The Breakwall at Dawn by Marie Zhuikov.
Greetings from the North Shore, where we celebrate mundane things like rain, open waters, blue skies, and the wonders of Lake Superior in all her moods.
We honor our beautiful harbor with its ancient rock formations.
Reflections of ancient volcanism in the Grand Marais Harbor by Layne Kennedy.
On the lake side of the breakwall by Kristofer Bowman.
And we honor the breakwall and the lighthouse, which protects us from storms and connects us to our history.
A Lake Superior Storm. File photo by Paul Sundberg.
We also honor the artists who are inspired by this beautiful place.
“Through the Breakwall,” monoprint, by Lee and Dan Ross. They are currently exhibiting a series of monoprints at the Groveland Gallery in Minneapolis entitled “Breakwall.”
Meanwhile, artists and artisans are invited to try their hand at painting during Art Night at Joy and Company this week.
It’s Free Paint Night at Joy and Company this week.
Participants will be able to use the painting supplies and see brief demonstrations before starting their work. Art Night is held from 3:30 to 5 pm and is open to all. It is free, with a suggested $5 donation.
Also on Thursday night, Cook County Trivia will be held at Up Yonder from 6-8 pm.
Trivia Night at Up Yonder, 6-8 pm.
This is bar-type trivia with lots of great questions, including queries about Cook County History. It is sponsored by the Cook County Historical Society and is free. Open to all.
On Saturday, the last Winter Market of the season will be held at The Hub from 10 am to 4 pm. The market features a great selection of work by local artists and artisans including paintings, woodworking, fiber art, prints, and more.
The last Winter Market of the season will be held at the Hub on May 4.
Charcuterie Board by Walter Johnson. He will have his work at the Winter Market.
Birds, hand-dyed cotton, embroidery by Kim Knutson, Jezibel Bleu Fiber: Textile Studio. She is one of the artists who will be exhibiting at The Hub on Saturday.
Also on Saturday, there will be a free tree giveaway at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
A seedling tree giveaway is at Bethlehem Lutheran Church on May 4.
Fiber artists are invited to work on their projects at Dappled Fern Fiber during the Fiber Circle, which is held from 10 am to noon on Saturday.
Crafters take advantage of the the Fiber Circle at Dappled Fern Fibers every Saturday from 10 am to noon.
White Pine Lodge will hold a Kentucky Derby Party at the lodge starting at 2:30 pm on Saturday.
A Kentucky Derby Party will be held at White Pine Lodge on Saturday.
The public is invited to enjoy this national horse-racing event with perks. Tickets are $20. Participants are invited to dress for the occasion.
And on Saturday at 6 pm, Drury Lane Books will host a book launch for Grand Marais author and journalist, Joe Friedrich‘s latest book, “Last Entry Point.” Hypothermia, lightning strikes, high winds, medical emergencies—all can befall unsuspecting visitors to canoe country.
Grand Marais author and journalist Joe Friedrichs will be at Drury Lane Books on Saturday for the book launch of his book, “Last Entry Point.”
Joe Friedrichs.
Friedrichs provides true stories of life and death in the Boundary Waters of Northern Minnesota. He co-founded the award-winning Boundary Waters Podcast and is the author of “Her Island: The Story of Quetico’s Longest Serving Interior Ranger.” He lives near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
The bookstore invites the public for an evening celebration of the release of Joe Friedrich’s book. Mellow live music, congratulatory treats, and good conversation all around will be featured. Meet the author, have your book signed, and hear survival stories from the Boundary Waters. The event is free and open to the public and is mobility aid accessible.
On Tuesday, May 7, join mushers Erin Altemus and Anna Hennessy as they recount their rookie runs on the 1,000-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska. The presentation will be held at North House Folk School at 7 pm.
Mushers Erin Altemus and Anna Hennessy will talk about their experiences running the Iditarod Sled Dog Race at North House Folk School on Tuesday.
In this presentation, Erin and Anna will share stories and photos from the March 2024 race, including the adventures, challenges, and memories from the trail. The public is invited. Free.
And, if you’re going to be in Duluth, the Homegrown Music Festival will be on at venues across the city and Superior, Wis., through Sunday.
The Duluth Homegrown Music Festival is held in venues across the city and in Superior, Wis., through May 5. Check out the music schedule here.
Now in its 26th year, the festival was started in 1999, with a few bands playing at one venue. Over the years, it has grown to become a major event in Duluth, featuring performances by more than 50 bands in a variety of venues. There’s a great blow-by-blow history of the Duluth music scene from 1999 to the present here.
