Expressing This Place …

Sally Berg’s photo, above, captures the essence of an exhibit opening at the Johnson Heritage Post on Friday.

Entitled “Sense of Wonder: Expressing This Place,” the exhibit features artwork from every genre in response to the query: What is it about living here that inspires you?”

“Sense of Wonder” is one of the themed art shows organized for the community by the Spirit of Wilderness Church every year, and artists of all ages are invited to participate. Expect to see a great selection of work by the art students at ISD 166 as well as as a wide variety of pieces by professional and part-time artists in fiber, painting, wood carving, pottery, glass, photography, prints and more.

The exhibit opens with a reception from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, and Chel Anderson, co-author of the award-winning book, “North Shore: Natural History of Superior’s North Coast” will speak at 6 p.m. “Sense of Wonder: Expressing This Place” continues through March 26.

North House Folk School is celebrating life in the Northwoods with a series of free presentations and/or workshops at 7 p.m. every Thursday in March. This Thursday, Phillip Odden and Elise Bigton, instructors at North House and owners of Norsk Woodworks, will talk about their latest commission: building traditional cabinetry and stools for Disney’s Norwegian Pavillion at Epcot Theme Park. Disney is redesigning the structure to reflect the recent movie “Frozen.” The public is invited.

And on Friday, historian and teacher Arn Kind will present “Minnesota Fabulous Firsts,” at the Grand Marais Public Library at 3:30 p.m. Kind will talk about the many ways Minnesota was first and provide a hands-on experience for the audience. For example, did you know that a famous Minnesota aviator was the first to make a solo, non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean, stretching and proving the capabilities of aircraft? The program is free. All invited.

Then, a little later, the Friday night film series at the library continues with “Dinner Rush,” a spoof about a part-time bookmaker and his culinary chef son. The film is screened at 6 p.m. Free. To see the trailer, click here.

Also this weekend, the Grand Marais Art Colony is hosting Springboard for the Arts in a series of workshops for artists on Saturday and Sunday entitled “Work of Art: Business Skills for Artists.” Each workshop costs $15. Titles include: Career Planning & Time Management; Recordkeeping for Artists; Pricing for Artists and Social Media Basics for Artists. The workshops can be taken individually or as a package. For more info and to register call the Art Colony at 387-2737.

And, as part of the Work of Art professional development weekend, the Art Colony will be host a free lunchtime discussion on what artists need to ensure a thriving artist community in Cook County. Topics will include: What tools and resources do you need as an artist in Cook County?  What are the road blocks and detours you have experienced?  What kind of support would you benefit from in your artistic professional development?  What sort of best practices have you seen in other communities? All welcome.

In Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery is hosting the screening of the documentary “Stripped,” where the world’s best cartoonists talk about the art form they love, and what happens to it as newspapers die. More than 70 interviews were conducted, including the first-ever audio interview with Bill Watterson (Calvin & Hobbes), as well as Jim Davis (Garfield), Cathy Guisewite (Cathy), Mort Walker (Beetle Bailey), Mike & Jerry (Penny Arcade), Matt Inman (The Oatmeal), to name a few. The film will be shown in the Confederation College Lecture Theatre (Room 351 Shuniah Building) at 7 p.m. (EST) on Sunday. Pay-As-You-Can admission.

The Baggage Building Art Centre at Prince Arthur’s Landing in Thunder Bay is exhibiting fiber art by local artisans through March 26.  The Art Center also holds classes and has a gift shop. It is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and noon to 4 p.m. (EST) Saturday and Sunday. For more info about the art centre, click here.

And next Tuesday, Hollywood’s master voiceover professional, Bill Ratner, will give a presentation at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts  at 6:30 p.m.

Ratner, who is one of America’s premier voiceover performers on movie trailers, documentaries, commercials, and cartoons (you will recognize his voice when you hear him speak), will present “Media Madness: a Comedic, Fun and Critical Look at 21st Century Electronic Media.”

Ratner founded the classroom program “TV Cartoon Scandals: Media Awareness for Children” for the Los Angeles Unified School District in 1992. In his new book, “Parenting for the Digital Age: The Truth behind Media’s Effect on Children and What To Do About It” (Familius Press), Ratner tells how to start a babysitting co-op, reveals the strange, true story behind the marketing of Barbie and G.I. Joe, and much more. He is hosted by the North Shore Health Care Foundation. Refreshments will be served. Free and open to the public.

On Friday, March 11, Sawtooth Mountain Clinic will host a “Hot Potatoes” session about digital media and youth in the lower level classroom at the clinic from 5:30-7 p.m.  Ratner will join the discussion via Skype as will  Patrick Knight (local media artist and Youth Radio coordinator on WTIP Community Radio) and health care professionals.  Parents, youth and caregivers are invited.

