Pancake Ice

Greetings from the North Shore, where our favorite ice images are beginning to arrive in our inbox —Pancake Ice! Not only is pancake ice a beautiful, kinetic display of abstract art, but it also makes music of its own as it moves around. The words to that music, of course, are: “Spring is on the way.”

On land, art-making continues.

Art Night this week at Joy and Company features tips on how to wrap rocks with Jill Terrill.

If you have been to Joy & Company lately, you have probably noticed a growing collection of stunning wrapped rocks. They are created by the shop’s owner, Jill Terrill.

Terrill will show how she creates these intriguing pieces at a mini-workshop on Thursday from 3:30-5 pm at the shop. All supplies will be provided, including an assortment of washed round rocks.

The event is free with a suggested $5 donation.

On Friday, Andy Keith and Kari Carter will play for the Winter Music Series at the North Shore Winery from 3:30-5:30 pm.

Andy has been playing gigs as a singer and guitarist on the North Shore for some time. Recently, he has been joined vocally by Kari in great harmony. Kari will be familiar to some winery customers as the potter who does pop-ups in their barrel room occasionally. Refreshments will be available. Open to all. Free.

Also on Friday, the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery will host the opening reception for the 2025 Winter Plein Air exhibition from 5-7 pm.

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 display their work at the gallery. The public is invited to the opening reception. The exhibit continues through March 23.

Films on Fridays, an opportunity to see a selection of old-time films at the Cook County Community Center continues. This week, the classic B&W film, Citizen Kane, will be screened.

Show time is at 6 pm. Free. The public is invited.

Friday is also the last day to see the Cook County Winter Fireplace Tour.

Lodges and resorts throughout the county feature a wide variety of fireplaces to see and enjoy.  Click here for a list of where to go.

Saturday will be busy as well.

The Winter Market, which features a great selection of work by local artists and artisans, will be held at the Hub from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday.

Look for paintings, pottery, and fiber work, including knit hats and mittens, to name a few. Open to all.

At 4 pm on Saturday, the Grand Marais Film Society will screen a film it is calling The Biggest Musical of 2024 at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts.

Hint: The film features bewitchingly fun music, glamourous Galinda, and the land of Oz. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door.  Homemade treats will be available as well. The film is rated PG and open to all. To purchase tickets online, click here.

On Sunday morning, the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon begins. The start has been moved to Two Harbors due to snow conditions in Duluth, but the race is on. This year, 16 mushers will compete in the Marathon and 16 in the Beargrease 120.

The races are always exciting and draw fans from all over the region and the country.  Here’s a video at the start of the 2018 Beargrease.

 For more information about the races, events, links to the mushers, and more, click here.

Also on Sunday, a Turkish Carpet Show will be held at the Cook County Community Center from 2-4 pm.

Fatih, a carpet dealer from Antalya, on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, will be here with hundreds of carpets from his family’s collection. He’s bringing baklava and Turkish Delight to share, and he will teach everyone about the many different types of carpets, some new, some ancient.

Admission is free, and all ages are welcome. You can come to buy or just to gawk at the beautiful carpets and kilims.

On Wednesday, March 5, singer/songwriter Charlie Parr will perform for the Songwriter’s Series at the Lofty Gondola on Lutsen Mountains. The performance starts at 8 pm.

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.

 EATS, the annual fundraiser for the ISD 166 Education Foundation will be held at the Cook County Middle/High School  on Thursday, March 6 from 5-7 pm.

At the event, enjoy tasty samples prepared by local restaurants and vendors, and bid on quality auction items donated by local businesses and individuals, all while enjoying live music throughout the evening. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at the ISD 166 Main Office, Subway, and Java Moose. Tickets always sell out, so get yours before March 6.

The mission of the Education Foundation is to offer unique experiences for students through innovative instruction and co-curricular programs that are unable to be funded by ISD 166 or other sources. To date, $200,000 has been granted through the foundation.

Next Saturday, March 8, the North Shore Music Association will present the Tuvergen Band, live, at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts.

The Tuvergen Band is a Chicago-based folk-fusion trio that blends Mongolian and Tuvan folk music with bluegrass, blues, and rock. Tuvergen Band’s music brings to life the spirit of the steppes, horse culture, and the natural world. Their blend of traditional and modern influences creates a mesmerizing musical experience It should be a great concert. Here is an example of what they play:

The music starts at 7 pm. Tickets are $20 (Students: $10) and are available at northshoremusicassociation.com and the door. See you there!

Exhibits:

Silver Bay students, guided by Sam Zimmerman, Tettegounche State Park’s Artist-in-residence, showcase their creative works of art in the Great Hall this month. The exhibit continues through March 7.