Exhibits:
The exhibit, Species of Special Concern, featuring drawings by Tanya Piatz continues at the Johnson Heritage Post.
Connecticut Warbler by Tanya Piatz is one of the drawings on exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post.
Piatz is a self-taught artist who focuses on raising awareness for habitat conservation, and how the habitat directly impacts the diversity of species found in the environment. She does this by illustrating birds that we see every day, as well as lesser-known species, that are found on Minnesota’s DNR’s Species of Special Concern list. The exhibit continues through May 19.
The Heritage Post is open from 10 am to 4 pm Wednesday through Saturday and from 1-4 pm Sunday. It is closed on Monday and Tuesday. Free.
In Duluth, the Lake Superior Watercolor Society is exhibiting work at Lizzard’s Gallery.
Members of the Lake Superior Watercolor Society are exhibiting work at Lizzards Gallery in Duluth.
The exhibit continues through May.
In Thunder Bay, a new exhibit entitled, “People of the Eyes” opens at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery on Friday.
Sam Ash opens an exhibit at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery on May 3.
“People of the eyes” is a phrase of identity and pride in the deaf community. These words describe a group of people who take in information visually, and who do not hear or speak. This exhibition borrows this phrase as its title because Woodland painter Sam Ash (1951-2021) was a deaf artist, and these words speak so vividly to his work. The exhibition includes a new suite of his paintings on view for the first time. The exhibit continues through June 16.
“Then & Now: Ojibway Cultural Traditions,” an exhibit currently on view at the Tweed Museum of Art, explores the cultural traditions of the Ojibway people on the Fond du Lac Reservation. Discover how their artistic techniques have been preserved and transformed in today’s world in this exhibit.
The exhibit Then & Now is currently on view at the Tweed Museum of Art.
The Fond du Lac 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. Read about the exhibit here.
Kudos:
Painter Martin DeWitt will be awarded the Lifetime Artist Award by the Depot Foundation this week. He served as the director of the Tweed Museum of Art for many years as well as taught at UMD. His work has been seen at art shows throughout the region and the US as well as internationally. He continues to create new work in his studio.
The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council has awarded a number of grants in this grant cycle.
The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council announces grant awards.
Local artists and organizations who received grants include potter, Ann Ward, Artist Access Grant, to prepare for the Hovland Arts Festival in July, and Art Along the Lake Fall Studio Tour, Rural & Community Art Project Grant, to support expanded outreach efforts to grow participation in the Fall Studio Tour. To find out more, click here.
Upcoming:
The Cook County YMCA will present Sunny Day: Spring Dance Performances May 9-11 at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts.
Sunny Day, the YMCA spring dance performance will be at the ACA May 9-11.
This is the 8th year for the popular, annual event. The dance program is filled with dancers ages 3 and up performing ballet, tap, hip-hop, and jazz styles.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for youth. For tickets, click here.
The Grand Marais Ole Opry VII will be at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on May 18. The showcase offers a lively mix of classic country, old-time, and bluegrass music.
Honky-Tonk Jump is one of the bands performing at the Grand Marais Opry VII on May 18.
This year’s Opry features headliners Honky-Tonk Jump, playing Texas dance hall music in the tradition of Bob Wills, Milton Brown, Ernest Tubb, and Spade Cooley, with a sprinkling of Hank Williams and other early honky-tonk legends.
The duo Dusty Heart (Barbara Jean Meyers and Molly Dean) opens the show, combining rich vocal harmonies with intimate layers of guitar, fiddle, and banjo. Rounding out the evening are local talents, guitarist Mark Zierath, and Bump and Grace Blomberg.
Tickets are $18 for general admission. Tickets are available at the door and by clicking here.
The Cook County Market opens for the season in the parking lot of The Hub at 10 am Saturday, May 25.
The Cook County Market opens for the season on Saturday, May 25 in the parking lot of The Hub.
The market, which is held every Saturday from Memorial Day Weekend to MEA Weekend, is open from 10 am to 2 pm. Look for a wide variety of arts and crafts from local vendors including paintings, weaving, pottery, balms, leather working, rock lamps, jewelry, and more. Stay tuned.
On Sunday, May 26, the annual Run Smelt Run Puppet Parade will be held in Duluth.
The Run Smelt Run Parade will be held on the Lakewalk in Duluth on May 26.
