Lightening dances over the harbor by Sierra Parsons.
Spring exploded over the North Shore on Monday, with a lightning festival that crashed and strobed across the sky for more than an hour before slowly advancing across the Big Lake to say hello to Wisconsin and Michigan. It’s tempting to quip that dog owners probably didn’t like it that much, because continuous thunder and lightning went on for a long time. On the other hand, it was a historic display and beautiful.
Here are just a few of the photographs which have turned up so far.
David Johnson posted several great shots.
Three big bolts light up the sky over the lake on Monday night by David Johnson.
Jabs of light crackle over Grand Marais by David Johnson,
Cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground made for an impressive and noisy display by David Johnson.
A single bolt over the lake by David Johnson.
Travis Novitsky caught this image, too.
Lightning bolts over Pete’s island and Grand Portage Bay by Travis Novitsky.
Luckily, no fires had been reported as of Thursday, either. Here’s a report about the storm and the fire danger from the U.S. Forest Service reported on WTIP Community Radio. The storm ushered in a few days of light rain, for which we are thankful.
Meanwhile, our online lives continue, with additional in-person perks.
First up, a the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council and DanSan Creatives’ will co-host a virtual event “History & Art: The Duluth Lynchings. A Family’s Perspective” at noon on Thursday, April 8.
The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council will present “History and Art: “History & Art: The Duluth Lynchings. A Family’s Perspective,” Thursday, April 8, 12 noon. To register, click here.
Attorney Karen Nance will discuss art and the Duluth lynchings with a panel of local artists. Daniel Oyinloye will facilitate a panel with local artists John Staine, Glenn Simmons, and Diona Johnson.
Nance is the granddaughter of Ethel Ray Nance, (1899-1992) was a civil rights activist. Her family was one of the few biracial families in Duluth in 1920. They lived just four blocks from the site of the lynchings. As a result of this incident, her great grandfather, William Henry Ray started the first NAACP Chapter in Duluth and her grandmother, Ethel Ray Nance, was able to convince W.E.B. DuBois to speak at St. Mark’s AME Church to support her father’s efforts.
The panel will address the role of art in remembering the events. If you’d like to attend this virtual event, send an email to info@aracouncil.org and we’ll send you a Zoom link. Free.
Also on Thursday, the Grand Marais Art Colony will feature artist Susan Goethel Campbell as its Instagram Takeover Artist for the week.
Susan Goethel Campbell is the Grand Marais Art Colony‘s Instagram Takeover Artist on Thursday and Friday.
Goethel Campbell is a multi-disciplinary artist whose work considers the engineered environment as a natural process. She works in several formats, including installation, video, prints, photographs, drawings, and projects that engage communities to look at local and global environments.
One of Susan Goethel Campbell’s installations.
Goethel Campbell has been exhibited nationally and internationally. For more info, click here. To see her Instagram posts, click here .
Exhibits:
For an in-person treat, stop by the Johnson Heritage Post and see its latest exhibit, “Voices of Spring,” which features work by six North Shore women artists in a multi-media show. The artists include Kathy Weinberg (paintings), Maxene Linehan (multi-media works), Lee Ross (mono prints, collage), Maggie Anderson (ceramics), Marti Mullen (paintings) and Mary Matthews (contemporary quilts).
Two Ravens at Dawn, paper weaving by Maxene Linehan is one of the pieces in the “Voices of Spring” exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post
The exhibit continues through April 25. The Heritage Post is open Thursday 1-4 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Covid Protocols, including masking and hand sanitizing, are in place.
Photographer Bryan Hansel has opened an exhibit of his work at Split Rock Lighthouse. The photographs will be on display in the lobby of the Visitor Center through the end of April.
Lightning at Split Rock. Photograph by Bryan Hansel. Hansel is exhibiting his photographs at Split Rock this month and will be at the center to talk about his work and approach to photography on Friday, April 9, from 1–4 p.m.
Hansel will be at the center to talk about his work and approach to photography on Friday, April 9, from 1–4 p.m. All invited.
In Duluth, the Duluth Art Institute, which is located in The Depot in Duluth, is now open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This month, exhibits include clay artists of the Duluth Art Institute Ceramic Studio, Harrison Halker Heinks, Ann Magnusson, and Adam Swanson.
Potter Dave Lynas is one of the artists exhibiting work at the Duluth Art Institute.