Sam Zimmerman/ Zhaawanoogiizhik was selected, along with 11 other artists and makers, to participate in a statewide pilot program, MNPAiR, Minnesota Parks Artists in Residence. In this pilot, artists serve as partners to and ambassadors for the parks and contribute not just art, but ideas.

This residency—Minnesota’s first statewide artist-in-residence program—is modeled on artist residencies in government, which embed artists into public systems.

Embedding an artist in a park or a park system will allow the selected artists to apply their own creative perspectives and skills to foster a greater sense of belonging. Sam will be the artist in residence at Tettegouche State Park through the summer of 2025.

Within/Without, an exhibit of work by emerging photographers from UMD is currently on view at the Duluth Art Institute.

 To see the online virtual exhibit, including comments by the artists, click here.

At the Tweed Museum of Art, a video installation, From, the Future, by Los Angeles-based artist Jennifer Steinkamp, a pioneer in the field of 3D animation, continues.

Working exclusively in digital media, Steinkamp’s video animations explore nature, architecture, contemporary social issues, and the passage of time. Steinkamp designs and digitally simulates the movement of organic and abstract forms such as trees, flowers, floating fabrics, rocks, and fruit. Her work is an examination of the natural environment that engages with art historical genres such as 16th-century Dutch still-life painting, scientific illustrations, and nature photography.

“From, the Future is about waiting, something the entire world population knows since the onslaught of Covid-19,” she writes. “The title was also inspired by a dream where I told a scientist I was from the future, and he believed me. My interpretation of the dream relates to my interest in the luminous thoughts of the 13th-century Persian poet Rumi, who clearly describes what our souls really are, beautiful, sacred, beyond time. I am fascinated by the existential impermanence of beauty. Beauty offers us a deep connection to the experience of life.” The exhibit closes on March 14.

Lizzard’s Gallery and Framing in Duluth is exhibiting work by Oddio Nib.

The Minnesota Marine Art Museum  is exhibiting the work of Minneapolis photographer Shelly Mosman in “Currents.” Here, Mosman has created water-inspired portraits, often featuring Minnesotans with their pets.

 The exhibit, one of many at the museum, continues through April 2025.

Kudos:

The Fisherman’s Daughter was named the Most Charming Small Town Restaurant in Minnesota by the  Food Network.

The owners of The Fisherman’s Daughter, Parker and Katie Slanga, can now add a new adjective to describe their restaurant: “charming.”

According to a story on Boreal Community Media, the restaurant was first opened in 1998 by Harley and Shele Toftey. It rapidly became a community and visitor favorite, which continues to this day.

“Being awarded the most charming small-town restaurant in Minnesota means a great deal to Parker, myself, and the entire team at The Fisherman’s Daughter, as it represents the hard work, dedication, and love we have all poured into this business,” Katie said. “It’s a recognition of the welcoming atmosphere, delicious food, and personal touch that have made the restaurant a local gem. This honor also validates the connection between the heritage and the town, highlighting how deeply we value both tradition and community.”

To read the entire story, click here.

Explore Minnesota has awarded Visit Cook County the Outstanding Marketing Award for its Dark Sky Campaign.

The Outstanding Marketing Award celebrates exceptional marketing achievements by a destination marketing organization or tourism-related business. Recipients are recognized for enhancing the visibility of their community or business within the industry and directly impacting visitor travel.

 The campaign leveraged compelling visuals, media relations, digital marketing, and strategic partnerships to promote the festival, which celebrates the pristine night skies of Cook County.

Opportunities:

The Johnson Heritage Post is seeking artists and makers interested in becoming an Artist of the Month during the 2025 season.

Artists and makers of any medium can apply – photographers, painters, weavers, broom makers, leather artists, carvers, jewelry makers, and more have exhibited. Artists must reside in Cook County, Grand Portage, and/or along the North Shore and have at least eight pieces ready to display and available to sell. Consideration of non-local artists will be given after local applications.  To learn more and apply, click here.

The Grand Marais Art Colony will hold a wide variety of classes and workshops this summer.

 Artists At Work:

Online Findings:

World Nature Photography Awards/14 outstanding images

 Online Music:

Three from Annie Possis, who reports that an NPR affiliate in Austin Texas, KUTX, plays great music.

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Two from Dennis Chick:

Photographs:

Here is a selection of photographs we found this week:

Wildlife:

 

 Not So Wild

Potpourri:

Icescapes, Sunscapes & Waterscapes:

Have a great weekend, everyone!

P.S.  We should collaborate.

NorthShore ArtScene does need your support to bring you art news every week and needs your contributions to make it happen. Please donate today, and thank you!

Here’s a big Thank You to Jeremy Lopez (Live Music schedule, tech advice, music suggestions), Yvonne Mills (proofreading and music suggestions), and Kari Carter (caption corrections). Thank you to Annie Possis and Dennis Chick for music suggestions this week, and a big thank you to Visit Cook County for its outstanding Events Calendar.