Snow, wind and waves. Photograph by Hayes Scriven.
Greetings from the North Shore, where winter has arrived. The Grand Marais harbor is filling with pancake ice, and onshore, we are living in a winter wonderland: first, a blizzard and then five inches more.
Storm in a river gorge by Ken Harmon.
Pretty cold temps are predicted for this weekend, too, but frankly, it’s not that cold for Minnesotans. Maybe -9F at night, 5F during the day on Saturday. We can expect the ski hills and cross-country ski trails to be in good shape. Snowshoeing will also be great, as will winter biking. Click here to find trail conditions throughout the county, including snowmobile trails.
Dog sledding is also an option. Click here to learn more.
And, next week, Jan. 8, is the 2022 Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race. Click here for more info. The weekend after that, starting on Jan. 15, are the Norpine Classic Fat Bike races. For more info, click here.
And, not to forget, the ice fishing season for trout on inland lakes located entirely within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness opens Saturday, Jan. 1. To learn more, click here.
The lice fishing season for lake trout in the BWCA opens on Saturday. Kevin Kramer holds up a Boundary Waters lake trout from 2020. Photo by Joe Friedrichs.
In short, many of us are saying: Welcome, Winter!
Covid permitting, there are a number of venues holding parties on New Year’s Eve this year.
The Raven Rock Grille at Skyport Lodge is featuring food specials, live music with the Southpaws and a bonfire, and the Gun Flint Tavern, which has re-opened for the season, will hold a “Semi-Formal Masquerade” starting at 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. the Roots Within will play. The Grand Portage Lodge & Casino will also hold a New Year’s Eve dinner and dance with the music by the Southern Express Band. Click here for details.
New this year: “Culture Crawl Night,” an event sponsored by the Cook County Historical Society. On the last weekend of an exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post Gallery, the public is invited to stop in a the gallery and the Historical Society museum from 5-7 p.m. On Dec. 31, participants can pick up a card which will be stamped at each site and can be redeemed at the Gunflint Tavern that night. The event is free. Click here for more information.
Exhibits:
This is the last weekend to see The Glass Show at the Johnson Heritage Post. The show, which is quite spectacular, features work by nine different fused glass artists working in Cook County.
This is the last weekend to see Glass Show, featuring work by nine different fused glass artists working in Cook County, The Heritage Post is closed on New Year’s Day, but is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday and from 1-4 p.m. Sunday. It will also be open from 5-7 p.m. New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31.
Look for everything from fused glass wall pieces, tiles, bowls and platters, as well as cast glass pieces. One exceptional feature of the show: each artist was asked to make a vertical fused glass sunrise or sunset, and they are presented together on the back wall in the main exhibition room.
The exhibit will run through Sunday, Jan.2. Highly recommended. The Heritage Post will be closed on Saturday, Jan. 1, but will be open from 10 a.m.t o 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday and from 1-4 p.m. Sunday.
Hovland artist Corrie Steckelberg/Wulfhelm is one of the artists featured in the Duluth Art Institute‘s 63rd Arrowhead Regional Biennial exhibit currently on display at the Depot in Duluth through Jan. 1o.
Hovland artist Corrie Steckelberg.Wulfhelm is one of the artists exhibiting in Duluth Art Institute’s 63rd Arrowhead Regional Biennial on exhibit at the Depot through Jan. 10.
Corrie is a multidisciplinary 2D and 3D visual artist and her work spans such forms as textile, sculpture, works on paper, and illustration. Broad in both material and concept, her work deals with climate change, human culpability, class issues and revolution.
“Goose,” by Corrie Steckelberg.
Corrie installed the caribou installations, Once & Future, in Grand Marais. To see more of Corrie’s work, click here.
Artists at Work:
Naanaate Maiinganag, Northern Lights Wolves, is one of Sam Zimmerman’s latest paintings. The artist has just completed his first book, Following My Spirit Home, a collection of paintings and stories in English and Ojibwemowin. Stay tuned for details.
“Timeline 2,” mono print by Lee and Dan Ross. The artists will be exhibiting this work in an exhibit in Seattle, Wash. next month. The exhibit, entitled “Unique Impressions: International Monoprint & Monotype Invitational 2022″ will be at the Davidson Galleries. To preview the exhibit, click here.
A beaded Christmas by Jo Wood.
Handmade holiday card by Annie Possis.
Christmas Light by Mary Beams.
‘Tis the season of drawing by Betsy Bowen.
Night Light, print, by Rick Allen, is at Sivertson Gallery.
Spring Thaw by Sandi Pillsbury Gredzens.
