Sea Smoke & Other Things

Greetings from the North Shore where it seems like almost every frigid morning this winter we have been gifted with sea smoke on Lake Superior, and our photographers have been taking advantage of it. It is always so beautiful and mysterious. The clouds of steam are as unpredictable and evocative as scudding clouds in a blue, blue sky.  Enjoy!

This week, there are lots of interesting things to do and see including live music. See the schedule below.

First up is the knitting class at the Grand Marais Public Library. This weekly class with Dorothy Broomall focuses on a particular topic each week.

There are two classes left in this series. Increase and Decrease on Feb. 20 and How to Read a Pattern on Feb. 27. The classes are held from 10 am to 11 am on Thursday and are free.

Also on Thursday, Joy and Company will hold Art Night, a weekly mini-class at the shop.

This week, participants can learn a few basics about sewing, ask questions of the shop’s resident expert, Halle, and learn something new. All supplies provided. The class runs from 3:30-5 pm on Thursday and is free, with a suggested $5 donation.

On Thursday night, the North Shore Swing Band will perform at Up Yonder from 7-9 pm.

Look forward to danceable music and more.

Also on Thursday night, the Grand Marais Playhouse will hold auditions for an upcoming Improv Show.

The Playhouse is putting together an Improv team for our upcoming Improv Show at the Playhouse fundraiser on March 14. If you are an actor who likes Improv or is an uninhibited performer, here is your chance to have a fun time working with like individuals to create hilarious comedy.

Josh Hinke will be coaching the team. Auditions will be held at 7:30 pm at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts. An Improv team will be selected containing 4-6 members for the March 14 performance. Rehearsals will be from 7:30 – 9 pm on Feb 27, March 6 and 13, performance March 14.

Everyone who auditions will be contacted for a yet-to-be-determined Improv group that will be meeting regularly for acting growth, fun get-togethers, and future performances. This activity is open to high school to adult-age performers.

On Friday, the Winter Music Series at the North Shore Winery continues. This week’s performance is by Barbara Jean and Mike Lewis.

They will play from 3:30-5:30 pm. Open to all. Free.

On Saturday, the Cook County Curling Club will host the Cabin Fever Fun Spiel at the curling rink at the Community Center.

The event starts at 9 am and is open to all levels.

The registration fee is $20. Everyone registers as an individual and then is randomly placed on teams. The registration fee covers curling, light snacks, and lunch. Participants are encouraged to bring a guest. For more info, call Katy Smith at 218-370-9010.

On Saturday afternoon, the Grand Marais Playhouse will host BOLD-choice Theatre’s new country western musical, “Sundown on the Jasper County Jewel.”

BOLD-choice Theatre is a community theatre company that creates original, fully staged productions that seek to align artistic expression with civic engagement. The professional actors are primarily adults proudly living with disabilities.

The performance is from 3-4:30 pm. Tickets are $15 for adults, and $10 for students and are available at the door.

Tuesday is Community Craft Night at North House Folk School.

The event is open to all crafters, who are invited to bring their projects to North House and enjoy an evening working with others.  Some weeks there will be a theme based on an area of craft that the host is excited to share, but all crafts are welcome. The event is held from 5:30-7:30 pm. Open to all. Children accompanied by an adult are welcome, too.

On Wednesday, the winter Songwriter Series at the Lofty Gondola continues. This week’s featured artist is LAAMAR.

LAAMAR is the latest project led by Minneapolis-based singer, songwriter, saxophonist, and composer Geoffrey Lamar Wilson. Former frontman of Brooklyn-based Jus Post Bellum, Wilson is also known for his multilayered looped saxophone performances and catchy podcast ditties, blending his idiomatic inspirations bridging folk, soul, R&B, and country with a constant ear toward racial and social justice issues and the shared human experience.

To create a safe and intimate environment, and to allow audience members to immerse themselves in the stories and craft of the song, guests in the main room are asked to limit conversation during the performance.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Click here for tickets.

Exhibits:

This is the last week to see the exhibit, 100 Years of Art in Cook County at the Johnson Heritage Post.

 The exhibit, from the Heritage Post collection, features works by Cook County artists dating back to the 1920s. Paintings, prints, woodwork, and fiber art are featured in this show. The Heritage Post is open from 10 am to 4 pm Thursdays through Saturdays and from 1-4 pm Sundays. Open to the public. Free.

The Duluth Art Institute has opened an exhibit of up-and-coming photographers in its gallery space in the US Bank Building.

The exhibit, “Within/Without” features selected work by students at the University of Minnesota Duluth. To find out more and take a virtual tour, including comments by the student artists, click here. 

The Art Institute will hold an Art Night Out on Thursday, Feb. 20, featuring work by Ellen Sandbeck and Tali Margolin.

The artists will be in attendance. Art Night Out is from 5:30-8 pm. The public is invited.

Opportunities:

The Hub will hold a Winter Market on Saturday, March 1 from 10 am to 4 pm.

Tables are provided. The cost is $10. Interested? Contact Gina Joyce at 952-820-5969. The deadline to apply is Feb. 21.

Gardening Info:

The Northwoods Food Project is working towards starting a lending library for food processing and preserving equipment such as dehydrators and canning gear for local gardeners. Interested? Take the survey here.

Upcoming:

The 2025 Winter Plein Air exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post opens with a reception at 5 pm Friday, Feb. 28.

Winter Plein Air is an annual painting retreat hosted by the Outdoor Painters of Minnesota. Unlike the annual September Plein Air event, the winter retreat is not a competition. Instead, it is a painting expedition to YMCA Camp Menogyn, where artists can spend five days painting the beauty of the BWCAW and enjoying the camaraderie of other painters.
After the retreat, painters will head to Grand Marais, where they will display their work at the gallery.The public is invited to see the work at the opening reception.

A Songwriters Retreat will be held at Cascade Lodge on April 24-27, organized by Lutsong. Participants will work with veteran songwriters and each other during the retreat on the shores of Lake Superior. For more information, click here.

Artists at Work:

Online Findings:

Here’s a trailer for that great film, Helvetica, a typeface that pretty much governs our lives. You can stream the whole film on streaming platforms if you’re interested.

Online music: 

Photographs:

We found some interesting photographs this week. Here’s a selection:

Wildlife:

Potpourri:

A winter bloom by Mike Wiggins, Jr.

Landscapes, Cloudscapes, Icescapes and Homescapes:

Have a great weekend, everyone!

I hope you enjoyed this week’s ArtScene and can show your support by contributing today. We rely on our readers to keep this blog strong and interesting. To donate, just click on the icon below. Or send a check to: NorthShore ArtScene, PO Box 1232, Grand Marais, MN, 55604.

Thank you!

Here’s a big shout-out to Jeremy Lopez (Live Music schedule, tech advice, music suggestions), Yvonne Mills (proofreading and music suggestions), and Kari Carter (caption corrections.)  Phil Oswald, AKA Dr. Oz-E, from WTIP.  and Will Moore, music director at WTIP, offered music suggestions this week, too. And a big thank you to Visit Cook County for its outstanding Events Calendar.