Marsh Marigolds — It’s that time of the season by David Johnson.
Greetings from the North Shore, where we welcome summer. We happily welcomed the baby squirrels frolicking around the yard, while Mama Robins flit about, calling out alarms to their fledglings. Raven youngsters are out and about, too, constantly calling their parents with pleading cries: Feed Me! Feed me!
In the woods, fiddleheads are popping up, and deer and moose babies are making their appearance snuggled against their mothers. And there have been reports of blueberry blooms on the Gunflint Trail, promising a good harvest if the rains keep up.
Art creation and the art harvest continue, for sure.
First up is Thursday’s Art Night at Joy and Company which has changed slightly for the summer. For the entire month of June, it is White Box Art Night. Participants are invited to grab a box, discover what is inside and create from that.
In June, it’s White Box Art Night at Joy and Company. What’s inside?
The box will contain supplies to make something fun. The event is open to all and is from 3:30-5 pm. It is free, with a $5 suggested donation.
Also on Thursday, a Paint and Sip event will be held in the Surfside Ballroom at Waves of Superior from 5-7 pm. It is one of several which will be held this summer.
Joe Gendeck will be the instructor for Surfside’s Paint and Sip on Thursday.
All supplies, including acrylic paints and a canvas as well as a complimentary flight of wine tastings (with more available for purchase), are provided. The cost is $40. To sign up and learn more, click here.
Also on Thursday, Cook County Trivia, hosted by the Cook County Historical Society will be held at Up Yonder from 6-8 pm.
Trivia Night at Up Yonder is from 6-8 pm on Thursday.
This is a bar-type Trivia with lots of questions, some about Cook County history. Open to all. Free. Prizes.
On Friday, there are lots of live music performances, as well as throughout the weekend. Check the Live Music Schedule below.
Also throughout the weekend, Historic Cook County invites the public to tour St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, known locally as the Chippewa City Church, every summer weekend, Friday through Sunday, from noon to 2 pm.
The interior of the Chippewa City Church. The church is open to the public from noon to 2 pm Friday through Sunday throughout the summer. Free.
Located on the outskirts of Grand Marais, just east of town, Chippewa City Church is one of the last physical remnants of a once vibrant Ojibwe community. The structure is a beautiful reminder of a thriving village that was home to more than 100 families in the 1880s and 1890s. Famous artist, George Morrison, was born and raised here. The descendants of Chippewa City residents continue to honor their heritage and support the Historical Society in sharing the story of this village. The tour is free.
Saturday opens with the Cook County Market, which is held in the parking lot of The Hub from 10 am to 2 pm.
The Cook County Market is held in the parking lot of The Hub from 10 am to 2 pm through MEA Weekend in October.
The market features a wide variety of arts and crafts made by local residents. Look for pottery, paintings, weaving, knitwear, leatherwork, native stones, jewelry, rock lamps and more.
Also on Saturday, painter Donna Bruni will give a painting demo at Studio 21 from 10-11 am.
Artist Donna Bruni will give an Artist Talk at Studio 21 on Saturday from 10-11 am. The title of her presentation is “Abstraction from Nature.”
Donna Bruni will give a painting demo at Studio 21 on Saturday.
Bruni is an oil painter who uses broad, intricately layered planes of color to create a sense of place within the canvas surface. She will demonstrate a series of warm-up exercises, moving from realism to abstraction.
The demonstration is free and open to the public.
Author Tove Conway and illustrator Kari Vick will be at Drury Lane Books from 11 am to 1 pm on Saturday. Their children’s book “Northern Sights” is all about curiosity and adventuring in the boreal forest of the North Shore.
Author Tove Conway and illustrator Kari Vick will be at Drury Lane Books on Saturday.
The public is invited to have their book signed and share their favorite Northwoods memories.
On Saturday evening, Drury Lane Books will host an Author Talk with Travis Zimmerman and Sam Zimmerman from 6-7 pm at the bookstore. They will discuss their book, “How the Birds Got Their Songs,” with illustrations by Sam Zimmerman,
Travis Zimmerman and Sam Zimmerman wil give an Author Talk at Drury Lane Books on Saturday at 6 pm.
This treasured story handed down through the Zimmerman family, features traditional knowledge from the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.
Zimmerman’s vibrant illustrations showcase his deep love and respect for feathered creatures. And Marcus Ammesmaki’s Ojibwemowin text brings the story full circle, encouraging language learners to explore this age-old depiction of our natural world—and inviting all readers to cherish the gift of birdsong.
Travis Zimmerman is the site manager at the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post. Sam Zimmerman/Zhaawanoogiizhik creates paintings in his Duluth studio and shares them @CraneSuperior. Marcus Ammesmaki/Aanikanootaagewin teaches at Waadookodaading Ojibwe Language Institute in Hayward, Wis.
The public is invited. Free.
In Duluth, the Lake Superior Ceramics Guild will exhibit a collection of handmade planters at the League of Women Voters annual Plant and Book Sale at the Mount Royal Market.
