnesota Humanities Center How Can We Breathe series will present artists and meaning-makers will discuss their role in shaping public dialogue after crisis events, specifically the murder of George Floyd. Learn how artists respond to crises, influence landscapes, drive narratives, and inform the public. Together we will address whose work is privileged, who “owns” public art work, and how is it preserved/memorialized.
Participants will be called to join this virtual space to learn, understand, and share. This conversation, centered on the African American experience, will identify strategies and resources advocates and allies for a racially just society can use to ensure that African Americans are fully empowered within our democracy. Free. To register, click here.
WISE, (Women’s Initiative for Service and Education) is holding an online auction of homemade food, services and other items donated by WISE members to fund local education grants, scholarships and food programs for the community,
This auction is definitely work a perusal with an amazing variety of offerings, from gift certificates to four hours of shoveling, ukulele lesion to a Chez Jude Tasting Dinner Menu for Four.
To see all the items, click here. The online auction continues through Nov. 15.
North House Folk School will hold the annual Winterer’s Gathering and Arctic Film Festival will be primarily online this year, with weekly film screenings, seminars and skill share videos as well as a variety of online course work in November.
The film screenings and lunch and learns start this Friday, Nov. 6, and will be held Nov. 13 and 20.
The on-line campus activities include the Outdoor Arctice Film Festival on Friday, Nov. 20, and the Outdoor Gear Swap and Intern Portfolio Show on Saturday, Nov. 21. To learn more and register to see the films and participate in the online events, click here. And stay tuned for details.
Also this Friday, WTIP’s The Roadhouse, will feature an interview with author Elle Andra-Warner on her new book, “Lighthouses of Lake Superior,” published by Northern Wilds, as well as an interview with Twin Cities musician Paul Metsa, who will talk about his music and play a few songs. The Roadhouse airs from 5-7 p.m. Fridays.
Here’s a video of Metsa playing a song that was recorded seven months ago.
Lunafest, the film festival of films made by and for women, a fundraiser for the Violence Prevention Center, will be online this year. An online auction starts on Saturday, Nov. 7, with the films available for viewing on Nov. 14. These films are always great. Here’s some more information about them.
To purchase a ticket, click here. The Silent Auction starts Nov. 7. Click here to find out more.
Exhibits:
David Johnson‘s exhibit, “Cook County Through My Eyes, Vol. II: Photographs by David Johnson“ continues at the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery through November. The exhibit, featuring his wildlife and landscape photographs can be viewed at the gallery as well as online.
To see and shop the virtual exhibit, click here. The Heritage Post is open for in-person viewing with Covid protocols in place from 1-4 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Free. Open to all.
The Coho Cafe in Tofte has recently installed a painting exhibit by Kathy Weinberg.
For those who want to get a taste of the exhibit, Weinberg recently posted this video of her work there.
The Minneapolis Institute of Art’s “Foot in the Door 5″ virtual exhibit is now open. Since 1980, “Foot in the Door” has been an open exhibition for Minnesotan artists of all ages to present their work at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The exhibition occurs once every 10 years, and by now, generations of artists have participated in it. The sole curatorial criteria? All submissions must measure at or under 12 inches in height, width, and depth—literally inviting artists to place “a foot” in the museum’s galleries.
There are more than 2,000 pieces in this exhibit from artists of every age throughout Minnesota. To see, click here.
Artists at Work:
Lutsen sculptor Greg Mueller recently installed Pathway Parabola in Sisseton, S.D. This round-about sculpture site was a collaboration with the South Dakota Department of Transportation, the Bush Foundation and the Arts Council of Sisseton, S.D.
The sculpture reflects the Tribal College colors and includes inner lighting of LEDS to reflect a star-like composition of fish and leaves, acknowledging the Dakota’s reverence for the celestial and their identity: Sisitonwan (Dwellers of the Fish Ground), Wahpetonwan (Dwellers Among the Leaves.)
Paul Sundet Wolf has been creative with her remnant sock yarn.
Online art exhibit by art students at ISD 166.
In Stillwater, artists have been painting utility boxes with river themes to beautify the community and honor the river.
To see all the fascinating work created by these artists on utility boxes, click here.
The North Shore Artists League is featuring new work by its members, with a special shop featuring gifts under $50.
To see work by members of the North Shore Artists League, click here.
Virtual Music:
We found a potpourri this week:
Here’s a very early Joni Mitchell.
Marie Bonine, Sami
Mary Chapain Carpenter
Al Green
Yo-Yo MA and a Celtic song
Arlo Guthrie, talking … and singing.
Live Music:
Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m., For reservations, click here, or call (218) 481-9280.
Photographs:
Let’s start with wildlife: We found a lot of bird photographs this week.
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Bears are still around.
The full moon:
:Landscapes, waterscapes and skyscapes:
A Peoplescape:
And the ultimate birdscape:
Have a good weekend, everyone! And stay safe.
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{ 1 comment… add one }
What a great issue Joan! I loved your selection of music. The Yo-Yo Ma song was one I recently posted to my Facebook page and the Arlo Guthrie video is one of my all time favorites. He is such a great story teller.