Look for great puppets, a brass band, and lots of laughter and fun. Everyone is encouraged to wear silver. The parade ends at the Zeitgeist Cafe for a smelt fry. Stay tuned.
Artists at Work:
The Mug, by Jonathan Walburg, Lake Superior Pottery.
Cedars on the Shore, charcoal, by Charlotte Durie.
Spring flow by Sandi Pillsbury.
“For me, the camera is a sketch book, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity” – Henri Cartier-Bresson. Photo by Layne Kennedy.
I dunno – I just had the craving to make confetti so I gave myself a little party by Mary Beams.
Corbin Adams is now making maps. Photo by Siffy Torkildson.
Joan Farnam works on a mug decoration in the new pottery studio in Betsy Bowen’s studio building. Ann Ward and Bob Yamanaha are also part of the studio, which they are calling The Northern Lights Pottery Group. Photo by Charlotte Durie.
Online Music:
Live Music:
Thursday, May 2:
- Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6-8 pm
- Open Old Time Appalachian Music Jam, Community Center, 7-9:30 pm
Saturday, May 4:
- “Katieoke” AKA Karaoke hosted by Katie Slanga, Up Yonder, 8-11:59 pm
Monday, May 6:
- Shane Martin, Bluefin Grille, 8-10 pm
Tuesday, May 7:
- Eric Frost, North Shore Winery, 4:30-6:30 pm
- Open Stage, Up Yonder, 6-9 pm
Thursday, May 9:
- Fred Anderson and Ben Obinger, North Shore Winery, 6-8 pm
Photographs:
Here’s a selection of photographs we found this week:
Wildlife:
Here’s another Sparky Stensaas video in the Sx-Zim Bog.
That time of year by David Johnson. (File photo.)
Unwanted company by Katie Mumm.
Ruffed Grouse drumming by Michael Furtman.
Northern Flicker by Chuck Olsen.
A Kingfisher having a little snack by David Johnson.
Glam shot sunrise and a Red Fox by Chuck Olsen.
Woodland ducks by David Johnson.
King and Queen of the Prairie marsh, Canvasback Ducks, by Michael Furtman.
‘Whiffling’ is a maneuver where geese seem to be flying upside down. They roll their bodies upside down and twist their neck to keep their head the right way up. Flying like this lets them rapidly lose speed and height for a fast landing. Photograph by Vincent Cornelissen.
Hungarian Sheep Pig on Orkney in Scotland by Jim Boyd.
Spotted Eagle Stingrays & Sea Turtle in the Galapagos by Layne Kennedy.
I guess I’m not the only one who seeks Buddha’s counsel. Taken April 27 by Gail Murton.
Woodies enjoying a rest break by David Johnson.
White Pelican by Beth McClain.
The Second Sign of Spring by Diana Hatchitt.
Potpourri
A Wood Dragon. Photo by Narcy Haarmeyer.
Beautiful blue glass from a broken insulator found in an alley by Roberta Ann Sorenson.
A welcome to spring by Michele Miller.
I have taken flight. Yep, that’s the Pacific. So grateful. Photo by Betsy Warren.
Indian Pipe grows in dark forests and is related to the blueberry plant. Picture courtesy of Picture of the Day.
Landscapes, More Moonscapes, Waterscapes & Skyscapes:
Moonrise over the Baptism River by Judy Gray.
Under the surface of Lake Superior by Christian Dalbec.
April Full Moon by Paul Sundberg.
Moments like this by Ed McGinty.
Full Pink by Christian Dalbec.
Clouds with stories by Mike Wiggins, Jr.
Night–Grand Marais Harbor by Tom Healy.
The Duluth Lift Bridge has seen it all by Judy Gray.
The full pink moon rising out of Lake Superior by David Johnson.
Bare bones beauty by Ron Benson.
Happy SUNday by Bryan Hansel.
The Full Moon at Blue Hour by Sandra Updyke.
Full Pink Moon by Bryan Hansel.
Reflection of Sundays by Roxanne Distad.
Gooseberry by Nathan Klok.
Enjoy your weekend, everyone!
As you can probably tell, it takes a lot of work and time to put NorthShore ArtScene together every week. Your support is needed and so appreciated. Please consider contributing today.
Just click on the icon below, and thank you.
And not to forget these three wonderful people who helped make this blog what it is: Jeremy Lopez (Live Music Schedule, technical advice), Yvonne Mills (proofreading), and Kari Carter (caption editing and research.) Your contributions thank them, too.
{ 0 comments… add one }