The Lake Superior Ceramics Guild will have a great collection of plants at a plant and book sale at the Mount Royal Market in Duluth on Saturday.
The sale is from 9 am to 2 pm. The public is invited.
On Sunday, the Grand Marais Writer’s Guild will meet via Zoom from 2-3:30 pm.
The Grand Marais Writer’s Guild meets every month. The next meeting is on Sunday, June 9, via Zoom.
On the last/second-to-last Monday of each month, writers get together to chat about what they are up to and to do a few writing prompts, usually facilitated by Rose Arrowsmith.
The event is free and open to all writers. To find out more and to get the Zoom link, email Arrowsmith at arrowsmith.mn@gmail.com
On Wednesday, June 12, the Art Colony will host an Artist Talk focused on the use of color in painting with David Feinberg from 5-6 pm at Studio 21. The title of his talk is “No Need to Fear Color with the Help of Georgia O’Keeffe.”
Roll of the Dice, multimedia by David Feinberg.
David Feinberg will give an artist talk at Studio 21 on Wednesday.
Ongoing:
The Puppet Workshops to make puppets for the upcoming Summer Solstice Pageant continue. The pageant will be held at North House Folk School on June 22 at 8 pm. Meanwhile, there’s lots of fun, creative work to be done to make puppets for this popular event.
Help make puppets for the upcoming Solstice Pageant.
Artists, performers, crafters, and helpers of all ages are welcome to come help make puppets for the show. Puppet Workshops will be held at the Community Center May 29 – Jun 18, Tuesday – Friday from 3 – 8 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am – 1 pm and 3 – 8 pm. There are no workshops on Mondays.
Dress rehearsal is Thursday, June 20 at 6 pm at North House Folk School. For questions email info@goodharborhillplayers.org
Embodying the North Shore, the Grand Marais Art Colony‘s summer exhibition, is currently on view at Studio 21.
A watercolor by David Gilsvik, one of the artists in the exhibit at Studio 21.
The exhibition features an extraordinary selection of works by local artists collected by Gene and Bonnie Martz over many years. The works were donated by their estate to the Art Colony. Look for work by Betsy Bowen, Jim Brandenburg, Dave Gilsvik, Keith Havens, Gene Martz, Dan & Lee Ross, Elaine Sivertson, Howard Sivertson, Jan Sivertson, and Liz Sivertson.
The exhibit continues through Aug. 31. Studio 21 is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. Free and open to the public.
North House Folk School is taking reservations for short cruises on Lake Superior on the schooner, The Hjordis.
The Hjordis’ first sunset sail of the season. Photo by Bryan Hansel.
Exhibits:
Oil paintings and batiks of North Shore landscapes are currently featured at the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery.
Between Earth and Sky, a new exhibit featuring work by Kim Gordon is on view at the Johnson Heritage Post.
The exhibit runs through June 16. This is an interesting show. The Heritage Post is open from 10 am to 4 pm Wednesday through Saturday and from 1-4 pm Sunday. Free and open for all.
North Shore Health has added a new collection of photographs to its exhibits in the hallways of the facility.
Eye in the Storm by Jon Gunderson is one of the photographs on view at North Shore Health this month.
The Duluth Art Institute will hold an opening reception for its annual Member Show on June 25. It will also be the opening of its new gallery spaces at 130 W. Superior St. Stay tuned.
In Thunder Bay, the exhibit “River,” by Sarah Link, is currently on view at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.
Sarah Link’s exhibit, River, is currently on view at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.
“River” (2007), is a major ceramic installation from the art gallery’s Permanent Collection by Thunder Bay-based artist and ceramicist Sarah Link. On view for the first time, this sculptural installation includes more than 600 hand-thrown porcelain stones, or forms, created over 30 years by the artist. This collaborative work incorporates a movement piece called Grounded (2008) by performance artist Kathleen Baleja, with an original soundscape “Common Ground” by musician Dianne Potts. The exhibit continues through June 16.
Upcoming:
The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Overlook Landing, the new installation and entrance to the Grand Marais Recreation Park, will be held at 3 pm on June 14.
The Ribbon Cutting at Overlook Landing is set for June 14.
The project was years in the making and involved a number of collaborators, including the Geroge Morrison family, the Creative Economy Collaborative, and the City of Grand Marais, to name a few. The public is invited to the event.
A Medicinal Plant Walk with Lily Wilson of Earth Body Healing will be held from 4-6 pm on Friday, June 14 from 4-6 pm. at Artist’s Point.
A Medicinal Plant Walk will be held at Artist Point on June 14.
Participants will learn about the medicinal plants of the North Shore! How to identify, harvest, and use. Meet by the old Coast Guard Station on Grand Marais Harbor. A notebook is useful. Free.
Artists At Work:
Marty Harris happy to be drawing in moleskin books again.
Colors Afloat, Glacier National Park by Layne Kennedy.
Sam Zimmerman’s design for an electrical box in West Duluth.
Knit hats by Betsy Bowen are at her gallery. She knit them this winter and says they were like a color study.
