LOVE MAMMA. Photograph by Matthew Baxley, Bear Witness Media, taken at Isle Royale National Park.
Greetings from the North Shore, where we’re all celebrating days of balmy weather and maybe even the hope of rain soon. The word on the street is that there are blueberries up the Gunflint Trail and we’re all wondering if our favorite spot is going to be picked over before we get there. Minor worries, for sure, in the scheme of things.
This week, we share lots of news about the arts and entertainment scene on the North Shore, as well as a new selection of photographs. Next week, we will take a break, but there’s probably enough material on this week’s blog to carry you over. Sorry if we bogged down your phone again.
We’ll be back Aug. 4 for a pre-Fisherman’s Picnic issue.
We’d love to hear from you, especially if you’d like to become a contributor and/or join our production team. Email me at joan.farnam@gmail.com
So let’s get started. It’s a busy weekend in the county, both indoors and out and here is what we’ve found.
North House Folk School is offering a wide variety of experiences to the public this weekend.
First, the live craft demonstration series on campus continues with Tara Austin set to talk about rosemaling and demonstrate it on campus from 10 am to 4 pm Thursday through Sunday.
Tara Austin will demonstrate rosemaling techniques and talk about her work at North House Folk School this weekend.
Contemporary rosemaleing piece by Tara Austin.
Austin is an accomplished rosemaler and is known for her traditional and contemporary work. She recently exhibited her contemporary work at the Joseph Nease Gallery in Duluth.
North House is also hosting the North Shore Swing Band to play for an outdoor dance on Thursday night, July 21, from 6-8 pm.
The North Shore Swing Band will play for an outdoor dance on campus from 6-8 pm Thursday, July 21. (File photo)
The event is free and the community is invited.
Also on Thursday, North House invites the community to drop by the Artisan Development Program Studios in the Betsy Bowen Building to meet its resident artisans, see some of their work, and check out their workspace.
North House Folk School Artisan Studio tours in the Betsy Bowen Building are set for 5-7 pm Thursday.
The Artisan Development Program is a two-year professional development program for craftspeople. The studios are located upstairs at Betsy Bowen Gallery and Studios building, 301 1st Ave W. Free and open to all.
On Friday, The Gunflint Trail’s Biggest Blueberry Contest begins and continues through Aug. 14.
The Gunflint Trail’s Biggest Blueberry Contest begins Friday.
The berries will be measured by weight and must be picked fresh and not store-bought. CASH prizes are awarded to the three biggest berries. $100 to the first place winner, $50 to the second place winner, and $25 to the third place winner. Weigh stations are located in a number of different outfitters and lodges on the Trail. Early reports indicate that there’s going to be a good blueberry crop this year. It’s a big temptation to editorialize and say Yay! For more information, click here.
Also on Friday, the Lake Superior Watercolor Society will open an exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post with a reception from 5-7 pm.
The Lake Superior Watercolor Society will open an exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post on Friday.
The exhibit is entitled The Living Color Gallery Exhibition and features a variety of work from 20 member artists. The exhibit continues through Aug. 14.
Saturday starts out at the Cook County Market, featuring a wide variety of arts and crafts from local makers.
The Cook County Market is held in the parking lot of The Hub from 10 am to 2 pm every Saturday through MEA weekend.
Look for pottery, weaving, glasswork, woodworking, Lake Superior stones, paintings, cards, sculptures, maple syrup, and more at this popular market.
Also this Saturday, the Grand Marais Garden Club will hold its annual flower show.
The Grand Marais Garden Club’s annual Flower Show is at the Community Center on Saturday from 1-4 pm.
Entitled “Garden Masterpieces,” the show at the Cook County Community Center will feature a fascinating variety of arrangements and flowers. There will also be a plant exchange as well, Refreshments will be served. All welcome. Free.
96th Anniversary Party at Clearwater Lodge.
A party to celebrate the 96th Anniversary of Clearwater Lodge will be held on Saturday, July 23, from 6-9 pm, The North Shore Community Swing Band will play.
The North Shore Community Swing Band will be playing at Clearwater Lodge on Saturday, July 23, with music and dancing to celebrate the 96th Anniversary of the historic establishment. The event is free as well as are the hot dogs for all who attend. Beer and wine will be available for purchase. All are welcome. Bring your dancing shoes.
There are lots more music opportunities this weekend, too, including here in Grand Marais, at Tettegouche State Park, and in Silver Bay.
Sam Miltich and his Clearwater Hot Club Band will be in concert in downtown Silver Bay Friday, July 23.
Sam Miltich is in Silver Bay’s City Center Park on Friday at 7:30 pm.
On Saturday, multilingual vocalist/songwriter Eleanor Dubinsky and virtuoso Argentine guitarist Dario Acosta Teich will be performing at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts at 7 pm. The duo brings audiences together with fresh interpretations of jazz, Latin, French, popular, and original songs. Called “powerful magic,” this NYC-based duo’s performances transcend genre and geography and celebrate the healing power of music.
