≡ Menu

Above & Below

Below Palisade Head by Christian Dalbec.

Below Palisade Head by Christian Dalbec.

Greetings from the North Shore, where water is the topic this week — it rained! The wind also went a little crazy with gusts up to 50 mph on the shore.

On a good day for surfing by Christian Dalbec.

On a good day for surfing by Christian Dalbec.

We’re good today, though, and we’re looking forward to finding out what has been waiting for these first rains to pop up and say, Hello Spring!

We’re also beginning to anticipate the summer season and artists are definitely in their studios this month. (See Artists at Work, below.)

Meanwhile, art-making continues in town, too.

This week, participants in Art Night will experiment with folding paper or origami at Joy and Company.

Origami will be featured in this week's Art Night at Joy and Company.

Origami will be featured in this week’s Art Night at Joy and Company.

With so much paper in the shop’s collection, the options for origami possibilities are endless. Joy and Company will hold a few tutorials during the sessions to help participants create beautiful paper folds. Thursday activities and art demonstrations are from 3:30-5 pm.  Art Night is free, with a suggested $5 donation. Note: Art Night demos will be paused at the end of the month and resume again in the fall. The last session will be Thursday, April 26.

This Thursday night is also Third Thursday Jazz at Up Yonder with the North Shore Swing Band.

The North Shore Swing Band will perform at Clearwater Historic Lodge on Saturday from6-9 pm.

The North Shore Swing Band will perform at Up Yonder from 7-9 pm on Thursday.

The band plays a great selection of jazz standards and danceable music. Open to all. Free.

Saturday is the Earth Day Fair, which will be held at ISD 166 this year. It is hosted by the Cook County Local Energy Project and features an Electric Vehicle Meet Up, a Speaker Series, interactive stations, games, activities, local food, goods, and more.

The Earth Day Fair is this Saturday from 11 am to 3 pm at ISD 166.

The Earth Day Fair is this Saturday from 11 am to 3:30 pm at ISD 166.

This family-friendly event has something for everyone. Play games and activities with family and friends! Learn about e-bikes, hybrid and electric vehicles. Tune in to the great lineup of presentations for the Speaker Series. Indulge in delicious local food from Crosby Bakery, Shook, and the Crooked Spoon. Stroll along the varsity gym to check out all of the Earth Day Fair Exhibitors.

The speakers include everyone from the Soil and Water Conservation District to the buffalo herd manager at Grand Portage, to name a few. To find out more about the Speaker Series and the event, click here. The Earth Day Fair is free. Open to all.

Potter Brett Monahan, who is the ceramics studio manager at the Grand Marais Art Colony, will give pottery-throwing demonstrations from 10 am to 1 pm on Saturday in the ceramics studio.

Brett Monahan, the ceramics studio manager at the Art Colony, will give throwing demonstrations on Saturday.

Brett Monahan, the ceramics studio manager at the Art Colony, will give demonstrations on Saturday at the Art Colony from 10 am to 1 pm.

He will throw tall pots, large platters and bowls, bottles, and jugs, to name a few. Tickets are $25. Free to current students, cohort, and punch card members. Tickets can be purchased here. Open to all.

Later on Saturday, the Grand Marais Film Society will screen two films at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts.

The Grand Marais Film Society will screen two films at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on Saturday. One at 4 pm, one at 7 pm.

The Grand Marais Film Society will screen two films at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on Saturday, one at 4 pm and one at 7 pm. Tickets are $6.

The 4 pm screening is a family film about the robot apocalypse – that promises a lot of laughs, adventure, and a dysfunctional family trying their best to save the world. Thanks to Carol Winter and Kirk Dornfeld for their support!
The 7 pm screening is hosted in partnership with the Cook County Pride Committee. The film won Best Picture and Best Actor in 2016 and is an intimate portrait of a young man’s life in three chapters. This film is sponsored by the Angry Trout Cafe.

The public is invited. Tickets are $6 and can be purchased online or at the door.

Also on Saturday, in Minneapolis, Hovland artists Lee and Dan Ross open an exhibit at the Groveland Gallery.

The title of the show is “Breakwall,” and the artists explore the experience of walking on the breakwall in the GrandMarais Harbor, noting human and natural forces and the history that shaped the place.

