≡ Menu

Labor Day Weekend on the North Shore

King of the Northwoods by Katie Mumm.

A King of the Northwoods by Katie Mumm.

Greetings from the North Shore, where we are enjoying these last days of summer. Some are braving the heat, crowds, rain, and storms in the Twin Cities to see the 2024 Minnesota State Fair, one way to celebrate the end of summer, for sure.

A sea of people fill the grounds of the Minnesota State Fair by Layne Kennedy.

A sea of people fill the grounds of the Minnesota State Fair by Layne Kennedy.

Labor Day in Cook County is pretty quiet, though. But art-making continues, especially for all the artists getting ready to exhibit their work in their studios during the Art Along the Lake Fall Studio Tour, which starts Sept. 27.

This weekend starts on Thursday with Art Night at Joy and Company. It’s White Box night, and participants can pick up a white box filled with a variety of art supplies and make something beautiful. The event is held from 3:30 to 5 pm at the shop. It is free, with a $5 suggested donation.

Also on Thursday, the Grand Marais Farmer’s Market will be held in the parking lot of the Cook County Community Center from 4:30-6 pm.

Fresh flowers for the Farmer's Market with Rachel Andrus.

Fresh flowers for the Farmer’s Market with Rachel Andrus.

The market features everything from fresh flowers, locally grown vegetables, homegrown mushrooms, baked goods, and more. The market will continue through early October.

On Thursday night, Cook County Trivia will be held at Up Yonder from 6-8 pm.

The Cook County historical Society Trivia at Up Yonder is from 6-8 pm. Open to all. Free.

The Cook County Historical Society’s Trivia is held at Up Yonder from 6-8 pm. Open to all. Free.

Sponsored by the Cook County Historical Society, the games include some history questions as well as lots of others. It’s a bar-style event and is open to all. Free.

A new antique shop is opening in Grand Marais on Friday at 10 am. Called the Scruffy Dog Vintage Emporium, it is owned by Annette Block-Valdivia and is located in the old RV Building at 1912 W. Hwy. 61.

Annette Block-Valdivia holds a historical photo of the former Superior RV building. Photo by Kalli Hawkins.

Annette Block-Valdivia holds a historical photo of the former Superior RV building. Her new shop, the Scruffy Dog Vintage Emporium, will be located there. A soft opening is set for this weekend. Photo by Kalli Hawkins.

A soft opening will be held over the Labor Day weekend, starting at 10 am on Friday and continuing through Labor Day. Look for lots of fun antiques and unusual collectibles. The shop is planning to be open from 11 am to 5 pm Wednesday through Sunday during the year. Listen to an interview with WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins here.

On Friday night, backpacker Ozzie Reif will give a presentation at North House Folk School about how he is crossing the wilderness using hand-made gear.

Ozzie Reif will give a presentation at North House about crafting your own wilderness gear.

Ozzie Reif will give a presentation at North House about crafting your wilderness gear.

Reif is hiking the Kekekabic and Border Route Trails using gear he made himself from natural materials. He will give his presentation from 7:30-8:30 pm. Free and open to the public.

Saturday opens with the Cook County Market in the parking lot of the Hub at 10 am.

Terry Lord Lewis creates in glass and ceramics. She is one of the vendors at the Con County Market.

Terry Lord-Lewis creates in glass and ceramics. She is one of the vendors at the Cook County Market.

The market features glass, pottery, paintings, jewelry, lotions and balms, leatherwork, knitted items, and more. It is open from 10 am to 2 pm. (Hint: There is often an unofficial dog parade around noon.)

Also on Saturday:

Children's Story Hour with Kevin Kager is at Drury Lane Books on Saturday at 11 am.

Children’s Story Hour with Kevin Kager is at Drury Lane Books on Saturday at 11 am. Free.

The Harbor History Walking Tour is held on Saturdays at 1 pm. Meet at the Historical Museum on Broadway. Free.

The Harbor History Walking Tour is held on Saturdays at 1 pm. Meet at the Historical Museum on Broadway. Free.

