Tamarack Time by Teresa Baumann.
Greetings from the North Shore, where I would like to share a late fall story with you.
A loon’s first month. Photo by Ray Yeager. After they are grown, the loon chick’s parents depart on their south migration, leaving the young ones to fend for themselves until they, too, leave for the winter.
The story comes from Lee and Dan Ross, who are sculptors, mono-printmakers, and glass artists in Hovland.
The couple loves to fish in the Boundary Waters, and last year, when they were out fishing on Cherry Lake, next to Lake of the Clouds, they noticed a young loon following their canoe. Its parents, like all other adult loons, had left earlier, and he/she would join with its fellow youngsters and make the journey south soon. Meanwhile, the young loon was all by itself on the lake and may have felt a little lonely, Lee said.
In any case, it was their constant companion as they fished, following the canoe wherever it went. But they weren’t catching any fish. The first day, nothing, and then the second day, nothing. And all that time, that young loon was swimming close to the canoe, watching.
Here’s what Lee writes about what happened next:
“After the loon observed we weren’t catching any fish, he left us a fish just off our campsite near our canoe. The loon floated nearby watching and waiting to see our reaction. We were touched and grateful.”
When Lee tells this story, she laughs with delight. What an unexpected and wonderful gift. Sharing– the gift of Thanksgiving.
This week should offer opportunities for laughter and sharing, too, as the North Shore Readers & Writer’s Festival gets underway Nov. 1-4 with classes, presentations, films, discussion groups, and more. Click here for the full schedule, and see below for public events.
First up on Thursday is the weekly Art Night at Joy and Company, offering the public a variety of art experiences throughout the year. his week Art Night participants will explore the materials and techniques for painting on glass.
Painting on Glass is the activity this week at Art Night at Joy and Company.
Painting on glass is a great way to upcycle glass from reclaimed frames, old jars, drinking glasses, candle holders, and window hangings. At the event, some items will be available from the budget store here in town, and/or you can also bring something in to paint. Thursday night activities and art demonstrations are from 4-6 pm. Free, with a suggested donation. Open to all.
On Thursday night, the first of the public events during the North Shore Readers and Writers Festival will be held at Studio 21 at 7:30 pm featuring a panel discussion with five of the authors and educators participating in the festival. Entitled “Agency and Authenticity in Works of Fiction. Who Tells the Story?” the panel will bring new viewpoints to the table.
North Shore Readers and Writers Festival is Nov. 1-4. Click here to learn more.
The discussion will center around the primary questions: 1) Who can best tell the story of people of color in literature? 2) Why is agency and authenticity important in the creation of works of fiction? There will also be ample time for questions. The panel will be moderated by Staci Drouillard and feature Michael Kleber-Diggs, Carol Miller, David Mura, Mona Susan Power and Michael Torres.
The discussion is free, but pre-registration is required due to limited space. Register here.
At noon on Friday, nationally recognized author and educator Brenda Child (Red Lake Ojibwe) will discuss her research for a new book on the history of American Indian marriage at the Grand Portage National Monument Heritage Center.
Author and educator, Brenda Child will give a talk in Grand Portage and host a film screening at Studio 21 on Friday, Nov. 3.
The title of her book is “Caribou Time, Ojibwe Marriage, and the Grand Portage Agency,” with an emphasis on a married couple who worked for the Grand Portage School and Agency, 1915-1919. The public is invited. Free.
On Friday afternoon, starting at 4:30 pm, a Grand Marais Writer’s Salon, featuring Cook County writers, will be held at Studio 21, hosted by Lin Salisbury.
Lin Salisbury will host a Grand Marais Writer’s Salon on Friday at 4:30 pm Friday at Studio 21.
Local writers will share their current work, followed by an open mic open to any participant. Refreshments, including wine and cheese, will be served as well as a robust reading from a variety of genres. Local writers joining Salisbury to read include Rose Arrowsmith, Jim Boyd, and Nina Simonowicz. The public is invited. Free.