Passage through ice”,monoprint, by Lee and Dan Ross They open an exhibit at the Groveland Gallery on Saturday.

Passage through Ice, monoprint, by Lee and Dan Ross They open an exhibit at the Groveland Gallery on Saturday.

The opening reception is from 2-5 pm on April 20. The exhibit continues through May 25. The gallery is located at 25 Groveland Terrace in Minneapolis.

There will be an art opening and reception at North Shore Health from 4-6 pm on Monday featuring work by local artists exhibiting new work at the facility.

North Shore Health will hold a reception for its local artists exhibit on April 22.

North Shore Health will hold a reception for its local artists exhibit on April 22.

The exhibits in the lobby of the hospital as well as in the corridors feature a wide variety of artwork including photographs, paintings, prints, fiber art, and glass. The artists include Gary Arrands, Marie Zhuikov, Scott Murphy, Amy Lukas, Joe Gunderson, Carol Morgen, Ladona Tornabene, Jason Yahoos, Annette Cozzi, Terry Lewis, and Todd Ford. Artwork in the space also includes works from the North Shore Health collection, including an early painting by Hazel Belvo.

The public is invited to the reception.

In Duluth, cartoonist Maelo Cruz is opening an exhibit in the atrium at the Zeitgeist Cafe with a reception from 4-6 pm on Tuesday, April 23.

Cartoonist Maelo Cruz is opening an exhibit at Zeitgeist Arts in Duluth on Tuesday.

Cartoonist Maelo Cruz at work. He is opening an exhibit at Zeitgeist Arts in Duluth on Tuesday.

Cartoon by Maelo Cruz.

Cartoon by Maelo Cruz.

The exhibit continues through mid-May.

Exhibits:

 The Birney Quick Legacy Exhibit continues at the Johnson Heritage Post through Sunday, April 21.

The Allegory of the Judgement of Time, the center portion of a trytich by BirneyQuick is on view at the Johnson Heritage Post through April 21.

The Allegory of the Judgement of Time, the center portion of a triptych by Birney Quick, is on view at the Johnson Heritage Post through April 21.

The exhibit features oil and watercolor paintings as well as drawings and prints. Some items are for sale.

The Heritage Post is open from 10 am to 4 pm Wednesdays through Saturdays and 1-4 pm Sundays. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Free.

The Tweed Museum of Art is exhibiting “Then and Now: Ojibway Basketry.”

Birch Bark Scraped Picture Collage.

Birch Bark Scraped Picture Collage is on view at the Tweed.

The Fond du Lac Reservation community has been fortunate to have the insight to sponsor unique art projects for the community. Community is built through art projects and traditional art forms which are kept alive. This exchange of ideas and skills contributes to a thriving creative community. The traditional art forms continue to be passed down to the next generations.

The exhibit includes several other items. To read more, click here.

Also in Duluth, Lizzard’s Gallery in Duluth is exhibiting works from the Lake Superior Watercolor Society.

Members of the Lake Superior Watercolor Society are exhibiting work at Lizzards Gallery in Duluth.

Members of the Lake Superior Watercolor Society are exhibiting work at Lizzards Gallery in Duluth.

Lizzard’s Gallery is located at 11 W. Superior St. in Duluth.

In Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery is featuring two student exhibits by art students at Lakehead University.

The Lakehead University Student Exhibitions continue through April 28 at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.

The Lakehead University Student Exhibitions continue through April 28 at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.

The exhibits include a juried exhibit and an honors student exhibit. It continues through April 28.

Artists at Work:

Fused glass vases -- Moody Lake Superior and Boundary Waters by Jeri Persons.

Fused glass vases — Moody Lake Superior and Boundary Waters by Jeri Persons.

Floating Spring, oil on panel, by Greg Lecker.

Floating Spring, oil on panel, by Greg Lecker.

Painting the details by Charlotte Durie.

It’s the details by Charlotte Durie.

In process, First Green, oil pastel, by Marti Mullen.

In the process, First Green, oil pastel, by Marti Mullen.

2024 and the color orange by Mary Beams.

2024 and the color orange by Mary Beams.