Upcoming

The Grand Marais Art Colony is hosting a number of artists in residence in the next few months including Beth Dorsey and Walter Early, juried artists in residence, and invited artists Charles Matson Lume, Mary Bergs and Lisa Hochstein.

Dorsey, a printmaker, and Early, an installation artist, will hold open studios at the Art Colony from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, March 12. Stay tuned for details.

Alison Scott, who sings timeless soul music, will be in concert at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday March 12.

The concert is hosted by the North Shore Music Association.

In Duluth, “Motherhood Out Loud,”  a revealing play about the challenges of motherhood, will be performed at The Underground at the Duluth Playhouse in the Depot at 7:30 p.m. March 17-19. Utterly unpredictable, “Motherhood Out Loud” shatters traditional notions about parenthood, unveils its inherent comedy and celebrates the deeply personal truths that span and unite generations. For tickets, click here.

Definitely Superior Art Gallery‘s “Urban Infill 10: Art in the Core” Gala will be held in the Waterfront District in downtown Thunder Bay Saturday, April 9 from 7-11 p.m.

The event features 350 multidisciplinary artists at 20 downtown locations including music, art show, performances and more.

Start at the gallery to pick up your Art Map and let the Performative Tour Guides guide the way.  More than 1,500 people attended the Gala last year.

In other art news, the deadline for submitting an application for the Grand Marais Art Festival is March 13. Plein Air Applications are due April 8. For more information, click here.

The Art Colony is hiring a full-time office manager and a part-time gallery store manager. Check the website here for more info. Applications are due March 19.

Joy & Co. is looking forward to the opening of a new business in its storefront. “Upstate Minnesota: Northwoods Modern” will open April 1, with lots of artwork from the region and around the country, as well as antiques and vintage items.  Check out Upstate Minnesota’s Facebook page here.

In other news from Joy & Co., woodturner Cooper Ternes is expanding his space in the building as is photographer Nace Hagemann. The art supplies section has been doubled, too. A variety of sketch books and papers as well as watercolor and acrylic paints are available. They also carry speedball cutters, linoleum blocks and Sumi-e paints. Owner Jill Terrill invites artists to make suggestions for supplies they could use as well.

Sivertson Gallery has a great selection of new Inuit art, and the gallery itself has been re-arranged. Check it out and see the difference.

Applications for the third year of the Great Place Project are now available.

The Great Place Project is a joint program of the Cook County Chamber of Commerce and the Moving Matters project of the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, with new support this year from the Minnesota Power Foundation. Stipends from $250 to $1,250 for low-cost, high-impact public projects will be awarded.

The theme this year is “Playability.” Projects that enhance or create a place that welcomes people with a playfulness or whimsy, especially for children and families, will be favored. In addition, this year’s projects should demonstrate that they will have significant visual impact and will inspire physical activity. For more info and to apply, click here.

And Great Gifts of Lutsen has just received a variety of woodwork by Country Pine of Ely.

Here’s the music schedule for this week:

Thursday, March 3:

• Timmy Haus, Moguls Grille, 3:30 p.m.
• Pete Kavanaugh, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Dance Party with DJ Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9 p.m.

Friday March 4:

• Eric Frost, Moguls Grille, 3:30 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
• Dat Dere Jazz, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Pete Kavanaugh, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Mysterious Ways, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
• The Big Wu, Papa Charlie’s, 9 p.m.

Saturday, March 5:

• Bug Lite, Papa Charlie’s, 3:15 p.m.
• Wild Berry Jam, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
• Gene LaFond & Amy Grillo, Papa Charlie’s, 6:45 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Cascade Lodge Pub, 7 p.m.
• Joshua Schmidt, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Mysterious Ways, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
• The Big Wu, Papa Charlie’s, 9 p.m.

Sunday, March 6:

• Wu Acoustic Family, Papa Charlie’s, 3:30 p.m.
• Classic Guitar with Scott Fraser, Bluefin Grille, 6 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Gun Flint Tavern, 6 p.m.

Monday, March 7:

• Dusty Heart, (Barbara Jean & Molly Dean), Monday Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.
• Jim & Michele Miller, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Jon Kallberg, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, March 8:

• Open Mic Night, Papa Charlie’s, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, March 9:

• Moors & McCumber, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

We were lucky finding some great photographs this week. Here’s a selection.

Let’s start with the birds.

 

 

And follow those with a great shot of a lynx.

Here are some wave shots.

 

And here are some photos of calm seas.

 

 

And frozen seas.

 

 

 

And then, a frozen river …

 

And, finally, a frozen artist.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!