The interior of the Chippewa City Church. The church is open to the public from noon to 2 pm Friday through Sunday through the summer.

The Chippewa City Church, just east of Grand Marais, is open to the public from noon to 2 pm Friday through Sunday in the summer. Free.

On Sunday, the Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center will hold its annual Old-fashioned Pie and Ice Cream Social, one of the most popular events in its 2024 season.

An Old-fashioned Pie and Ice Cream Social will be held at Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center from noon to 4 pm Saturday.

An Old-fashioned Pie and Ice Cream Social will be held at the Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center from noon to 4 pm on Sunday.

The North Shore Swing Band will perform on the front porch of Chik-Wauk Lodge from 1-3 pm.

As always, there will be lots of locally homemade pies to choose from. There is a suggested donation of $5 per slice of pie, ice cream, and beverage. (If you would like to donate a pie or enter the pie competition, email info@gunflinthistory.org or call 218-388-9915.

The day also features:

  • Annual Chik-Wauk sidewalk sale which offers steep discounts on many gift shop items
  • Gunflint Trail Business Pie Competition
  • Individual Pie Competition
  • Pie-eating Contest
  • Silent Auction
  • Games

The event is free. Open to all.

On Wednesday, Vahle Fine Art, located in the Birch Alley Building directly behind the Gunflint Tavern will hold a season-ending reception from 5:30-7 pm at the gallery.

September 24, 2014, Plein Air, Oil by Tim Vahle.

September 24, 2014, plein air, oil, by Tim Vahle.

Vahle is a plein air artist who opened the gallery in Grand Marais this year. The reception is open to all. Refreshments will be served.

There’s lots of live music at venues across the county this weekend, too. See the Live Music Schedule below for more info.

Exhibits:

The exhibit, Northwoods Quilt Art, with work by Beret Borson Nelson, continues at the Johnson Heritage Post.

The opening reception for Northwoods Quilt Art is from 5-7 pm at the Johnson Heritage Post on Friday.

 Northwoods Quilt Art continues at the Johnson Heritage Post.

The exhibit continues through Sept. 8. The Johnson Heritage Post is open from 10 am to 4 pm Wednesday through Saturday and from 1-4 pm Sunday. Free.

This is the last weekend to see two exhibits at the Grand Marais Art Colony‘s Studio 21 and Gallery Store: Embodying the North Shore, and Natalija Walbridge’s applique exhibit.

The Grand Marais Art Colony's Summer Exhbition continues at Studio 21.

This is the last weekend to see the Grand Marais Art Colony‘s Summer Exhibition, Embodying the North Shore in  Studio 21.

Embodying the North Shore features works by well-known North Shore artists donated to the Art Colony by Bonnie and Gene Martz. The works are all for sale. The artists include Betsy Bowen, Jim Brandenburg, David Gilsvik, Keith Havens, Gene Martz, Lee and Dan Ross, Elaine Sivertson, Howard Sivertson, Jan Sivertson and Liz Sivertson. For more information about purchasing the art, call the Art Colony at 218-387-2737.

The exhibit of applique work by Natalija Walbridge is inspired by the beauty of the Northwoods.

Natalija Walbridge's exhibit of her apploique work ends this weekend/

Natalija Walbridge’s exhibit of her applique work ends this weekend.

Studio 21 and the Gallery Store are open from 10 am to 4 pm Thursday through Saturday. Free.

 Azania Means Freedom Project, a captivating multi-media exhibit featuring paper collage earrings by Azania Tripp, is currently on view at the Duluth Art Institute‘s Downtown Galleries.

Paper art earrings by artist Azania Tripp. She has a new exhibit at the Duluth Art Institute.

Paper art earrings by artist Azania Tripp. She has a new exhibit at the Duluth Art Institute.

Tripp’s collage earrings serve as both accessories and conduits of storytelling. Each piece is meticulously crafted to depict themes of Afrofuturism, Eurasian culture, the power of joy, and the enduring impact of historical trauma. From bold images of people adorned with flowers and birds to surreal scenes of figures sitting atop giant fruits, Tripp’s work is a testament to celebration. The exhibit continues through Oct. 11.