Color Me Crazy, acrylic, by Jim Boutin is currently on view at Sivertson Gallery.

Color Me Crazy, acrylic, by Jim Boutin, is currently on view at Sivertson Gallery.

Adam Swanson loosening up a painting by scattering random drips of watery colors. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Adam Swanson loosens up a painting by scattering random drips of watery colors. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Lady Moccasin Woman, in progress by Robert DesJarlait.

Lady Moccasin Woman, in progress by Robert DesJarlait.

The Trapper's Daughter & The Safe Passage (a detail) by Kenspeckle Letterpress.

The Trapper’s Daughter & The Safe Passage (a detail) by Kenspeckle Letterpress.

Color Study, Topsail Beach by Kim Dayton.

Color Study, Topsail Beach by Kim Dayton.

Untitled by Andy Ness.

Untitled by Andy Ness.

Online Findings:

Q & A with Sterling Elliott

Sterling Elliot, cello. Minnesota Orchestra.

Sterling Elliott, cello, will have a guest appearance with the Minnesota Orchestra. He is 24.

2021 Avery Fisher Career Grant-winner Sterling Elliott has already appeared as a soloist with some of the world’s greatest: the Philadelphia Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Detroit Symphony and the Dallas Symphony, to name just a few. A recipient of the 2024 Sphinx Medal of Excellence and a cellist who is in demand as both a soloist and pedagogue, Elliott is only 24 years old—and this month, he makes his debut with us at Orchestra Hall. To read the interview, click here.

  The Movement to Remove Renoir from Museums

Au moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Au moulin de la Galette. Photo courtesy of the Musée d'Orsay, Paris.

“Au moulin de la Galette,” 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. There is an international movement to remove his works from museums. Read about it here.

Passenger train routes in Euope vs the Us, Courtesy of The Sound of Train.

Passenger train routes in Europe vs the US, Courtesy of The Sound of Train.

Cook County resident Aliya Marxen serves  up delicious meals and deep dives into food history with her publication, “Table for One.”

Alya Marxen produces Table for One quarterly.

Aliya Marxen produces the Table for One quarterly. Read about it here and here.

An old Gary Larson.

An old Gary Larson.

Online Music:

Live Music:

Thursday, Apr 18:

  • Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6-8 pm
  • North Shore Swing Band, Up Yonder, 7-9 pm
  • Open Old Time Appalachian Music Jam, Community Center, 7-9:30 pm

Saturday, Apr 20:

  • Unity DJ, Up Yonder, 8-11 pm

Tuesday, Apr 23:

  • Eric Frost, North Shore Winery, 4:30-6:30 pm
  • Open Stage, Up Yonder, 6-9 pm

Thursday, Apr 25:

  • Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6-8 pm

Saturday, Apr 27:

  • Zulu Link, Up Yonder, 7-11 pm

Photographs:

Here’s a selection of photographs we found this week:

Wildlife:

The world’s oldest loon pair returns to the Seney, Mich. Wildlife Refuge

ABJ, with his broken upper mandible, and his mate, Fe, the oldest documented loons in the world, return to Seney National Wildlife Refuge.

ABJ, with his broken upper mandible, and his mate, Fe, are the oldest documented loons in the world. They have returned to Seney National Wildlife Refuge. Read about it here.

Spring wolf pack, three of six by Thomas Spence.

Spring wolf pack, three of six by Thomas Spence.

Frank, the Grouse by Jack Willis.

Frank, the Grouse by Jack Willis.

Western Meadowlark by John Heino.

Western Meadowlark by John Heino.

I love living on a planet with so many creatures by Ritalee Walters.

I love living on a planet with so many creatures by Ritalee Walters.

30 pound Lake Trout, courtesy of Dan Helmerson.

30-pound Lake Trout from the old days, courtesy of Dan Helmerson.

A Swan parade by Roxanne Distad.

A Swan parade by Roxanne Distad.

Sunrise spruce roost by Thomas Spence.

Sunrise spruce roost by Thomas Spence.

Weekend Spruce Grouse Action by Thomas Spence.

Weekend Spruce Grouse Action by Thomas Spence.

Proud Ruffed Grouse by Travis Novitsky.

Proud Ruffed Grouse by Travis Novitsky.

