A beacon in the storm. Photograph by Darcy Sime.
January 26, 2022: Waves crashing over the break wall, winds gusting to 52 mph, temp at-10F, with a freezing spray warning in effect on Lake Superior. We, on the other hand, are happily on land in a cozy cottage where the heater works.
Greetings from the North Shore, where January is showing its teeth. On Wednesday, the fierce winds were on-shore. (See above) About this same time in 2013, they were off-shore and a NASA satellite caught this great image of what happens then.
Lake Effect snow from a NASA satellite, Jan. 24, 2013.
So yes, January is always interesting on Lake Superior.
The lake has its stories, too, as do the people who make their living on it. Tonight, NorthHouse Folk School and the Cook County Historical Society will present, Stories from the Scott Fish House, a Zoom event, set for 7 p.m.tonight, Jan. 27.
The Scott Fish House is on the North House Folk School campus. A Zoom presentation, featuring fish stories and a report on the Fish house will be held at 7 p.m. tonight, Jan. 27.
The historic structure is located on the North House campus, and the program will feature fish stories by Brian Tofte and a discussion about the future of the building. For more information and to register, click here. The event is free. To register for the Zoom event, click here.
Also tonight, Caribou Highlands will hold Snowshoeing Under the Stars starting at 5 p.m., weekly event through March.
The ski lodge on Lutsen Mountains will also host a Frozen Waterfall Hike on Saturday starting at 1:30 p.m. Both events are open to the public and equipment will be provided. There is a small fee. For more information and to register, click here.
This is the big weekend for sled dog racing on the North Shore with the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon to begin in Duluth on Sunday. The event features several races, including the Marathon, the longest sled dog marathon in the lower 48 states and a qualifier for the Iditarod.
Blake Freking is one of the mushers racing in the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, which starts on Sunday. File photo by Nace Hagemann.
This year, 23 mushers will compete in the 300-mile Marathon, which kicks off at Billy’s Bar, 3502 W. Tischer Road in Duluth at 10 a.m. on Sunday. The mushers will race to the Grand Portage Lodge & Casino, arriving sometime on Feb. 1.
A Beargrease racer by Mark Subiakika.
The Beargrease also features the 120-mile race from Duluth to the Trestle Inn in Finland with 22 musher teams competing, and the 40-mile race. The start for all races is at Billy’s Bar.
For lots more information including maps, bios of the mushers, how to watch live or at home, events, photographs and more, click here and here.
This is the last weekend to see “Dropping Anchor,” an exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post, highlighting commercial fishing with its collection of art, artifacts and more.
This the last weekend for “Dropping Anchor,” a new exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post which closes Jan. 30;
The Johnson Heritage Post is open from 10 a.m. from 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. It is free and open to the public. Masks required.
Opportunities:
The Grand Marais Art Colony celebrates its 75th anniversary this year and is kicking off 2022 with a great selection of workshops and classes, both virtual and in-person.
The Grand Marais Art Colony celebrates its 75th year this year. Pictured is Social Square by Shiyuan Xu. To find out more about workshops and classes, click here.
Early registration for Art Colony members is now open. General registration opens on Tuesday, Feb. 1. To find out more, click here. There’s lots of information on the Art Colony’s Facebook page, too. Click here to see.
Plein air painter Matt Kania will be teaching a 4-session class on Studio Oil Painting at the Duluth Art Institute starting Feb. 1.
“Making,” North House Folk School by Matt Kania. Kania will be teaching a class at the Duluth Art Institute starting next. week.
For more information and to register, click here.
Upcoming:
The Hygge Festival, a chance to embrace life’s simple pleasure and enjoy the outdoors, get cozy by the fire and relax with family and friends, is Feb. 5-14 this year.
The Hygge Festival begins Feb. 5. Photo by Al Lyndsey. To find out more, click here.
The 10-day event features everything from a snowmobile fun run, pop-up art events, crafting, a fireplace tour and, best of all, a World’s Best Donut. The donut shop will be open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12. To find out more and see all the events, click here.
The Nordic Center in Duluth will open an photography exhibit, “Walking with Sámi” on Feb. 4 featuring photographs by Erika Larsen as well as Sámi artifacts from the collection of the Sámi Cultural Center of North America.
Sámi walking with reindeer. Photograph by Ericka Larsen. Larsen will be exhibiting her work at the Nordic Center next month.