The Art Institute galleries are located on the 4th floor of the US Bank Building in downtown Duluth, 130 w. Superior St. The hours are from noon to 5 pm Monday through Friday.

Lizzard’s Gallery in Duluth features Musings, a collaborative exhibit with artists Adam McCauley and Sue Rauschenfels.

Musings- a collaborative exhibit with artist Adam McCauley is an interconnection of ideas, colors, and shapes on view at Lizzards Gallery and Framing in Duluth.

Musings, an exhibit featuring works by Sue Rauschenfels and Adam McCauley is on view at Lizzards Gallery and Framing in Duluth.

The exhibit is an interconnection of ideas, colors, and shapes. The gallery is also exhibiting works by several other regional artists.

The Fine Art Exhibition at the Minnesota State Fair continues through this weekend.

Rejected! or Art That Didn’t Make the State Fair is currently on view at the Burl Community Art Gallery in Lowertown, St Paul. 

Quilt, Burl Community Art Gallery, is one od the exhibits in the Rejcted! show.

This quilt is one of the exhibits in the Rejected! show at the Burl Community Art Gallery in St Paul.

Of the thousands of artworks submitted to the Juried Fine Arts Competition, only 300 or so were picked to go on view. Enter the Burl Community Art Gallery in Lowertown, St. Paul. For the past few years, the gallery has hosted “Rejected!”, an exhibit in the spirit of Salon des Refusés in Paris in 1863, which showed artworks rejected by a government-sponsored exhibit, Paris Salon, one of the largest art shows in the world at the time.

This year, the gallery is featuring the works of 70 Minnesota artists whose works didn’t make it in the competition.

Opportunities:

The Grand Marais Art Colony is offering potters the opportunity to make bowls for the Empty Bowls Fundraiser in its ceramics studio this fall.

Potters are invited to make bowls for the Empty Bowls Fundraiser this fall.

Potters are invited to make bowls for the Empty Bowls Fundraiser this fall.

The free Open Studios for Empty Bowls will be held from 5-8 pm on Thursday, Sept. 10 & 26 and Oct. 10 & 24. Anyone who can make bowls (on the wheel or hand-building) without assistance is welcome. No instruction will be provided. The bowl-makers are also invited to help trim and glaze them in preparation for the Empty Bowls fundraiser, which will be held on Nov. 21 at Up Yonder this year.

To sign up, click here.

Last year, Empty Bowls raised more than $87,000 to help feed the hungry in Cook County. Here’s the breakdown:

Here is a breakdown of revenue and disbursements from Empty Bowls 2023. Image courtesy of the Cook County News-Hearald

Here is a breakdown of revenue and disbursements from Empty Bowls 2023. Image courtesy of the Cook County News Herald.

The Art Colony is also looking for volunteers to help with Paint-A-Bowl sessions at Studio 21 Oct. 17 & 18 during the David Hahn Memorial Art Days youth event. For more information, contact Brett at ceramics@grandmaraisartcolony.org

Upcoming:

Watercolor artist Margie Helstrom will exhibit her work in the Art Colony’s Gallery Store starting Sept. 5.

Beau, watercolor by Margie Helstrom. She will be exhibiting work in the Gallery Store starting Sept. 5.

Beau, a watercolor by Margie Helstrom. She will be exhibiting work in the Gallery Store starting Sept. 5.

The title of her exhibition is “Scapes.”

Grand Marais Plein Air Week is Sep. 6-13 this year, as plein air artists from all over the region descend on Cook County to paint what they see.

Grand Marais Plein Air Week is Sept. 6-13, with an exhibition opening at the Johnson Heritage Post Sept. 13.

Grand Marais Plein Air Week is Sept. 6-13, with an exhibition opening at the Johnson Heritage Post on Sept. 13.

There are several public events during the week, so stay tuned.