Graphic designer, Kyle Sobanja, created this logo for WTIP’s Radio Waves Music Festival a few years ago. He is back in the county and available for projects.
A few from today by Mary Beams.
From one sunset by Bryan Hansel.
Family, woodcut print by Diana Hatchitt.
Daydreaming, watercolor by John Franz.
Online Findings:
Heid Erdrich, the first Poet Laureate of Minneapolis, talks about her work. Listen to the interview here.
Online Music:
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Live Music:
Thursday, June 6:
- Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6-8 pm
- Tommy Wotruba, Raven Rock Grill at Skyport Lodge, 6-8 pm
- Bump Blomberg, Gunflint Tavern’s Rooftop Bar, 6-9 pm
Friday, June 7:
- Timmy Haus, Moguls Grille and Tap Room, 7-9 pm
- Bump Blomberg, Bluefin Grille, 8-10 pm
Saturday, June 8:
- Tom vanCleve & Erik Hahn, Cook County Saturday Market (Senior Center Parking Lot), 10 am
- Shannon Murray, Grand Marais Public Library, 1 pm
Sunday, June 9:
- Briand Morrison, North Shore Winery, 3:30-5:30 pm
- Timmy Haus, Moguls Grille and Tap Room, 5-7 pm
Monday, June 10:
- Shane Martin, Bluefin Grille, 8-10 pm
Tuesday, June 11:
- Eric Frost, North Shore Winery, 4:30-6:30 pm
- Joe Paulik, Bluefin Bay behind Bluefin Grille campfire on the beach, 6-9 pm
- Open Stage, Up Yonder, 6-9 pm
Wednesday, June 12:
- Jim Miller, Bluefin Grille, 8-10 pm
Thursday, June 13:
- Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6-8 pm
- Bump Blomberg, Gunflint Tavern’s Rooftop Bar, 6-9 pm
Friday, June 14:
- Pat Eliasen, Birch Terrace Supper Club, 6-8 pm
- Frequency Rising, Gunflint Tavern Raven’s Nest, 7-11 pm
- Timmy Haus, Moguls Grille and Tap Room, 7-9 pm
- Pete Kavanaugh, Bluefin Grille, 8-10 pm
Saturday, June 15:
- Briand Morrison, Cook County Saturday Market (Senior Center Parking Lot), 10 am
- Big Wave Dave and the Ripples, Up Yonder, 6-10 pm
- Jim Miller, Moguls Grille and Tap Room, 7-9 pm
- Pride DJ Dance Party, Gunflint Tavern’s Rooftop Bar, 9:30-11:30 pm
Sunday, June 16:
- Molly Maher, North Shore Winery, 3:30-5:30 pm
- John Gruber, Moguls Grille and Tap Room, 5-7 pm
Photographs:
Here is a selection of the work we found this week:
Wildlife:
A Wood Duck pair by Paul Sundberg.
Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia). Male.
Painted Turtles by Paul Sundberg.
They’re storming the shore by Lin Salisbury.
Mallard in a Marsh by Paul Sundberg.
A dandelion fan by Jack Willis.
The first capture, by Maryl Skinner.
A fast little American Redstart by David Johnson.
Young bull this morning by David Johnson.
Canada Lynx stalking its prey by David Johnson.
A Wolf Spider visit by Sandra Updyke.
Not the wildest of animals, but cute by Kim Nelson.
Flowers & Potpourri
Crabapple splendor. Photogreapher unknown.
Maple Hill Cemetery on Memorial Day by Jeff Nemitz.
A Drink with Joy. Early summer bouquet by Annie Possis.
Morning walk by Siffy Torkildson.
Pin Cherry at Hungry Jack Lake by Dennis Chick.
A Honey Crisp Apple seedling sprouted from a seed found inside an apple by Ron Benson.
Trillium at Hungry Jack Lake by Dennis Chick.
The Cobalt Crest Dragon Tree found on an island in the Azores Photographer unknown.
I love that Linus knows Leo is in trouble, by Sam Zimmerman.
Landscapes, Skyscapes, Waterscapes and Cloudscapes:
The Cascade is roaring by Greg Mueller.
The Milky Way over Lake Superior by Bryan Hansel.
Job site by Tom Healy
I don’t worry about my wild neighbors by Michael Furtman.
Dolphin in the Galapagos by Layne Kennedy.
So, so beautiful by Sierra Parsons.
Grand Marais Harbor from Pincushion Mountain by Kim Nelson.
Misty Sunrise by Roxanne Distad.
And finally this: A Toddler and Toenails
Sophia and Lasko. Photo by Mark Selskar.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Did you enjoy ArtScene this week? Hope so!! We depend on your support to bring you the art news and more from the North Shore every week. You can show your support by contributing today. Just click on the icon below. And Thank You!
We also want to acknowledge our friends who helped make this issue possible, including Jeremy Lopez (the Live Music Schedule, tech support, and music suggestions), Yvonne Mills (proofreading), and Kari Carter (caption editing and research. Peter Clissold offered a music selection Thank you all!
{ 1 comment… add one }
best posting yet thank you for the whole column
ehl