Exploring Spring by Ken Harmon.
Greetings from the North Shore where, we hope, the last photograph of new snow this season was taken last week. Instead, we’re seeing early spring flowers, buds on trees and shrubs beginning to swell and open, birds calling out their territorial songs, and a feeling of peace when we sit in the sun.
The deep snow in the highlands continues to melt, too, guaranteeing a great waterfall season.
High Falls Grand Portage by Paul Sundberg
May marches on.
First up is a chance to learn about and paint with alcohol inks at Joy and Company’s weekly Art Night.
Alcohol inks can be used to create subtle vibrant colors. Learn about them at this week’s Art Night at Joy and Company.
If you’ve been curious about the world of alcohol inks, now is your chance to learn a bit more. Joy and Company is hosting an alcohol ink demo on Thursday, May 11 from 4-6 pm. Free … with a suggested donation. All welcome.
Also on Thursday, “Starry Night,” the spring recital by the YMCA dancers, will be held at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts at 6 pm, and on Friday and Saturday nights at 7 pm.
Starry Night YMCA Dance Performance will be May 11-13 at the ACA. Purchase tickets here.
The popular event features dancers from age 3 on up performing ballet, jazz, and modern dance. The event frequently sells out so it is advised to get your tickets early. To purchase tickets online, click here.
On Friday, the North Shore Swing Band will play for a dance at North House Folk School.
The North Shore Swing Band will play for a dance at North House Folk School on Friday, May 12 starting at 7 pm.
Don’t miss this amazing group of talented musicians, playing some of your Big Band favorites. Great for dancing or listening. Bring the family. Free. All welcome.
Also on Friday night, an exhibition by members of the North Shore Artists League opens at the Phipps Art Gallery in Hudson, Wis. More than 25 members of the league will have pieces in the show. The opening reception is from 6-8:30 pm on Friday, May 12. The exhibit continues through July 9. The exhibit features everything from pottery, paintings, printmaking, fiber art, glass, leatherwork, and more, as well as handmade period clothing recreated from the Fur Trade/Early Settler Eras.
The North Shre Artists League members open an exhibit at the Phipps Art Gallery in Hudson, Wis. May 12 with an opening reception from 6-8:30 pm.
Robin Penner’s researched and recreated Fur-Trade-Era clothing will be on display at the Phipps Art Gallery in Hudson as part of the North Shore Artists League exhibit.
Also this weekend, the 31st annual St. Croix Valley Pottery Tour will be held at eight different studios in the valley, featuring local, regional, national, and international potters.
The 31st annual St. Croix Valley Pottery Tour is May 12-14 this year.
Plates by Jason Trebs, who lives in Cook County. Trebs is one of the potters who will be showing at the St. Croix Valley Pottery Tour. Click here to find out more.
This is one of the best pottery tours in the nation, featuring a broad spectrum of work from accomplished and well-known potters. To find out information about participating artists, maps and more, click here.
Next Saturday, May 20, award-winning poet and scholar Linda LeGarde Grover will be at Drury Lane Books from 11 am to 1 pm to talk about her latest book, “The Sky Watched: Poems of Ojibwe Lives.”
Linda LeGarde Grover will be at Drury Lane Books May 20.
Exhibits:
Landscape painter Douglas Ross is currently exhibiting at the Johnson Heritage Post.
Rocks Along the Shore by Douglas Ross.
The title of the exhibit is “Up North Landscapes.” It continues through the end of May.
Adam Swanson is exhibiting a series of paintings about pollinators at the Duluth Art Institute, Lincoln Park Building.
A wall of pollinators by Adam Swanson. He is exhibiting his work at the Duluth Art Institute‘s Lincoln Park Building. His work will be on view through June 11.
Swanson integrates nature and technology to bring attention to some of Northern Minnesota’s pollinators. Richly-textured insects dominate the canvases among colorful blooms juxtaposed against field equipment and mechanical devices. “My recent paintings make scientific data clearer, ” he says, adding, “and, most importantly, inspire audiences to learn what can be done to change course.” The exhibit continues through June 11.
Minnesota clay artists Robert DeArmond, Karen Keenan, and Ray Shelerud are exhibiting work in the Steffl Gallery at the Duluth Art Institute.
Reconnecting Through Clay, an exhibit of potters who work in the ceramics studio of the Duluth Art Institute, is on view through May 17 in the Steffl Gallery at the Art Institute.
DeArmond, Keenan, and Shelerud first connected in the 1970s. They shared teachers, perspectives, and a devotion to pottery that brings joy. With their respective careers in teaching, arts administration, and construction, they launched into life outside the studio. They met again in retirement, reconnecting through their passion for clay.
At the Tweed Museum of Art on the University of Minnesota Duluth campus, the Department of Art and Design presents 67 works of art created by 46 students, including animation, ceramics, digital art, drawing, graphic design, motion, photography, printmaking, and video.
Perspectives, an exhibit of work by art students at UMD, is currently on view at the Tweed Museum of Art.
The exhibition continues throughout the month.
The Thunder Bay Art Gallery is also presenting student work this month. “Fresh Perspectives,” an exhibition of work by secondary school students, recently opened at the gallery.
Untitled, watercolor and mixed media, by Faith Tolpa, Grade 11, is one of the student works on exhibit at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.
The exhibit continues through June 11.