Larsen, a transdisciplinary storyteller and lecturer, has spent significant time in the Scandinavian Arctic and has displayed work at the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery and The National Geographic Society. The exhibit runs through March 6.
And here’s some exciting news: paintings by the Italian Renaissance painter, Sandro Botticelli, are coming to the Minneapolis Institute of Art this fall.
Sandro Botticelli. Minerva and the Centaur. Tempera on canvas..
Starting Oct. 15 and running through Jan. 8, 2023, Botticelli and Renaissance Florence: Masterworks from the Uffizi will feature paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, decorative arts, and Roman marble statues at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The goal is to “contextualize [Botticelli’s] works within the broader artistic and cultural climate of Renaissance Florence,” the release states. For more information, click here.
Online Art Findings:
At the Fountain Head, linoleum print by Frances Gearheart.
Here’s an article about Frances Hammell Gearhart, an early 20th century printmaker Frances Hammell Gearhart. Read the article and see more of her work here.
Do you like the work of MC Escher? Here’s a great video inspired by his work:
This article shows 30 photographs that ended up looking like Renaissance paintings.
George the Goose. Image by Zac Hefner, is one of the photographs in this article about photographs that look like Renaissance paintings. Click to see more.
Here’s a piece on embroidered portraits:
Congregants, embroidery by Ruth Miller. See more here.
And check out this series of marcrophotographs by Vyacheslav Mishchenko.
Macrophotographs by Vyacheslav Mishchenko. Click here to see more.
Artists at Work:
Knife River painter, Patricia Canelake, is exhibiting her work in Hutchinson.
Recent work by Deborah Birkeland.
The Cold Cabin, oil, by Neil Sherman.
Found it stuck on tape by Mary Beams.
“Earth” by Adam Swanson. “My first painting of 2022.”
Frosty Bottles by Layne Kennedy,
Online Music:
Live Music:
Thursday, Jan. 27:
- Timmy Haus, Moguls Grille & Tap Room, 4 p.m.
- Gordon Thorne, Date Night at the Winery, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
- Matthew Griswold, Skyport Lodge, 6 p.m.
Friday. Jan. 28:
- Gene LaFond, Moguls Grille & Tap Room, 4 p.m.
Photographs:
Here’s a selection of photographs we found this week:
Wildlife:
Bohemian Waxwings were flying all over the county this week, gorging on Mountain Ash berries.
A swarm of Bohemian Waxwings on the snow, going after fallen berries. Photograph by Paul Sundberg.
Twins by Paul Sundberg.
Portrait of a Bohemian waxwing by Michael Furtman.
A bird in flight by Meadow Adams.
We found other wildlife photographs, too.
Mink peeping up from one of its sub-snow tunnels by Bill Marcel.
Great Gray Owl by Nathan Klok.
A pretty pair of kitties in the back of the camera by Thomas Spence.
A sub-zero beard by Sandra Updyke.
Chickadee at -25F by Thomas Spence.
Flight of the male Grosbeak by John Heino.
Landscapes, Skycapes & Icecapes
Volcanic sunrise by Jeffrey Doty.
Ice cakes floating in maple syrup with a dusting of powdered sugar. A view from the foot bridge at Magney State Park by Lee Ross.
Pussywillows! A sure sign of late January by Maryl Skinner.
A good Saturday to ya, by Kristofer Bowman.
Winter ice by Deborah Herber.
A rainbow cloud by Ted Tiboni.
Early morning light by Ken Harmon.
Artist Point Ice by Mark Tessier.
The sunrise was spectacular by Be From Duluth.
A winter scene by ‘Vincent Ledvina.
Shadow season by Cathy Quinn.
Below zero by Musa Ad Rahman.
Winter skies by Jamie Rex.
In the moonlight by Jeffrey Doty.
There’s blue ice and then there’s Blue Ice by Ted Tiboni.
Sunset reflections by Andy Keith.
Downhill by Mark Tessier.
The sentinel by Linda Ricklefs Baudry
The Big Lake throws gems ashore by Kristofer Bowman.
Sundial by Jean Fitts Cochrane.
Sea smoke and sunshine by Gwen Danfelt.
Split Rock Lighthouse stands beautiful and strong watching over Lake Superior in al seasons by Dawn LaPointe.
Lake Superior sculptures by Martin Pettersson,
Have a great weekend, everyone. Stay safe and stay warm!
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