At 7:30 pm on Friday, a film entitled “Jingle Dress Dancers in the Modern World: Ojibwe People and Pandemics” will be screened at Studio 21.
Produced by Brenda Child, the film examines the history of the Ojibwe Jingle Dress Dance tradition and its origin in the global pandemic of influenza in 1918 – 1920. Child is a member of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa and has previously served as a member of the board of trustees of the National Museum of the American Indian-Smithsonian. This film is free and open to the public.
As part of the Readers and Writers Festival, a number of Minnesota book professionals and presses will be at the Exhibitors’ Hall at Studio 21 with examples of their books on Friday and Saturday. It will be open from 8:30 am – 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm – 5 pm.
Also on Saturday, award-winning author Brian Malloy will teach a free workshop entitled “The Five Parts of Story” at the Grand Marais Public Library from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm.
Writer Brian Malloy will teach a free writing workshop at the Grand Marais Public Library this week entitled “The Five Parts of Story.”
This session is for writers who need help with structuring and building momentum in their stories.He will examine the five parts of the traditional short story: Exposition, rising action, crisis, falling action, and conclusion. Come prepared for exercises on each of the five parts of traditional story form.
Attendees should bring paper as well as a pen or pencil, for active participation is part of Malloy’s plan. Absolute beginners and experienced writers in need of a refresher are welcome.
Malloy is the award-winning author of novels The Year of Ice, Brendan Wolf, After Francesco, and Twelve Long Months. His novels have been a 2002 New York Times New and Notable title, an Oprah Daily pick for best of 2022, a 2021 Women’s National Book Association Great Group Reads selection, and a 2009 Book Sense Pick. The workshop is open to all.
In Minneapolis, Hazel Belvo’s new exhibit, For Love, will feature an Open House at the Minnesota Museum of American Art from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday.
Hazel Belvo opens a new show at the Minnesota Museum of American Art on Saturday, from 10 am to 4 pm.
This retrospective celebrates love and as an underlying force in Belvo’s artistic career of more than 70 years. By examining her work, audiences gain insight into the broader struggles of women artists as they build careers while caring for others, working for others, and endeavoring to make change in the world. Belvo’s artwork thrives because it is inextricably tied to her extraordinary, multidimensional life. The exhibit continues through May 2024.
Exhibits:
Multi-media artist Cam Zebrun’s exhibit, “Cascade” continues at the Johnson Heritage Post.
The multi-media exhibit Cascade continues at the Johnson Heritage Post.
In this exhibit, Zebrun explores the many facets of The Cascades, including the waterfalls, canyons, rocks, colors, and textures in the water in a series of sculptures. The exhibit continues through Nov.12. The Heritage Post is open from 10 am to 4 pm Wednesday through Sunday. It is closed on Monday and Tuesday. Free.
In Duluth, Naomi Hart’s exhibit, The Details of an Uncertain Direction, continues through Nov. 30 at the Duluth Art Institute.
Naomi Hart is exhibiting her encaustic work at the Duluth Art Institute.
Hart’s encaustic paintings focus on the illustrative details of nature: soft, feathery moths, translucent dragonfly wings, and colorful, scaly fish. She embeds her surrealist drawings and etchings in layers of beeswax and builds magical stories. Hart explains, “I use storytelling and a love for the natural world to expose my personal journey for all its potential, despite its uncertainty.” Hart’s work explores the possibility of healing and conveys a sense of hope. Human hearts safely nestle in knobby tree branches and children joyfully ride blue jays and tiptoe around turtles. Birds and butterflies tend flowers, chrysalises, and hearts, symbolizing the change inspired by recognizing and empathizing with our emotions. The Art Institute’s galleries are currently at the Depot.
A new exhibit has opened at the Minneapolis Art Institute entitled In Our Hands: Native Photography, 1890 to Now.
TV Indians. Photograph by Cara Romero is one of the photographs in the In Our Hands exhibit at the Minneapolis Art Institute. To hear the artist talk about this photograph, click here.