Upcoming:
Split Rock Lighthouse will host North Shore Community Night at the lighthouse on Friday, May 26 with the opening of a new historical exhibit and the lighting of the light.
North Shore Community Night will be held at Split Rock Lighthouse on May 26.
The Open House starts at 6 pm. The light will be lit at 9 pm. The event includes music by Adam Moe and Nathan Fraser; food trucks, beverages, and yard games.
Join the Grand Marais Art Colony for an opening reception for its summer exhibition. AIR – OPENNESS, featuring work by Mary Bergs, Walter Early, Ben Moren, and Galilee Peaches.
The opening reception for the Grand Marais Art Colony‘s summer exhibit Air Openness will be held on Friday, May 26 at Studio 21.
AIR – OPENNESS is the Art Colony’s theme for 2023 and all four artists have explored and interpreted the theme in their work. The exhibit continues through the summer.
The Cook County Market opens for the season at 10 am Saturday, May 27 in the parking lot of the Hub (Senior Center).
The Cook County Market opens in the Senior Center parking lot at 10 am, May 27.
The market features handcrafted work from local artists and includes pottery, fiber art, jewelry, rock art, weaving, local semi-precious stones, wood sculptures, paintings, live music, and more. The market runs from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturdays through MEA weekend in October. All are invited.
The North House Folk School’s Wooden Boat Show is June 16-18 this year, with lots of activities, community gatherings, classes, presentations and more.
North House Folk School’s Wooden Boat Show is June 16-18. To find out more, click here.
The Summer Solstice Pageant with the Good Harbor Hill Players is Saturday, June 17. For more information about all these events, click here.
Artists at Work:
Walrus mask by St Paul papier-mâché artist Liz Sexton. She has an exhibit at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winona. To see more of her work and see a video, click here.
3,700-year-old mugs from the Minoan civilization are on display at the Heraklion Museum in Crete.
Online Music:
Here’s the theme song from Northern Gardening, which airs on WTIP Community Radio at 7 pm on the second Thursday of the month. This month’s topic: Landscaping with Native Plants. The song is Reina del Cid’s cover of the Beatle’s song, “The Octopus’ Garden.” Enjoy!
Live Music:
Thursday, May 11:
- Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6-8 pm
Friday, May 12:
- North Shore Swing Band, Cook County Community Center, 7-9 pm
Saturday, May 13:
- Cover Me Silly, Up Yonder, 8 pm
Sunday, May 14:
- Open Mic Hosted by Pete K, Up Yonder, 5-8 pm
Tuesday, May 16:
- Eric Frost, North Shore Winery, 4:30-6:30 pm
Thursday, May 18:
- Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6-8 pm
Sunday, May 21:
- Open Mic Hosted by Pete K, Up Yonder, 5-8 pm.
Tuesday, May 23:
- Eric Frost, North Shore Winery, 4:30-6:30 pm
Photographs:
Here’s a selection of the photographs we found this week.
Wildlife:
Common Goldeneyes by Paul Sundberg.
Update of the Robin nest on my window sill by Ryan Tischer.
A fun session in the morning sun with a furry little red fox by Thomas Spence.
Sandhill Crane with its snowshoes on by David Johnson.
A little dogwood for breakfast by Kaitlyn Mumm.
White Pelicans pause for a break by Amy Berg Louhela.
Barn Swallow courtesy of Birdonearth.
Catching Air by Bjornberg Photography.
A Bison baby! The Bison herd at Grand Portage has a new member born a few days ago. Photo courtesy of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.
The Loons are Back by Heidi Pinkerton
Potpourri:
Incredible clouds last night by Jamie Rex.
Our watch begins, by Staci Drouillard.
Planes in the air over Europe by Plane Finder.
The Last Snowscapes — Hopefully:
Still snowy inland by Bryan Hansel.
Good Morning from here on May 1 by Hungry Jack Outfitters.
Rapids and waterfalls in a snow-laden forest by Ken Harmon.
Landscapes, Waterscapes, Skyscapes & Flowerscapes:
High Winds on the Harbor by Paul Sundberg.
And so the color starts by Maryl Skinner.
Ellingson Island under the Near Full Moon by Thomas Spence.
Forest Floor by Kim Nelson.
Split Rock Lighthouse perched on a cliff overlooking Lake Superior by Nathan Klok.
The American Integrity leaving Duluth. Photo by Jeffrey Doty.
Splashy, Splashy by Bryan Hansel.
It’s official! Spring begins when the gates on the North Pier are opened, by Marth Lind.
Sunken Beauty by Christian Dalbec.
Swirling, by Bryan Hansel.
Gooseberry Falls by Nathan Klok.
Freezing Spray by Ryan Rumpca.
Rock of ages by Colin Willemsen.
I love living in an area with dark skies by Bryan Hansel.
The Big Lake they call Gitche Gumee by Thomas Spence
Arch Bridge crossing over the Mississippi by Layne Kennedy.
The Cedars at Gooseberry Falls by Chuck Olsen.
Gooseberry Falls by Chuck Olsen.
Ship passing in the gloaming by Lin Salisbury.
Have a great weekend, everyone! And, if you’d like to become a contributor to NorthShore ArtScene, just click on the icon below. It’s easy. And Thank You!
And here’s a shout-out to the volunteers who help make this blog possible. They include Jeremy Lopez (live music listings, technical expertise, proofreading), Kari Carter (Photo captions), and Yvonne Mills (Proofreading, fact-checking). Thank you so much!
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