Eleanor Dubinsky and Dario Acosta Teich will be in concert at the ACA Saturday at 7 pm.
NPR calls Dubinsky an artist “who can capture the emotions and soul of a community in a song.” Acosta Teich has gained renown for spearheading jazz ensembles, composing for orchestras, and improvising with jazz icons.
Tickets are $20, general seating. They can be found online at northshoremusicassociation.com/or at door. Masks are required at this event.
Tettegouche State Park is launching an outdoor concert series this summer. The first concert features singer/songwriter Robin Sunquiet. The concert is free.
Robin Sunquiet will be in concert at Tettegouche State Park at 6 pm Saturday. The concert is free.
Exhibits:
“Connections,” an exhibit of George Morrison’s work, continues at the Cultural Heritage Center at the Grand Portage National Monument through September.
The George Morrison exhibit at the Cultural Heritage Center in Grand Portage features a collection of his works and other materials. It continues through September.
The Grand Marais Art Colony celebrates its 75th anniversary this year featuring a number of activities and events. It has also organized a multimedia exhibit at Studio 21 which continues through September.
The Grand Marais Art Colony has opened its 75th-anniversary exhibition at Studio 21 featuring a variety of art and artists.
The exhibition will be open at Studio 21 Thursdays – Saturdays, 10 am – 4 pm. Studio 21 is located at 21 West Highway 61 in Grand Marais.
A new gallery in Tofte:
Ron Piercy has opened a new studio/gallery, the ArtArt Gallery in Tofte.
Ron Piercy has opened a new studio/gallery, ArtArt Gallery, in Tofte on the Bluefin property. The gallery features a collection of his work, including paintings, glass, and jewelry, as well as works from local and regional artists.
Ron Piercy is exhibiting his art as well as other artists in his new gallery/studio in Tofte.
Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm.
Photographs at Split Rock Lighthouse
Jim Schnortz has a photo exhibit at Split Rock Lighthouse. His work can be seen through the end of the month.
A photographic exhibit at Tettegouche State Park
Photographer Vincent DeZutti is exhibiting his photographic collages of the North Shore in the Great Hall at Tettegouche State Park. His work will be on exhibit through July.
A modern take on the Woodland tradition in Thunder Bay
The Thunder Bay Art Gallery has a number of exhibits on-going this summer, including “Woodland Pop!,” a group exhibition presenting new expressions of the Woodland Style in a modern context.
Woodland Pops!,.a new exhibit at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery, features contemporary works interpreting the traditional style of Woodland art.
Works within the scope of the exhibition include visual art, digital painting, NFTs, 2spirit and queer aesthetics, tattooing, contemporary beading, and more. This exhibition marvels at the meaning and influence of Woodland Style in the work of emerging and mid-career contemporary Indigenous artists. Featured artists include Blake Angeconeb, Christian Chapman, Michel Dumont, Shelby Gagnon, Sharon Goodison, Quinn Hopkins, Bree Island, Ryan Pooman, Fallon, Simard, Rihkee Strapp, Jonathan Thunder.
Opportunities:
AICHO (The American Indian Community Housing Organization in Duluth) is seeking Indigenous artists and their creations to be part of their Anishinaabe Art Festival. They will showcase Woodland creations and other Indigenous work in visual, literary, performing, and culinary arts. For more info, click here.
Upcoming:
Trinity Lutheran Church plans first of its Summer Series
Trinity Lutheran Church’s first of its Summer Series will feature Diane Jacobson and Paul Jacobson on Thursday, July 28 at 6:30 pm. The evening will begin with music by JS Bach and GF Handel with Paul Jacobson on flute, and Bill Beckstrand on keyboards. At 7 pm, Diane Jacobson with musical interludes. A pie and ice cream social will be at 8 pm. Free. The community is invited.
Stay tuned for more info on this:
Performances of the Magic Flute coming to the North Shore.
Artists at Work
Untitled, acrylic by Tim Young.
From the Fog, acrylic, by Kathy Fox Weinberg.
Through a blown glass window at Grand Portage National Monument by Layne Kennedy.
Pink Superior, acrylic, by Jane Johnson.
Moira Villiard, coordinator of the Chief Buffalo Memorial Mural project in Duluth, crouches in front of a wall she painted of a man harvesting wild rice. July 13. Photo by Dan Kraker | MPR News. To read the story, click here.
Online Findings
Inca Architecture and the Architecture of Maize
Inca stone walls and native corn kernels are a match.
The following was posted on the Digital Smoke Signals Facebook page:
“It took me years to realize that Inca and pre-Columbian architecture is directly related to the structure of the corn kernels. In a western model of thought, one might judge the shapes as irregular, but in a universal thought, everything is a correlation between the cosmos, science, art, and humanity. Fractal nature.