Next weekend is WTIP’s Radio Waves Music Festival at Sweetheart’s Bluff in the Grand Marais Rec Park.

The Radio Waves Music Festival is next weekend, Sept. 6-8.

The Radio Waves Music Festival is next weekend, Sept. 6-8.

This popular annual festival organized by WTIP Community Radio brings together diverse musical acts spanning many genres, a balance of new artists and local favorites,  an audience of area residents and seasonal visitors, community service partners and local food makers, and a welcoming and family-friendly atmosphere. Truth be told, it’s a lot of fun, too.  The music is great and there’s lots of room for dancing. Click here to find out more and see the lineup.

Claudia Schmidt and Sally Rogers will be in concert at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on Sept. 14, hosted by the North Shore Music Association.

The duo’s strong harmonies and vast repertoire will make this an unforgettable concert.

For tickets, click here, and stay tuned.

And three weeks from now, Sept. 19-21, North House Folk School will host Unplugged, one of its biggest parties of the year with concerts, a banquet, workshops, demonstrations, and a ribbon cutting at its new Welcome Center.

Unplugged is set for under the Big Top at North House Sept. 19-21. For more info, click here.

The Big Top on the campus of North House Folk School is packed during Unplugged concerts. Unplugged weekend is Sept. 19-21. For more info, click here.

Artists at Work:

Tuesday or Wednesday, print, by Rob Quisling.

Tuesday or Wednesday, print, by Rob Quisling. He and Jonathan Thunder are working on an exhibit about alcoholism and recovery entitled “Loaded.” It will open at the Kruk Gallery in Superior, Wis. Oct. 17.

Untitled by Susan Hayes She is one of the artists who will be on therFall Sudio Tour.

Untitled by Susan Hayes. She is one of the artists who will be on the Art Along the Lake Fall Studio Tour.

A small oil painting while watching the DNC by Marti Mullen. She is one of the North Shore Artist League members showing at White Bear Lake next month.

A small oil painting while watching the DNC by Marti Mullen. She is one of the North Shore Artist League members showing at White Bear Lake in September.

Happy Birthday, gorgeous Len, acrylic, by Jan Attridge.

Happy Birthday, gorgeous Len, acrylic, by Jan Attridge.

Big tree, a color study, by Kim Dayton.

Big tree, a color study, by Kim Dayton.

Puffin, Ink on marker paper. by Ralph Keating.

Puffin, ink on marker paper, by Ralph Keating.

Online Findings:

Online Music:

Live Music:

Thursday, August 29:

  • Bump Blomberg, Gunflint Tavern’s Rooftop Bar, 6-9 pm
  • Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6:30-8:30 pm

Friday, August 30:

  • MYsterious WAYs, Birch Terrace Supper Club, 5-8 pm
  • Jim Miller, Moguls Grille and Tap Room, 7-9 pm
  • Joe Paulik, Bluefin Grille, 8-10 pm
  • Frequency Rising, Gunflint Tavern Raven’s Nest, 7-11 pm
  • The Brothers Burn Mountain, Up Yonder, 8:30-10:30 pm

Saturday, August 31:

  • Joe Paulik, Cook County Saturday Market (Senior Center Parking Lot), 10 – 2 pm
  • Emma Tweeten, Gunflint Tavern’s Rooftop Bar, 4-6 pm
  • Kevin Buck, Birch Terrace Supper Club, 5-8 pm
  • Adam Moe, Bluefin Bay behind Bluefin Grille campfire on the beach, 6-9 pm
  • Bump Bloomberg, Moguls Grille and Tap Room, 7-9 pm
  • Preston Gunderson, Gunflint Tavern’s Rooftop Bar, 7-9 pm

Sunday, September 1:

  • North Shore Swing Band, Chik-Wauk Lodge, 1-3 pm
  • Medicine River, Gunflint Tavern, 3-6 pm
  • Tres Osos, North Shore Winery, 3:30-5:30 pm
  • Pete Kavanaugh, Moguls Grille and Tap Room, 5-7 pm
  • Summoning Circle with Lady O’Fluv, Hovland Town Hall, 7 pm
  • The Federales, Up Yonder, 8-11 pm