Online Exhibits:
The Tweed Museum of Art, located on the campus of the University of Minnesota-Duluth, is currently closed to the public, but the museum has organized online exhibits for all to enjoy. including the newest ,the 2021 annual Student Exhibition.
The Virtual 2021 Annual Student Exhibit at the Tweed Museum of Art has opened, featuring work by students and staff.
Students who have taken an Art & Design course in 2020-2021 entered up to four pieces of artwork to be juried for the exhibition. This year’s show was juried by Artist Ricky Allman and Graphic Designer Julia Zeltser. To learn more and see the works, click here.
Here’s a great video of the retrospective exhibit of Carl Gawboy, “A Life Well-Painted.” It’s currently on view at the Tweed.
Here’s a great story, with photos, about the past, present and future of Inuit art. Many of the works reflect the changing life and world of the Inuit peoples.
Women at the Fish Lakes, print, 1977, by Audio Pudlat, Inuit.
To read about this exhibition and see the work, click here.
The Seattle Museum of Art is currently exhibiting the 30-panel series by painter Jacob Lawrence, works on his reflections on the American struggle for identity.
Panel by Jacob Lawrence, one of his 30-panel series on the American struggle currently on view at the Seattle Museum of Art. The exhibit also includes newer work by Black artists influenced by Lawrence.
The exhibit, entitled, “Struggle: From the History of the American People (1954–56)” also includes work by Black artists influenced by Lawrence. To read about him and see his work and selections from the exhibit, click here.
The Thunder Bay Art Museum is currently closed, but the outside sculpture gallery is open to visitors. Here’s a video about the sculptures.
And, much closer to home, have you ever seen the Tortoise and Hare Shoe Store Mural at 40th Ave. W. and Grand Avenue in West Duluth? Painted by Duluth muralist Tom Napoli, the mural re-imagines the story of the Tortoise and Hare taking place in Duluth. a. Here’s an example, and then watch a video produced bay Making It Up North, WDSE-TV.
Here are a few details from the mural:
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The Hare takes a little nap.
The Hare puts on his running shoes for the final sprint to the finish. Detail from Tom Napoli’s mural on the Tortoise and Hare Shoe Shop in West Duluth on Grand Avenue..
Here’s a great short clip of two cats: One is blind. The other cat is guiding him.
One cat helping another… the black cat is blind.
For movie fans… a short, wrenchingly sad film. The Silent Child, won an Oscar. It’s 20 minutes long
Here’s another video about how good it’s going to feel when the pandemic is over.
Artists at Work:
Kathy Weinberg is participating in an online challenge to create a painting in 20 minutes.
Twin Cities potter Randal Anderson said he sat down at the wheel yesterday to have some fun and this little guy popped up. It will probably be wood-fired.
Online Music:
Here’s a full concert with Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite.
And then this:
Live Music:
Thursday, March 25:
- Gordon Thorne, Date Night at the Winery, North Shore Winery, 6-8 p.m. Reservations at https://www.exploretock.com/northshorewinery or call 218) 481-9280
Photographs:
We found lots of great images this week. Let’s start with wildlife:
Pintail ducks by Michael Furtman.
Nap time in the Superior National Forest by David Grosseheusch.
This cuteness is well-defended by Tracey Cullen.
Talon locking by Thomas Demma.
Manatees snacking on sweet potatoes while also looking like sweet potatoes by Kelly Hayes.
A morning kiss from Dad by Pat Burke. Taken from the DNR Bald Eagle cam in St. Paul.
A highlight of wild turkeys by Sparky Stensaas.
Humanscapes:
Good morning! by Mary Beams.
The ice will soon sink on northern lakes, by Layne Kennedy. Photo of Erik Simula, taken a few years ago.
Landscapes, Skyscapes, Waterscapes:
The High Falls on Easter by Nancy Seaton.
Will never forget that light dancing over Lake Superior by John Keefover.
On the bridge, April 1 by Jan Swart.
Waterfall Wednesday, Beaver River edition by Hayes Scriven.
Countclockwise by Christian Dalbec.
Morning trees by Jan Swart.
The beauty and power of this lake by Ricci Dominic.
Evening sunset in Duluth by Dick Brockman.
And, finally, this.
A photo for today. Photographer unknown.
Happy Spring, everyone! And stay safe!
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