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Settlin’ in for Winter

A Superior view b y Gary Schmies.

A Superior view by Gary Schmies.

Greetings from the North Shore, where winter has stamped her foot and temps are considerably lower than they were last week. It’s a little unclear how everyone feels about this, though — overheard in the Post Office on Wednesday: “Well, I’m ready for summer.” Others are not, of course. The skiing is great, and new snow has offered tempting walks in the woods. Skating at the Cook County Community Center is going well this year, too, with Covid precautions in place.

Indoors, there are lots of offerings.

Thursday is the last day to watch the final series of films through North House Folk School in its Virtual Winter Film Festival. Of special interest, “The Spoon, The Bowl and the Knife,” a documentary about Swedish woodcarving master, Willie Sundqvist.

Thursday is the last night to watch a special screening of

Thursday is the last night to watch a special screening of “The Spoon, The Bowl and The Knife.

You can watch it here.

Two other films are in the cued up for the winter film festival: Whang-Od, The Last True Tattoo Artist and Ben’s Mill, a film about one of the few water-powered wood working mills left in the country. You can watch them by clicking on the links. There’s no time limit for watching these films. Enjoy!

Next up at North House is Fiber February, featuring a wide selection of online classes, presentations and more about all things fiber. Check out the classes and presentations, here.

February is Fiber Month at North House Folk School. Check out what's happening here.

February is Fiber Month at North House Folk School. Check out what’s happening here.

Also this week, the Johnson Heritage Post, which is now open to the public, is launching a new exhibit entitled Pot Luck of Art, featuring a great selection of work by local and regional artists, including the gallery’s Gift Shop Artists and members of the North Shore Artists League.

Pot Luck of Art opens at the Johnson Heritage Post on Friday, Jan. 29 and continues through February.

Pot Luck of Art opens at the Johnson Heritage Post on Friday, Jan. 29 and continues through February.

Look for everything from ceramics, paintings, fiber art, sculpture, photography and more in this show, which opens on Friday, Jan. 29 and runs through Feb. 28. The Heritage Post is open from 1-4 p.m. Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays. Covid protocols in place. All invited. Free.

Also on Friday, WTIP Community Radio continues it ‘Tip Jar Minifest, featuring live, virtual music performances from 4-7 p.m.

WTIP continues its ‘Tip Jar music festival with live, virtual concerts from 4-7 p.m. on Fridays.

The ‘Tip Jar features live, back-t0-back performances by local musicians. This week’s performers: Kenna Rose, Jim & Michele Miller and Bump Blomberg. 

The TIP Jar is a fund supported by generous music lovers in the community to assist local musicians and provide a way for them to share their talents with listeners worldwide. To find out more and to donate: see CookCountyChamber.org.

To listen to earlier performances, click here.

Upcoming:

The Grand Marais Arts Festival is on! The Grand Marais Art Colony will again be hosting the festival in Grand Marais July 10-11, Covid permitting.

The Grand Marais Arts Festival is on this summer, and is scheduled to be held in downtown Grand Marais July 10-11.

The Grand Marais Arts Festival is on this summer, and is scheduled to be held in Grand Marais July 10-11.

A recent Art Colony post states: “(We are) cautiously optimistic about our ability to host the Grand Marais Arts Festival in 2021. The Art Colony continues to work under the MN State Guidelines in relation to Covid-19, has worked closely with our local business leaders, and will keep in direct communication with our public health professionals.”

Artist applications will be open Feb. 24 – April 12 and invitations will be issued on April 26. Stay tuned.

Artists at Work:

Artist Mary Beams’ films will be featured in a virtual film festival developed by the Museum of Modern Art. Entitled “Mary Beams and Emily Hubley,” the series will be available for viewing from Feb. 4 through Feb. 18. To read about the films, click here.

Mary Beams will be featured in a film series developed by the Museum of Modern Art. She is pictured with an image from "Paul Revere is Here."

Mary Beams will be featured in a film series developed by the Museum of Modern Art. She is pictured with an image from “Paul Revere is Here.”

Bryan Hansel has a great selection of signed prints in the store at North House Folk School.

Sunrise on Cherokee Lake is one of the signed prints Bryan Hansel has at North House Folk School.

Sunrise on Cherokee Lake is one of the signed prints Bryan Hansel has at North House Folk School.

Staci Drouillard’s book, “Walking the Old Road: A People’s History of Chippewa City and the Grand Marais Anishinaabe,” which won the Northeast Minnesota Book Award, was the #1 best seller at Drury Lane Books this year.

Staci Lola Drouillard won Northeast Minnesto Book Award in Best Nonfiction for her book, "Walking the Old Road: A People’s History of Chippewa City and the Grand Marais Anishinaabe."

Staci Lola Drouillard won Northeast Minnesto Book Award in Best Nonfiction for her book, “Walking the Old Road: A People’s History of Chippewa City and the Grand Marais Anishinaabe.”

Pastel artist Kristin Blomberg has been working in her studio this winter.

"Fireweed on Sawbill," pastel, by Kristin Blomberg.

“Fireweed on Sawbill,” pastel, by Kristin Blomberg.

 The North Shore Artists League has set up a special Valentine Shop on its website. Check it out here.