Monday, September 2:

  • Briand Morrison, Bluefin Grille, 8-10 pm

Tuesday, September 3:

  • Eric Frost, North Shore Winery, 5-7 pm
  • Joe Paulik, Bluefin Bay behind Bluefin Grille campfire on the beach, 6-9 pm
  • Open Stage, Up Yonder, 6-9 pm

Wednesday, September 4:

  • Joe Paulik, Gunflint Tavern Raven’s Nest, 6-9 pm
  • Community Sing-Along, First Congregational Church, 6 pm

Thursday, September 5:

  • Tommy Wotruba, Raven Rock Grill at Skyport Lodge, 6-8 pm
  • Bump Blomberg, Gunflint Tavern’s Rooftop Bar, 6-9 pm
  • Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6:30-8:30 pm

Friday, September 6:

  • Radio Waves Music Festival, Grand Marais Rec. Park
    • Portage, 4-4:50 pm
    • Fish Heads, 5-5:50 pm
    • Eli Bentley, 6-6:50 pm
    • Rich Mattson and Northstars, 7-8:20 pm
    • Saltydog, 8:30-10 pm
  • Timmy Haus, Moguls Grille and Tap Room, 7-9 pm
  • Medicine River, Gunflint Tavern’s Rooftop Bar, 7-10 pm
  • Of the Orchard, Up Yonder, 8-11 pm

Saturday, September 7:

  • Radio Waves Music Festival, Grand Marais Rec. Park
    • North Shore Community Swing Band, 10-11:20 am
    • Barbara Jean Meyers & Mike Lewis, 11:30-12:20 pm
    • Emma Tweten, 12:30-1:20 pm
    • Splints, 1:30-2:40 pm
    • Dan Israel & Steve Brantseg, 2:50-3:40 pm
    • Clearwater Hot Club, 3:50-5 pm
    • Annie Humphrey & Jeremy Ylvisaker, 5:10-6:10 pm
    • Keith Secola, 6:20-7:30 pm
    • Between Howls, 7:40-8:40 pm
    • The Carpenter Ants, 8:50-10 pm
  • Zahir Orest, Cook County Saturday Market (Senior Center Parking Lot), 10 – 2 pm
  • Kenna Rose, Gunflint Tavern Raven’s Nest, 2-4 pm
  • Adam Moe, Bluefin Bay behind Bluefin Grille campfire on the beach, 6-9 pm
  • Of the Orchard, Up Yonder, 8-11 pm

Sunday, September 8:

  • Radio Waves Music Festival, Grand Marais Rec. Park
    • John Ellison and The Carpenter Ants, 10-11:30 pm
    • Cryote, 11:40-12:30 pm
    • The Brothers Burn Mountain, 12:40-1:40 pm
    • Lojo Russo, 1:50-2:40 pm
    • Kenna Rose, 2:50-3:40 pm
    • Zulu Link, 3:50–4:50 pm
  • Medicine River, Gunflint Tavern, 3-6 pm
  • Christopher David Hanson, North Shore Winery, 3:30-5:30 pm
  • Timmy Haus, Moguls Grille and Tap Room, 5-7 pm

Photographs:

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

Wildlife:

Raven, photograph by Nace Hagemann is on exhibit at Joy and Company.

Raven, a photograph by Nace Hagemann, is on exhibit at Joy and Company.

Growing up in Grand Marais by Sierra Parsons.

Growing Up in Grand Marais by Sierra Parsons.

I'm a little bit pissed off. Photo by David Johnson.

I’m a little bit pissed off. Photo by David Johnson.

In Tofte by Chuck Olsen.

In Tofte by Chuck Olsen.

Young cow enjoying late summer by David Johnson.

Young cow enjoying late summer by David Johnson.

Common Nighthawks are migrating enmasse over Duluth. The seasons are changing by Judy Gray. The Hawk Ridge Bird Festival is Sept. 20-22.