Organized by a council of primarily Native artists, scholars, and knowledge sharers, in partnership with MIA curators, this sweeping exhibition traces the intersecting histories of photography and diverse Indigenous cultures from the Rio Grande to the Arctic Circle. Beautiful, complex, and surprising, these artworks celebrate the legacy of groundbreaking photographers and their influence on the medium today.
Upcoming:
The next few weekends will be busy in Cook County.
First up is Murder Mystery On the North Shore, a series of dinners and performances around the county offering the public a chance to experience fun murder mystery theater and audience participation Nov. 10-11.
Murder Mystery on the North Shore offers a variety of options for audiences Nov. 10-11. Click here for more info.
Caribou Highlands and Bluefin Bay will host the Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre and Glensheen: The Cabaret will be performed at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts. Click here for info and tickets.
On Saturday, Nov. 11, the first Holiday Craft Fair of the season will be held at The Hub.
There will be a holiday art and gift sale at The Hub on Nov. 11.
Artists include: Kari Carter Pottery, Wilder Woodshop, TF Goodness, Rachel Rae Fine Art, Dee Clossen Leather, Terry Lord Lewis Ceramics, Linda Newman Candles, Cree Orth Digital Art, Gina Adams Birds on a Cup, Lyssa Iberra (Jewelry), Becky Heller Wool Art, Jeri Person Glass, Lily Wilson Balms and Meadow Adams Photography. The event will be held from 10 am to 4 pm.
Here are posters for the other Holiday sales this season:
The Holiday Market at Up Yonder is Nov. 18 from noon to 6 pm.
The Hovland Winter Art Show is on Nov. 25 in the Hovland Town Hall.
Pots for Presents, a Holiday Art Sale featuring local potters will be Dec 2.
Also this month, one of the highlights of the season--Winterer’s Gathering will be held at North House Folk School Nov. 17-19.
Winterer’s Gathering and the Arctic Film Festival is Nov. 17-19 at North House Folk School. Click here for more info.
The Winterers’ Gathering & Arctic Film Festival celebrates the crafts, customs, history, and stories that have been inspired by winter. Featuring winter-centric coursework, a winter tent camp, a gear sale, the Arctic Film Festival, speakers, and more, this is a classic event to welcome the start of the chilliest season. To see the lineup of events for this year, click here. And stay tuned.
Kudos:
The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council has announced grant award winners for this grant round. Several Cook County artists and organizations won awards. Here’s a listing:
Individual Artist Project Grant:
Robin Penner, Funds will be used to complete a series of 1/4 size historically dressed figures, with accurately created full costume ensembles.
Adrea Beres, Funds will be used to create a herbarium specific to the Cook County Region to use as a digital reference to create imagery that is then transferred onto their ceramic work.
Fern Leaf mug by Adrea Beres.
Rural & Community Art Project Grant:
Great Expectations School. Funds will be used to support a Bottle Cap Mural. A collaborative mural project created by kindergarten through eighth-grade students with the guidance of teachers, artists, and volunteers.
Robin Penner (Hovland Arts Festival). Funds will be used toward entertainment for the Hovland Arts Festival.
Good Harbor Hill Players. Funds will support an outdoor pageant, featuring large- and small-scale puppets and live music, celebrating the summer solstice.
Gunflint Trail Historical Society. The funding will allow the association to hire an artist in residence.
Congratulations to all!
Artists at Work:
Color Studies by Mary Beams.
Raku vessel by Richard Gruchalla and Carin Rosetti. They have work at the Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis. The artists live in Duluth. They also have work at Sivertson Gallery.
Liz O’Brien is exploring Shibori dyeing at North House Folk School. She is a resident artisan there.
Inktober Days 21-26 by Bryan Hansel.
Adam Swanson, “Here’s a bunch of night sky paintings destined for my co-exhibit with cranesuperior at Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery in Grand Marais.” The opening reception is Nov. 17.
Soon the bears will be asleep and I can put suet out for the woodpeckers, acrylic on wood panel, from Birds Out My Window by Betsy Bowen, out in 2024.