Potpourri:
The New Bedford Whaling Museum in Massachusetts holds an annual complete reading of Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick” every year.
The New Bedford Whaling Museum holds an annual Moby Dick Marathon every year to read Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick.” This year it is online. To find out more, click here.
The Moby-Dick Marathon draws readers and enthusiasts from around the world to the Museum’s campus and to the reading online. This year’s marathon will be entirely virtual, but that won’t stop literary aficionados, school children, and everyone in between from traveling back in time to accompany narrator Ishmael on the epic hunt for the elusive white whale. Click here to sign up for the virtual reading.
According to Indian Country Today, indigenous people around the world have been telling stories with s string for generations.
To read more about string games and their meanings, click here.
121clicks.com has recently published a link to a collection of photographs of urban blight around the world.
Hong Kong Street Life, 2 by Dr. FetusRN, is one of the photos in the collection.
To see all the photographs, click here.
In another post, 121clicks.com posted the winners of the B&W Minimalist Photography 2021 competition.
Alone, by Tim Nevell, took first place in the B&W Minimalist Photography 2021 contest. To see other photographs, click here.
Online Music:
Live Music:
Thursday, Dec. 30:
- Gordon Thorne, Date Night at the Winery, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 31;
- The Southpaws, Southpaws (Steve Johnson, Al Oikari, Pat Flack and Todd Smith), Raven Rock Grill, Skyport Lodge, 9 p.m.
- The Southern Express Band, Grand Portage Lodge & Casino, 8 p.m.
- Rootz Within, Gunflint Tavern, 9 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 1:
- Sky Blue Two with Mike DeBevec and Daniel Nelson, Cascade Lodge Restaurant and Pub, 6 p.m.
- Jim McGowan, Lutsen Resort Lobby, 6:30 p.m.
Photographs:
We found some great photographs this week, thanks to our talented local and regional photographers who are willing to share their work with us on Facebook and Instagram. Thank you!
Wildlife:
Northern Red Cardinal by Bill Marchel.
Winter fox by Roxanne Distad.
When you’re a popular wildlife photographer, even the deer smile at you. Photograph by Eric Sherman.
I’ve got my tail to keep me warm. Red squirrel by John Heino.
Winter greetings. Photograph captured on the Chin-Wauk Museum and Nature Center’s trail cam. Photo courtesy Sue Weber.
Eastern cottontail in my back yard in central Minnesota by Bill Marchel.
Grouse with breakfast by Bill Marchel.
A People-y Potpourri
17 feet of snow fell in the Sierra Mountains. Photo courtesy of Denny FitzPatrick, sent to him by a friend in California.
The Lefsa Truck. Photo by Craig Hunter.
Yesterday in the neighborhood by Tom Hollenhorst.
Beach glass heaven. This photo was taken at Ussary Bay in the Far East of Russia. There was a porcelain factory there at one time, and they dumped their class bottles on the beach, which has now become a beach glass paradise.
Surfing the wild side of Lake Superior. Photo by Matthew Pastick.
Earth from the Pacific side. Photo courtesy of Satisfact.
We couldn’t resist posting this find:
New York photographer. Posted by Mark Tessier. Photographer unknown.
Lou Pignolet glanced out at the lake the other morning and saw this… at 12F … a local fisherman hauling in his herring.
Landscapes, Skyscapes & Snowscapes
A classic shot from back in the day by Bryan Hansel.
Good morning by Kathy Swader.
Winter shadows are the best by Nancy Seaton.
Some like it hot. Some like it cold. Some like it extra, extra cold. Photo courtesy of UpNorth Co.
Chas the sunrise on the Central Gunflint Trail System. Photo courtesy of Golden Eagle Lodge.
Cold,but better than sitting on a couch by Bryan Hansel.
Seasons Greetings by Roxanne Distad.
Christmas window by Heidi Sobanja.
Icy Bench, Grand Marais by Paul Sundberg.
SUNday by Bryan Hansel.
Sunset in Grand Marais by Bill Hansen.
Winter storms are my favorite kind of weather on Lake Superior by Dawn LaPointe.
Superior Sea Smoke Sunrise by John Heino.
Blizzard Dec. 27 by John Keefover.
Snow potatoes at Bayview Park Beach, Washburn, Wis. by Christian Franken.
Winter mist over Hungry Jack by Ben Seaton.
Sun Pillar by Paul Sundberg.
And finally, this gem.
Whee! Sledding is on at the sledding hill in the Rec Park. Photo by Paul Sundberg. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year, everyone! We’re hopeful for 2022. Stay safe!
n
{ 0 comments… add one }