The Beginning: Common Nighthawks are migrating en masse over Duluth. Photo by Judy Gray.

Flowerscapes:

A Dahlia Sunflower grown from seed by Bre Schueler.

A Dahlia Sunflower grown from seed by Bre Schueller.

A volunteer in my patio pot on the porch by Janice Latz.

A volunteer in my patio pot on the porch by Janice Latz.

Pincushion Mountain by Chuck Olsen.

Pincushion Mountain by Chuck Olsen.

A lovely Dahlia by Roxanne Distad.

A lovely Dahlia by Roxanne Distad.

A volunteer in the asparagus bed by Mike Carlson.

A volunteer in the asparagus bed by Mike Carlson.

Coneflower season by Roxanne Distad.

Coneflower Season by Roxanne Distad.

Potpourri:

Teepee On The Shores Of Lake Sacagawea, Newtown, North Dakota by John Gregor.

Teepee On The Shores Of Lake Sacagawea, Newtown, ND, by John Gregor.

Summer in Grand Marais (2016) by Bryan Hansel.

Summer in Grand Marais (2016) by Bryan Hansel.

State Fair memories by Peter Spooner.

State Fair Memories by Peter Spooner.

Mushroom ound this mushroom today by Betty Hemstad.

Found this mushroom today by Betty Hemstad.

Sunset after the storm by Montana Pecore.

Sunset after the storm by Montana Pecore.

Fall color begins. Photo by Betty Hemstad.

Fall color begins. Photo by Betty Hemstad.

The Hjørdis is sailing every day from North House Folk School. Click here to find out more:

The Hjørdis is sailing every day from North House Folk School. Click here to find out more:

The new Minnesota State Flag by Siffy and Tor Torkildson.

The new Minnesota State Flag by Siffy and Tor Torkildson.

Waterscapes, Cloudscapes & Landscapes:

Storm clouds over the Big Lake by Sierra Parsons.

Storm clouds over the Big Lake by Sierra Parsons.

A vortex capture by David Johnson.

A vortex capture by David Johnson.

The colors of summer by Roxanne Distad.

The colors of summer by Roxanne Distad.

Does beauty help wash out the remnants of a tough yesterday? I think yes. Here's to a fresh morning by Kristin Elisabeth.

Does beauty help wash out the remnants of a tough yesterday? I think yes. Here’s to a fresh morning by Kristin Elisabeth.

Calm Lake Superior- an invitation to paddle by Travis Novitsky.

Calm Lake Superior–an invitation to paddle by Travis Novitsky.

Blue moon over Lake Superior by Rosie Loeffler-Kemp.

Blue moon over Lake Superior by Rosie Loeffler-Kemp.

The Canadian shoreline by Buck Benson.

The Canadian Shoreline by Buck Benson.

Air and water by Mike Wiggins. Jr.

Air and Water by Mike Wiggins. Jr.

Miner's Lake, Ely, by David Grinstead.

Miner’s Lake, Ely, by David Grinstead.

Knocking about on Lake Superior by Andy Keith.

Knocking about on Lake Superior by Andy Keith.

Kristofer's garden by Staci Drouillard.

Kristofer Bowman’s Garden by Staci Drouillarda

Have a great weekend, everyone!

BTW: We’d be happy to hear from you this week. The support you give to NorthShore ArtScene makes a big difference. It keeps the blog financially secure and lets us know that you enjoy it. So donate this week! and Thank you!

Also, a big Thank You to Jeremy Lopez, Live Music schedule, tech advice;  Yvonne Mills, proofreading; and Kari Carter, photo captions, for their support in putting out this week’s issue. And thank you to Visit Cook County for its outstanding Events Calendar.

 

 

 

{ 1 comment… add one }

  • Marissa Kayne Saurer September 2, 2024, 10:09 am

    Greetings,
    How can I submit information to you about an upcoming art event I have coming up on the Northshore on Sept. 6. at Tettgouche.
    Thank you,
    Marissa

Leave a Comment