As you can see, the organic growth forms are represented in a logarithmic way and the fact that these pentagonal, hexagonal and heptagonal blocks coincide with the corn forms.” – Juan Casco
Note: The lack of symmetry in the walls helps dissipate the energy of the earthquakes. They were incredible engineers. Japanese researchers studied Machu Picchu after the Kobe earthquake and realized that these Inca structures had not been damaged by an earthquake.” (Juan Casco)
The Webb Telescope and the Universe
A nursery of stars. Photo was taken by NASA’s Webb Telescope. Read about it and see more photos here.
A Must Look-At
Misleading captions that change how we see these photos
The website, 121 Clicks, has posted 25 photos with misleading captions that make you see something completely different than what was photographed. The misleading caption on this photo reads: The curly haired man jumps into the water. Here’s the link to the site to see more.
Online Music
Live Music:
Thursday, July 21:
- Colleen Myhre and Jacob Mahon, Cascade Restaurant and Pub, 6-8 pm
- The North Shore Swing Band to play for an outdoor dance at North House Folk School, 6-8 pm
- Gordon Thorne, Date Night at the Winery, North Shore Winery, 7-9 pm
Friday, July 22:
- Southpaws, Birch Terrace, 4-8 pm
- Dan Nelson Trio, John Gruber, Bluefin Grille, 7-9 pm
- Sam Miltich and the Clearwater Hot Club, Silver bay Music in the Park Series, City Center Park, 7 Davis Drive, Silver Bay, 7:30-9 pm
Saturday, July 23:
- Fleetwood Maki, Birch Terrace, 4:30-8 pm
- Lake Superior Bonfire Music, Bluefin Grille on the beach, 5-8 pm
- Gene LaFond and Amy Grillo, Cascade Restaurant, 6-8 pm
- Robin Sunquist in concert at Tettegouche State Park,6-8:30 pm
- Eleanor Dubinsky and Dano Avcosta Teich, in concert at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts, 7-9 pm
- Jim McGowan, live music by the campfire, Lutsen Resort, 6:30-9 pm
- North Shore Swing Band, 96th year celebration, Clearwater Lodge, 6-9pm – Free Hotdogs – Beer and Wine for sale
Sunday, July 24:
- Chris Gillis, Harbor Park, noon to 1:30 pm
- Fred Anderson, 1:30-3 pm, Harbor Park
- Billy Johnson, Weekend Winedown, North Shore Winery, 4 pm
- Southpaws, Music by the Lake at SkyPort Lodge, 4 pm
Monday, July 25:
- Briand Morrison, Harbor Park, 1:30-3 pm,
- Pete Kavanaugh, Bluefin Grille, 7-9 pm
Tuesday, July 26:
- Eric Frost, Locals Night at the Winery, NorthShore Winery, 5-8 pm
- Music by the Bonfire, Bluefin Grille, 6-8 pm
Wednesday, July 27:
- Southpaws Duo (Al Oikari & Steve Johnson), Bluefin Grille, 7-9 pm
Monday, July 25
- Roxann Berglund, Harbor Park, 1:30-4 pm
Photographs
A Skimmer at work by Ken Macejka.
Jamie Rabold successfully coached this junior skunk out of the building with no attendant odor.
A big handsome fella by Thomas Spence.
A once-in-a-lifetime shot by photographer Roy Rimmer.
Plantscape
Pond lily by Kristofer Bowman.
I love a flower that blooms for 3 or 4 months by Bob LaMettry.
Speck of a red, speck of moon. Peonies at dusk. Photo by Maryl Skinner.
Garden Ornaments
My favorite garden ornaments by Ravenwind.
Garden ornaments with history by Penney Ortmann.
Moonscapes
Full moon rising by Lin Salisbury.
Meanwhile, view from the earth by Andy Keith.
Across the water by Matthew Pastick.
Buck Moon rising over Lake Superior by Matthew Pastick.
The Full Buck Moon by Paul Sundberg.
Peoplescapes
a favorite spot. Hannah Palma Laky.
Ann Ward with newly harvested kale, garlic scapes and dill, photograph by Joan Farnam
Landscapes:
Bean and Bear Lake, Up North Co./
Sunrise fog on Lake Superior by Matthew Pastick
A perfect summer day by Kristofer Bowman.
Peace on Lake Superior. Houseboat owned by Art and Beth Kidd.
Only from the heart can you touch the sky. By Jan Swart
This week’s contributors include Paula Gustafson, art news, Annie Possis, copyediting, and Matthew Baxley, music videos, photographs, and layout/design. I would like to extend a special thanks to everyone who has reached out to show their support for this blog, either through subscribing or supporting our work financially. Most importantly, thank you to all the creators featured in this week’s blog post.
Have a wonderful weekend!
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