Trellis of Love, acrylic, by Marti Mullen, is one of the pieces in the Valentine Shop at the North Shore Artists League's web site.

Trellis of Love, acrylic, by Marti Mullen, is one of the pieces in the Valentine Shop at the North Shore Artists League’s web site.

Betsy Bowen is trying a new technique: mono prints. Here’s one:

Winter at the farm, mono print, by Betsy Bowen. A new technique for me.

Winter at the farm, mono print, by Betsy Bowen. 

Artist Tim Young‘s latest art form: ceramics!

Covered jar by Tim Young.

Covered jar by Tim Young.

More Art

Grand Portage Band member Andrea Carlson is honoring Native Americans with a billboard  stationed directly across from the Whitney Museum of Art in Chicago.

Andrea Carlson's billboard across from the Whitney is entitled "Red Exit."

Andrea Carlson’s billboard across from the Whitney is entitled “Red Exit.”

To read about the billboard and why it is there, click here. Here are her comments about the lack of Native American art in contemporary art collections.

Here is an artist who loves to make tiny doodles in his notebook.

One of the tiny doodles by artist Visothkakvei.

One of the tiny doodles by artist Visothkakvei.

To read about Visothkakvei’s tiny doodles and see more, click here.

K’ómoks artist Andy Everson blends his love for “Star Wars” with West Coast Indigenous Art.

"Resistance" by Andy Everson..

“Resistance” by Andy Everson..

 To read about Everson and see more of his art, click here. 

Here’s an interesting video of a dancer creating a brilliant, deliberately clumsy acrobatic routine to Claude Debussy’s “Clair de Lune.”

Virtual Music:

Listen to John Gruber on the Tip Jar with Martha Manocha.

John Gruber plays WTIP's The 'Tip Jar.

John Gruber plays WTIP’s The ‘Tip Jar.

Here’s Dessa doing a piece on Janet Yellen,  the new Treasury Secretary, in response to Biden’s comment: “Yellen needs a ‘Hamilton’ musical.” She titles it “Who’s Yellen now?

Trampled by Turtles:

All My Favorite Songs by Weezer:

A Tiny Desk Concert

The Log Over the Stream: (Not music, but fun to watch)

 Live Music:

Thursday, Jan. 28:

  • Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, live, 5 p.m., very limited seating available. Visit www.northshorewinery.us or call (218) 481-928 for reservations.

Friday, Jan. 29:

  • ‘Tip Jar Performances on WTIP Community Radio, 90.7 FM,  4-7 p.m., 
    Kenna Rose, Jim & Michele Miller and Bump Blomberg
    with back-back performances.

Photographs:

First, wildlife:

`

Moose on the Gunflint Trail by Gary Connett.

Hey, some days you're the mouse, some days you're the hawk by Krishna Woerheide.

Hey, some days you’re the mouse, some days you’re the hawk by Krishna Woerheide.

My favorite Marten by Michael Furtman.

My favorite Marten by Michael Furtman.

 

The neighbothood's Canadian Jays waiting for handouts by Loy Pignolet.

The neighbothood’s Canadian Jays all fluffed up and waiting for handouts by Lou Pignolet.

 

A good stretch by Ellie Klaushogan.

A good stretch by Ellie Klaushogan.

 

Lynx kitten by Michael Furtman.

Lynx kitten by Michael Furtman.

 

You're in my spot! by Steve Windisch.

You’re in my spot! by Steve Windisch.

 

Lunch in the Carolina's by Chad Meyer.

Lunch in the Carolina’s by Chad Meyer.

 

Bobcats by Holly Kuus.

Two bobcats by Holly Kuus.

Landscapes, Skyscapes, Icescapes & Waterscapes

Sunset in Grand Marais by Mark Morgen.

Sunset in Grand Marais by Mark Morgen.

 

Not quite skate able ... yet by David Welch.

Not quite skateable … yet, by David Welch.

 

First Peak at the morning by Debbie Benedict.

First Peak at the morning by Debbie Benedict.

 

Why we live here by Jim Boyd.

Why we live here by Jim Boyd.

 

Sunset in Grand Marais by Jim McGowan.

Sunset in Grand Marais by Jim McGowan.

 

Ice windows by Andrea Stedman.

Ice windows by Andrea Stedman.

 

Ice shards by Paul Sundberg.

Ice shards by Paul Sundberg.

 

The forecast was 2-4 inches by Hella Buchheim.

The forecast was 2-4 inches by Hella Buchheim.

 

Rock hopping by Josh Driver.

Rock hopping by Josh Driver.

 

I wonder what he's thinking about by Gary Schmies.

I wonder what he’s thinking about by Gary Schmies.

 

The sun on the Big Lake by Holly Lamond.

The sun on the Big Lake by Holly Lamond.

And last, but not least, a Berniescape

Bernie's Mittens by Bryan Hansel.

Bernie’s Mittens by Bryan Hansel.

Have a great weekend, everyone. And stay safe!

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{ 2 comments… add one }

  • Tim May 10, 2021, 3:20 am

    Hi – I’m interested in Kristin Blomberg’s work. Is there a way to connect with her to see what she may have in her portfolio? Thanks,
    Tim

    • Joan Farnam May 13, 2021, 4:35 am

      You can try through Joy & Co in Grand Marais. They handle her work. :) I love it, too.

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