Cartoon by Shane Balkowitsch.
Dignity of Earth and Sky in Chamberlin, SD. Photo by Travis Novitsky.
Teotihuacan, photograph by Brigette Binesikwe Nies.
Online Findings:
Here’s an out-of-the-box one or maybe we should say out-of-the-flour sack.
How much flour would it take to turn Lake Superior into a loaf of bread? Read about it here.
Online Music:
Live Music:
Thursday, Nov 2:
- Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6-8 pm
Friday, Nov 3:
- Live Music, Bluefin Grill, 8-10 pm
- Dre AKA Jamaican, Up Yonder, 9-11:55 pm
Saturday, Nov 4:
- DJ Bryan Kelly, Up Yonder, 9-11:55 pm
Tuesday, Nov 7:
- Eric Frost, North Shore Winery, 4:30-6:30 pm
- Open Mic Hosted by Pete K, Up Yonder, 6-9 pm
- Old Time Music Jam, Log Cabin in Grand Marais, 7-9:30 pm
Thursday, Nov 9:
- Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6-8 pm
Friday, Nov 10:
- Glensheen – The Musical, Arrowhead Center for the Arts, 7 pm
- Live Music, Bluefin Grill, 8-10 pm
Saturday, Nov 11:
- Glensheen – The Musical, Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Noon
- Tesla Quartet, Arrowhead Center for the Arts, 7 pm
- The Honest Heart Collective, Up Yonder, 8-11 pm
Photographs:
Here is a selection of the photos we found this week:
Wildlife:
Formation flying by Michael Furtman.
Today I got my bull by Hayes Scriven.
A Kingfisher gets a meal by birdsonearth.
Good Morning, Tuesday by Sarah Hamilton.
She really wanted to say Hi to the trail camera by Jamie Rabold.
The biggest bat I ever saw in Hovland by Sandra Updyke.
Ruffed Grouse by Paul Sundberg.
Love you, Mom by birdsonearth.
Grey Wolf by Paul Sundberg.
Potpourri:
Rufus’ slink-eyed look by Musa Abdel-Rahman.
I love when nature wears her heart on her sleeve by David Gilsvik.
Picked all the peppers before the big freeze. Serrano, jalapeno, hot banana peppers, Anaheim, sriracha, habanero, and poblano. The kitchen is going to be on fire by Deb Bennett.
Egg Variations by Abra Fries.
Perfection by Joan Farnam.
Untitled by Tom Healy.
Cheesecake for breakfast. My Halloween treat by Don Davison.
Inside the Unfinished Chapels in Portugal, the colors beaming through the stained glass windows cast a soothing splash of light on the ancient pillars by Layne Kennedy.
Landscapes, Skyscapes, Woodscapes & Waterscapes:
Fall chop by Sierra Parsons.
It snowed in Missoula last week by Kathy Vanderwall.
Winter is coming by Thomas Spence.
Hunter’s Moon by Chuck Olsen.
Sun and Shadow by Bryan Hansel.
After a rain by Thomas Spence.
Fall’s Fallen by Don Davison.
First snow at the farm by Betsy Bowen.
Tettegouche was quiet, beautiful and exactly what I needed today by James Joerke.
Fall announcement by Mark Tessier.
Frozen marshes in the Superior National Forest by Chuck Olsen.
Many moods by Lin Salisbury.
The trees lose their leaves but the forest floor keeps producing color by Kim Nelson.
What an elegant cape for a tree in transition by Judy Gray.
And finally, this one:
Leaf removal helper by David Johnson.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
And Thank You! for your generous support last week. It is so appreciated.
We’d love to have your support, too. It really makes a difference. You can make a one-time contribution or decide to become an ArtScene sustainer with an automatic donation each month in the amount that is affordable for you. Just click on the button below. And Thank You again!
Here are the people who help make this blog possible: Jeremy Lopez, Live Music Schedule, proofreading and technical advice; Yvonne Mills, proofreading expert and Kari Carter, photo captions and research.
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