The white raven in Anchorage Alaska by Maya Heubner.

The white raven in Anchorage Alaska by Maya Heubner.

The first butterflies are appearing in the north! A green comma, I think by Chuck Olsen.

The first butterflies are appearing in the north! A green comma, I think by Chuck Olsen.

Green-winged Teal pair by Michael Furtman.

Green-winged Teal pair by Michael Furtman.

Pigeons, domesticated by humans, used as messengers and then the telephone was invented. Photo courtesy of Scott Brandt.

Pigeons, domesticated by humans, were used as messengers and then the telephone was invented. Photo courtesy of Scott Brandt.

Potpourri:

Key Lime Pie to live for by Mary Lou Williams.

Key Lime Pie to live for by Mary Lou Williams.

Bidding the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis a farewell by Nathan Klok.

Bidding the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis a two-year farewell by Nathan Klok.

Daughtry by Christian Dalbec.

Daughtry by Christian Dalbec.

Any landing you can walk away from by Terry Backlund.

Any landing you can walk away from by Terry Backlund.

The biggest agate I ever found by Mary Lou Wiliams.

The biggest agate I ever found by Mary Lou Wiliams.

Everybody is about 1000 times happier today by Montana Percore.

Everybody is about 1,000 times happier today by Montana Percore.

The tops of the sugar maples are really gorgeous right now by Sandra Updyke.

The tops of the sugar maples are really gorgeous right now by Sandra Updyke.

One of my favorite stops on the shore by Stephan Janasie.

One of my favorite stops on the shore by Stephan Janasie.

Spring is here. Netting herring by Debbie Benedict.

Spring is here. Netting herring by Debbie Benedict.

Landscapes, Waterscapes, Wavescapes and Sunscapes:

The Cloquet River by Sherry Philips in Brimson.

The Cloquet River in Spring by Sherry Philips in Brimson.

Tropical Lake Superior by Chuck Olsen.

Tropical Lake Superior by Chuck Olsen.

Gentle sunrise by Bryan Hansel.

Gentle sunrise by Bryan Hansel.

April 11 by Jamie Rex.

April 11 by Jamie Rex.

Golden-crowned kinglet chirping above the rush of water below by Holly Lamond.

Golden-crowned kinglet chirping above the rush of water below by Holly Lamond.

Spring has arrived. Photo courtesy of Joy and Company.

Spring has arrived. Photo courtesy of Joy and Company.

A sunrise near Grand Marais by Bryan Hansel.

A sunrise near Grand Marais by Bryan Hansel.

Spring on the harbor by Teresa Chmelik.

Harbor moods by Teresa Chmelik.

After Sunday's pancakes, I went to the woods by Ted Shearts.

After Sunday’s pancakes, I went to the woods by Ted Shearts.

The Milky Way by Bryan Hansel.

The Milky Way by Bryan Hansel.

There were some intense pinks this morning by Sandra Updyke.

There were some intense pinks this morning by Sandra Updyke.

The Big Lake by Ron Benson.

The Big Lake by Ron Benson.

Full Spectrum by Christian Dalbec.

Full Spectrum by Christian Dalbec.

The Milky Way over Lake Superior by Nicholas Narog.

The Milky Way over Lake Superior by Nicholas Narog.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Hope you enjoyed ArtScene this week.

It was fun to put together, for sure. If you’d like to donate to this effort to keep you informed, entertained, and, sometimes amused, you can contribute by clicking on the icon below.

Thank you!

P.S. Jeremy Lopez, Yvonne Mills, and Kari Carter are the three people who help make this all possible every week. A donation is a Thank You to them, too.

 

{ 2 comments… add one }

  • David MacLean April 18, 2024, 9:35 am

    Hi, Wonderful photos and art work as always. However, the butterfly photographed by Chuck Olsen is a Compton’s Tortoiseshell not a Green Comma.

  • Holly April 18, 2024, 9:51 am

    Please donate to this wonderful resource! It’s my favorite email to get and keeps me up on all the fab activities on the north shore and beyond. If you are getting attention because your work is promoted here – consider it an advertising expense. And share it widely! Thank you Joan and crew for all the hard work you do!!!

Leave a Comment